8/03/2016

The Story of a Suicide by Sriram Iyer

"The Story of a Suicide"  by Sriram Ayer is a heart-breaking story of four youngsters Charu, Sam, Mani and Hari whose lives get messed up due to overwhelming feelings of love and betrayal, misunderstanding and revenge. The novel touches upon a sensitive issue - suicidal feelings in teenagers - and I could at once relate to the story because I had myself gone through similar feelings of low a few years back. It's a fact that most teenagers find it hard to deal with problems that life throws at them. They could be related to studies or could be relationships and breakups, misunderstandings in friendships of could be due to family problems. They are usually impatient and so often wish for quick solutions to their problems. They get very depressed and stressed up when they fail to find any and take the drastic step of suicide as a means to end their problems. However death can never be a solution to any problem. Because when someone dies, he or she doesn't die alone, there would be family and friends too who would get devastated. I wish the young guys could think about it before taking the drastic step.

"The Story of a Suicide" is a gripping story and keeps one on the edge of the seat. I finished it in one go though I had to remain awake the whole night but it was fast read, it doesn't bore you at all, Instead the moment you start reading the story, I bet, you will at once get hooked to it. Hari remains depressed and deeply pained from within because he had been a victim of sexual abuse by his own uncle when he was a child, but had been unable to share his sadness with anyone - neither with his immediate family his parents or his sister Anju with whom he was very close. But he finds a close confidant in Mani, his college mate and shares his bitter past with him. He had also never told anyone that he was gay and that he was attracted towards men. So was Mani and they fall in love with each other. Mani too had a sad past, he came from a poor background and had only his mother for family who had faced several hardships while raising him up. Mani was her only hope and she believed that he would one day become very educated and thus would end their problems. However Mani too tries to end his life by hanging himself from the fan in his college room because he was depressed due to his poor grades resulting from his poor English. Although he had been a bright student but he had not studied in English and so was finding it really hard to grasp the subjects. However Charu, his best friend, and their teacher Alex with the help of Sam, manage to save his life. That's how Sam and Charu stumble upon each other for the first time. All four youngsters - Charu, Sam, Hari and Mani study in the same college and Sam and Hari happen to be roommates too. Sam is a tech geek and he had been trying to develop an app named JARVIS just as the one that the movie Iron Man had, with which he could remotely access someone's cellphone or computer. Sam had recently broken up with his schoolmate Priya but he instantly falls in love with Charu right from their first meeting. Charu too loves him, however a misunderstanding between them results in a severe fight. Charu's posting about it on her social profile takes a nasty turn and Sam feels humiliated, he feels like he was used like a napkin by Charu and was thrown away for some other man (Alex sir). The problem with the youngsters of these days is that instead of moving on after a breakup, they keep holding onto their feelings of anger and bitterment. Sam decides to avenge his humiliation and so discreetly sends a trojan to Charu's cell phone through a photo and when she opens it, the trojan gets installed on her phone. Thus Sam is now able to see and hear all that Charu was doing through her mobile phone.
He starts harassing her by posting inappropriate photographs on the internet and so Charu takes the help of Alex sir and his friend who worked with a detective company.

Meanwhile Hari's wound from the past gets severely scratched when Mani literally rapes him like an animal, just the way his uncle used to do. What was really heartbreaking was that the very act gets uploaded on the internet through Charu's mobile phone. Sam's trojan had caused that to happen. Hari's trust had already got shattered by Mani's act but he goes into further depression when his own family disowns him when he reveals to them that he is gay. That proves as the final nail and he commits suicide.




7/17/2016

An Unforgettable Trip to Andaman and Nicobar Islands

I can never forget the trip to Andaman and Nicobar Islands last year that I took with my parents. It was one of the most enjoyable vacations I have ever had. I had always wanted to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at least once in my life time and my wish finally came true when last year Papa took us there. We had a splendid time there. I badly needed a break from the stressful routine that I was following. That I was accompanied by my parents added to the charm of the vacation. This vacation proved to be really special because we made some very fond memories for life. Years later I am sure, we would all love to relive those wonderful moments of the trip and cherish them when we would open our family album and look at the pictures we clicked there or while watching the videos we shot there.

