Then Lila returns with the collector, a woman named Meera Gupta — discreet, decisive, and quietly observant. She is not interested in trophies or trends; she wants a portrait that captures the soul of the neighborhood where she grew up. She offers a modest advance and a deadline of six weeks. She warns: “I will not accept what looks staged. I want life.”

A knock at the door. Lila, his neighbor and occasional model, holds a battered portfolio and the polite impatience of someone with a favor in mind. She brings news: a boutique collector wants a portrait for a cultural festival — someone with connections. They want something “true” of the neighborhood. Lila suggests Babu take it. He hesitates; creating to order feels like walking down stairs backwards. Still, he’s curious.