Curtain Call- Book Review

The first thing that you will notice about this book is its cover. The shadows of people holding hands and a signature curtain call pose is very noticeable. Attractive cover sets in motion the mood of the reader as one begins to leaf over the pages.

The book is a collection of 21 short stories that are diverse in genre and elements of storytelling used.

‘Crimson Affair’

It is a story set in the Mughal era with a modern twist. Quick turns and twits keep you hooked to the story. The character of Birbal symbolizes a man who is in dilemma whether to follow his conscience or to give in to the tyranny of the emperors. It goes with modern human relationships, too.

‘Flames’

Thank much to the author for bringing back beautiful memories of my childhood. Yes, I too tried matching my name with my crush and striking out the alphabets. A charming love story.

‘His Leela’

This one is my personal favorite. The marital differences and insecurities are portrayed so sensitively that one feels s for the female protagonist instantly. The quest for acceptance and craving for love is heart wrenching. Such is life and such are marital relationships. How the author has sewn together the broken beads of human emotions is commendable.

‘Mahua’

A story that begins with s mysterious and erotic appeal and ends on a hilarious note. Loved the narrative.

‘Office visit’

It is pyschocolgcal tale and a haunting experience of a doctor. The series of events won’t let you keep the book down. Though am a little confused about the ending.

‘My fair husband’

A hilarious story of a couple who are naggingly in love with each other. So much so that after the death of the husband, the wife enjoys living in with his ghost. Nicely written.

‘Mistaken identity’

A typical Bollywood masala story where the girl and a boy (read RAJ) meet and tries to outsmart each other. Eventually the story ends with a happy grin on the readers face.

‘Ablaze within’

A terrific tale of a sex worker who refuse to divulge the details of her life and keeps the ablaze within intact. One thing that is stark noticeable in all the stories is its simplistic portrayal but with a strong narrative.

‘Time after time’

I loved it. A rare concept or a myth, whatever it was, I loved it. Wondering what would happen if it happened for real. Excellent storyline.

‘The lifeless living sculpture’

A story that is very different from other stories in its style. A love tale with not so cliché style. Loved the opening lines used by the author.

‘Cooking up a storm’

A story that starts with revenge and ends with a haunting guilt. The plot is unique and interesting, though the story ends without the justification for the father’s death.

‘Ookleeboo’

The title created suspense and I eagerly read the story only to be happily surprised. What a story! Symbolic of humans who create nightmares and exist in this dark world. Ookleeboos exist? Yes they do.

‘Another chance’

A story about time travel to avoid the fatal accident that could not avoid the deathly clock. Regrets are painful. The author has tried to convey this message very subtly.

‘Boys will be boys’

Boys are so going to love it. Let’s face it…boys will be boys. A crazy story that depicts what goes inside out the male brain. I loved the way author has used a simple yet impactful narrative to make it a lively story.

‘The princess bride’

An intriguing tae of infidelity and a illusory marital relationship. Surprising twist in the end. The intimacy between marital couples very romantically delved into.

 ‘The last rock on which the world collapsed’

Story of a prodigy and an unexpected end. The mystery that unfolds is breathtaking. Brilliance heightened by the author. A sci-fi genre very intricately used.

'Office Games'
Lucid language, impeccable command on  the story line and a story marred with dirty office politics. One of the most entertaining reads.

Overall, I would rate this book 5/5.

I just have to. This book deserves it. A brilliant book. Special mention to Rafaa Dalvi, the editor for this crisp read.

Buy the Book here:

http://www.amazon.in/Curtain-Call-Various-Authors/dp/9384315370/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475560464&sr=8-1&keywords=curtain+call

The Fence- A bouquet of fresh short stories.

Beautiful bouquet of fresh short stories that make the readers bask in the fragrance of creativity and its delicacy. All the 8 stories are a treat to the readers. I suppose this is the outcome of a creative workshop held by the publishing house and what an amazing result. It quenches the literary thirst.

All the stories are very intricately woven. The details, setup, plot, and the narration are brilliant. “The Other woman” by Kabir Malhotra touches the sensitive topic of infidelity without making it sound cliche. The end was completely unexpected and kept me interest intact. “The Smartphone” is a complete reader’s bliss. Very relatable. Our social media addiction very nicely sketched by the writer.

“What she wanted” is one of my personal favorites. The other two being, “The other Woman” and “The Smartphone”. The protagonist in “What she wanted” hits you hard. It is a grim reality and the character of Sujata is extremely heart wrenching. A woman neither black nor white. The shades of gray very prominent. The vacuum of her life and her craving for life brought tears to my eyes. “Resignation to heaven” deals with the sensitive topic of mercy killing. A thought provoking story.

“Cashmere, I need Cashmere” portrays the sibling rivalry and an unusual family bonding in a very light manner. Gracie was a show stealer. The emotions perfectly baked. 

“Runaway” is sweet romantic tale that asserts the importance of not taking our loved ones for granted. To confide at the right time. To not run away from situations. “Illustrado’s Eulogy” is a very poignant story. Still in the clouds of the story. The postmaster steals the show. Narrative of this story is superlative.

“Love is everything” again is a mesmerizing tale of love, but lacks the impact. Overall a nice story.

Do buy the book. A beautiful collection of short stories.

My rating:

4/5.

