Treasure Within Dreams - Book Review

Treasure Within Dreams
By Shetall Ramsinghani
Review By Ila Garg

‘Treasure Within Dreams’, a novel by Shetall Ramsinghani is published by Revolt House Publishing. The cover is beautiful and reveals the fact that the readers are going to meet a fortune teller "psychic". It seems like a mystic novel at the first glance.

Poetry: To My Love, From Me...

She would never have been angry…

Maybe, she just wanted things,

And not merely the trings.

Perhaps he was doing his bit,

He never let her quit.

She had questions,

She wished to see reciprocations

But, all she got was a set of accusations!

It was her DAY,

It was her BIRTHDAY.

She wanted him, his time,

A gift laced with smiles,

An expression in his rhyme,

And not just to travel miles.

They did spend an evening,

Together, they had a great evening.

He did it all with love and care,

Perhaps,

Loving her was his flair!

***

Okay, they do love each other,

Of course, they are meant to be together!

What would he miss if she goes?

Restlessly, a question she throws.

Wishing to strengthen the rope,

For an answer that would rekindle hope.

His minimalism in love irks her at times,

She wonders if he could just surprise her sometimes.

***

He inspires her in a million ways,

Adding phrase after phrase.

But, her NEVERLAND dreams…

They are beyond limits,

They are full of craze!

His actions are mysterious, if she is upfront,

His smile is still her REJOICE,

Even when he fails to let ‘them’ have an IDENTITY.

They fight and she says, ‘Let’s BREAK UP’,

They hug and he says, ‘Let’s MAKE UP’.

Oh, all she has to do is STAY.

The words that they often say,

The smiles, hugs and kisses in the café,

Keep getting etched for the DOOMSDAY!

‘We have no FUTURE’, she says.

‘But, we have a PRESENT’, he says.

And in a moment, they are angry again.

Look how the smile fades away,

But LOVE?

Yes, Love continues to stay.

Love binds their FAIRYTALE,

Ohh…

But careful, it’s still frail.

She wants overt romance, he keeps it subtle,

She winks, and he writes an ODE TO HIS ANGEL.

In Love with Shah Rukh Khan - Book Review

In Love with Shah Rukh Khan
By Ajitabha Bose
Review By Ila Garg

In Love with Shah Rukh Khan, a novel by Ajitabha Bose, is published by Author’s Ink Publications. The size of the book is so miniscule that I felt I was almost holding a baby book in my hands. So obviously, I was extra careful while turning over its tiny pages and the feel was ‘wow’. Cover design has an illustration by Noriko Kasai which beautifully brings out the star’s personality.

Ajitabha Bose is an author, filmmaker, designer and an entrepreneur. He is a world record holder for publishing the smallest love story book in India. Currently based at Delhi, he was born and brought up in Jamshedpur. He introduced the first pocket love story book in India. He is the co-founder of BDL Studios, a renowned production house based in Delhi/NCR. He has worked in 135+ videos and made 1600+ designs till date. Ajitabha is a graduate from Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad.

Along with that, he has written numerous short stories and edited an anthology, The Untold Love Stories. He has published 5 books – It’s A Love Story (2013), Love: A Sweet Poison (2014), Zindagi: The Story of Life (2014), The Untold Love Stories (2014), and The Pocket Love Story (2014). The Pocket Love Story was featured in India book of records and incredible book of records.

The blurb reads as, “Everyone has a dream. It’s just that some dreams get fulfilled and others remain confined in hearts.
Aanya was a small town girl and Vivaan was a flirt. Life takes a different turn when love brought them together.
She had a dream of meeting Shah Rukh Khan. He promised to fulfill it.
What lies ahead?
Where will destiny lead them?
Read this heart-warming tale of love, dreams and emotions.”

At first glance, I thought it would be a fan telling the world about his/her love for King Khan, but it wasn’t exactly that. It tells the tale of Aanya, who like millions of other girls of her age loves SRK and dreams to meet him someday. Vivaan who is a flirt is the protagonist of the story and he promises Aanya to fulfil her dream.

