Strange Thing Is LOVE …. Episode 4

By

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November 8, 2016

Next day, as Zoya was on her way to office, she saw some roadwork going in hence she took a different route. Traffic jam! God how she hated it. She glanced sideways and her heart gave a big lurch, Shekhar was sitting in the vehicle right next to her. She wanted to slide down and hide herself but before she could devise a plan, he turned and their eyes met. Man! Those eyes, once again she was drawn to him. He smiled his million-dollar smile or so she used to call it during her college days. Every time he smiled, his lower lip used to curl and these naughty dimples danced on his cheeks which made girls swoon and drool over him. Shekhar pulled down his car window and asked her about her destination, “Rajarhat,” Zoya replied. “Hop in, I will drive you,” he offered but she refused. Bravo! She patted her back. Much to her horror, he came out of the car, gave some instructions to his driver and opened her cab door.

Zoya had no idea why he was behaving like this. No sooner did he settle next to her, he said, “Please don’t get intimidated but I have something very important to discuss with you,” he took a pause, Zoya widened her dark eyes signaling him to continue, “I have read your pieces on Facebook and went to your blog. Zoya, you have immense talent and I don’t want you to waste it, I want you to write a book.” Zoya was quite perplexed because here was this media tycoon sitting next to her who had just now behaved like an impulsive teenager, and now he was suggesting that she write a book. Does it mean he has reading her write-ups if so then what was his take on it? What did he feel? What was his reaction? Did he like what she wrote? Her mind was overcrowded by such questions but she just gawked at him. Typical of her, this is how she behaved when he was around.

Shekhar continued explaining things to her but all she could see were those green eyes and shabby locks. No noise of blaring horns disturbed her, no over speeding vehicles could distract her, slowly she lost herself in those eyes, she could just look at those lips moving but could not decipher what he said, “Agar Tum Saath Ho from Tamasha,” buzzed in her purse and jolted her from the reverie. It was her phone ringing, just a few days ago Shekhar had shared one his favorite tracks on Facebook, Zoya had been listening to it ever since and kept it as her ringtone. Shekhar’s expressions were indecipherable but he was surely amazed. “Thanks aunty,” Zoya spoke with someone over the phone, “No, there are no birthday plans, I am on my way to office.” There was a slight pause as she listened to her aunt on the other end, she sighed and said, “Please don’t call me a birthday girl, it reminds of a Hollywood crime thriller.” This peaked Shekhar’s interest, he took out his phone and checked something, ahan! So it was her birthday today, realized he.

As the call got finished, Shekhar said, “Zoya, you are taking a day off today and we are going out, I will not take no for an answer.” Before she could open her mouth to say anything, he asked the driver to stop, and got off with her. Luck was on their side, there was a Café Coffee Day joint, Shekhar said, “Let’s go and make plans for today.” As he moved in, he stopped and said, “Please do call up your office and let them know, I am sure they will be happy to see you enjoying your birthday leave.” Zoya was slightly miffed by his domineering behavior, however, in her heart of hearts she loved his impulsiveness.

The next few hours were like a whirlwind, Shekhar called up his driver and told her to make plans. Initially, she was a little bit hesitant but then she thought that there will not be another today. She decided to make the most of her present. For once, she decided to let go. As per her plans, first they went to an amusement park, both of them stood out due to two reasons, firstly, undoubtedly they made the heads turn due to their alarmingly perfect pairing and secondly, both of them were too mature to behave like kids as they enjoyed different rides dressed in their formals.

She laughed and clapped gleefully when he shot goals after goals in the basketball net. It was a game where if you score five goals in seven attempts you get a soft toy. Shekhar scored seven goals and received a giant size teddy bear. He looked incredulously at Zoya as she jumped and clapped, taking slow strides, he moved to her and stretched out the soft toy to her, “Happy Birthday Zoe!” It was the way he looked at her, Zoya felt like the most beautiful girl in the world.

Shekhar had never seen anyone so naïve and pure. He was surrounded by fake glamour, artificial joy and plastic smile. For the first time in his life, he was feeling alive. It was her easy disposition which provided him with peace and tranquility. The more time he spent with her, the more he got drawn to her. After amusement park, they went to a Sci-fi movie. She was full of life and surprises. She whistled and screamed when Wolverine aka Hugh Jackman appeared on the screen. He smiled sheepishly as people turned to look at them. This girl had so many different layers to her personality, all different and each unique. The movie rolled in front of him but his mind was somewhere else, he was taken back in time. He remembered Zoya in her college days, shy timid girl who was always huddled in the midst of a group of girls or hovered around the library. They used to exchange greetings, and every time he greeted her, she used to flush red and hurry towards her class. Many at times he had seen her looking at him but was too confused to make out anything of it because every time he looked at her, she used to turn her head away. He had also tried to strike a conversation with her a couple of times but there was nothing which signaled that she was interested in talking to him.