Amazon buy link:

http://www.amazon.in/Fence-Various-Authors/dp/9384315389?ie=UTF8&keywords=the%20fence&qid=1473412206&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Book Review- Coalescence by Shivam Singh

It took me almost a month to read this book. Not because it was too elaborate and lengthy, but because each story was consuming in itself. It is a compilation of short stories by author, Shivam Singh. Each story has a flavor of its own and yet there is a connect.

Usually, I am not much into short stories, but this particular book I was eager to read because of its title and interesting cover. Compiling 8 stories into one, this book offers an interesting read to the readers.

The first story hooks you to the book. 'Being Dead' is one of the most realistic stories that I have read in  the last few months. The time span between the death and the soul's journey to the heavenly State is surreal. A very soulful story. "The Confession" is a love story that portrays the college romance in a cliche way. An average, but overall a good read.One story that gives goosebumps is , 'A balcony of Crimson'. As if the author bared his heart out. The use of crimson for the romance and death simultaneously will leave you awestruck. Fantastic!

Diving into the human mind is yet another story, 'The truck Driver', that will find its connect with almost all the age groups. A groping story that deals with a broken family and how the scrawny son rediscovers his love for his parents. A reality for most of the readers out  there.

Editing errors are there and it could have been crisper. I don't get into much of grammar while reading, but it's the construction of sentences that appeal to me. Those ways , this book has not disappointed me.

I would rate the book 3/5.

Grab your copy at

http://www.amazon.in/Coalescence-Shivam-Singh/dp/9384315214?ie=UTF8&keywords=coalescence&qid=1472474912&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Flying Colors- A "novel" treat by Chetan Singh

The cover is appealing in the sense its blue hues hints at the bland life of the people working in the aviation industry. As you leaf over and star reading, it picks up the pace. The writer has very nicely summed up the life of the airline crew members that is constantly under the sun. Its a different  story because very  few writers attempt to pick up a sector that's not exciting in a typical sense. A well appreciated attempt.

The first few chapters are peppy. From the jokes to friendly banter,the novel touches the heart and soothe the troubled minds. Its easy and fun to read. Not much to think about or tax our brains. I was in fact amused by the writers style that how he has weaved a emotional catastrophe of the air hostess into a series of lighthearted jokes. This helped the book in not being too heavy or philosophical and at the same time an interesting read. The character of Sam is very relatable and unique. This goes on for almost all the characters penned down.

Amidst the jokes and parties happening, the journey of the aviation guys is surreal and very comforting. A warm read with a cup of coffee. The writer has not used a incomprehensible vocab and that is actually a plus point. 

The plot is not a very mysterious or a powerful one, and that remains to be a negative and a positive both. If you are looking for a brain taxing novel, then this is not for you. The novel at some places looks like a movie screenplay.

Do read it. The author has attempted a road less ravelled and tried to portray the shades of the aviation industry. A heartwarming novel. 

I would rate the book as 3/5.

Grab your copy at:


http://www.amazon.in/Flying-Colors-Chetan-Singh/dp/9384315362/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471583085&sr=8-1&keywords=flying+colors

A Bad Hair 'DE'

“She” is a well known and highly acclaimed novelist and a columnist who has to her credit umpteen literary recognitions. Or that’s what her wiki page suggests. “She” has redefined the socialistic charm and glittery world of the fashion with her “sex-sational” write-ups that center on these “good-for –nothing’ celebrities. When I say good for nothing, I do not intend to question their sensibilities or qualifications, but attempt to mention, with full respect to their achievements, that their contribution to this nations pride is clouded with a lot of speculation.

So, when “she” decided to ‘talent-shame’ the highly talented and qualified athletes representing our country in the Olympics 2016 at Rio, little did she know that her “larger-than-her-brains” mouth will get her into trouble. And it was a well deserved social slamming for her.

“She” is Shobha De.

In the series of events that began on Sunday she took to twitter to express her disappointment over the poor performance displayed by the Indian sportspersons. Point. We all were disappointed. But she was not done. In the same flow she went on to mock at the athletes for their selfie moment and took digs at them.

Well, we live in a free nation. She has a right to opinion. A right to wear that glossy lip color and shoot the obnoxious words off her mouth. She holds the right to tweet in any which way possible and whatsoever her whacky mind desires. I understand Ms De must have taken time out from her busy schedule, that includes attending page 3 parties and quoting sex musings, to watch the sporting event ( if at all she did) before commenting on our “Star performers”. Yes, that is how I choose to address them as they all are stars who represented India in the most prestigious sporting extravaganza

.

So, Ms. De missed out on some technical details before showing off the symptoms of a verbal diarrhea. They don’t just have one goal of “going to Rio and take selfies”. Madam, they tire out their bodies, suffer lifelong injuries, and battle out all odds to make it to the Olympics and represent Indian contingent. Dipa Karmarkar, if Ms. De has ever heard of her, has qualified for the vaults final match and becomes the first Indian Gymnast wonder to qualify for the vaults final in a long time. It is very dangerous to say the least. A small error and a gymnast can die. Experts say Dipa does the Produnova even better than Produnova.

The Men’s hockey team missed it by a whisker and lost to Germany. The agony was visible on their faces. Abhinav Bindra , the man who brought home gold in the Beijing Olympics 2008, failed to grab that shimmering beauty this time. But did they not try? Were they not shattered ? Was it not visible on their faces?