The story takes a turn when both of them fall in love with each other. The author has sketched both the characters—Aanya and Vivaan—beautifully. The language is simple and easy to comprehend. I found it quite engaging. It’s so small that one can easily manage to read it in 20 minutes!

How Aanya and Vivaan met, how they fell in love, where will the destiny take them, will Vivaan be able to fulfill Aanya’s dream, will Shah Rukh Khan meet Aanya, how tough will it be for Vivaan to get to SRK are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in In Love with Shah Rukh Khan.

Further, this 50-page book is a must read for all SRK fans as it makes you cry and laugh at the same time, bringing you a step closer to the man himself. I also loved the author’s philosophy behind such light pocket books “to meet with the demands of busy generation”.

Ratings:
4.5/5 (Read it immediately!) 

Buying Links: Amazon | Pustakmandi | Ebook

Also read review by Kanika Sharma at TGC - In Love with SRK

Anything To Look Hot - Book Review

Anything To Look Hot
By Jas Kohli
Review By Ila Garg

Anything To Look Hot, a novel by a plastic surgeon and writer Dr. Jas Kohli, is published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors. The cover is apt and thoroughly intriguing for the readers. Wasim Helal has done a good job with the cover art. The title too manages to attract the readers as everyone wants to look hot these days.

A plastic surgeon by profession and a writer by passion – Dr. Jas Kohli had started his training as a surgeon twenty years back. Though during all those years, he hadn’t imagined that one day he would be exposing the secretive world of plastic surgeons and their clients. He takes keen interest in astronomy, music and bird-watching. Anything To Look Hot is his literary debut. Through his writings, he aims to foster a stronger doctor-patient bond.

The blurb reads as, “When the superstar diva of the past decade doesn’t want to play the hero’s mother on screen, she insists that she be reshaped into the most beautiful woman in the world…by any means.

This is just one of the many odd situations which plastic surgeon Dr. Dhruv faces in Mumbai. He has dealt with tyrannical bosses and finicky patients while undergoing his training, during which he has also won over a stunning doctor as his life partner. But satisfying the movie stars is a different ball game, because every girl wishes to have bee-stung lips, and every guy wants to flaunt a six-pack abdomen without working too hard. And all this while, he has to resist losing his balance over his ravishing female clients.

Dr. Dhruv’s journey surpasses even a masala movie for humour, drama and action. In debunking many a myth about cosmetic surgeries, the book will enthrall those who can do Anything to Look Hot.”

The book is laced with realism and gives a deeper insight into the world of doctors through elaborate descriptions. This is a story centered on Dr. Dhruv and how he deals with the situations at hand. The plot is very different from regular chicklets. How he clears the entrance test for the M.Ch (Master of Chirurgiae) course, marries a fellow doctor and lets her stay at a hostel for 3 years to pursue her academic dreams is wonderfully weaved into the story. The various demands of the patients and how Dr. Dhruv tackles them is actually interesting.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. Though it is a Medical Fiction but any reader can be engaged with the storyline. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skillful author. Through Dr. Dhruv, Jas Kohli takes us into the world of doctors and also describes what happens when a mishap happens during any operation. For instance, if a patient dies during a surgery, the relatives start accusing the doctor of being a murderer, which is very sad.

Excerpt from the book: ‘Sir, even after working dedicatedly for donkey’s years in the hospital, I could be called a murderer and possibly assaulted for an act of God.’‘See, we Indians have wild mood swings. When the Indian cricket team performs badly, the public goes to the extent of burning effigies of the star players. The relatives had an irrational but firm belief that the wrong injection had been given to the child. So they refused to buy your explanations.’

The romance intermingled with humour add to the USP of the book. Also the language is easy to comprehend and style of narration is unique and fresh. The ease with which the life of a plastic surgeon is brought to the fore is good to read, the instrumental role that his dreams played in his tale, and how he fell in love and found his soulmate are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Anything To Look Hot. Another reason that would keep you glued to this book would be the beauty with which a flawed character Dr. Dhruv is unfolded.

