Is it difficult to make new friends as you grow old?

I remember discussing this with a friend of mine.

How many of us are quick at making friends?

And how many of us find it difficult to talk to new people and include them in our lives?

Was it easier to make friends when we were kids or is it easier now? 

A friend as a kid:

When we were kids all we wanted was someone with whom we could go out to play at any time of the day. We needed someone who was capable enough to pull us out of our study hours and sneak out to have some fun.

A friend as a teen:

As we stepped into our teens, we started looking up to friends who stood by us when we needed a shoulder to cry and hear our tantrums. Sometimes, these were the same who were with us in our childhood and sometimes we made new ones.

A friend later and after:

But as we started working and facing the whole new world, our thoughts changed. We started realising that friendship was much more than what we had ever known. We started looking up to those who were happy when we were happy and were sad when we were not in the best of our moods.

We started judging people and were sometimes hurt by those whom we once felt were our closest friends. As kids, we never judged anyone. There was never a preconceived notion about relationships. The one who shared his lunch or pencil box was our best friend. We didn't have a description of how our friend should be.

As we grew older, our expectations from our friends increased. We wanted them to be more than what they were before. And as expectations increased, the ones who understood and stood beside remained and the ones who didn't, left us.

After a certain period in life, we know the kind of people we wish to live with and sometimes do not want any more acquaintances of accomplices in our life. There comes a point of realisation when we find it difficult to trust in the new people who enter our life and hence, we become slow at making new friends.

But, you never know when you may land up meeting a kind friend in your life. So always keep yourself open to new friendships. It may bring with it a lot of answers to your unanswered questions.

Do you agree with me or do you feel otherwise?

 Feel free to let me know your thoughts.

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#MondayMusings

"The Walk" - Movie - 6 Lessons learnt !

I regretted watching this movie in 2D. But I'm happy I watched it in the big screen. Joseph Gordon-Levitt starrer, "THE WALK" is one of the finest movies made this year. Directed by Steve Starkey, the 123-minute account of a French high-wire artist Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 6, 1974, cannot be missed. Steve Starkey's "ForrestGump" is undoubtedly one of my favorite movies of all times. 

After watching "The Walk", I began writing a review about the movie. But, midway I decided to write about the lessons I took away from the movie. Every scene in the movie was well-defined and articulate. It carried a message and had a story to tell. Some of the lessons that I took away are as follows:

1. It is not a problem if the world calls you mad: 

Pic Courtesy: Google

All that Philippe wanted to do in life was to walk on the wire. His life revolved around the places where he could tie his wire and walk on it. Much to his father's chagrin, he leaves his home at a young age, to learn about his dream from the famous Papa Rudy. When he sees the picture of the World Trade centre for the very first time in a magazine, he knows what he was going to do. When he discusses his dream with Annie, he knows that she might think of him as a mad-man. If you have a dream that will make you mad in front of people, nevermind. You sometimes have to be crazy to make a mark.

2. Never give up even if your hurdles are close at sight:

Pic Courtesy: Google

On the day of the walk, Phillipe faces a number of hurdles. The first being the way he is stopped near the elevator for hours. The time he spends with Jeff under the sheet, the number of times he escapes being caught by the security personnel and losing his costume are the other hurdles that he has to cross before he starts his final walk. He even loses two members from his coup. But he does not give up. He stays strong and focused. He is obsessed with his dream and he is ready to face even the worst nightmare in order to taste success. His determination is tested when a dove comes close to him. He is on the wire, looking at the sky. For once I felt that this was it. But I guess the dove turns away when it does not find fear in his eyes. 

3. Friends and foes can be distinguished when you are in the worst of times:

Pic Courtesy: Google

Annie, Jeff and Jean-Louis stand by Phillipe all the way from Paris to NewYork. The two friends, that he meets in NewYork also stand by him. But, at the last minute when Phillipe really needs his coup to stand by him, two other leave his side. On the other hand, Annie, even though she stands below the building, waits for him the entire night. 

4. Be thankful:

Pic Courtesy: Google

When someone close to you helps you follow your dreams, all they wish to hear is a word of gratitude. Never take them for granted. If they stand by you just because they want you to succeed, then it is indeed a selfless deed. A word of thanks can do wonders. The moment when Phillipe thanks the wire, the audience and his coup is profound. 

5. Enjoy what you do:

Pic Courtesy: Google - The real Phillipe on the Wire

The biggest gift a man can ever get is finding a profession/passion that he enjoys. If he has found it then success is never away. Because only when you enjoy what you do can you eve succeed. Remember the dialogue from 3 Idiots by "Baba Ranchordas", "Bachcha kabil bano, kabil ... kamyabi toh saali jhak maarke peeche bhagegi" (Son become capable, success will follow you, eventually). The minute Phillipe steps his first foot on the wire to begin his epic walk between the towers, all the tension from his face fades away. It is replaced by happiness and peacefulness. 