Did these people set their “selfie goals” before reaching Rio. Oh! Come on Ms De get a life. That reminds me, neither has she won a Booker prize nor has she been nominated for it. Any Life goals, Ms De?

Does she even realize that when she tweets on social media , she is actually addressing some 7 lac followers , who for some odd reasons choose to even follow her, and is disparaging the image and credibility of the country? While she is busy typing those unwanted words , comfortably seated in her plush study and sipping green tea, those very athletes, who she choose to mock at, are sweating out in scorching sun and saving every single penny to afford a coach for themselves. They are dreaming of making it big while peddling their way through odds of life in some remote village of India. When she writes a socialistic sex drama and gets it  "Penguin published”, she can guarantee that millions of copies would be sold off due to her “connections”. But these performers , they put their life on stake, take the tough challenges in  their stride, and search for sponsors.

 One thing is for sure.

Turning sixty does not bring in sensibilities. 

Want to read more....

Follow the link

http://www.halfbakedbeans.in/blog/2016/08/10/a-bad-hair-de/

For the selfie craze, a suggestion to a certain Ms. De. Next time you flaunt your senseless slapstick humor and over-hyped intellect, do remember that people have different life goals and they do not need a 'gyan' from you.

P.S. We love you, Writers!

5 Reasons you should never argue with a writer

Writers are people with an immense knack for creativity and finding uncommon in the commons. In search of their plots, they get into the skin of the characters and feel myriad emotions through them. Their mind is a garbage bin where umpteen ideas get stored, wrapped in dust. Superficially they are calm and composed, but beneath there is a volcano that is all raring to erupt. Be sweet to them and they will go to grave with you or dare you argue with them; May God bless you!!!!!

Before you indulge in some mouthful of word war with them, do keep the following pointers in mind:

1.     His vocabulary will slash your poor choice of words and throw you on the ground. They are the elite crowd who uses a glossy list of vocabulary for simple words like “yes” and “no” and you are left wondering what did that mean. Before arguing with them, keep a dictionary handy. Writers are so uncanny and unpredictable that you cannot make out if that's a frown or a wrinkle that has grown out of years. The humble and polite souls may turn into a demon the moment you miss an article in the sentence.  Argue at your own risk.

2.     Writers are parasites.  They survive and draw the ideas from the people living and character-paints them. If you enter into a verbal fracas with a writer, chances are that you might end up being etched on some high-quality paper with varied characteristics. The writer may kill you in one of his plots by resorting to hideous means. He might throw you off the cliff and dedicate a torturous death or let your character succumb to slow death by some fatal disease. You are giving him a plot for his next literary canvas. Unintended fame for him. You never know he might use your character in his fiction and murder you there. Cold blooded murder. Beware. You might end up in a coma by the time you finally conclude what was it about.......actually. 

       Read on more at the Official Half Baked Bean page by clicking on the following link 

http://www.halfbakedbeans.in/blog/2016/08/01/p-s-we-love-you-writers/

E-Love:Terms & conditions applied

Welcome to the e-world where virtual space is more happening than the personal space. The debut novel of the author has hit the bull’s eye and tapped the much in trend cyber love to attract the readers. And he is successful to a limit where he effortlessly depicts the mundane life of an individual, the college chaos, and the cyber frenzy. At first glance, it looks like a love diary more than a book.

The book begins on a very pleasant note and the narrative picks up well. The language used is very simple yet endearing. Its transition from the real world to the virtual world through few “tings tings” is very catchy and transports you to a completely different level that you can relate with. The plot is set in the city of Rajasthan and gives a very earthy touch to it which is in complete contrast to the fast paced plot.

The flow of the story is smooth and the transition from one chapter to another is easy and doesn’t require much forced thought process. The lead characters Ankit and Akshi are lovable, simple, and relatable. Every youngster can relate with them. At times, it gets little boring to read the detailed explanation of the texts but that is thoughtfully done to convey the Cyber slangs.

Coming to the core theme of the book, the cyber love that blooms in all its glory is cliché, yet endearing.  It keeps alive the interest of the readers. The plot could have been more gripping and crisp. Overall, a fresh read while travelling or over a cup of coffee on a rainy day.

My rating 
3/5

Amazon buy link

http://www.amazon.in/E-Love-Ankit-Bohra/dp/9384315184/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469976263&sr=8-2&keywords=e-love

WARNING- DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!

No ..No...I am not promoting it.

Seriously...am not promoting the book.

Okay,  I am just giving you 7 prime reasons to read the book till the end, and soak up the magic of this cute little black thing. By God...amazing sense of humour I have!

I will definitely not tell you to spend 299 INR on this BOOK. 

But STOP spending those hard earned bucks on that double burst pizza and go grab this book.....NOW.

Quick 7 reasons to buy the book:

1. That cheesy pizza will make you fat and your lover might ditch you. So I just want to prevent your breakup. Trust me, honey punch you will not regret this book...but the pizza...yesses you will!!!!!

2. The cover is so enigmatic that it might appease your guests and increase your social standard. Place it nicely in your bookshelf and let guests adore this black beauty.