Further, this 196 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. What makes it stands out is the realistic approach that the author took in characterizing Dr. Dhruv who is at once a plastic surgeon with the eye of a falcon and courage of a tiger, and also a keen explorer with love for astronomy. It’s a light read and one can easily carry it while travelling to read along.

My Verdict: To find out whether Dr. Dhruv becomes a successful surgeon or not, how he managed to survive the pangs of separation from a girl who he loved dearly, how he finally found a girl he could live the rest of his life with and how he treated his long list of clients with great concentration and endurance, and what happened with him in the end; you will have to read the novel, Anything To Look Hot.

Dr. Jas Kohli does come across as a promising writer!

Ratings: 3.7/5

Buying Links: Rediff | Amazon | Infibeam

Paradise Lost & Regained - Book Review

Paradise Lost & Regained

By Ratnadip Acharya

Review By Ila Garg

Paradise Lost & Regained is a novel by an extremely talented writer Ratnadip Acharya. The book is published by Frog Books, an imprint of Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd. The cover is simple, sober, and aptly conveys the plot. Gokul Ram Singh (cover designer) has done a good job with the cover art. The title is direct and intrigues the readers. Also, the paper quality seems good. The layout and typeset has been done excellently as well.

Ratnadip is a well-trained street magician and has demonstrated his skill to many across the country. A NIT Jamshedpur graduate, Ratnadip lives in Mumbai, where he works as an Electrical Engineer. He has contributed many inspirational write-ups in different collections of Chicken Soup for the Soul. His debut novel titled Life is always Aimless… Unless You Love it was published in December 2012 and was received well by the readers across the country. Being deeply interested in life, nature and its mysteries, this time Ratnadip has come up with a storyline the like of which has hitherto not been told. It is about a little deer growing up in a far-flung deep forest, teeming with its fellow deer, other animals, trees and rocks. Yet we can all find ourselves in this strange and surreal world that Ratnadip has created in this inspirational novel Paradise Lost & Regained.

The blurb reads as, “Whispered the forest & its trees, ‘Little deer, tell us your story again.’

Smiled I & asked, ‘What will you gain hearing it time & again?’

Replied the forest at once, ‘It is not just a story of a deer,

but of we all - forest, earth, sky, trees, wind and river.

It is a testimony to trust, love, hope & courage

that we will all remember for ages.’

With a smile, again I began to narrate my story,

which breathed my love, fear, success, failure & glory.

It spanned from my birth in the forest to human captivity,

from where I escaped to explore life’s other possibility.

Everywhere and every moment I received help from Nature,

& it taught me to experience life from closer.

I learnt that the other name of life is Mystery,

and that it is beautiful with all its unknown twists and unpredictability.

Once I finished my narration, the forest was throbbing with life,

there prevailed only peace, silence & joy, and no strife.

‘Name your story,’ breathed the forest and every living entity it contained.

Thought I for a while and replied...

‘Paradise Lost & Regained.’”

The book is laced with surrealistic instances that will take you to a different world altogether. It might appear rather unconventional as the protagonist is a deer, and not a human. In fact, there is no human being as a character in the book. This is therefore not a regular chick-lit novel. I must clarify this isn’t a suspense, thriller, or even a retelling of a mythological work. This one is much simpler and yet complicated.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. The author writes in great detail about the birth of a little deer, and his growing up years in the dense forest. As the baby deer learns the lessons of life from the mother deer, the readers too develop a new knowledge within themselves. The readers might take it as a book with moral teachings initially but as they go along with this vivacious little deer, they will realise that the book has many more things to unveil. For instance, it gives a hint about the probable human emotions like fear, doubt, anxiety, trust, dilemma, and desires in animals.

The events in the life of this deer are interestingly penned down. Also the language is easy to comprehend and style of narration is unique. Further, this 252 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. What makes it stands out is the fact that the author has dared to produce something new. He has dared to listen to his heart instead of following the already treaded path. It’s a light read and one can easily carry it while travelling to read along. 