6. Always respect people like Papa Rudy:

Each one of us must have met a Papa Rudy in our life. They are those people who have lived life in their own terms and learnt some form of art that no book or Google can give you. Respect such people. Either you are lucky enough to have found such a person or they are humble enough to share their prized possessions with you.

Truly and thoroughly, I enjoyed every bit of the movie. My favourite dialogue in the movie is the one by Phillipe, when he stand at the edge of the north tower for the very first time. He says, 

"I find myself on an island, floating in midair on the edge of the void"

And of course, the next was, 

"Carrots are cooked"

5 Museum Thrillers you cannot miss !!

Museums and mystery go hand is hand, like crime and cop. Never does a museum exist without a mystery revolving around it. Every article placed in a museum carries a history with it which makes you go back in time and reciprocate on the life that once was. A life that is beyond one's imagination, especially due to modernisation. For those who love thrillers and mysteries, a museum is a delight. I am someone like that and every city that I visit, I make it a point to visit the famous museums of that city.

My fascination drove me to write my very first novel. Titled as “Columbina”, this book is based set against the most brutal prisons of all times, “Alcatraz”. This prison currently functions as a museum and draws a number of visitors every year. A murder takes place along the shores of this museum. Detective Martin Herd is hired to solve the mystery that would require re-opening the prison’s hidden secret. With just a key found in the corpse’s pocket, Martin has to untangle the chords and find the murderer whose past is buried in the prison walls. 

A number of interesting books have been set against museums. Here is my pick, (Every book mentioned below is in one way or the other connected to “Columbina”.)

The Da Vinci Code: The 2003 bestseller by Dan Brown has every single reason to top the list of museum thrillers. After a murder in the Louvre Museum in Paris, symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu are summoned to decipher the mystery which in turn pulls them into a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Die.

The Lost Van Gogh: Author A.J. Zerries’s novel revolving around the theft of Vincent Van Gogh’s Portrait of Monsieur Trabuc is a must read. The book is based on a piece of art that gets stolen from a famous museum.

Relic: Set against the popular New York Museum of Natural History, Douglas Preston’s famous novel titled, “Relic” is a thriller that is based on the savage murders of visitors in the museum’s dark hallways and secret rooms. Autopsies indicate that the killer cannot be human. 

 The Bone Vault: In the Metropolitan Museum of Art's exquisite Temple of Dendur, a controversial new exhibit is fiercely opposed by many among the upper echelon of museum donors. Incidentally, a young museum researcher has been murdered and her body is shipped to the Met in an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus. This crime thriller written by Linda Fairstein cannot be missed.

The Murder Room: The 2003 detective novel written by P.D. James is set in the Dupayne Museum on the edge of Hampstead Heath in the London Borough of Camden. The Dupayne Museum is an eclectic collection of English memorabilia from the period between World War I and World War II. The Murder Room of the title refers to a room displaying relics of murders that occurred during these years. A murder in this room leads to the summoning of Commander Dalgleish to investigate.

 Which book are you going to pick up next to place in your book shelf? Anyone from above? Do the above Museum-thrillers excite you? Do you love history and the vicious circle that it is surrounded with? They why not pick up, India’s first ever Double Header Book, “Frozen Summer and Columbina”, written by Geetha Madhuri and Me. 

Fujairah - A weekend Getaway

A long weekend was around the corner and nothing but a relaxing holiday was all we could think of. Recently I had heard from a couple of people of that Fujairah seemed to be a nice place to spend a couple of days incase one wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Dubai. We immediately went to take help from our trusted hotel booking websites (Booking.com and Hotels.com). Thankfully, Booking.com gave us a perfect deal and we spent the two days in engulfed in the mountainous terrain. If you are visiting the UAE anytime soon then do spend a day or two here.

Reasons to visit Fujairah:

• Fujairah is the only city that has a coastline which is different from the other emirates in the UAE. It has a coastline along the Persian gulf. As you drive towards Snoopy Island from Fujairah you will be able to catch a glimpse of Oman from the bridge. It reminded me of a dialogue from one of my favourite films, "Being in two places at the same time"

• The Hajjar mountains that create the beautiful scenery on the way to Fujairah from Dubai is breathtaking. They are a never ending and transport you to a different period. I remembered the "Alchemist" as we drove away. You could sometimes be lucky enough to spot camels here. We did so !

• Bull Fighting is another major reason why you cannot just stop yourself from visiting this place. This isn't gory and ruthless like the ones that happen in Spain. Each bull is allowed to fight with it's opponent for a minute and the one that manager to push the other one out of the circle is declared as the winner. This takes place every Friday between 4.00pm to 6.00pm
• Snorkeling and Scuba diving is available on the beaches in Fujairah. 

    MASAFI MARKET

• Masafi Friday Market: Just like an oasis soothes the thirst of desert travellers, the Masafi Friday Market is a treat for people interested in earthenware, plants and carpets. A market set in the desert along the edges of a huge road is worth a visit. Even though this place is called a friday market, it is open on all the days of the week. 