3. A quick Arabic language guide so that you can flaunt it like Emraan Hashmi did in that song....the same with Hawtiee Mallika Sherawat.....AAH ....Murder!!!!! Few catchy words, "Maafi Mushkila", "Kullu Tamaam", "Mabrook”.

4. If you are sex deprived and feel frustrated then you will find solace in the book and your horny desires will freak out. No...The book does not "satisfy" you but the informative and intellectual content will actually supress your wicked cravings.

5. If you are a foodie then this book is for you, man. Learn the names of royal Arabic delicacies and flaunt your cookery vocab amongst your gang. Win the passes to MasterChef India .......Bang on!!!!!

6. If you are a social media addict then straight jump to chapter 15. Some important tips for you there such as:

a. How to hit off on WhatsApp?

b. How to cope up with a recent break-up?

c. Never jump to conclusions over the cyber.........the net speed might be slow. Not your partner always.

7. If any of the above reasons do not appeal you........JUST OPEN  AMAZON. IN AND TYPE "Doha! Diary of a Delhi-O-holic" AND BUY IT RIGHT NOW. NOTHING CAN CONVINCE YOU TO BUY GOOD STUFF.....THIS UPPERCASE CAN!!!

GO BUY IT..............ITS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH.

P.S. Do not send me threatening mails. Lovingly yours.

BUY LINK

http://www.amazon.in/Doha-Diary-Delhi-O-Holic-Anam-Arsalan/dp/1482875071/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468438026&sr=1-1&keywords=doha+diary

Dalits, Dynasty and SHE- A brutal political satire.....!!!!!

An honest portrayal of the down-in-the-mud political system of the country where the faces are not genuine and conscience of the leaders has hit the rock bottom pit of oblivion. The book begins with the political tyranny of the Dalit leader who has proved her mettle in the vote battle and now rules over the most populous State of the country.  The true colors resurface with each chapter and the characters of the book bring with them perplexing attitudes and social disharmony. The character of Shanti Devi is splashed with oodles of confidence, manipulative antics, and hideous intentions. This is in complete contrast with the naïve, but sharp-minded Rama Chandra who upholds his backward values and condemns the ways of the political tyrant. Amidst all this chaos, there are other prominent players in the political corridors that help in maintaining the grip of the plot. Such a blatant portrayal of the dirty politics that actually acts as a page turner.

Talking about the book, the characters are subtly penned down giving them a realistic touch. The political satire that it is, it truly justifies the random twists and turns in the book that maintains the pace throughout. At couple of places, the grip tends to loosen as the characters add little confusion to the political drama already in full vigor. But, the highs and lows of the human characters are shown in the white light.

A crisp read that engages your mood and makes you ponder over the naivety of the citizens who trust their political leaders blindly. The strong command over the language is actually the USP of the book and reflects the pensive approach of the author. Kudos to the concept, the grim satire, and the superlative characterization.

I would rate this book as 4.5/ 5.

A MUST read!!!!

Food-O-mania...!!!! An NRI's food woes

Someone has rightly said, “Food is your body’s fuel, without fuel your body wants to shut down”. And the  protagonist personally believes that all great minds are set to work and love after a lavish feast. 

Wink wink. :)
So the protagonist has this ‘Breakup friendly’ food theory that’s quite amusing.  It says Yummy and fatty food is the only way to heel a broken heart. Who wants to mourn over heartaches when you are served a divine platter!!!!  But you can never predict what life has in store for you or so was the case with him.

Food-O-mania

Hailing from North India, where an evening tea sans ‘samosa’ /’kachori’ is a sin, he is a big time foodie.
Life slaps a 'pita bread' on his face and he ends up in Doha only to wake up to aroma of sulemani tea. From ginger tea to red tea. ..life has been too hard on him. PMS Indeed. .....Poor metabolic Syndrome.  Savour your thoughts. ..!!!!

The five food woes of the protagonist :

1. From 'harry's' to Harees life has taken a mouthful of twists. When hummus replaces 'Chana masala' and 'Majboos' replaces Biryani. ...taste buds go on a strike.

2. Ķeratin shoots up only to escalate the libido. ....The lifeguards are required and they come pricey.  Oooops!!

3. It's only Doha and no DOSA. ....aarrgghhhhh

4. A temporary breakup with street food takes him in the pit or 'pita' of despair.

5. Shawarma se na sharma meri jaan. 

Read on to know more about the protagonist in the upcoming book, "Doha! Diary of a Delhi-O-holic".