‘Yay’ Factors: The concept that is different from the league, the writing style that is simple yet compelling. The book is edited well too. So yay for Surojit Mohan Gupta! The layout and presentation is equally good, esp. the quotes with which each chapter is born.

‘Nay’ Factors: Perhaps, the extra-long descriptions which were appearing forceful and marring the emotional appeal of the book.

My Verdict: If you love nature and wish to tread something different from mainstream, go for this. To find out what this deer signify, why has the author chosen to tell the story of a deer, what is so special about the deer's growing up years; you will have to read the novel, Paradise Lost & Regained.

“Within all of us there is a small deer,

Which is lively, joyous and knows no fear.”

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Infibeam | Flipkart | Amazon | Landmark | Crossword

How To Choose That Perfect Dress For Your Birthday!

Hi my lovelies,

So today we are going to talk about that perfect dress you have been searching for your birthday or similar occasions. Being a girl, you ought to indulge in the process of shopping but with rising mercury levels, you can’t afford to roam around mindlessly from shop to shop. Need of the hour is to make this shopping experience hassle free and at the same time, look your best on your day!

Shopping smartly should be your key. You should also keep the following tips in mind while looking for your special dress. You can treat it as your check list:

1)      Know your Body: While shopping for a dress, you must be aware of your flaws. For instance, if your arms are dull (or tanned) and you aren't feeling too confident about them, try to look for an outfit that has transparent sleeves for a somber effect. Also, if you have bulky thighs, you can consider avoiding tight jeans, instead go for a long dress or pair your jeans with a long top. Try getting darker shades to look slimmer.

2)      Remember, you are going to be the center of attraction: It’s your day. Whatever you wear should reflect ‘you’ and your personality. Don’t try to imitate someone by buying the wrong dress that is just not made for you. Know your flaws, it will make it easier for you to downplay them. Know yourself and try to dress accordingly. That doesn't mean you need to play safe, don’t hesitate to experiment a bit. Perhaps, you can try new trends.

3)      Be comfortable: Your comfort should not be compromised with in any case. Even after wearing a designer piece if you are dicey about it, it will immediately show on your face and the whole effect will be lost in seconds. Comfort, therefore should be your priority. Go for a one piece only if you are confident enough to carry it well. Your dress should not look forced.

4)      Don’t forget to accessorize: Accessories are a must but don’t overdo them. You might be willing to try the long tussle earrings or the feather earrings that have been trending for a while but make sure they suit your outfit and your face-cut. You can try adding a watch to accentuate the look. Don’t wear too many jewels, for one, they add to discomfort and two, they will make you look gaudy and the attention will be dispersed. Also, choose the right bag to carry along.

5)      Buy the right size: Don’t make the mistake of buying one size smaller to your actual size. That won’t ever make you look slimmer, instead it will highlight your fat areas. Always buy the best fit for your body. Also, buy according to your body type. Not every dress will look good on you. For instance, jumpsuits look good but only on tall and slim bodies.

6)      Pair with right Footwear: As important as the dress is, the footwear can change the entire look. You can never wear sports shoes with a gown or you will be the next rage in the ‘fashion faux pas’ columns. If you are not too comfortable in pencil heels, try wedge heels. They look good and offer a better support.

To avoid the summer heat, you may want to try the online shopping. They have large variety with proper information and reasonable prices too. But if you don’t have much time then it’s best to avoid this option. Happy shopping, girls! Be beautiful… Bling on… always and forever!

Love,

Ila Garg

Dealing with emotions :)

Continuing from where I left in my last post, dealing with emotions is a time-taking process. After a heart-break, one must focus on controlling the outburst as it may do more harm than good. Now, first of all you need to relax and calm yourself. You have a whole life ahead of you, and one loose brick can’t make you fall. Ponder on something else, distract yourself. Force yourself to stop being nostalgic, busy yourself in work. Join some classes, if needed. Find someone to talk to, someone who will not judge you and just listen to what you have to say.