FORTS IN FUJAIRAH

• Forts - Fujairah has a number of forts built inside and on the outskirts of the city. If you wish to delve into heritage, this is a place where you will find it.
• Quieter roads, good food, relaxed life! If that is something you wish for a weekend then Fujairah is a must see. 

A Fujairah "3 Day Itinerary"

Day	Itinerary
Day 1	Drive from Dubai to Fujairah(takes about 2 hours to reach by car) From Fujairah drive to Wadi Wurrayah(The Wadi Wurrayah Wild life sanctuary is closed now as of October 2015), you can drive to the dam close by.  From Wadi Wurrayah, drive to Snoopy Island which is on the way towards Dibba. You can carry some beach wear as this is a place where you would want to jump into the waters and take a swim On the way back to Fujairah, visit the Al Badiyah Mosque.
Day 2	Take a drive to Masafi Village and have a feel of the local villages in the middle east, desert roads and small houses which are rare to find.  Drive to the Masafi Friday Market and empty your wallets by buying some earthenware pots or plants. Do not forget to drink the water from a king cocunut. It is extremely refreshing. On the way to Fujairah, visit the Al Bithnah Fort. It is a 200 year old fort which was later used as an army base camp. Visit this fort after 4.00 pm or before 12.00 pm or else you may find the entrance closed.  Come back to Fujairah and drive to the Fujairah Museum and Fujairah Fort. Climb to the top of the fort and enjoy a view of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. (I personally loved the view of the mosque. It is closed for non-muslims. This mosque is different in it's architecture from the Grand mosque in Abu Dhabi.) Have some lunch :) and drive to Corniche to witness the Bull Fight.  Spend the evening in enjoying the waters near Corniche.
Day 3	Drive to Dibba and spend a day there. We spent some time in Fujairah Heritage village where there used to be hot water springs seen. Unfortunately, these springs are no longer visible.

If you liked my travel Itinerary and wish to get one prepared for your travel do write to me!

What happened to SHEENA BORA?

Three years ago, a young women in her early 20’s was head over heels in love with a man who was supposedly her step-nephew. Such great was a love-story that even the father of the boy and the apparent “jiju” of the girl was willing to get them married. To add a twist to this love saga, just like every other story, enters the step-sister of the girl who happens to be highly conservative about the entire story as she happens to be the boy’s step-mother. She tries her best to separate them as this woman feels it is extremely unvirtuous.

A few days later, the young girl is called by her mother to National College in Bandra. Her boyfriend drops her and leaves. Following which she is nowhere to be found. After that he receives few messages from the girl that she wants to break up a 2 year old relationship and she has moved to the USA. She even mentions that she has found someone else and is happy with him.

The boy wishes to believe the sms that was sent to him. The step-sister/ his step-mom who was against their union manages to convince her step-son that her step-sister is in the USA.

The boy who should have asked the question, “What happened to Sheena?” is convinced that she is in the USA inspite of having her passport with him.

The police officers who took the boy’s complaint three years ago forgot to ask the same question, “What happened to Sheena?” when they believed the woman who told them that she had left India.

THREE YEARS LATER

An anonymous phone call, a tip off and the arrest of a driver with respect to an arms related case lead the police officers to begin searching for a woman who went missing 3 years ago.

The media begins to take interest in the case when a woman named Indrani Mukerjea who is the step-sister of the deceased is arrested who apparently happens to be a media tycoon and the wife of Star Tv’s ex-ceo, “Peter Mukerjea”. The media goes bonkers when it turns out that Indran Mukerjea is the biological mother of Sheena Bora(the deceased) and not the step-sister.

                                

The following day a man is arrested from Kolkatta. Interestingly this man who is Sanjeev Khanna by name is Indrani Mukerjea's ex-husband.

The media, the nation, the police after three years began asking the question to the arrested driver, Indrani and Sanjeev, if they killed Sheena.

As the story unviels, it is revealed that three years ago Sheena was drugged and later strangulated in a car. The following day her body is burnt and thrown in the jungle of Raigad. The villagers find the burnt body and the police begins to investigate. Suddenly the investigation is stopped and no one seems to have found the answer to the question, “Who's body was it?”

Now when the story is out in the open, every news channel is trying to investigate the case in it's own manner. For 14 days since the investigation began, as I tuned into every news channel, the only headline/ Breaking News I saw was about Sheena. The other news about OROP and FTII had taken a backseat. Even the Gujarat riots was not covered properly. I found this as another high profile case like that of Aarushi and Sunanda Pushkar. Only that this time the media had taken a longer interest in this case that the previous ones.

There were a lot of interesting facts that emerged every single day as this horrific crime of honour, money, lust and lies was out in the open to be criticized and torn apart. A wikipedia page was created for Indrani Mukerjea which never existed before. A top cop who started investigating this case was suddenly promoted as the DG 20 days before his due date. It was revealed that Indrani had two children from her first relationship to a man named Siddhartha Das and Sheena was one of them.