Post movie dinner consisted of pizza which once again was Zoya’s choice. She giggled while biting on her slice of pizza, “Today was the best birthday ever, in fact best day ever, Shekhar, you should meet me quite often, God I am feeling so alive after ages…” Zoya carried on telling Shekhar how good she felt, the excitement in her voice, the twinkle in her voice, the flush on her cheeks…. Shekhar felt like losing himself in the child of this remarkably intelligent and extraordinarily unique girl.

Things no one will tell you about relationship

By

Riya Naskar

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November 8, 2016

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Relationship the word can be used in various terms. It could be a relationship with your father, mother, sister, brother or best friend for that matter. But here I am specifically talking about your relationship with your loved one – can be husband, wife or your boyfriend, girlfriend. Now we all know that relationship never starts with reading a user manual. Before getting into a relationship no one tells us about the dos and the don’ts of it. Actually, there are no certain rules or guidelines to start a relationship. You fall in love because you feel for the person.

Every love story or relationship has its ups and downs, but what is important is to stand strong through them and survive through it together. When someone else’s happiness is your happiness that is love. We all know there are no rules for relationships, but a quick read through the article won’t harm.

Understand that men and women are different from each other

Very essential for both the sexes to understand each other and accept the way they are. Understanding and celebrating the difference will make living together more fun, peaceful and interesting. Take each other’s differences in a sporting and positive way to stay away from a messy relationship.

Don’t waste your time in being angry

Anger is the relationship killer! You are in a relationship and I know it’s not going to be easy but all you could do is hold on to each. Don’t fall apart just because you are angry at your partner. If you are annoyed at your partner, wait – give yourself some time calm down and gently discuss it. Thinking about the problem in a calm state of mind helps you to find a better solution.

Stay best friends

Some of you may find it very unromantic but, those who live it find it to be the best part of the relationship. But trust me staying best friends is much more fun being in a relationship.

Give what you want to get

Our needs change with time. It’s very simple, let’s not complicate it – if you want to feel understood by your partner – trying being more understanding. If you want to feel more love and care – try giving more.

Do small things for each other

You don’t have to make a sweeping romantic gesture to get the spark in your relationship. I personally feel that small gestures are more meaningful than large fancy gestures. For instance, buy your partner his/her favorite snack or buy a rose that would instantly get a smile on his/her face. It’s not that difficult, try once!

Discuss what you want in life

We all know men and women are different from each other so are their interests. Have a healthy conversation and discussion about what you want out of life – like the career goals, any specific place your partner wants to visit with you it could be any damn thing, all you got to do is talk and listen to each other.

Apologize after a fight

We have been taught to apologize since we were kids, because apologizing won’t make you a smaller person. Also apologizing doesn’t always mean you’re wrong and the other person is right but it means that you value your relationship more than your ego.

You are now officially armed with the comprehensive routine to shape your relationship. Relationships can be extremely rewarding and a source of joy. Don’t complicate it, it is a beautiful feeling to love and to be loved. Stay happy and keep loving!

Yet Apart

By

Rimjhim

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November 7, 2016

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I stay silent, amongst my twinkling peers,
As I watch the eight year old, who fears,
Compelling his mother to move his toys inside,
Lest they get lonely and scared in this night sight.
I’m in a shape, yet shapeless,
I’m surrounded by many, yet alone,
I provide the earth calmness and peace,yet restless,
The sunlight tingles me with a shimmery moan,
Yet, I give out beauty and coolness.
I see one, I see all,
There are mermaids bathing in the fall,
And there, there the king is on his way,
Claws of gold, sharp and an armor hairy,
The lion breathes quietly, oh-stealthily,
Looking at the baby deer, drinking without any fear,
In a blink, the king gallops over,
And the king of gold feasts over the deer gold.
I see the blossoming buds, the sleeping birds,
When the stream winks at me and coyly smiles,
She takes my heart and I climb down to hers,

Mates for the whole night, ah, yet apart,
She snuggles me warmly in her cold waves, dancing and giggling,
And before I can satiate myself with her curves,
The dawn comes chasing me, unwilling to quit the fight,
Heavy heartedly I bid goodbye to my mate,
With a promise of kissing her the night next.