Don’t let negative emotions take the better of you. Planning a revenge or returning the pain can never make you feel better, it will add to the guilt. Let it go, improvise yourself. Use this time to hone a skill that you’ve been wanting to. Why bother about someone else, when you can make yourself a little awesome instead? Don’t be aloof, make new friends, dress up, dance a little - life can be better if we want it to be. Smile a lot, learn to love yourself. Be a keen observer. Look around. There’s a lot of worse going on around you. You are not the only one who is facing it!

And woah! You did it. You just made yourself feel better. But yes, you can never do it all alone. Surround yourself with people who love you unconditionally. And see the miracle happen! Give yourself a pat on your success!

Relationships can go through certain turbulent times, we all know that. For happy endings, one must be ready to go through ups and downs. As discussed previously, dealing with heart-breaks and resultant emotions may require a positive outlook towards life. If you are strong-minded, you can come out of the grief sooner. The key is empowering yourself enough to not let anybody else have the power to hurt you. Be committed in the relationship but don’t forget to give space to each other. Even if all this doesn’t help to hold on the relationship tight, be prepared to let it go.

You will have better opportunities waiting at the next door. Don’t compromise with your values for the sake of relationship. True love will never put you in such a situation, trust me on this. Be confident in yourself. Don’t lie to your own self, don’t pretend to be someone you are not. I see, there have been a lot of don’t (s) here, but seriously we have some do’s too. J For one, face the situation, ignoring it will only increase the pain. Waiting for him/her to come back will worsen your situation, and won’t want that, would you?

Moving on can be a personal struggle. Don’t feel that you are alone to deal with it, though. If you will close yourself in a room and cry for hours, that will never heal your heart. Going out, meeting friends, talking to them, venting out will help release the pain in great amount. 

Dealing with the matters of love and romance!

Love and romance are two entirely different concepts. We have all experienced love, love from parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, etc. To love and be loved is therefore not a new feeling. But the ability to feel the intense side of this love - the romantic love, only comes when we reach adolescence. And this kind of love is way different from the love we have been so used to since our childhood days.

Because of this new intense feeling, our life too experiences a series of change. This romantic love can be good for some, heart-breaking for others. And still, it remains an indispensable feeling. It’s a passionate feelings of attraction. Our cultural, may put taboo on it, however, that cannot cease our heart from loving or be attracted to the opposite sex. Some call it infatuation! Express it in whichever way you like, but you can’t deny it. It’s a natural tendency.

Just as you need food to survive, you need romance to grow. They say, love is after all like a food for the soul. We see this romance in front of our eyes from the very beginning (our parents, of course) and yet when we experience it in our own lives, it seems so different from what we read in novels and are made to see in movies. These new feelings can be exciting - or even confusing at first. It doesn't always have a happy ending.

The key is knowing yourself a little better which will in a way, lead you to an optimistic path and assist your romance to grow in the right direction. Believe, and you are halfway through it!

Romantic love hurts, it is not always easy to tread on a smooth path. Heartbreak can result in exquisite pain, strange distress, and what not. Physical wounds can be resolved but the wounds of heart-breaks are never seen, just felt. It takes forever at times, to get used to them.

We all hate the feeling of a heartbreak, don’t we? And yet we find ourselves compelled to go over and over the memories, ideas or fantasies which make the feeling worse. Then we look for solace in painkillers to ease out the distress. But using painkillers, anti-depressants is never a solution to this pain. It can be embarrassing and lead to an incurable mental state.

All you need to do is be strong. Some people think that to be strong is to never feel pain. In reality, the strongest people are the ones who feel it, understand it and accept it. And that is the key that you should follow. We can do it with a belief in our own capabilities. Start with telling yourself that you deserve the best. Affirmations help in a big way! Open your heart, let it love… don’t be afraid.

A Feature Story on Maxwell Scott Bags :)

The luxury leather goods company, Maxwell Scott Bags has recently re-launched its website after an exciting re-brand. An international business based in York, North Yorkshire, Maxwell Scott Bags fuses British design with Italian craftsmanship to create luxury leather products ranging from briefcases and luggage to handbags and accessories. These bags are sure to keep your look professional and at the same time fashion-forward.

