A giant billboard in New York City’s Times Square has served as the backdrop for numerous announcements over the years. But one recent display is drawing attention online for a much more personal reason.The video begins with a son calling his mother from the United States. Within moments, her face appears on one of the most recognizable screens in the world. Her reaction is simple, but the story behind that surprise has resonated with thousands of people across social media.The son is Abhijay Arora Vuyyuru, an Indian tech professional who now works at Google. The woman on the screen is the person he says helped him through some of the most uncertain chapters of his life.
The Times Square surprise that went viral
Abhijay shared the moment on Instagram, where he can be seen asking his mother in India to look at a large billboard in Times Square.As the screen lit up with her photograph alongside his, she realized the tribute was dedicated to her.According to Abhijay, the gesture was intended to express gratitude to his mother for the sacrifices she made while raising him and supporting his ambitions over the years.Along with the video, he wrote, “This was the most special day of my life; I featured my mom on a New York Times Square billboard to express my gratitude for all her sacrifices.”
Before the billboard came, years of setbacks
The viral moment has also brought attention to the journey that led to it.Abhijay grew up in Panchkula, Haryana, and was raised by his single mother. He has spoken about the role she played in ensuring he had access to education despite challenges.One of the defining moments of his early years came in 2012 when he was unable to clear the IIT-JEE examination. He says that experience stayed with him and became a source of motivation in the years that followed.
Rejections became part of the journey
Success did not arrive quickly.After graduating in 2016, Abhijay entered the job market but did not receive any job offers. Although winning a hackathon in 2017 gave him a boost, more hurdles lay ahead.He took the GMAT three times between 2016 and 2020. Then, in 2021, he faced rejection from every business school he had applied to.
A difficult period in the US
His challenges continued after moving to the United States.While looking for work, he was also trying to secure his future within a limited visa period. He says he was applying to nearly 100 jobs every week, but opportunities remained difficult to find.During this phase, he credits his mother and wife for helping him stay focused.His wife supported the household financially while he searched for work, and his mother continued encouraging him through the setbacks.
Building his own opportunities
Rather than waiting for things to change, Abhijay decided to create opportunities for himself.The effort eventually paid off.In 2022, he secured admission to Harvard University. By 2025, he had joined Google as a Product Manager for YouTube in San Francisco.
Internet users praise the gesture
The video has since attracted widespread attention, with many social media users focusing on the emotional meaning behind the tribute.Several people left messages celebrating both the achievement and the relationship between mother and son.One user wrote, “Genuinely made me so happy. Keep growing. Make her more and more proud.”Another commented, “She must be sooo proudddd.”For many viewers, the billboard itself was not the biggest highlight. What stood out was the decision to use a major personal milestone to recognize the person who had stood beside him through disappointments, rejections, and eventually, success.Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared on social media and has not been independently verified by The Times of India.Thumb image: Instagram