https://m.facebook.com/Doha-Diary-of-a-Delhi-O-holic-1710720389168925/

The genetic bandhan

To have a baby is always a joint decision but the difficult part (the painful part), is always in the stride of the woman.Guess we are capable of handling the internal and external pressures at the same time....lol. So, when me and my man decided to let our heart walk outside our bodies and dance on our heads..literally...I was pretty sure that the God is in the process of creating a magnificent small wonder for me. As the first trimester went by and took along its partner in crime, the much despised morning sickness and acidity aunt reduced its frequent visits to my would-be-penguin body, I could actually get hold of my thoughts and dwell in the imagination of THE LITTLE MIRACLE who was to be downloaded in next few months.
The man of the house had much to worry, namely the due date so that he can plan his leaves and the  awesome killing looks of the baby that he thought would automatically be transferred to him by some instant pen drive. AHHH....that was indeed quite a contribution in the entire process.
 After all this, I was pretty much sure that God would be very kind and generous in taking cues from me while sculpting my miracle.NO NO NO........i am not a feminist at all before you jump on any conclusions. I DESPISE silly feminism for the sake of haunting the poor men. So, as much I wanted my miracle to be  replica of me in looks, I wanted the baby to inherit his fathers brain and other many such traits that I am proud of......don't ask me to count those now..have to think..;);)
So you see, life was pretty much sorted until my penguin body finally gave in and was in the mood to let go off the miracle in this awesome world. The emergency c-section software was run on and after few hitches the miracle was downloaded.
Day 5- hospital
Visitors - " The baby is completely on his father...bilkul baap pe"
Inlaws- "pulkit jaisa hai ekdum.....muahhh"
My mom- "Sirf eyes teri hain"

Month 5
 The sonny boy sleeps like his dad.
Month 12
The lil dude tries combing his hairs like his father....the side partition
After 2 years
mommy daddy in argument mode....boy says " noooo mama" and hugs his father

I sit there scratching my head...!!

At this moment
The sonny boy staring at me with his father like eyes and telling me to fetch him a glass of "pann" .
Yes boss....sure i will....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S.
I am extremely proud of both the rock stars in my life.....:)

Death by selfie

Blame it up on the era of smartphones or instagram, the pouty selfie obsession is rising at a unprecedented rate. And that's perfectly alright as long you are able to flaunt your newly done eyebrows and that coral lip color. I myself had a huge selfie obsession long back and trust me I never used mirror during that time as my cell phone was duly trained to act as the witched mirror and answer my whims; "Mirror mirror who is the prettiest of all?. More  than the intolerance debate,  what worries me is the rate at which the selfie deaths are increasing and that tells me something is creepy about this selfie obsession. Though being a  saggi, I got over it long back but am still amused at the on-your-face expressions of the people while clicking selfie.The other day I was literally horrified at the sight of the lady clicking a selfie with her puppy inside the lift and flaunting a  puppy face.I swear i feel pity for the puppy who had to endure the tight cuddle  and bear with the obsession. Talking about the puppy face, i still doubt who flaunted the better puppy expression(winks). BTW, she forgot to step out on her turn.

The recent death of a boy while clicking a selfie on a  rail track is worrying. Time to rethink over the value of your life to your loved ones. That pout can wait surely but death carrier wont.
Use those pout at some better places...obviously not on a deadly spot. Flaunt yourself, express yourself,love yourself...but please please please don't invite the sexy looking death carrier by any chance.
Keep dreaming
CHEERS....!!!!

The Odd even homeconomics

Hope you guys are having a  stupendous start of the year and all your resolutions, have at least been posted on the social media, if not been implemented. After all, that is what resolutions are meant to be..nah!!! After the historical odd even formula being implemented for a fortnight, I am intrigued by the economics of it.The intellectual brains put to work to design it, must have had a nasty fight at home and the end result was this epic and ill- logical scheme. Before I am convicted for speaking my weirdo mind out or before some political Sabu (remember the muscular alien from Chacha chaudhri) sits on a hunger strike after reading my non-cooperation post, I would like to ponder on the odd even homeconomics , if it were to be applicable in my domestic territory. What if the household chores were divided on  this basis and women get a alternate day off from the internal affairs. AHH...SOUNDS LIKE SOME SUGAR COATED MELODY to me .I mean imagine one day the man does the laundry and the other day the woman takes the car to the service center.(Role  reversal...ahaan). 

It would be really difficult to predict the success of this scheme in any domestic territory, but yeah..this would definitely bring back some fun in the monotonous life.So, our Sabu can be really happy that his scheme is quite a inspiring one.

The success of the marriage is anyways in this odd even scheme which is not very often realized. One day the man of the house goes out and have fun with his friends and the other day, the wife goes out and celebrate...of course with HER friends.......no jokes please..!!!

P.S. The quality of the household chores performed by the husbands is a not a matter of litigation...!!!!

CHEERS...

Finding a perfect match

It is said “You fall in love not by finding a perfect person, but by seeing a imperfect person perfectly”.  To a certain extent, it is true also, after all nobody is perfect in this world. But what is important here is to find someone who is well deserving of his imperfectness being ignored. When it comes to our loved ones we often get irrational, don’t we? So we are back to square one, how to find someone who is just the right one for you or should I say, “The perfect match”.

We lead such a hectic and fast paced life that very often we don’t realize the value of people in our lives when they are there. The chances of a broken relationship increases when there is a difference in what we aspire for and what we land up with.  Globally, the rate of failed marriages is increasing which is a area of concern.

One of the most prominent reasons for a failed marriage is a “imperfect marriage”. It’s kind of weird but many a times the reasons for falling apart are the same that brought you together. Blame it on adrenaline rush or whatever, people get so pumped up while dating that they end up getting married , in the heat of the moment. A typical “Happy ever after” tale where there is nothing happy ever after…!!! Life initially is pink and flowery but once you get over your fantasies, that you realize may be it was too early to take the plunge. The problem here is not a imperfect partner but definitely a incompatible partner, who doesn’t fit your set of priorities and needs.