Jamawar of Kashmir

By

Kriti Negi

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November 7, 2016

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Kashmir produces many beautiful textiles every year, though now they have a uniformity of style. Jamawar is a fabric that has its roots deep down in Kashmir history. The beautiful Valley of Kashmir is justly famed for its textiles. Zain-Ul-Abidin, the ruler of Kashmir had brought weavers from Turkestan to the valley and laid the foundation of Kashmir Shawl Industry. The word Jamawar, Jama means ‘a robe or shawl’ and War means ‘Yard’. It is an adulterated form of silk since it contains a blend of cotton and wool. Jamawar fabric is the oldest forms of woven art. It is made by hand with needles. It doesn’t involve any work, no machines work at all, only needle. Some shawls take a couple of years and months to complete. The high end variety of Jamawar shawl is Kanika Jamawar made from weaving sticks and the patterns. They are so finely done that the front and back of the shawl are identical. While Pashmina Jamawar shawl is made of Pashmina yarn obtained from goats mixed with cotton and wool, the main attention i.e., Jamawar Fabric draw is skilled embroidery work and flawless weaves. In early times, Jamawars were crafted out of pure silk. These shawls were exclusively worn by the aristocrat class and the royal. But with advanced technology and faster looms Jamawars are accessible to everyone nowadays.

Traditionally, Jamawar has been used for making shawls. But, now it is also used in designing Sarees, blouses, bedspreads, tablecloths, curtains, salwar kameez, kurtas, lehenga cholis and many more. The intricate paisley motifs and designs on a Jamawar fabric truly give this fabric a rich and distinctive look.

The Indian government in recent years has initiated and attempted some programs that work towards the revival of this art. A Shawl weaving center for promoting the production of Jamawar weaves at Kanihama in Kashmir has been opened. Rapid innovations are taking place to make Jamawar more popular in India as well as across whole world. Jamawar sarees, now have matching silk shawls attached to them to maintain the royal glory. Jamawar Sarees are being woven using equal variants of silk like Pashmina Silk and Banarasi Silk. Weaving techniques from Bhutan are giving inspirations to Weavers. The Jamawar shawls are disappearing very rapidly because the weavers are not willing to take up the tedious task of this ancient style of weaving. It takes years to produce a jamawar shawl. The ancient style and the time spend is the reason why this antique form of weaving has not passed down from one generation to another. The younger generation have drifted to other professions in seek of good livelihood and less time consumption. The beauty and intricacy of this fabric has attracted the attention of high-fashion designers, who have chosen it repeatedly to use it in order to create gorgeous designer party-wear. Styling and accessorizing such a rich fabric requires a certain amount of attention to detail. For special occasions, one can stick with one or two pieces of classic Indian jewelry such as a Kundan necklaces, Polki earrings, diamond mang-tikkas or gold bangles. These will nicely complement the traditional, intricate aesthetic of Jamawar fabric. This textile industry has a significant presence in the Indian economy as well as in the international textile economy. Its contribution to the Indian economy is manifested in terms of its contribution to the industrial production, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings. Textile Industry is providing one of the most basic needs of people and holds importance; maintaining sustained growth for improving quality of life.

5 Most Common Types of Phobias

By

Neha

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November 7, 2016

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Every person at some point of time face fear and anxiety, called phobia. Different people suffer from vivid types of phobias, it can be to a significant object or situation. The people going through this can go to extreme levels for avoiding certain burrows, and if unavoidable they may go through unkempt distress. Here are some common phobias that every one may face…

GLOSSOPHOBIA :

This phobia is like speech anxiety, the people suffering from this fear often avoid stage and spotlight. They are afraid of interacting in public and catching social attention. The most common symptom of glossophobia is stage fear, and getting anxious and nausea whenever put in the situation.

MONOPHOBIA :

In this mental state, one may feel ignored and unwanted by the people surrounding them. This is what is known as the fear of being alone but does not implicate to be isolated at some place. It is the feeling that they are not loved and are always being left out. The physical symptoms can be seen in people who are at extreme levels that include dizziness, shaking and sweating. The emotional symptoms can be the feeling of being secluded.