I love travelling and have taken quite a few solo trips as well to some wonderful places but since the last few months, I had not travelled to any new place. In fact it had been a while since we went on a family vacation. We had all been busy with our own worlds. We hardly got time to sit down and have a good hearty conversation among ourselves. It was starting to feel like although we were living under the same roof, but we were living in different orbits. I would remain busy with my classes, my assignments and with friends while Papa would often go away on his official tours and mamma would be left back alone. She had proposed to both of us about taking a family vacation together but we would always come up with some excuse for not taking it. Either because we were too busy with our pending work or we couldn't agree on a place to visit.

But one day when I had a nervous breakdown owing to the work stress, the doctor advised me to take a break. He told me that I needed to get away from my daily routine because I was starting to feel both physically and mentally exhausted. Change of place would work wonders, he suggested. He was true, on papa's suggestion, we finally decided to go on a much needed week's vacation to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They were all correct, I felt so rejuvenated and stress free upon returning back.

All of us consulted among ourselves while choosing the place for the vacation and I couldn't have been happier when Papa suggested Andaman and Nicobar islands for the trip. We did all the planning together - the dates, the travel routes, the accommodation and the money that the trip would cost us. After carefully studying the options, we decided to catch a Jet Airways flight from New Delhi to Port Blair. It was an evening flight that left at around 8:30 pm and had a stopover at Kolkata. It took us took almost eleven hours to reach Port Blair. We reached there in the morning at around 7:45 am. Yes, the flight journey had made us all tired but as soon as we stepped out of the Veer Savarkar Airport, the natural beauty of the island refreshed us in no time.

Photo: http://ultimainfo.in 
One should visit the islands between the months of November and May as the weather and the climate during this period remains very pleasant. We checked into a government guest house and after having a filling breakfast, we thought of taking some rest till afternoon as we were tired after the long journey. After a good rest and lunch, we then went out to visit the cellular jail or "Kaala Pani" where the British used to keep the imprisoned Indian freedom fighters. We also visited the Navy Maritime Museum.

Photo: www.wikipedia.org
On the second day, we visited the Ross islands and the North Bay islands on a cruise. We were completely mesmerised by the the natural beauty and serene atmosphere of the islands. I was told that Ross Island used to be the headquarters of the British navy during second World War. We also visited Viper island and then North Bay where one would find plenty of coral reefs and mangroves. People visit the island primarily for snorkeling. It was an unforgettable experience. The food in the Andaman islands was also very good. One would find several eateries serving South indian food items as well as sea food. From there we returned back to Port blair to our guest house.

Photo: www.mouthshut.com

Photo: www.travelguru.com

Photo: www.tanayaholidays.com
The next day we started early for Havelock Islands. It is known for its sandy beaches and corals. We also visited Elephant beach where we saw how the elephants were being trained. It was such an exciting view to see so many elephants swimming in the sea. From there we moved to Radhanagar beach and spent quite a lot of time just walking around the beach and enjoying in the lap of nature. We had a great time in the island. As evening neared, it was time for us to return back to Port Blair. We spent another day in port Blair lazying around the city and indulged in some shoping too. Then the next morning we returned back to Delhi by Jet Airways via Kolkata. It was truly an unforgettable trip. All of us had a great time. So we have now decided that from now on, we shall be going on a vacation at least once in a year.

Vacations are indeed healthy and family vacations are even better for they pull a family together and the bonding between the members gets reinforced. Putting the daily routine aside for some time and just relaxing with your family - there can't be anything better than that. So one shouldn't let go of any opportunity to take a family vacation every now and then.

7/10/2016

Horlicks Growth+ - The new Health Drink to help Kids Catch Up On Lost Growth

"Is everything okay with my kid?"
"Is he growing normally as he should be?"
"Is there any health issue that is plaguing his growth?"
Are these questions giving you sleepless nights? As a parent, are you also worried about your child's slow growth? Are you concerned about the fact that he has fallen behind his friends in terms of height and weight?

