#MustHaves Budget-Friendly Footwear to get you through all occasions!

Fashion and Footwear go hand in hand! But sometimes, comfort and trend can come for a very high price. So, I did some random research and found these amazing footwear under Rs.2500 for you to wear on all occasions without causing much dent to your pocket.They are budget-friendly and look so stylish that you won't be able to resist them. The fit is comfortable too. You can check the best fit shoe size for you, here - Zappos. Have a look at the footwear for all occasions now:

1) Home Bound: Funtoes New Fashion Flip Flops for comfort on Flipkart

At home, we want to be as comfortable as we can. Yet, if can wear something trendy, then why not? Flipkart has got this stylish pair of flip flops which is comfortable and has oodles of style. This will keep you relaxed when you walk around your home in them.

Price: Rs.189

Buy it here. 

2) Shopping Spree: Behold The Princess on Street Style Store

Shopping Time, ladies... and of course we need flats for that. Why? Because we are on a spree, we need to walk endlessly till we find the best stuff for us, right? These beautiful flats from Street Style Store will make you look trendy and yet let you walk for long without worrying about the comfort.

Price: Rs.499

Buy it here.

3) Sports Shoes: Niio C-201 Running Shoes on Flipkart

Of course, we girls are fitness freaks, aren't we? So going out for jogging and want to look chic, here are the perfect shoes for you to keep you company while you lose some kilos.

Price: Rs.399

Buy it here.

4) Hangout with your Friends: Criss Cross & Magical on Street Style Store

Friends are your best critics. You need to look your best and stay updated in front of them. Show them your funky side with these gorgeous looking sandals that look so seamlessly chic and irresistible. You can pair them with almost anything and look fashionable.

Price: Rs.699

Buy it here.

5) Work Ready: Plosh Heels on Flipkart

Formals are a must for offices. And yes, you can look stylish at your work place by getting your feet in these shiny pumps. Oh look at them, how beautiful they are!

Price: Rs.1123

Buy it here.

6) Winter Boots: Lara Karen Ankle-Length Coffee Boots on Jabong

I love this color, it lifts my mood somehow. The new chic color - Coffee is all you want for winters. Designed with perfection, this boot from Lara Karen is a must in your collection. The brand guarantees to keep your feet comfortable throughout the day. It will be a perfect pick to complete your chic look for a wintry day.

Price: Rs.2099

Buy it here.

7) Bling on a Date: Heart wants it all - Gold on Street Style Store

Look 'Red Hot Chic' on a date and steal his heart. Pair your red/gold dress with this footwear and cruise on a date in style. Street Style Store is known for its perfection and care that they put in their work that won't let you regret your choice. 

Price: Rs.699

Buy it here.

8) College Calling: Sassy Girl Oxfords on Street Style Store

College happens to be the best time for everyone. It can involve a lot of experimenting with your looks, changing style, going through chic makeover sessions. But at times, a pair of shoes can help solve all your worries by keeping you stylishly happy through all the tedious classes. 

Price: Rs.699

Buy it here.

9) Party Chic: Mocha Crunch Loafer on Street Style Store

Baby Doll main sone di... For gold is the new trend, we shall wear it for the parties. These loafers in gold are all we want this year for rocking the dance floors and capture the centre stage with our moves!

Price: Rs.899

Buy it here.

10) Some more shoes that I loved:

Veronica Boots - Tan - Rs.899 (Buy it here).

Motorcycle Ankle Boots - Black - Rs.899 (Buy it here).

Joe Lace Up Boots - Rs.999 (Buy it here).

Go shop your heart's content!

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

Rajiv Chowk - A Must Visit

Rajiv Chowk has been a very special place for me more than one reason. Every delhite must have a connection with this place, the central hub of the metropolitan city. This place has the oldest architecture and the building have survived huge atrocities and yet have not demanded any major repairs. Its British architecture (with Edwin Lutyens being the leading architecture) is classy and stylish and appeals to all age groups. For me, this place is always full of wonders. First things first, at whatever time you might be at Rajiv Chowk metro station, you will always find it full of people. Indeed it is a lively sight! I often find myself lost among the crowd there. If you can imagine the scene through my eyes and words - well, it’s like I’m standing in the middle of the station, and time freezes, but the storm of people keeps going all around. Sometimes, this crowd takes you along and sometimes you just feel out of place, uneasy due to the commotion. With so many exits, this metro station is a helluva of a place to be!