Founded in 2002 by William Forshaw, Maxwell Scott Bags began life supplying briefcases to corporate clients in London. After noticing that many of his colleagues brought plastic bags to work instead of business cases, William saw a gap in the market for high quality, professional briefcases in the workplace.

After a family trip to Italy sparked an interest in the traditional craftsmanship of Italian leather, William began looking for the highest quality tannery to begin producing the leather for his bags. A highly esteemed factory in Tuscany was chosen, and the business was able to take flight.

William Forshaw, Founder of Maxwell Scott Bags said, “Back in 2002, I had a tiny vision and a passion for leather, and the business hasn’t stopped growing since! With well over a decade of professional design and craftsmanship experience under our belts, I felt a rebrand was necessary to appeal to a new generation of leather lovers.”

Maxwell Scott Bags now sell their products internationally. Although still a small business with a small staff base, the company is expanding all the time and eventually aims to be the most-loved luxury British bag maker in the world. The company stands out among the crowd by using only the finest, premium Italian leather which adds to the longevity of the product. Marks and scratches can be buffed out and the leather develops a beautiful patina over time, meaning that products from Maxwell Scott Bags only improve with age. Now isn’t that awesome?

After spending the past year re-branding, the company is now ready to show off its brand new image. With a sleek new website, a newly launched informative blog and a range of upcoming products in the pipeline, it’s an exciting time for the British company. They are very clear that each of their product should certainly mean business.

With the high end business look, the bags speak elegance out loudly. The perfect finish makes them all the more tempting and a must buy. These bags are sure to make your life more organized with the great space and proper sections that they offer. They not only give you a tidy and ideal space to keep your belongings but also help you to make the right impression when you step out of your home. The stylish bags are a sure head-turner!

Maxwell Scott Bags are not limited to only office bags, but they also have a wide variety of wallets, shoulder bags, rucksacks, mobile pouches, and wash bags! They have various color choices too; ranging from tan, to chocolate and to black, of course.

To find out more about the Maxwell Scott Bags story or to browse the extensive luxury collection, visit the new website: www.maxwellscottbags.com

Follow me on twitter: @ilagarg_smile

And for regular updates, follow me on Instagram: @ila_licious

Hurry Om Hari - Book Review

Hurry Om Hari

By Parul Tyagi

Review By Ila Garg

Hurry Om Hari, a novel by the prolific writer Parul Tyagi, is published by Half Baked Beans Publishers. The cover is beautiful, pleasant to the eyes and it thoroughly intrigues the readers. Manoj Nath has done a good job with the cover art. The title is direct and attracts the readers.  

A marketer by profession and a writer by interest - Parul Tyagi is also a mother, traveler, foodie and film buff. Her debut novella came out in 2013. Apart from this, she is an MBA who has worked across the corporate and not for profit sector, building brands or nurturing them. Her foray into active writing is an ode to her curiousity towards life, observations of real life characters and urge to simplify complexities. Hurry Om Hari is all set to be a new benchmark in her literary career.

The blurb reads as, “Hurry up or be left out!”

Haven’t we all heard this at least thousand times in our lives? (Okay you must have heard more.) The point is we are all in a hurry to make something. Be it careers, relationships, excuses, success, cover ups, babies, lives.

Om and Hari.

Their dreams may be at the far ends of a rope, their journeys may be markedly different from each other’s but their desire is common - to make it on their own!

What makes this even more tedious is their race against time in doing so. They are the dreamers, the strugglers, the under dogs, the go getters, the nerve wreckers, the charmers and... they are You!”

The book is laced with realism and makes you relate to every word that you read. This is a story centered on Om and Harini. They are first forced to meet each other by their families and like each other to eventually agree to marry. They are different and yet are always coming together. Then what is this invisible thread that links them? Perhaps their determination to reach their goals.