OPHIDIOPHOBIA :

This is an abnormal fear of snakes and is most commonly reported among one third of adults. This phobia of snake is not a basic human reaction when confronted with a snake. It is the fear that people face when they even hear about snakes or simply dread even just by catching a glimpse of it on television.

CLAUSTROPHOBIA :

When you go uneasy because of being in a high neck dress, anxious when in a small room and feel anxious, this is called claustrophobia. Some people may feel it in a washroom or in airplanes as well. The first reaction of feeling claustrophobic is getting panic attacks and feeling suffocated and not being able to respire properly.

AQUAPHOBIA :

The persistent fear of water or even getting near it may cause the person to sweat and fright profusely. The idea of being near seas or oceans or even going for a swim is like suicidal to them. Unexpected water splashes and thrown in water bodies may even be fatal due to high anxiety. This phobia also disturbs the day to day life of phobia sufferer.

These phobias are not a mental disorder, this can be commonly found in people around you. Some fear darkness, some fear ghosts, in the same way people have unique phobias that may seem unnatural to others. But there are still some treatments available for certain kinds and some have no cure. Are you suffering from any phobia? Just face it and don’t feel ashamed of admitting it or let people make fun of it…there is no running away.

THE GIRL ON THE STAIRS

By

Babra Shafiqi

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November 7, 2016

1

I haven’t asked myself things in a very long time. Where am I ? Where will I go and what is it that lies in front of me right now?. I didn’t know much about love or death or both. I don’t have to close my eyes to have a dream and a nightmare flashing inside my brain. Neither do I have to sleep to go into some other world. No matter how many worlds there are for me , none are complete.

I was walking down the stairs when something called me. It wasn’t a sound, it was the breeze and it called me. Everything was so silent. It was what people call the calm before the storm. I unlocked the door and started wearing my boots to keep my feet warm. There was a sun somewhere in the sky but the houses of downtown were selfish and kept it to themselves.

I straightened my back and started walking towards the main gate. I lived in a place where you could see inside your neighbors house from a distance. My parents had taught me to never eavesdrop on someone’s life but now I think its all wrong. Instead, I should have pasted my ears on the walls of my neighbors. I was sixteen and never in love with anyone else other than my mother. I walked slowly and silently following the breeze that somehow knew my name. In an instance I came to a point when my name wasn’t being called anymore. It was near the flower bed which I myself was taking care of.

When I looked around for the breeze I found nothing. I looked again and still nothing. When I looked the third time I saw a girl. It looked like as if the breeze had taken a shape for me. Her hair wasn’t still unlike her body. The body was standing erect from toes to head. Her eyes were looking away and her hands were clenching her dress. I had to narrow my eyes to look at her face much clearly. I shouldn’t have done that. Its still on my eyelashes. Her beautiful skin and her untidy hair. I kept watching her, in hope that she would look at me but she seemed so lost in the walls of her house. Now, I think the walls were speaking to her.

My mother used to sing to me a song every night before I slept. it said;

” If I’d seen you on the moon I would never ask it to shine again

But then what shall I do with my candles without their flames?”

I never understood what it meant and my mother would always tell me I would come to know. I admire how well my mother saw my future. It had been over an hour of her eyes staring the wall and mine staring her, but both of us weren’t tired. When I was a child I was never allowed to play with my friends in the colony. That’s why they never lasted more than a day but looking at her I felt I could make-whatever this is- last. I never knew her name and I am sure she didn’t know mine either. she looked my age and we shared a zit on the same place.

I had been standing there looking like a fool for more than 2 hours and I didn’t understand the reason of me tiring my legs for some stranger on her stairs. Her house had an open-air floor. That is how I could see all of her body covered in a dull, grey, linen dress. I remember I thought to myself ” How good will a bride look in that dress?”. after the thought crossed my mind I was curious why she reminded me of a bride. I was seeing her from a distance and she wasn’t blurry for a second. Some feelings do wonders to senses. They either make you blind or give a clearer vision.

When my legs had started to hurt I decided to give up and go back to my room and sit there. While I was walking towards the door my legs stopped moving and my limbs became involuntary like my heart. I knew I wouldn’t need moons and candles anymore to light things up.

So I came back with a chair and sat down for another hour. I stared her and for another reckless hour she made love with walls ,with her eyes.

I was jealous. I even got up once to look if there was someone standing, some lover of hers but I found bare ,naked walls. but the thought of her never turning her head never left mine even for a second. How much love messes with the nerves .The things supposed to feel brave, feel cowardly. I don’t think I was going to give up seeing that face. Although she was my neighbor I had seen her for the first time. Me and my family had heard many voices coming from her house but I never knew one of them was hers. I never gave thought to the voices until then. Now I craved the noise that came from her home. I wanted to figure out which one was hers. I would have a sound to go with the face.