Well, slow growth of their kids remains one of the biggest concerns for most parents these days. After all which parent wouldn't want her child to grow to his full potential? So to augment her child's growth, a mother usually feeds her child with all healthy food items so that her child gets the essential nutrients needed for his growth. However sometimes due to wrong choices of food, a child's dietary requirements remain unfulfilled. As a result, his growth gets impacted. Undernourishment is one of the major causes for slow growth in kids during childhood, although other factors like genetics, illness history, hormonal problems too can impact a child's growth.

Although a child won't grow more than what he has been genetically programmed to grow but then, if a child is given the right balance of nutrients - proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, calories and minerals, he will be able to grow to his maximum potential. For instance, the protein-rich foods like fish, chicken, eggs, legumes and dairy foods can benefit a child in helping him grow to his full potential. However most children these days are found to be fussy eaters. So sometimes it becomes really difficult for parents to make their kids eat the right food and in right amounts.

The age period of 3 years to 9 years is very crucial for all the children because it has been scientifically proved that during this phase, children grow the maximum. It has also been found that children from the age group of 2 to 9 years need almost 1200 to 2000 calories in a day. So if a child remains under-nourished and these nutritional requirements don't get fulfilled, it will cause delayed growth.

However there is a great news for all parents. Understanding this need, Horlicks set out to develop a specialized health drink by consulting with several pediatricians and health experts and after considerable research, they could come up with this advanced nutritional product - Horlicks Growth+. This unique health drink has been specifically developed to help those kids in the age group of 3 to 9 years who are lagging behind other children of their age in height and weight. Containing high quality whey proteins, vitamins A, C and D, Horlicks Growth+ promises to help children to grow fast and catch up on their lost growth by fulfilling the nutritional requirements of the children. It has been clinically proven that upon regular consumption of this drink, a child's height and weight indeed increases considerably within six months. To top it all, it has no side-effects like obesity etc.

Photo: https://growthplus.horlicks.in/

It is available in two flavours - creamy chocolate flavour and the evergreen vanilla flavour and so is bound to become a favourite among the kids. One can have it both hot as well as cold. So if a parent wishes to buy Horlicks Growth+, he or she can buy it from either a pharmacy shop or from the e-commerce websites.


Photo: https://growthplus.horlicks.in/

6/21/2016

Value what you already have

Sometimes I think who am I?
When I look at the stars, I feel so small
in comparison
Even if I were as big as the earth,
I would still have been small as compared to the universe.

There are times when I think
how we become saddened by small failures
when there are scores of people
who face failures every day and yet are smiling.

Am I appreciating what I already have?
Perhaps not.
Why do not people value a thing when they have it?
Why do they only understand its value when they lose it?
We remain in continual pursuit of worldly pleasures
when we could have so much of happiness by simple acts.
Love makes it happen.

6/03/2016

Introducing Redi-GO, India's first Urban Cross

The first things are always special, especially for a girl, aren't they? Your first day at school, your first friendship, your first prize in a competition, your first scooter-ride, your first crush, your first date, your first internship, your first foreign visit and so on. All the first experiences remain etched in our memories all through our life. In a few days from now, I am going to experience another first - my first car-driving. Now imagine the joy I must have felt when the other day Papa promised to gift me a car as a birthday present! He had actually promised me a car last year if I topped my class in the graduation exam and so I did. Thus the prize. When he asked me to choose which car to buy, I literally jumped like a monkey, I just couldn't contain my happiness. I still can't believe that I am going to ride my own car!

However choosing that one right car out of so many available options is quite a difficult task. So since the last few days, I have been asking my friends for their suggestions and additionally I have also visited a few car showrooms with my father and have taken a few test rides as well, to check for myself how that particular car performs.

Driving a car on the Indian roads can be terrifying. Most urban cities in India have now become extremely congested and so also the roads. Wherever you go, you will invariably get stuff in the traffic. If that is not enough, the condition of the roads hardly gives one any joy of driving. Thus one probably needs a strong vehicle like an utility vehicle a SUV that can be driven on any road. However given the bumper-to-bumper traffic at most places, it won't be easy to navigate such a big vehicle in a busy street. A compact hatchback would probably seem to be a better option. How I wish I could have a car that is as strong as a SUV, has the capability of a crossover along with the best features of a hatchback! Am I asking for too much?