Her son came out in the media and said that his mother was behind his life. Why was he quiet so long? Didn't he question where his sister was? Why did Peter Mukerjea who was considered to be so intelligent enough to be the CEO of a company believe his wife blindly? Was he just blind in love or is he hiding something? Why didn't the boy who was in a live-in relationship with Sheena, who claimed to be so mad in love with her that he was ready to make her his wife even after knowing that she was his step-sister stay quiet so long?

Why is the media who went haywire last month about this case suddenly quiet all of a sudden that since two days they've stopped telecasting anything related to this case?

As I see this murder case get concealed every other day with a different set of of facts like that of the financial angle or the investigating team being replaced, all I can foresee is that this is just going to be shut and closed like every other high profile case in India. The powerful will walk free and we will be left with questions that will always be unanswered.

Till today no one knows what happened to Aarushi Talvar. Based on some unclear evidences the parents were convicted.

Are we again going to be left with the question, “What happened to Sheena?” I just hope that I am proved wrong.

Character Sketching in a novel

What is the first thing that lingers in your mind after you've completed a novel? The story? The Writer? The Characters?

Which one of the above do you use to relate to the story? I'm sure it is the 'characters' in your story. Well, for me it has always been the characters who live even after the story dies away over a period of time. 

Harry Potter, Hercule Poirot, King Lair, Sherlock Holmes etc are a few of the may characters that live in our hearts even today. Although they were all characters that never lived a human life, all of us know the way they looked, the way they thought and the way they lived. Thanks to the literary geniuses who brought them into our lives through their work of art. 

Now doesn't that sum up why characters form an integral part of every story.

Image source here

Character sketching is something that should given the same importance as the plot of the story does. If your characters are explained well then you should be sure that half of your work is done in having your story leave a lasting impact in the hearts of its readers. This means that you need to spend a lot of time in defining your characters and giving them life. 

Here are a few points that could help you in creating your characters. 

1. Giving your characters a name and identity: It is very important to choose proper names for your characters. When it comes to choosing names, choose ones that are easy to pronounce and unique. Do not use names that are similar for the different characters in your story. Keep each name unique so that the readers are not confused. Give them a proper identity. By identity I mean define their age, gender, nationality and other demographical data.

2. Appearance: Only when you've described the way your characters look i.e their height, the way they dress, the color of their eyes and hair. These factor are important and they make the reader visualize a character and it makes it easier for them to connect with the story.

Image source here

3. Occupation: The occupation is another aspect that should be given to a character. Occupation need not be the most clichéd ones. It can be anything that makes the character real. When you meet a new person the first thing you would want to know is what he/she does. In the same way the reader would want to know what the main protagonist of the story does. 

4. Outward behavior: The behaviour of a character makes a lot of differenc to the story. Many a times you can surround an incident in your story to revolve around the behaviour of your character.

Image source here

5. Deepest thoughts: A reader is a very inquisitive person. A writer should never undermine that. He wants to know how the character feels and what his deepest and innate thoughts might me. So be sure to describe how your character thinks.

6. Define their past: Always create a story around the past events related to your character. When you've decides on a period or timeline for your story, describe how the character was earlier. It is always nice to create a story around the character's past. You need not always go to the time of his birth to describe about his past. 

Always remember that the strength of your story relies on character sketching. Create characters that come alive with your story. They should leave a lasting impact on the readers minds. Your readers should be able to connect with te characters. Make them believable and draw inspirations from the people around you when you create characters. 

What do you think could be added to character sketching? Drop in your inputs in the comments below...

Dubai - my first thoughts !

I've been thinking of getting back to serious blogging for quite a while now. But today as I was watching the movie "Wake up Sid", I saw myself in Aisha's shoes. Just like her I've moved to a new city, infact a new country. I've decided to discover a new career path just like her. I've set up a new home and I'm deeply trying to discover this city that I've moved to - DUBAI. The only difference is that I've moved in with my husband which makes it all the more exciting.

Dubai in a single glance

DUBAI- what do I speak about it? The first impression was a modern world where even the tallest person would find his neck hurting when he looked us to see the height of the buildings. The minute I was in the taxi heading home from the airport all I wanted to spot was the Burj Khalifa. And then within few minutes I could see the Burj Khalifa only to realise that it could be spotted from many places in Dubai - thanks to its height.

Finding a right job in Dubai is like finding an oasis in a desert. It can take weeks or even months before you find one and there is always a lot of competition. I was well aware of this fact and hence, I thought of taking it slow in that front. Meanwhile, I was busy trying to adapt myself to this new world. When my husband was off to work, I was setting up the house, hitting the gym and at times job hunting.