The sun was starting to set and my legs -even though I was sitting- started to feel tired and numb. But I didn’t leave her, because I couldn’t. It started to seem a bit weird the way she was standing on the stairs just to stare a wall and she hadn’t moved for a very long time. I got worried and amazed at the same time. With old strength, I fought my new found loves shyness and decided to confront her. I coughed as any other gentlemen would have done. She didn’t listen. My tongue screamed “excuse me” and she kept looking at the wall. I waved my hand a few times but she didn’t react .

I thought I was literally seeing a breeze or some kind of ghost. Still I kept waving and I was lost in thoughts when she turned her head. her body moved and synced with her hair. She looked me right in the eyes and my mothers lullaby echoed in my ear. The girl on the stairs looked at me and let out a breath, softly. I heard it. she smiled and walked towards the balcony of her house. I thought she was coming closer to me. She kept her hands on the grill and her eyes in mine. She smiled and she jumped.

I am standing on the same stair. With her dress in my hand that I stole from her cupboard. I had to trespass in the middle of the night to her house. My mothers lullaby never stopped playing in my ear. The smile and breath of the girl on the stairs is still in my head and I envy the wall for having heard her last thoughts. I fell for the girl and she fell for something else. I lost moons, candles and my love that night and when you loose love and find love on the same day. Your heart becomes weak to love again. I realized today that she was a breeze indeed. She came and she went. What else can do that?.

I do have answers today , to questions that I keep asking myself. I am standing on my lovers land with hands on her balcony’s fence .I am going to see her today and finally hear her name without mourns and what lies in front of me is love in death.

10 Amazing Must-do Road Trips in South India

By

Archana Dhanjani

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November 7, 2016

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Every traveler knows that sometimes the journey is the best part of a trip, even more than the destination.Road trips are a way to breakout from the monotony of routine life by embarking on a journey that can be full of discoveries and offer memories to be cherished for a lifetime.

Whether you are looking for a weekend escapade near your hometown or a long desertion to a remote holiday destination, these suggestions of road trips in different places of South India will surely help tempt yourself to a well-deserved break.

CHENNAI – PONDICHERRY

Being one of the most popular road trips in the country, it’s a getaway that’s very inviting and a scenic drive that makes it an ideal tour. This trip is the best to witness the mesmerizing beaches of the Bay of Bengal and discover the calm town of Pondicherry. The drive across East Coast road will be smooth and full of beautiful sceneries during the 4 hours that it takes. It also includes stopovers at the Mahabalipuram beach to treat your stomach with coast line delicacies.

On this stretch of 160 km, you can visit the beach of Mahabalipuram, the nuclear facility at Kalpakkam, the Alamparai Fort at Edaikazhinadu and much more.

This route can also be covered by bicycle, as it is one of the easiest cycling routes in India surrounded by coastal sights and sparkling beaches and it has been recently renovated.

BANGALORE – BANDIPUR – OOTY

bangalore-ooty — Credits: www.holidify.com

This two-stops trip consists of a runaway from the hassle of the city life towards the depths of the Bandipur forest where you will find yourself diving into a sea of green and lush beauty. You can pass through the Bandipur National Park while continuing with the journey towards the second stop, the picturesque Ooty town. Once there you can visit the famous Chocolate Museum and take a ride through lovely landscapes on the Toy Train between Conoor and Ooty.

The total trip would be of 235 km, taking an approximate of 5 hours that can be covered with stopovers at various places and refreshments in different restaurants on the way.

BANGALORE – MUNNAR

This 10 hours’ trail along 477 km of the National Highway NH7 will indeed make you disconnect from stress as it lacks of nothing but phone network coverage. Filled with windmills, waterfalls, coconut trees and expansive tea gardens on each side, this trip will be clean of pollution and disturbances. The wooden bridges and forest patches that dot the surroundings make it an overall magical journey to embark on, with a myriad of South Indian cuisine food joints in it.

BANGALORE – GOA

This state in Western India is in itself an alluring destination but arriving there by a road trip has a charm of its own. The perfect weekend chill-out on the stunning beaches of Goa can be reached through a 566 – 600 km stretch that is calm and serene and counts with several Punjabi Dhabas lined up serving delicious food along the vivid route.