No, I am not, because thankfully, my prayers have been answered. In fact this is very soon going to be a reality, now that Datsun India has brought out its Redi-GO - a car that gives you the comfort of a SUV but with the convenience of a compact hatchback. Recently I came to know from an article about the launch of Redi-GO by Datsun. Thus one can now enjoy a hassle-free driving experience with Redi-GO, that's what I am expecting.

(Copyright - Datsun India)
I have already fallen in love with Redi-GO's sleek design. It looks so classy and yet very cute and cool. I am sure most youngsters will love this car. Its striking features like the ‘D-cut grille’, the headlamps, the tail lamps and the first in class daytime running LED lights - they all add to its aura and help it in standing out among its peers in the compact crossover segment.

Thanks to its powerful engine (0.8L three-cylinder engine that has been paired with a five speed manual transmission), the RediGO promises a zippy driving experience and on top of that, superb fuel efficiency. Because of its high ground clearance of 185mm, which is the best in this segment, the Redi-GO promises to offer the driver a comfortable driving experience as well as generous amount of interior space.

The car is also expected to be sold at an affordable price. What I hear from the news reports is that it is going to be priced within four lakh rupees.
I am eagerly waiting for the official launch of the Redi-GO in the Indian car market so that I can have a test ride. I am already imagining driving this cutie on the roads of Delhi, through Lodhi road all the way to Shalimar Bagh. That would be real fun. I hope the car meets my expectations so that I can bring it home as soon as possible.

Fun. Freedom. Confidence. The ultimate Urban Cross - Datsun redi-GO - the capability of a crossover with the convenience of a hatchback.

Will Datsun's Redi-GO be my first car? I am keeping my fingers crossed.

12/13/2015

The Cleanest City Chandigarh

Being the daughter of an army man, I have travelled and stayed at quite a few places for a considerable period of time. So when I got this opportunity from Tata Motors to choose and write about my favourite city in India, I was in a fix as to which one to choose. Because I have been in love with almost all of them. After giving a lot of thought, I finally chose Chandigarh over all other cities. Well, I do have a soft corner for Chandigarh because I spent some of the best years of my schooling period over there, but even otherwise, it is a very beautiful city. It has a unique distinction of being not only a union territory but is also the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. Anyone would fall in love with Chandigarh given its cleanliness and greenery. It is surely one of the best cities to live in, in fact it is one place where I can live forever.

If I would describe the city in terms of its design, drive and connectivity,

Design:
Though it is not as big as the metro cities like Delhi or Mumbai, but you will be amazed to see how meticulously the coty has been developed. No wonder it is well acclaimed as the most well-planned cities in India. The city is known for its design and beauty. In fact it was the first planned city in India after attaining Independence. Its master plan was shaped by Le Corbusier, the famous Swiss-French architect and urban planner. The city is divided into various sectors that are very well connected to each other. It is designed in such a way that one would easily come to know which sector would come next i.e. finding the routes is easy to follow.  
Photo: www.topyaps.com
The roads are broad and there are enough number of service roads to keep the traffic flow in check. Add to that, the lush greenery on both sides of the roads make it a joy to drive. Thus without a doubt, the city stands up to its epithet of "the City Beautiful". 

Drive:
The Punjabis are known to be very industrious and Chandigrah epitomizes that very fact. Not only does the city boasts of having some well-known multinational companies and thereby generating opportunities for employment, it also lays emphasis on development of pollution free industries. In addition to that, there are also excellent educational opportunities in Chandigarh. The city provides a very conducive environment for work and academic development. Chandigarh already possesses an IT Park that houses some major IT MNCs like Dell, IBM, Infosys and TechMahindra. Due to so many good educational institutions in and around the city, there is never a shortfall of skilled manpower in the city. The quality of life in Chandigarh is one of the best you will find in India in the country

Connectivity:
Chandigarh is very well-connected to all the major cities and states in India through roads and railways. It also has air connectivity with all major Indian cities. It has got a well-maintained and a user-friendly public transport system (buses, taxis and autos). 
Not without good reasons do they say that once someone has lived in Chandigarh, she won't find any other city as beautiful or liveable.