So the BIG question is what are the do’s and don’ts , that one must have in his/her mind when it comes to finding your soul mate.  Finding your perfect someone is not that difficult but to hang on to him is definitely not so easy…J

Here are few tit bits that will surely help you find your soul mate:

1.       Know what you want

We all are unique for we have different needs and aspirations and before getting into any relationship, be sure of what you want out of it. Don’t go with the flow but follow your  heart because unless you are sure of what you want in your life, nobody would know.

2.       Ready , Steady and go

Don’t fall for someone just because all your friends have their dates to accompany them to the ball rooms or clubs. This is one thing you need to ask yourself whether you are ready for it or not. Don’t rush yourself  and take your time. Get prepared up there in your mind and just go for it..!!!

3.       Talk, talk, talk and more talk

That’s the key my dear. One thing that can piss off any relationship is lack of communication.  I understand we all lead busy lives but lil effort pays you in long run. Infact we are lucky in terms of technology here. Page, sms, blackberry ping, call, mail or do what you can but the banter should not end. There’s nothing better than a starbucks coffee and a chit chat with your someone special. Trust me , it will do wonders. Follow your heart and speak your mind and you are right there man.

4.       Explore

We all are different human beings with varied taste, desires, hobbies, mindset and temperament. Explore what all you can do together and its real fun. You both will have different opinions but variety is the spice of life, isn’t it. Stretch your comfort zone and open up yourself.

5.       Setting the priorities

While you look out for your perfect someone, its very important to set your priorities . Your priorities should decide your partner and not vice versa. Similarly you have to accept your partner with their set of values . People come with their baggage and should not be burdened with a “ to do list”. Accept them the way they are because u fell in love with the person and rest all is a package deal :)

6.       Oblivious to the obvious

Yes, there are times we need to ignore what seems to be very obvious. You cannot hold on to grudges and letting them go is the key to a blissful association.  Let go of your Ego and bend a little, afterall that’s better than to break down.

All of the tit bits do not work in all real time situations but they do act as a catalyst. There is only key to a perfect match. Either you fall in love or get loved.  And if you find that difficult , there is a long list of matrimonial websites willing to help you. And who knows, you might end up finding your soulmate. The medium is not important but the end result is.  Trust your partner, and believe in love, and you will find your soulmate in him.

CHEERS..!!!

For the "food" of my life...!!!

Someone has rightly said, “Food is your body’s fuel, without fuel your body wants to shut down”. And I personally believe, all great minds are set to work after a scrumptious meal. In fact I indulge myself completely when I am low because a zestful meal takes me higher and higher. Blame it on my ‘kitchen friendly’ upbringing; I am addictive to anything and everything about food. In fact I have this ‘Breakup friendly’ food theory that’s quite amusing.  It says Yummy and fatty food is the only way to heel a broken heart. Who wants to mourn over heartaches when you are served a divine platter!!!!  But you can never predict what life has in store for you or so was the case with me.

Hailing from North India, where an evening tea sans ‘samosa’ /’kachori’ is a sin, both me and my hubby are big time foodie. Without elaborating my hubby’s sweet tooth saga, will move on to the turning point of my flavorful life. In 2011, I moved to USA with my hubby, with dreamy eyes as that of a new bride. Spending initial days in a hotel, Indeed life was all flowery and I felt like some Yash Chopra heroin singing my heart out to the magnificence of life until the villain made its entry. And in this case the tormentor came well placed on a tray with all its accompaniments and we made eye contact for the first time. I kept staring at those sausages, bagels and oatmeal and not to forget, peanut butter and mourning over the loss of my regular ‘Aloo paratha’ and ‘poha’. ‘Golgappas’ and ‘jalebi’ kept haunting me for so many nights. Life is so tough sometimes…!!!!

After my first encounter with self-assumed tasteless meal, the next thing on to-do-list was to visit the first- seen Indian grocery store and stock my cupboards with all that I can manage to dump into it. I was equally happy to see Indian restaurants, which meant duty free weekends!!  Life was back on track with my taste buds taken full care of. Then during one of the summer evenings we happened to go out to dine in this Mexican joint with our friends and I kept my fingers crossed. And to my surprise I developed a taste for it. “Chipotle “is a Mexican version of Rajma rice with salad, if put in simple words. I was amazed at its presentation and soon it was on my favorites list. Basically the problem with foodies is we cannot stay away from food and love to explore different cuisines (as long it is better looking than better tasting, we can try anything).  Next on our list was “Maggiano’s Little Italy” known for their authentic flavors. And their Cheese ravioli will leave you craving for more. They use very subtle flavors to give it a typical Italian touch.  It’s interesting to see the variety of cuisines that every region has to offer. The high-point came when while waiting for my order to come in an Indian restaurant, I saw a group of Non-Indians relishing our very own Shahi Paneer and Naan, in a pita style though but being an Indian I felt so proud.

From ‘parathe wali gali’ to ‘Greek Kitchen’, the journey has been very fulfilling and enriching. What amazes me is the fact that Food is one   divine creation that binds us all globally. At the same time, someone back there in India is gorging on ‘Chicken gyros’ and ‘falafel’, and just a continent across someone is devouring  ‘Mysore Masala Dosa’. !!!  If you look at it closely, you will realize spices have no nationality. They may have different origins but they emit same aroma across the globe without any discrimination. Little things in life have a lot to teach, if only we could learn.