You can reach via Mangalore, Shimoga or Hospet if you want to stopover on the way and cherish the beautiful natural wonders or via Hubli if you prefer a straight drive to the final destination.

CHENNAI – YELAGIRI

This trip of 5 hours along the NH46 will take you through 230 km of fascinating views of rose gardens, lovely fruit orchards and Southern water attractions. The hairpin bends and the forested trees with their trekking trails add to the adventure factor of this track by testing your driving skills. That’s why it’s better to avoid passing by there during the monsoon, when the chances of landslides and road blockage are higher. When you’re in Chennai, you might consider doing two-wheeler ridesharing in ridoapp.com

The highway counts with a number of eateries where you can replenish yourself before getting back to the road.

BANGALORE – COORG

A road trip from the IT Hub to the marvelous Coorg is a fulfilling journey nature loving adventurers. The 226 km long track lasts for around 5 hours and is a delight to the eyes with its numerous waterfalls and extensive plantations of tea, coffee and pepper. Once in Coorg, the Dubare Elephant Training Camp and the Buddhist Monastery are worth a visit too, ending an intrepid ride with a peaceful destination. The trail is complete with city roads, off roads, hilly terrains and more; and offers a great deal of restaurants and drive-ins where one can refill their energy tank. The route has many appealing stopover places like Maddur, Mandya, Mysore, Hunsur and Madikeri in between.

HYDERABAD – KANNUR

This interstate trip takes 14 hours to complete with a distance of almost 900 km along the NH7 National Highway.

The roads lead you through sceneries of tender pastures to a land of historical influences and to one of the most popular Natural Retreat in the South after a journey that is smooth except for a few bumps, to finally reach to the serenity of the beaches of the Keralian city.

PAMBAN BRIDGE – RAMESHWARAM

This bridge connects the National Highway NH49 with the island. It stands between the shores of Mandapam in Tamil Nadu and Pamban town in Rameshwaram. A drive covering the length of the bridge makes it a memorable road trip that is characterized by the views of water all around, with the vastness of the ocean below and the freshness of the marine breeze above it. This results in a beautiful experience on a stretch of 13.5 km that can be easily completed within 30 minutes.

This route is also one of the best for a cycling trip with a moderate level of difficulty.

KARWAR – MANGALORE

karwar-bangalore — Credits: www.holidayiq.com

The 260km trail along the coast of Karnataka has breathtaking views of the sea on one side and the Western Ghats in the other.

Coastal Karnataka has a lot of fascinating beaches and temples surrounded by nature’s beauty that take you to Karwar city, famous for its serene coasts and seafood.

BANGALORE – COONOR:

From Bangalore to the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, you can experience 8 hours of scenic views till the Bandipur National Park, with its tea plantations, waterfalls and engulfing greenery.

This road trip is ideal as a hill station holidays with filled with wildlife, tea and spice, peaks, forest traits, lake-side camp sites, grasslands, tribal interactions and aromatic fresh air all the way.

Learn To Say No

By

Dr. Aaina Aggarwal

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November 7, 2016

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There are some basic things in life that no individual or a book can teach you, only the life can. The one I am pretty sure about is to, stand up for yourself; don’t take bullshit from anyone else. You have one life, live it to the fullest, because no one else can be more important than you are, so BE SELFISH.

Being selfish to me means that you have to look out and do things that please you not others. It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself and to make your contentment prior to anyone else. IT’S ELEMENTARY.

“Life lived for others are worthy” is true in every sense, but I think that the person who wrote this definitely didn’t knew the scrumpy people in today’s world. Rapacious people are only nice when it’s commodious for them, for when they yearn something from you.

Respect yourself enough to walk away from anyone or anything that no longer succor you, or make you ecstatic. There are people who would give anything to see you fall, never give them the indemnification, hold your head up high, and stand your ground, and just say ‘NO’ to their bullshit and be gallant enough to stride away. Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be the option.

If people are trying to bring you down, it means that you are above them. No one can treat you like shit and love you at the same time. Whether we like it or not we will come across certain people who like nothing better than to downside their competition not in the direct way like most, but by being disguised as friends. It’s really imperative to comprehend among such persons.

Genuinely nice people will go out of their ways to help others, and a simple thank you in return will suffice the troubles they went through while helping you. Help the poor and the needy, someone who needs you more than anything, and respect you for help rather than taking it for granted.