Image Source: archinect.com

We delhites can never skip this place from our hangout plans. Why? Because it has everything you want to add to your day. From coffee shops to places for window shopping, from libraries to eateries, this place has it all. What do I love the most about this place? The British Council Library situated at the K.G. Marg offers a great reading spot with a mini coffee shop inside. There are many more libraries around the area to give the readers ample choices. In addition, Rajiv Chowk is a treat for shopaholics with inner and outer circle laced with numerous shops. These shops include high end fashion brands and few small brands, suiting everyone’s pocket. In the Central Park right opposite to the market area, there is big Indian flag situated which instills national pride in all of us.

The metro station is very near to the underground flea market Palika bazaar and Janpath, which are two popular shopping places for the college goers. This is a perfect venue to buy antique things like lanterns and decorative pieces, trendy dresses, flip flops, latest tops and silver jewelry at value for money prices. Something that will leave you happy. That’s not all. There are many cinema halls in and around CP. PVR Cinema, PVR Rivoli, Regal, etc. are few of them that are always playing new movies. There are few art galleries and stadiums too to cater to people of all interests. And if this doesn’t interest you, Rajiv Chowk has dedicated areas for photography lovers among the city dwellers. We have Ugrasen Ki Baoli which is a great spot for bird watchers. This place is often known as one of the haunted places in the city. Many important monuments like Jantar Mantar are famous haunts within Rajiv Chowk. Also, with Bangla Sahib located here, the place attracts people with religious sentiments as well. In a nutshell, Rajiv Chowk is one stop hub for people from all sort of passions and interests. 

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

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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

Airtel App and Me :)

I have been using airtel for as long as I have held a mobile phone in my hand. The number has been special for me. So when I came across the airtel app, I was ecstatic. No more recharge worries while I'm travelling. Of course we had internet facility before this but the app is always a faster option. Also, when we are low on balance, we often tend to lose patience to enter details for the recharge but the app can safely store your details and you can easily recharge with just a few clicks. You can save the frequently used options in a shortcut tab and even make shortcuts for your bill payments, customized recharge packs, ordering games, check data usage, and other such options.

1. In addition, the app has an option of ‘Airtel Surprises’. And who doesn’t love surprises after all? The user can receive surprises from airtel in form of coupons that we can avail for with every recharge. There are a lot of redeemable coupons across various categories. The coupons include popular brands like PVR Cinemas, Café Coffee Day, Myntra.com, Ebay.in, Archies, VLCC, etc. Also, being a book lover, the app has a great option for me in the form of discount coupons from FLIPKART and Amazon from where I shop for most of the books. Definitely, people can use these coupons to buy other things as well.

2. That’s not all. We are often in a dilemma about the online transactions and especially sharing the card details on any such platform. However, the app if safe and secure to make the transactions. We can store card details without worries. It offers a personalized user experience and doesn’t let you down. It has a host of other delightful services like adding or removing airtel services, exploring airtel live (also known as One Touch Internet), and you can also get alerts on low balance, low data, due dates for bill payment, etc. There are options to check out the latest news and regular sports update.

3. The app can be downloaded easily on Android and it will be soon available on IOS, Windows, Nokia, and Blackberry handsets. It will make your life hassle free. The user can receive exclusive offers with just a simple shake of your handset. It has advantages for cash-back, free data, and full talk time facilities to enhance its credibility. So far the reviews for this app have been good and quick updates are being made every time any loophole emerges. A lot of times, it has come in handy and reduced the creases on my forehead.

Perhaps, this app will soon become my favorite app on the android. Till then, I am keen on exploring all its features and recommend it to my friends to resolve their recharge problems.