View from my balcony

Diverse cultures, language and food: At times, It would make me realise that life has changed 360 degrees. There were new people, diverse in culture and language. There a bit of every country in Dubai. And that was made me like this place. You could find an Italian pizza joint right next to a Thai cuisine restaurant. Although, the every second face you see is of an Indian, this city does make you feel lost in a whirlwind of competition. Everyone's come to this city to try something new and fulfill his dreams.

Cars: Apart from the tall buildings, the next evident luxury that couldn't escape my eyes were the cars on the roads. Dubai is not a pedestrian-friendly city or a bicycle-friendly city. Name the make of the most luxurious car and you will find it here. And for those who are new to the city(like me), Dubai satisfies me with a world-class metro

A bit about everything: Owing to the diverse population, you will find just a bit about everything in Dubai. From food to spices, from clothes to language, there is nothing in the world that cannot be found here. Even the shopping malls are uniquely themed.

Man-made: Something that always keeps me awed and makes me feel weird about this place is that everything is man-made. Sometimes, I find it all larger that life and to the apex to creativity. Sometimes, I find it wholly artificial.  And just when I thought this city had to history to it, I step foot in the Dubai museum which walked me through the evolution of this country from just a waste space of desert to something that leaves to speechless.

Partying: Dubai is known for its luxurious events and partying, especially for the western expats. Another huge change for me was the change in the weekend (Fri & Sat) and working on a sunday. The Friday brunch is something that people look forward to which only makes it all the more expensive.

I've visited the Dubai Mall, largest aquarium and underwater zoo, The Burj Khalifa, desert safari and some other places(blog posts coming up soon). I've given up on the job of a software developer and have started interning as a Social media manager. A new place, a new country, a new job, a new culture and a whole new career. While amidst all the change I do miss my country and would always want to go back sometime. But for now, I look forward to making myself feel at home in Dubai.

That brings a smile across...

Happiness has many definitions. Some relate it to inner peace that you may find at a quiet place up in the hills or some may relate it material wealth. According to me happiness is something that I find in the smallest of things. Happiness is not something that you go in search for, it knocks on your door in a million ways and you just need to notice it and acknowledge it with a smile on your face. 

When I sat down to make a list of those simple reasons that make me smile, every time I penned down a reason, my lips automatically curved and brought a smile across my face. Here are a few:

1. Watching Kuch Kuch Hota Hai on TV all of a sudden:
        This is one movie that I can watch any number of times. It had released when I was in my 6th std in school. I remember getting my haircut done like Anjali in the movie and walking around with those blue dungarees. 

Courtesy Youtube

2. Morning sunshine that flashes through the curtains:
        Each morning as the sun's rays flash through the curtains in my window they bring the joy of a new day, the warmth oh a bright morning and new hopes to soar high. 

Courtesy Flikr

3. A cup of coffee made by my husband:
       Whenever A had a holiday, he makes an amazing cup of coffee and hands over the cup to me by sipping it a little to check if the coffee's good. How I love that cup of coffee made with so much of love.

4. A discount sale when you actually need it:
         Oh that word sale makes my wallet bigger and brings such a huge smile on my face especially when I so absolutely need it. 

Courtesy Brandwatch.com

5. Going for a long walk around the city:

         Ever tried walking aimlessly, not knowing where to go with all the time in the world and with no goals to complete. I try doing it a number of times and at the end of it there is so much fun in seeing some new places, observing people and their habits and quietly walk all by yourself. 

6. Going out for a health checkup and landing home with a fighter fish and a fish bowl

         Two weeks ago, I had gone for a health check up and on my way back found a small shop where they sold aquariums and fish bowls. I had a strange desire as a kid to have a small fish bowl with just a single fish inside it. I walked into the shop and bought my first fish bowl and a beautiful blue coloured fish. 

My Blue Fighter Fish

7. Swimming in the night and finding the water warm

        On a cold day all you need is a warm water bath to make you feel great. How great would it be to go swimming when the water is warm just for you..

Do watch this commercial by Coca-Cola India

India's Daughter - BBC Documentary - A must Watch !!

In 2012, when I first heard about the rape of a young girl in a moving bus, I had felt an uneasiness in my stomach. The uneasiness twirled a few cells in my body and made me want to vomit. Today when I saw this video going viral on the internet, I felt the same. Even after 2 years, the uneasiness remains. The reason why it does is because the mindset remains the same. Even after the rapists were given the highest sentence, rapes continue to happen.

Today when I watched the video, I was in tears. A young woman who would have grown to be a very good doctor, a young woman who had dreams to help the underprivileged, a woman who was brave and struggled hard to make ends meet was killed. We lost a woman who would have made a difference. We lost a woman who would have been an inspiration to all those families who feel that a daughter is a burden.

What we are left with is just a system that delays and delays justice of every kind. What we are left with are just shattered dreams and painful tears that wouldn't stop.

We are told that the only way to end this is education. But today when I heard the defence lawyers for the rapists speak in favour, I realised that education alone cannot make a difference. One of the lawyers mentioned that "A woman is like a flower, if it is left in the gutter it will be spoilt and if it is kept in the temple it will be worshipped, while a man is like a thorn that protects the flower".