If you have to be successful, you have to be selfish or else you never achieve…And once you get to the highest level then you have to be unselfish…Stay reachable…Stay in touch…and most of all don’t ISOLATE yourself. Self love, self respect, and self worth, there is a reason why they all start with self. You cannot find them in anyone else.

And guy’s remember – “Putting yourself first is not selfish; thinking about yourself constantly is selfish.”

Nothing To Brag About The Bag We Drag

By

Odyssey Gohain

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November 6, 2016

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It is a rare feeling when nostalgia turns into a back pain (literally). My school bag had been a victim a lot of verbal abuse and it seemed to retaliate back every next day with a newer and a heavier weight. Heavy bags were sometimes a coincidence but most of the time it was a compulsion. The weight of bags are supposed to be 10% of the body weight but the trend shows that school going students carry much more than that. Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry points out that 63% of school children from the age group of 7-13 years are at the risk of suffering from backaches, degeneration of spine, spondylitis, spondylolisthesis, postural scoliosis and hunchbacks. The concern is when did we allow cute school bags to be so hazardous? Did it ever have to be problematic? Are the solutions affordable? The cures are as obvious as the problem itself.

First of all what are the kids carrying in these bags which weight almost 45% of their weight?

Students in India spend 7 – 8 hours in school a day, which is 42-48 hours per week (excluding Sundays), which is almost 14 days a month and 168 days out of 365 days a year. Clearly it is a large part of a child’s life. As Jack is not always expected to work, schools are not always expected to be a place for only reading and writing. A reason why this 10% turns to 45% is because school bags do not always carry books but also sport kits, lunch boxes, laptops, swim bag, art kit etc.

Even when the bags do not carry any other ‘non-academic’ equipment the number of subjects on the same day also crosses the 10% limit. One working day at school almost has an hour allotted to each 7 or 8 subjects which is not only too demanding but also irrational. Given different types of students in a class, different types of subjects and the type of teacher, the attention span of different students are not the same. Human brain can sustain attention to a particular subject for just 20 minutes. School curriculum is not structured keeping in mind the human memory as 50%-80% of what is taught in class is not retained. Therefore dragging on a lecture about a particular subject for an hour and that too for different subjects is senseless. Therefore the weight of the bag is not proportionate to the amount of knowledge gained.

Is it a compulsion to bring all the books every day? No child wants to carry a 45% of his weight on his back because it is fun! The problem lies with the huge syllabus that needs to be covered, different sets of notebooks for every subject that needs to be carried and no locker systems in schools. Also the subjects that need books (Maths, Science and History) are much more than the subjects which do not require books (Games, Moral science) in the school curriculum. Therefore it becomes mandatory to carry huge amount of weight of books every single day to school.

So shall we blame the education system again?

The answer is affirmative and not at the same time. The effect of the weight on the body is also dependent on the design of the bag. A heavy bag with thinner straps put a lot of weight on the shoulders and the back. A bag with strongly padded straps, padded back, adjustable shoulder straps and also suiting the size of the student helps reducing the burden from the back to an extent. The heaviest items should be packed closest to the student’s spine which helps comfort and balance the load. Students must check their timetable regularly so that they do not bring the books which are not required for a particular working day. School infrastructure can also aid by providing locker systems not just for books but also for sport kits, art kits, tools etc.

Speaking off the education system, it definitely needs alteration not only for reducing the burden of school bags but also improve the quality of teaching and learning. The school curriculum must be designed keeping in mind the attention span of the students, retention capacity and also the type of teaching. The length of the curriculum will be simply of no point if it is not retained in the memory of the student! Books can feed for a livelihood but not always for life. As the school is a place where a child spends more than half of his childhood, it is responsible for moulding a lot more than just an ambition. Many schools in the world still do not teach many skills which are required in our day to day adult ambitious lives. Skills like having a conversation, critical thinking, budget management, handling personal and professional relationships, how to survive without technology, home repair, car repair, cooking, handling hazardous substances like cylinders, knives, guns, healthcare, self defence, motivating oneself, first aid, time management etc are not taught. These skills do not need books, exams to qualify and are without any debate an essential part of our lives. Incorporating such skills with the time table will not only reduce the load of bags but also develop responsible, sensible and prosperous future of the world. If that seems impossible in the world we are living in then guess what? Finland is No. 1 in the Global Education Rank in the world giving us many Nobel laureates when there is no homework for students, with only 3-4 (including lunch hours) hours of school hours a day and a curriculum that includes carpentry, cooking, playing musical instruments etc. Can this reality be so unaffordable?