Mother: My First Expert

So it is mother's day, that day of the year when we finally take out time for the one who doesn't ever look at time when we want her by our side. One can never cherish all the memories that they share with their mothers. After all, even before we enter this world, we develop a relation with her, an unsaid bond. She knows everything about us, even when we can't tell her anything. She understands when we need to talk, when we just need a hug, or when we want some space of our own. She becomes our closest friend, our companion and someone who will always be there even when everyone else turns their back at us.

Here's a poem for her that I wrote long back and keep dedicating it to her every time.

I know I haven't always been an easy child,

But love for you lies deep down in my heart.

There is no way I could be tamed or be mild,

I need to shout at times and be apart.

You're my everything, yet I'm not always right,

You are the wall; the force to test my strength,

The chain I hammer at with all my might,

Even though you have increased its length.

It's tough, I know, to be so calm and not be mad,

To raise me after all the jitters, and tad bliss,

To have to play at once good and bad,

Even after being angry, you give me a goodnight kiss.

But love against all odds is stronger still,

I need your untainted, pure love, and always will.

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 Kapil Dev Effect!

Out of all games, cricket holds a special place in the hearts of every Indian. I don't remember a single Indian who wasn't hooked to the screen while the World Cup was on and the moment when Sachin Tendulkar bid adieu to cricket. So heartbreaking! Whenever in my nostalia, I rewind that moment, I feel hollow. After all it was a huge loss for the game. Sachin Tendulkar is the God of Cricket, and no less. And legends like him never retire. They can stop playing for the team but they can't stop playing for themselves. Now, with another legendary cricketer, Kapil Dev announcing the Ek Nayi League of course things are thankfully going to storm up a little bit... We have IPL, and several other leagues but this upcoming league has really intrigued me.

The promotional teasers are short and crisp and have inspired me to do an instant research on the subject to get some in-depth details. The first thing I did after browsing through the videos was to quickly follow Kapil Dev on twitter to stay updated before I start making my guesses. What are the first tips that you will give to a budding sportsperson? Perhaps, you will tell them to play with all their heart, right? But in its stark contrast, Kapil Dev candidly warns that play with your heart and be ready for a googly!

Now, I must confess I didn't like cricket much but as soon as I held the bat in my hands and played the first ball, it left me appalled. The way all the onlookers are caught in awe, the moment they see a bat and a ball is fascinating. I felt the best while bowling though. That was also the moment when I finally enjoyed watching the game with my papa and bhai. The game soon became an important part of my life. The sheer dedication towards the game led me to follow the league and then the addiction kept increasing with time. Current IPL season has attracted my attention because of none other than Shahrukh Khan owning KKR. For me, the magic between the wickets is unparalleled when KKR steps out to play.

Moreover, this #EkNayiLeague sounds so damn exciting. From what little he has revealed in the promos, it seems that he is bringing together the retired legends of the game. After all, they can't lose their zeal at any age, being priceless as they are! In a way, this league will surely bring out some new trends in the game. On second thoughts, it could be some sort of quiz on sports or a panel discussion. It might be a learning experience for some, while for others it can be a source of revival and enjoyment. Whatever it will be, I am sure that cricket fans from all across the globe would be waiting for Kapil Dev to divulge some more details on it. I am checking my twitter every now and then for his much awaited words on this.

Rise of the Grey Prince - Book Review

Rise of the Grey Prince

By Arka Chakrabarti

Review By Ila Garg

Rise of the Grey Prince by Arka Chakrabarti is published by Srishti Publishers. The book’s cover is dark and mysterious and gives a look of a thriller. The sword shining bright and the man lingering in darkness intrigued me in an instant and I could not wait to sneak inside.

The author is a twenty seven year old tax consultant and a content writer who resorted to writing to escape the mundane life. The success of his debut novel The Secrets of the Dark, along with the articles that he continues to write for esteemed magazines like Tehelka and the world of professional photography, have paved the way for the second part of the series ‘The Saga of Agni’.

The blurb reads as, “That cursed night at Nisarga had revealed the true reason behind his father’s sacrifice and his own dark past. Each revelation now draws Agni into the sublime world of secrets. With Vrish and Guru Sidak by his side, fighting the daggers from the past and winning over the opponents of the present, somewhere deep down, he knows that his journey has just begun.