Raising a toast to all the food lovers….

Cheers

RIP Baby Afreen...!!!

Nowadays I am really scared surfing these news sites online or tuning into news channels online. You never know what may come up next and sends chill down your spine. You come to terms with harsh truth of life that no matter we boast of our "21st centurism" , we are still living in a society of morons and uncivilized creatures. How else would you describe the horrendous behavior of this man who battered his 3 month old little girl, Baby Afreen, to death. Trust me, the moment I saw this news byte I froze. The child was mercilessly beaten up by her father, stabbed on her face that led to brain hemorrhage and dislocation of her neck. Though she was rushed to hospital by her grieving mom, but she did not stand a chance and could not survive. I was taken aback because while we sit in our plush homes pampering ourselves, little do we realize that there is another world outside our cozy living rooms where life is not so flowery. The only confrontation that we have with its dark side is through news channels and newspapers. How can a man be so stone-hear ted and cruel to have "murdered" his own child  so brutally? Although he is in police custody, but what are his chances? Who guarantees he wont  be let out on bail and set free in future with little punishment? Such a psychopath has no right to live with normal people like us.
And yes, Baby Afreen is neither the first one to fall prey to sick and devilish mentality of man nor will she be last. This time being on television magnified the quantum of loss but are'nt there several Baby Afreen who might be treated similarly across the country? Is there some kind of Moral policing that we can adhere to stop such barbarous  practices . Life is sacred and what right does a man has to play with it. We should rather be ashamed of ourselves and our self proclaimed modernity and cosmo society where female infanticide, foeticide, gender discrimination and fairer-sex harassment, is still very much there.

May her soul rest in peace...................

Home is where Heart is....!!!!

Well, have just  come back from India trip so the topic itself  is understandable. Partings are always painful and i am a mess when it comes to handling such aweful-tearful moments. And this time I realized its not just my family and loved ones , but my country too, who I fear parting from. Somehow that homely connect that one has in his own country is not to be found anywhere else, no matter how global you go. That stability,sense of belongigness, and pride is unmatched. Your roots define the person that you are , what you give to others and what you make out of yourself. Though you might succumb to the demands of the time ,move out of your nation, but eventually you find solace in your land.
I remember those little pleasures I had during my homecoming trip and i often wonder  whats more to life? We slog our asses off for few shiny notes but tend to forget that Money cant buy everything and here you dont even have mastercard for those pleasures...:).  But man is a mysterious, puzzled,obnoxious creature who wants to have it all in his kitty. We forget the oppurtunity cost that we are bearing to live this moment. Strange as it may sound, but in quest of real happiness we seem to forget that it lies within. Happiness comes with contentment and contentment comes hand in hand with sense of belongingness , which ofcourse you have to decide where you belong to.
As for me, I know I belong to my homeland and its there that I come alive like nowhere else..!!!

JAAGO RE INDIA..!!!!

Salaam India

I assume everyone is aware of the political crisis that has become the talk of the nation and those who are'nt aware...well this blog is just not for you...you can continue with your "drawing room gossips"!!

To begin with  I believe , we all should be well versed with what  exactly Jan Lokpal Bill is all about. It is a proposed Anti corruption Law that aims at bringing transparency in the entire system  and cleaning this corrupt system( a very diffficult job, I must say). The history of this bill dates back to year 1968, when it was first introduced by Shri Shanti Bhushan, but due to the "obvious" reasons it lacked the parliamentary support.  In subsequent years, it was raised and dealt in the same way as the Government deals with trivial issues of country like Corruption, Growth, Employment.......huh who cares about these things...!!!
In 2011, Shri Anna Hazare, a Gandhian Activist  sparked the movement once again and demand for passing of the bill was raised in the parliament. Before moving ahead, here is a brief gist of what exactlt this bill ius and how it will work once it is enacted.

http://youtu.be/3RvDI03YTww

Having gone through  that video, I assume there isnt any doubt over this bill. Now if you compare this version to the version that Government wants to bring in, every Indian will feel cheated. The Government's version is totally "Government Controlled" that nulls the basic idea of a LokPal bill. There may be certain features that may lessen Government's powers, I agree and that probably is the biggest fear of Sibbals,Tiwaris,Soni's. but my question is "TILL DATE  WHAT HAS THIS GOVERNMENT DONE ,WITHIN THE AMBIT OF ITS POWERS, TO MITIGATE CORRUPTION FROM THE SOCIETY?". Today the need of Jan Lokpal Bill has arisen because the Government has failed in its duty to serve the nation. The Government itself is neck deep in corruption and scandalism, why would they ever let a Anti corruption bill pass in parliament?

The most defining moment came when a 74 year old man took a stand,came forward,began his Satyagraha in a non-violent manner,starved himself and these top shots gets him detained for violation of section 144 under Crpc. Is this what we call democracy? Aint we entitled to our opinion and free to express it in non violent and peaceful manner? Are we left with any other option but to resort to Satyagraha, under such circumstances when our voices go unheard? Was it fair to put a activist behind same bars where people like Kalmadi were put? What kind of democracy we are boasting about........this where people like Kiran Bedi,Anna Hazare,Shanti Bhushan are detained for raising their voices in peaceful manner ? If yes, 16 August 2011 will be remembered a s black Tuesday.