The other lawyer even spoke about Indian culture which never allows girl to befriend a boy. He even goes ahead saying that he only looks at woman "with sex in his eyes". The NGO for Rape victims and Juveniles even said that we live in a very tolerant country where decisions cannot be based on public outburst.

Just because we have been tolerant all this while has such an incident even happened. Our tolerance has hit a limit and now we cannot be silenced. If a very strong punishment had been given for rapes in our country this incident wouldn't have ever happened.

In the entire video, I cried when I heard the victim's parent speak. But not a single drop of tear fell when the parents of the rapists spoke. There was a burning anger inside me that made me question why did they ever give birth to such criminals. The bus driver who is shown narrating the incident is equally guilty. What shook me was the statements given by the defence lawyers and it made me realise where the mistake is.

The mistake is that we live in a society where men like this do not feel a pinch about such incidents. It will take years before we see a change, before we see every man respect every woman and only with respect will things change.

Anegan #Movie Review

After having watched the trailer of the movie just once and having a great expectation from Dhanush after his impressive performance in "Ranjhanaa", I decided to take my mom-in-law and grandmother for the movie.

"Anegan" is a romantic thriller that begins from the captivating scenery of Burma and travels across different era's and time to give you a story that lasts beyond a number of lifetimes. The story transcends to different generations gives you a lovely characterization of the people in that period of time.

The story begins at Burma where Munaruna(played by Dhanush), a Tamil Labourer and Samudra(played by Amyra), daughter of a Tamil mother and Burmese Father fall in love against all odds. While trying to escape from Samudra's father's eyes, both are killed. The movie transports to the present where Madhumita (played by Amyra) is having a serious stress related issue and is under treatment. She keeps having hallucinations about her previous life and is in search for her love from the previous birth as she believes that everyone around her are people who were connected to her in the previous birth. She works for a gaming company which is run by Kiran(played by Kartik).

Madhumita meets Aswin(played by Dhanush) under similar circumstances from the previous birth and falls in love with him. She tries to woo him and succeeds. What follows are a series for back and forth incidents and similarities from the previous and the current birth. Meanwhile, Meera, Amyra's colleague and a villain from the previous birth jumps from the balcony when she sees ghosts who are following her. Aswin who my now is in love with Amyra is restless about her talks about the previous birth and doesn't believe her. When Amyra helps Commissioner  Gopinath in investigating a murder some secrets from the past come back to life. What follows is something that is worth watching.

Anegan is a cluster that is put together very well. Director K V Anand and the entire crew have done a fantastic job with the screenplay, characterization and locations. The depth of the characters goes straight to your heart. They dissolve you. I was almost in tears when Munaruna and Samudra are killed.

Dhanush does a perfect job as anticipated and Amyra was someone who surprised me with her acting. I haven't seen her first movie Issaq but I can vouch that she definitely looks promising.

Kartik is one biggest let down in the movie. The director could have easily roped in someone else instead of him. Every scene where he enters in the screen is something that I detested.

The length of the movie is something that may test your patience. What starts off as a fast movie seems to slow down in its pace in the middle but quickly picks up speed. It seems to be like a full-length novel with multiple twists and turns and multiple characters.

The writers have tried their best to make the story sound as a scientific thriller, however, the climax is a bit unbelievable.

Rating: 4/5 for Dhanush, Amyra's performance and the storyline.

Negatives are: Kartik and the length of the movie;

This is definitely a one-time watch movie that is much better that the over-hyped "I" which recently hit the theater.  If you are looking for a movie to watch during the weekend then don't miss this one. 

Love makes the most impractical thing practical!!

Love for me is something that I have felt and experienced. Like every girl, I have always wanted to have a partner with whom I could fall in love head over heels every single day for the rest of my life. I did find one such person and today I am married to him for 9 months and even today I feel just the same as I felt that day when I fell in love with him. Just the thought of writing a blog post on love that is dedicated to him makes my heart beat faster that usual. A slight smile tries to curve my lips and my eyes try to pop out wider than usual.

I've been busy with the promotion of my book and amidst the entire rush tried to recollect that one moment that made the launch of my book more special than ever. 

 A month ago, my husband had left for another country owing to a better job prospect. I couldn't travel with him as I had to wait for my visa. My first book was slated to release on the 7th of February and I knew I would miss him a lot. However, I did not compel him to stay back and neither did I adamantly want him to come all the way for my launch as I knew his visa process will take sometime and he wouldn't be able to come back to India so soon. I consoled myself saying that this would motivate me to write the next book and hence, have a second launch where he would be there. 

The entire month passed by and I was caught up with the preparations for the launch. Although he was away, he made it a point to help me with the launch by guiding me all along. He spoke to a couple of people so that the celebrities could be arranged. As the launch approached, I was as tensed as ever. 