The other scarred prince walks the ashes of his reality. Haunted by the glimpses of truth the same night, Yani had but one choice – to survive. His unknowing steps, trapped in cruel games of ancient powers had led him to a truth, a truth which shall mould a good man in the clay of misfortune, hate and lust.

Such is the world of Gaya, and thus shall be the Rise of the Grey Prince – the one torn between the darkness of evil and a lone ray of hope.”

This book is the second part of series - ‘The Saga of Agni’. The story of the series revolves around Agni. Now, I haven’t read the first one in the series so I thought I might not be able to bridge the connection. Though much to my relief, the book has a recap ‘The Story So Far’ and thus, one can read it even if they haven’t read the first one.

The book is set in a fictional land called Gaya, which is further divided into two continents - The Land of The Rising Sun, and The Land of The Setting Sun. The story centers on the main protagonist - Prince Agni, his guru Sidak, his friend Vrish and Prince Yani, whose father took care of Agni during his initial years of childhood.

The story will appeal to all those readers who want to read something different from the mainstream drama. The way this narrative is written compels the readers to read on and get involved with this fantastic tale. The author has managed to keep the story tight knit. The only flaw that I felt could have been worked on is the complexity of the plot. It tends to make the reading experience a little confusing as so many alien names come up and sometimes it gets difficult to establish a proper connection. Also, the initial chapters are a little drab and only a reader who keenly wants to reach climax will have the patience to read through the details. It also gets challenging to read this book in one go as the readers will find it difficult to keep themselves stimulated.

There is a list of characters at the end but it only has the characters introduced in the second part, the earlier characters aren't listed there. The language is easy to comprehend but there are too many details to keep a tab of. So many characters add to the confusion, though the readers of the first part of the series may enjoy it.

The 214 page book manages to be a nice read, though it could easily be more interesting if the characters were kept numbered and given proper space to develop. The plot and thrill kept me glued to this book, although the grammatical errors kept irking the flow.

‘Yay’ Factors: The concept.

‘Nay’ Factors: The too many characters and details. Also, the book could have been edited with a little more precision.

My Verdict: All in all, the concept is well thought of but the execution lacks in a big way. There are too many things happening in this book and the readers might just lose the patience to keep reading. I have high expectations from the next part in the series. I really hope the author will work on the feedback that he gets for this book so that the corrections can be made in the following book.

Ratings: 3/5

This (Unbiased) book review is a part of “The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program”. To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com. 

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

Chit-Chat with Parul Tyagi :)

1.    Tell us something about yourself and the book?

I am a marketer by profession with over eleven years’ experience in handling Brands and their life cycles. I completed my MBA from MICA and along with a Post Graduate degree, I got the love of my life there. I am married to him right now and we have two sons. I have grown up in Delhi and my parents have spoiled me rotten. Have a younger brother who has actually become my older brother over the years - he is more patient and positive about life than I should be!

Hurry Om Hari is my second book. This book is about two people who are like you and me. What makes them inspire us is the fact that they choose to think about themselves and dare to achieve their unfulfilled dreams - albeit in a HURRY!

2.      How did you select this particular title?

I love playing with words for fun. It’s nice to twist them around and see what a world of difference they can make by simply getting arranged in different ways. The play with Hurry and Hari is a product of that curiosity. We have all grown up dancing on this cult yesteryear song and when I started writing a story on how two protagonists are determined to live their lives, even when they are in a hurry, I instantly knew I would call one of the Om and the other one Hari.

3.      What inspired you to write it?

A good plot. Once I knew this would be an interesting story to tell, I had to sit down and take it to a logical end. I knew I had to let people know that success is not just a by product of hard work. It is also a must resultant of dreaming about it. I have experienced this phenomenon in my personal life and instead of preaching about it I weaved into a story and tried to send the message across.

4.      How does it feel to be a writer?

In one word I could say - Liberated! Writing takes me away from the routine. It gives me independence. It gives me wings. It fuels my imagination. Oh and it also seems a little awkward when I get a million requests from everyone around to write letters to some government agencies, resignation letters, status updates only because : “Hey you are a WRITER. Must be a two minute thing for you!”