The story moves in a flow and nowhere will a reader feel any disconnect. One can imagine it as a film going on in front of you. The subject is tackled beautifully by the skilful author. Both Om and Harini aspire to be something, achieve their dreams, and subsequently end up helping each other in reaching their individual destinations.

The short little letters exchanged between them are interestingly written. Also the language is easy to comprehend and style of narration is unique. The ease of their love story and the way Om and Harini are connected to each other, the instrumental role that their dreams played in their love tale, and how they acted as each other’s aid are some of the many reasons why you will keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Hurry Om Hari. Another reason that would keep you glued to this book would be the beauty with which Parul Tyagi has woven this saga.

Further, this 130 page book is well written and moves beyond the regular romance novels. What makes it stands out is the realistic approach that the author took in characterizing Om and Harini as real beings with real dreams and an unflinching hope to fulfill their journey. It’s a light read and one can easily carry it while travelling to read along. Along with Om and Harini, other characters in the book such as Harini’s Dad and Mom, Om’s Dad, Bobby Bhabhi and Om’s friends make the story lively and never lets you get bored.

My Verdict: To find out whether Om and Harini are successful in achieving what they wished for or not, how they managed to be perfect for each other and be helpful to each other, what happened to them and their love story in the end; you will have to read the novel, Hurry Om Hari.

“Hari gathered herself a bit. Now was the time to let him know of her plan. It was time to take some action. She realized how safe she felt with Om around and she loved this feeling.”

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Link: Flipkart

Guide for being the ultimate Boho chick- Bohemian jewelry!

Whenever I think about bohemian look, Zeenat Aman of Dum Maro Dum fame pops up in my mind. Loose tunic dress, floral garlands, rudraksh as jewelry, bulky sunglasses and a carefree attitude towards life- this is something Indian Bollywood industry interpreted about the hippie culture popular in early 1960s and 70s. Bohemian looks that time didn’t include highly expensive gold and diamond jewelry for women but focused on earthy elements more.

Image Source: Google

 Although the bohemian style has been making entrances in fashion world, but this time it came with a boom in the Spring Summer 2015. It was no longer looked down by the fashionistas as something downgraded or worn by people apparently with no fashion sense. The new trends of bohemian style are wearable and stylish.

Fashion designers like Joseph Altuzarra, Albert Ferretti and several others made the romantic bohemian the new chic trend for the season. Apparently, clothing is not the only thing associated with this style but jewelry has made it big. Unlike other trends, jewelry in the bohemian culture is used to describe one’s personality. While others wear glass beads, leather straps and wooden beads to express themselves, Zeenat did it with flowers.

In SS15, precious jewelry has taken over these earthy materials but without overcoming the essential feature of bohemian style. Some of the jewelry styles, you can try are:

-         #  Chunky Chokers!

Chokers came back into style last year and are rocking it this year too. These chunky necklaces cover your neck making it look longer and your appearance classier. Try out a wet hair hairdo with chunky choker on black cocktail dresses or for any formal party. Our grandmothers used to have lots of them so it is time to shower some love on her!

-         #  Stackable rings!

Stackable rings is a trend followed by women who can’t get enough of their rings and have a fetish to collect finger rings. Show your love with stunning looking rings by creating stacks of your choice. You can either choose the predefined stacks or create your own by choosing statement rings.

-         #  Buzzing Dangles!

Dangle earrings are major part of this trend and when it comes in precious metals, it becomes a must to have them. Wear a flared maxi with floral prints and gladiators with dangle earrings of your choice. After all bohemian look is not about being careful about one’s look. Add them in layers instead of picking carefully and enjoy the carefree bohemian diva look!

-          # Cocktail hangover!

Similar to chunky chokers, chunky rings are also a part of this trend. The neo bohemian style is focused on bringing earthy elements into jewelry. If you are not a big fan of wearing several jewelries, cocktail rings can be perfect for you.

Along with these, chunky pendants, long chains, beaded necklaces, body chains and ear cuffs are also becoming a big part of this trend.