I reached Bangalore two days before the launch and with the help of my friends and relatives began working on the arrangements. I visited the venue a day before and messaged to my husband saying that I was tensed and worried. He said that it will all be fine. He even mentioned that he has worked a lot for the launch and he was tired. He said that he was going to sleep the entire day. I was very angry that I was toiling the entire day, running to different places and he was going to laze around the entire day. 

It was evening and I was shopping a gift for the celebrities along with my sister-in-law. We had finalised on a gift and suddenly my sister-in-law received a phone call and she was gone. I walked the billing counter. I was busy pulling out my purse to pay when someone in a grey sweater stood at the door smiling at me. My sister-in-law appeared from the door with a wide smile. 

For a while, I stood still with my hand inside me handbag trying to fetch my purse and my eyes rolling round and round wondering if it was real. I walked to the person with the grey sweater and touched him. He smiled again. And there, without any embarrassment I stood near the billing counter and screamed. I couldn't believe that my husband was standing there. He had come straight from the airport to the store. He cooly replied, "How could I not make it to my wife's first book launch?" 

I couldn't stop the tears that were rolling from my eyes. I hugged him right in the middle of the shop to confirm if it really was him. He later told me that he had received his passport stamped just two days before and hence, he could make it. That was when I realised that when there is true love, nothing can do apart and every single force in the world will see to it that the purpose is served. 

This is the most cherished memory of the launch that was a grand success. The minute I knew he was there, everything was fine all over again. 

A pic of us at the launch:

Do grab a copy of my book here.

The revived love for Cricket #IndvsPak - World Cup 2014 #BleedBlue

It's been almost 8 years since I watched the last match between India and Pakistan. It was in the year 2007 when India defeated Pakistan by 5 runs to win the T20 Cricket World Cup. What a proud moment that was? I remember that day very clearly. I was in my final year of graduation and the TV connection was disconnected due to some technical issues. It gave us a reason to enjoy the world cup with our neighbors. And the joy it brought to us when India won is something that gives me pride even today after such a long time.

Over the years, Cricket has become an overrated topic. It has lost the enthusiasm owing to the hype and controversies. The minute it caught the limelight for something more than being a form of sport, Cricket has become more of a money-game. I was among those thousands who stopped watching Cricket due to the above reasons.

But today, after such a long time, after a number of fights with my husband(who is a cricket fan) who has had a tough time trying to convince me, I switched on the TV to watch a cricket match. It's the India vs Pakistan match happening right now at Adelaide that caught my attention.

A cricket match after so many years did make me think. As I switched on the TV today morning, I found myself saying a small prayer for India. It was instant and involuntary. As the first wicket fell of Rohit Sharma, I found myself expressing my anger on the team. As Kohli raised his bat to hit a Six, I found myself chanting a silent prayer that it shouldn't land up being a catch. The India VS Pakistan Cricket match did revive the old memories that were somewhere buried due to the hype that media had created over the years.

Today I do not know if India would win or no, but I did realize that even after such a long time I do have a craze for the India Pakistan Cricket match with I feel every Indian is born with.

For live streaming Click here

Book Launch of "Frozen Summer and Columbina"

"Frozen Summer and Columbina" is the amalgamation of two different psychological thrillers by two young authors from two different cities sharing only one thing in common - their love for writing fiction. Published by Half Baked Beans Publishing House in association with Frankly.me.

The star studded book launch was held in Bangalore at a cozy bookstore called "Atta Galatta" on the 7th of February. The leading south Indian actress - Regina Cassandra, standup comedians - Sanjay Manaktala and Tushar Singh and Singer Alexis D'souza unveiled the book. 

Regina unveiled the book and handed it over to Sanjay and Alexis. Poppers were splashed and music surrounded the air. While Sanjay and Tushar entertained the crowd with their comic sense, Regina spoke about the book. She said, "I have started reading the book and cannot wait to complete it" Being an avid reader, she showed immense interest in the book. 

Alexis's band performed a foot tapping number that lightened the mood and mesmerised the crowd. Around 80 people were present for the launch. I read an excerpt from the book and Geetha did the same too. I remember the silence in the crowd when we read it. 

"Frozen Summer and Columbina" written by Geetha Madhuri and me is a psychological thriller and is considered to be India's first ever double header book. It consists of two stories that are completely different from each other.  While Frozen Summer is a suspenseful narrative tale involving a murder mystery, Columbina is a mysterious detective crime that happens at the world’s deadliest prison- Alcatraz.  Both the novellas share nothing in common. The book is a double dose of thriller for the reader. 

The most captivating aspect of the book is that each story is comprised of 70 pages which means that it is a good choice for a quick read. Pick up the book during a train journey or a flight journey and you will be able to finish it in no time.