5.      What is your biggest strength when it comes to writing?

Imagination. I can do that quickly. It is part of my personality actually. I imagine scenarios, always negative, in every situation. You have to ask my husband how ably I imagine the worse things that will happen to us just because something little occurred at one moment. On a serious note, I strongly believe that if you can put yourself in every situation and think what could be the next move of a situation, character or time - you are a writer.

6.      Share some of your interesting memories you lived while writing this book.

The most important was all the Hockey I watched on TV or on YouTube. My sons are sports buff and they knew my book has Hockey in it. Sometimes they would watch something and fill me up with what I could include in the story.

Another significant memory is the pains I took to not let anyone know the title of my book. Often people would ask: “What's the name of your next?” And I had to safeguard it especially because it’s difficult for your kids to not blurt out everything to everyone. That is why the book is dedicated to their efforts.

7.      How do you make sure your dreams come true? Is there any short cut?

Nah. Never. There is no short cut to anything. Me and my brother grew up hearing from Dad that there is no substitute for Hard work. I take pride in working hard and then achieving success rather than riding on someone’s back or looking for easier ways to reach there. Dreams that come true on your own merit are savored best.

8.      Do you think a race can ideally be won by patience or by hurrying?

Race can be won only by determination. If you are determined and passionate about winning, you will win it by patience or hurrying- whatever path you choose. Your heart has to be in the right place, which is all.

9.      How was it working with Half Baked Beans, when you are associated with Grapevine India?

Good you asked. So I came on board as an Author at Half Baked Beans much before I joined Grapevine. I am a strict professional and I have never let the two overlap or suffer any conflict of interest because of my associations. I am a creative person and I give my hundred percent in both my roles. I am also fortunate that I found the right people at both these places. They are both encouraging and trust I will perform with honesty in both capacities. Being the movie buff, I can relate this to how Tigmanshu Dhulia directs his own films while he also acts under Anurag Kashyap.

10.  Do you think author’s conversations and events are important for a book’s promotion?

Yes and No. You cannot totally give up on promoting it by saying, “My work will do the talking”. At the same time you cannot oversell it by forcing people with conversations and appearances that become irritating for them. In the age where social media is consumed more than water, one has to be careful in the approach they take. If something is relevant and important for the world to know, make it known. But if something is important to you do not assume you can talk about it for 48 hours in a day and nobody will mind. If your product is good, nothing can stop it from being noticed.

11.  What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

The days when you just do not feel like writing. I hate those days. They are really useless days.

12.  Describe your writing style in ten words or less.

I write for those who think- Reading books isn’t easy.

13.  What are some things you like to do when you’re not writing?

Anything around Food, Movies or Travel. These are the three things I truly invest my time and energy in. Having two sons at the age they are in, the rest of the time is for them.

14.  Do you think that writing about dreams and strugglers can actually be of some help to the readers?

Yes. Aren’t we all looking for references around us all the time? I believe when people will read that dreams aren’t achieved by simply sitting on them but actually getting up and going about grabbing them, it will help at least one person out there.

15.  How do you feel when someone disagrees with something you say or have written?

I take it very seriously. I may not agree with the person but ill never disregard their opinion.

16.  Tell us something about your future projects.

The next book is ready. Announcements - at the right time. All I can say is that it is absolutely different from what I have ever written. It is a very ambitious project and I can't wait for the world to know about it.

17.  Was this path difficult to tread on or a smooth ride?

Smooth because I have a very strong support group around me when it comes to my family and friends. I am a royally pampered person and I am protected by their love and confidence every second of my life. Difficult, because it is not easy to be creative. You have mood swings, you have to be in a certain zone at times, you have to invest a lot of time. But it is all worth it.

18.  Lastly, is there a message you would like to convey your readers?

Hurry Om Hari is a product of my belief that no Dream is big or small. I have translated my unending love for Reality shows (I am a huge Big Boss fan) by building a story around it and letting everyone know that this love of mine is not stupid. I have greatest respect for sports-persons. I dream of making my sons good sports-persons and thus I made Hockey a central character in the book so people know that it is no easy business to be an achiever in this field. I just hope you see the honesty of this belief in my words.

Description

"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!

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