Sometimes we must ask deeper questions about ‘learning’. We think that we learn because we look at our qualifications, our books and our medals. Let us think it in this way – fire was never invented with the use of books nor was the wheel and those led to human civilization. Now we are all part of a world of books and we are letting it reduce to a mechanical world which finds no zeal for inspiration and no encouragement for innovation. Heavy bags are just an accessory to the answerless-ness of stupidity that is energizing a vague present and future. There are still a lot of questions to be asked and answers to be found. The concern is that we start measuring our affordability to do the right thing. Let right things remain priceless as it always were and let our future responsible citizens have a more meaningful and resourceful present.

Kahaani 2 – The Mystery Case

By

Bhawna Mittal

-

November 6, 2016

0

KAHAANI 2 – THE MYSTERY CASE

Sujoy Ghosh is back with a taut script for the sequel of movie ‘Kahaani’ (2012). ‘Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh’ is an upcoming Bollywood thriller movie and is set to release next month. The movie is produced by Ghosh and Jayantilal Gada. Its principal photography took place from March 2016 to May 2016.

ABOUT THE FILM

Initially, ‘Durga Rani Singh’ was considered to be a standalone film starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but the story was too similar to ‘Kahaani’ and so it was decided to consider it as the sequel, thus the title ‘Kahaani 2’.

‘Kahaani 2’ was set to shoot in 2013 but there were some differences in the producers which led to a delay in shooting. Finally the movie began filming in March 2016. Also, the makers have interest in making a third sequel of ‘Kahaani’.

Sujoy Ghosh was influenced by Feluda detective series written by Satyajit Ray and so he wanted to continue the stories of Vidya Bagchi, role played by Vidya Balan. The actress has broadened her repertoire with mind-numbing expressions and emotions. It is difficult to imagine innocent Vidya as a culprit. We see Arjun Rampal as her case inspector and he unravels her dark mystery.

LEAD ROLES

Vidya Balan, as an innocent mother and a culprit, and Arjun Rampal (inspector) are playing the lead roles in Ghosh’s film. Other co-stars are Jugal Hansraj, from movie ‘Mohabbatein’, and Tota Roy Chowdhury, a Bengali actor.

MARKETING

The first teaser was released on 25^th October 2016 by none other than Amitabh Bachchan on his Twitter handle. He sang a song, ‘Ekla chalo re’ in the first movie too.

The first teaser shows Vidya as an innocent person and a hapless fugitive. She runs away after hearing the police siren. A 13-minute video was intriguing for the fans and has held people to watch the trailer.

TRAILER

The trailer was out soon on 25^th October 2016, in which we see Vidya Balan leading a dual life. She is shown as a helpless mother and on the other side she is wanted for kidnapping and murder. Her wanted posters are out in the public and she is in coma because she has met with an accident. Well, the movie cannot be less intriguing with Vidya’s dishevelled looks which has raised curiosity in the spectators’ mind.

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BUDGET

Kahaani was made in a budget of 80 million and it was a hit at the box office with 1.04 billion. It took 28 crores in the making of Kahaani 2 and extra 7 crores in the advertising the film.

RELEASE DATE

The movie was actually set to release on 25^th November 2016 alongwith Dear Zindagi starrer Shahrukh Khan and Alia Bhatt, but the producer decided with Mahesh Bhatt not to release their movies together. They did not want any rivalry or competition between themselves as because they considered each other as families. Thus, the movie was set to release in the initial days of December, that is, on 2^nd December 2016. The total screenplay is of 119 minutes.The dynamic combination of director and Vidya Balan has piqued audience’s curiosity to a much higher level. But will it be able to live up to the hype? We got to see that.

Understand that men and women are different from each other

Don’t waste your time in being angry

Stay best friends

Give what you want to get

Do small things for each other

Discuss what you want in life

Apologize after a fight

CHENNAI – PONDICHERRY

BANGALORE – BANDIPUR – OOTY

BANGALORE – MUNNAR

BANGALORE – GOA

CHENNAI – YELAGIRI

BANGALORE – COORG

HYDERABAD – KANNUR

PAMBAN BRIDGE – RAMESHWARAM

KARWAR – MANGALORE

BANGALORE – COONOR:

KAHAANI 2 – THE MYSTERY CASE

ABOUT THE FILM

LEAD ROLES

MARKETING

TRAILER

BUDGET

RELEASE DATE

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