Regina managed to finish the book and tweet about it. Here are the tweets:

The Inception:

A lot of people have been questioning Geetha and me as to how did we think of a double header. Let me tell you how it all happened. A year ago the publishers conducted a Novella contest and writers were asked to send a synopsis of their stories. Many young writers from all over the country submitted their synopsis and very few were shortlisted to write the complete novella. Novella is a 30000 word story. We were given 45 days to complete the novella. Aftwe which the results were declared and Geetha and I had made it to the top. Our stories were selected to be published.

I would be inviting Geetha to write about her experience very soon. Stay tuned for that! Until then, here are a few pictures from the event

Grab your copy at Amazon.in (http://www.amazon.in/Frozen-Summer-Madhuri-Cynthia-Vincent/dp/8192893782/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423808648&sr=1-1&keywords=frozen+summer+and+columbina)

The woman of the moment or the man who ran !! #Kiran Bedi vs #Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi elections has begun to look like a tale of mockery where two highly educated individuals of different sex are fighting by putting their morals at stake. When we knew that AAP would unanimously bring Arvind Kejriwal at the forefront to stand for the post of the CM, we were clueless who would the BJP's candidate in the making be. And while we could contemplate and evaluate the prospects we were shaken from our very ground when the announcement was made that it would be none other than the (then)dynamic Kiran Bedi.

It took me a while to assimilate the entire situation. It shook me and I was numb. Almost a year ago when the entire country was looking for a change, the IIT alumnus separated from Anna Hazare and entered politics. He stood and won the Delhi polls raising the hopes of every individual in the country. The country was proud that there was finally someone who was just a minister next door, he was the God at that moment. He was the only person whom the country saw was devoid of a political dirt. The man who stood with the Jhado(broom) seemed to be the saviour who would clean the city and in turn India from corruption, malpractices and every vice.

Arvind Kejriwal after the Delhi Election win

The hopes were shortlived, exactly for 49 days after which he stepped down as the Chief Minister breaking and trashing the dreams of every individual who supported him and voted for him. Although he later apologized for quitting midway, do you think the nation cares now? Does any apology make sense now?

Speaking of Kiran Bedi, the self-acclaimed "Woman of the Moment", has let the country down again. The IPS officer who was known for her "harishchandra" ideologies has backstabbed on each one of us who has grown up admiring her.

The woman who once stood against the political biggies is now seen joining hands with the least amount of ignominy. She has coldly refused to reply to any of the questions that are asked to her with regard to the sudden change. How can a nation trust the woman who has been an opportunist and moved against her mission?
How can India's highest ranking Woman Officer set an example of deceit?

 The switch in her beliefs has clearly portrayed that this has become another Karunanidhi-Jayalalitha syndrome in the country. It has left us with no choice. Whom do we support? Are we Indian's going to always be crushed under a carpet of dirty politics where every individual performs or speaks only for his fame?

We are again caught in a pandemonium of disloyalty, fight for power, corrupt leaders and unfaithful promises. It's easier said than done, but whom do we look up to, "The woman of the moment or the man who ran" Or do we have to wait for another leader to be born?

What is it to live as a girl in Delhi?

It scares me. The thought of it reminds me of the 16th December incident. The Nirbhaya story has left an indelible scar in the life of every Indian woman.

I have visited Delhi once. It was years ago when I was in the 3rd grade. I had toured around Delhi with my parents. The lotus temple is all I remember today. It was meant to be one of the most peaceful places in Delhi. I had found Delhi inviting as a kid. But today, alas it is not the same.

Recently, my husband had been receiving a lot of job offers from companies that were situated in Delhi. Every time he considered a decent option and came to me for an opinion, he would be offensively denied with a single word, "NO". What followed was another sentence, "Don't you know it's dreadful for a woman to live there?"

And then, it gets me to thinking how do woman survive in Delhi? Recently, one of my colleagues and I were having an argument about working in Delhi. As always I was dreadfully against it. He was however trying his best to convince me. He said that Delhi was a very well-planned city. It had huge roads, the metro is the best in Delhi and house rent is not as exorbitant like Mumbai. But there was one assurance that he as a Delhite couldn't give, "Safety for woman".

I watched an advertisement this morning where the great Arnab Goswami was heard asking questions to the ministers on who is to be blamed for such acts of rape against women. This was the background voice while the video showed three men trying to rape two women of which one escapes and the other is unfortunately raped.

I wondered what would happen if by any chance I woke up in Delhi someday. Would I step out of the house? Would I stay inside and keep checking if the doors are bolted properly? Would I think twice before wearing a particular dress? Would I walk out of the house praying that I should get back home safe? Would I be walking in a street with thousands of male eyes wanting to feast on me?  Would I think hundred times before working late since I will have to get back home before it turns dark? Would I be living scared all the time? Would by heart be thumping each time I was alone? Would I always need a companion or bodyguard for my safety?

The "Would I" questions suddenly stopped haunting me as I realised that this was just my fearful mind playing tricks. I was not in Delhi. I heaved a sigh of relief.

There was one more question that frightened me, "What if someday my city became like Delhi? Who am I to blame then?"