They say Shri Anna Hazare has resorted to a unethical way to protest and has hurt " SANSAD KI GARIMA"? What the hell do you mean by it. Where was "SANSAD KI GARIMA" when  tables and chairs were thrown and politicians were hitting their fellow MP's with slippers.

But in someway I am proud of the Indians the way they have stood by Anna this time. Its not about supporting a man, but about a ideology. The crowd that gathered in support of Anna wasnt "planned", "choreographed", or brought in trucks like in political rallies. That was the voice of the nation that was always suppressed . This revolution is not going to end now. Across the globe, people are high on spirits, and firm in their support. Here in Seattle too we raised our voice on behalf of Seattle Indians which was aired on Times Now.

http://youtu.be/RN7rZa5STIw

I know for many of you this will be regular junk mail or just a gossip material, but just spare few minutes and rethink. We always want someone to take the initiative and now that it has been taken, shud'nt we lead it and go ahead. I want a Corruption free India  and that day it will be "INCREDIBLE INDIA", in real sense.

JAI HIND...JAI ANNA   !!!!!!

"SHE" is having a baby...!!!

BREAKING NEWS-  Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is expecting....!!!!!!!!!!

There cant be anything bigger and miraculous than this, it seems.OMG, Ash is pregnant...how come...Oh really.....awwwww....wowwww.!!!! This is what i see in all the newspapers and news channels nowadays and i am sure of having a slice of it for the next 9 months.LOL!!...Rocket science it seems.

The media frenzy suggests to me that it is some kind of miracle on this earth that Big B is going to be a grandpa and Aby Baby is going to have a baby..nahi. I doubt if this was the case when someone  like Baba Ramdev had to go into oblivion and media was equally active...irony indeed. Well , finally bachchans have proved once again that they are pro at making it to the national headlines be it Abhi -Ash marriage or Amitji's jaw dropping look at filmfare seeing Rekha perform on Salaam -e- Ishk and to go a mile further here we have the future junior bacchan who is hitting on it even before giving his "darshan to this mayanagri...simply 'bachchan-tastic'.! And when 'THE' bahu of this country is going to deliver a miracle we have a bunch of astrologers predicting( or hogging for limelight actually) the details of it as if it was their hard work( sorry Abhi darling) . I mean isnt it a bit wierd to decide on the baby's gender and looks as if there is nothing more important in their own family( i wonder if these people are aware of their kids grades .....!!)

Hmmmmmm....on a  lighter note i have looked out for a suitable match for their kids( going by the predictions,they are to have twins...OMG someone please stop these astrologers they will come out tomorrow with something as wierd as normal or c-section delivery...) . Well, hws Aryan Khan for their baby girl.......charismatic, handsome, rich, intelligent( he has to be all this considering he has SRK's genes). For the luckiest boy on  this earth,  i have some choices as well...Nyasa Devgan,Samaira Kapoor....ab dont gimme the shit of age difference after all Abhi Ash are happily married...;)
 Aaahhh i should try matchmaking..LOL...wat say?????

A lot said and lot written, but to end it my heartiest congos to the Bachchan family.....and have you heard the latest bit. Bachchans have invited tenders from reputed hospitals  and the winner will get to have the privilege of bringing the miraculous and heavenly baby in this world.....well thats straight from my lappy to bring that smile on your face...

CHEERS....!!!!!!

Life,love and FB...

And am back after a short  break.It has been a long and hectic week of moving and shuffling here and  there but finally have settled down in our new home. It was such a relief to get rid of the hotel accomodation................PRISON BREAK!!!!!!! And now the best part begins ; coloring up your home in your shades, after all  "Har ghar kuch kehta hai, ki usme kaun rehta hai"!!!!!

One week with no television,no blogging and rare access to internet........well quite unbelieveable for someone whose day begins with a logging into facebook and and clicking onto those "appealing" and "enticing" red digits on the left and having a sneak peak into others life and having a slice of it...( and sharing mine too). Thanx Mark Zuckerberg had it not been for facebook my life would have been a  blank canvas without any colors of "status updates", "notifications","wall posts", "comments" and "news feed".     !!!!! Having said that, I came to realize one thing that    how strong are our "tech" ties and it has become a inseparable and THE most important thing in our lives .Its almost impossible to imagine a day without our gadgets and actually feel the real feel of life. Okay i might sound complicated but yeah....in the absence or should rather say paucity of time to access the virtual world , i could actually connect with the real world,the beauty around and got the piece of sunshine early in the morning( earlier it used to be the blue beam when windows start) and trust me it was more soothing to have a cup of cup of masala tea  in balcony rather than browsing you tube.

And in no way it means that my love for facebook is over.....no it cant be i am a die hard FB lover and completely in awe of this most enchanting and mesmerizing creation that has made my virtual life all the more beuatiful and worth switching on my lappy every morning  and every time i log onto  you my heart skips a beat and i croone " tujhe dekha to yeh jaana FB, notifications and status hote hain kitne lovely, ab yahan se kahan jaye hum, twitter and orkut me bhi wo baat nahi ".  But one thing for sure I will get more time off the virtual world  and look around and explore this beautiful master creation by God. Its important sometimes to connect with your inner self too.Just trying to strike a balance between social networking and self networking.

CHEERS...!!!