Buy some floral maxi dresses, printed skirts, lacy tops and palazzo pants, team them with any of these Boho style jewelries in layers and get ready to turn some heads on the street!

Go chic! Go Boho!

Author's Bio: Minakshi Pharswal is a blogger working with one of India's leading online fashion destination. She has a keen interest in writing about latest fashion trends in jewelry.

The Boy who was not broken :)

Everyone has a story, so do I. The only difference probably is that mine is written in blood! Don't get confused; you read it right. As a child, I was often bullied because of my color. I was not white and fair which is considered as the standard for being beautiful. But I don't think it was my fault. May be the creator chose to paint me in the black tone. That was his wish and living my life with equality is mine. Now, that's different that my wishes are not always granted. 'The world is not a wish granting factory'.

The school where I studied was full of white children who used to make me feel an odd one out on a daily basis. I was fed up. There were days when they beat me black and blue but I could not get them punished despite complaining so many times against them. I was aware that if I would tell my parents about it, they might help me but I didn't want to unnecessary trouble them. I was hopeful that the things will change sooner or later.

But nothing changed. I used to return home bleeding at times and then made a lame excuse in front of my parents. They were beginning to worry and then I decided to confess. They heard my story and instantly felt my pain. They offered me to change my school but I told them that I will manage. They were scared for me. I assured them that I will bring about a change in their thinking. I will open a school one day and when their children will take admission there, they will learn to be compassionate. My parents looked at me, appalled. They asked me that how am I going to do that. I showed them my savings. Yes, I had not spent a single penny from my pocket money for all those years. I told them once I pass out from a good college and get enough degrees, I will reach my dreams.

They were not sure but agreed only on one condition that I will tell them if things worsened. However, the children were already tired of beating me. They could not tear me apart, they could not take away my hope and dream for a better tomorrow. They had given up but I hadn't. I was only moving ahead on the path of my ambition, one step at a time.

And today, I stand at the gates of my own school with my parents, waiting for them to cut the ribbon and declare the school open. I feel I am born, a second time as I stand here and revisit the days when I was bullied for something that I had no control on. And in my heart, I thanked all of them for giving me my aim.

- The Boy who was not broken

#CrumpledVoices2

The Girl who hasn't lost 'hope' :)

From a window, I could only see sunlight entering in my dull room and suddenly brightening everything around. And then, at night the tube-light takes care of illuminating the surroundings or sometimes, I switch it off to sit in the aura of the calm moonlight. I have got some random books here that I re-read a lot many times only to discover new things in them. I had read a poem called "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" just a few years ago in school but I can't clearly see any stars from my small window. My food is served right in my room and I am hardly allowed to interact with anyone. No points for guessing that I have no friends.

My mother comes in my room often and look at me, sympathetically. After some seconds or probably minutes, she leaves too. It has exactly been 5 months and 4 days since I have not stepped out. My father hardly looks at me, he only loves my twin brother who enjoys this attention. He gets all the good gifts and I am not so lucky in that matter. But I don't want gifts. I just want some love and I am hopeful of getting that someday soon. Compassion is a feeling that every individual should possess irrespective of the gender with which they are dealing. However, my mother and father still value old thoughts and thus, they believe I don't need to be educated beyond a certain age. I loved school and always excelled in my academics. But my brother is an average child and my father could not see me outstanding him so he decided that I've studied enough.

I did protest during the initial days. I acted my age and cried, hoping to grab their attention. Children are adamant after all, and sometimes parents have to give in to their demands. I thought that to be true so I did all I could to ensure that they let me go to school, make new friends, learn new things, and look up at the sky and see the stars shining above me. From this window, I merely see the light, and hear happy sounds of children playing outside. At times, a bird stops by and chirps at me. It must be laughing at me or might be trying to say an encouraging word. I envy its freedom. But then, I read in a book that these birds are often caged too and yet they live in a hope of reaching the sky someday. And that has kept me inspired for all these months. When I look at a bird now, I only tell her - 'Wait for me, I'll be there soon!'

- The Girl who hasn't lost 'hope'

#CrumpledVoices2