No matter how many times I visit Chandigarh, I always look forward to going back again.

*** Written for "Made of Great Favourite city Zonal Wars" sponsored by Tata Motors. For more details, please visit http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/

12/06/2015

Eat Caramel Custard without guilt - thanks to Sugar free Natura

Most of us, I am sure, at some point in time would have experienced intense cravings for sweets and desserts. While there are some who manage to hold themselves back and get satiated after having a tiny bite of a chocolate or a cake or some other sweet but otherwise probably most of us fail to control the urge to have some more. Since sugar is addictive, so we tend to not stop at having a restricted amount of sweets, rather we often end up indulging in a large portion. The worrying part is that sugar is not good for our immune system. Not only does sugar play a harmful role in tooth decay but excess sugar in our body also robs it of vital minerals, affects our pancreas, can lead to diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer and so also can make one feel weak and less energised. In addition to that, since eating sugar results in adding up empty calories, so it is one of the major contributors to obesity.

Thus if we wish to have a healthy and fit body, we will have to minimise our sugar intake. However that would mean that we will have to give up our favourite sweets and desserts. Wouldn't that be too harsh?

What if I say that we now have a healthier and safer alternative to white sugar - Sugar free natura - which not only gives the same sweetness as the normally available sugar but with the advantage of negligible calories. Also since it is made from sucralose, which is highly heat stable, so it is an ideal replacement for sugar to use for cooking and baking. Not only can the weight-conscious people eat desserts made with sugar free natura but also those having diabetes.

Since the last few months, I have been religiously trying hard to shed the extra kilos from my body. Therefore I have been exercising rigorously and so also have cut down on sweets and desserts. But every once in a while, I do treat myself a sweet dish or a dessert made with Sugar free natura. Not only do the taste good (just as sweet as they would have tasted if made with normal sugar) but also without the unwanted calories. I couldn't have wished for a better gift. Recently I prepared Caramel Custard using sugar free natura and it tasted very yummy.

Ingredients
Sugar free natura - 1/4th cup + 1/4th cup
Whole milk - 1/2 cup
Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Condensed milk - 1/2 cup
Vanila essence - 1/2 tsp
Corn flour - 2 tbspn

Procedure to make Eggless Caramel Custard with Sugar free natura

In a sauce pan or fry pan, add 1/4th cup of sugar free natura and to it, add about 1 tablespoon of water and keeping the burner on medium-high flame, keep stirring gently so that the sugar starts melting. After a few minutes, it will start boiling, keep moving the pan all around so that it spreads and melts evenly.

After abt 5 minutes of cooking, it will start changing its colour to slight golden. Cook for another 1-2 minutes, continue to stir it or else the sugar at the sides may crystalise.

When it becomes slightly brownish, take it off the flame and pour the sugar syrup to the mould (I am using a small sized steel bowl). Now move the mould around so that it gets evenly coated with caramelised sugar syrup.


Now in a mixing bowl, take 1/2 cup each of each of whole milk, yogurt and sweetended condensed milk - all of these need to be at room temperature. Then add 1/4 cup of sugar free natura, 1/2 tsp of vanila essence and 2 tbspn of corn flour and whisk everything nicely so that they turn into a smooth solution.

In the mean time, take a pressure cooker and add that much of water so that its height is approximately 2 inches inside the cooker. Place a stand as well in the water. Now heat the water over medium heat.
Then pour this custard mixture into the mould or bowl containing the caramelised sugar solution, cover it with an aluminium foil and place this mould or bowl inside the cooker over the stand.

After removing the whistle and the rubber gas kit of the cooker, close the lid and keep over low heat for about 25-30 minutes or till the custard gets ready.

To check whether it's ready or not, insert a tooth-pick into the caramel custard. If it comes out clean, that would mean that it has been fully cooked.

After 30 minutes, turn off the gas and give the cooker a standing time of 5 minutes. Then opening the cooker, take out the mould or the bowl containing caramel custard and remove the aluminium foil. Using a knife, loosen the sides of the custard from the mould. Now placing a plate over the mould, give it a flip, so that the caramelised custard comes onto the plate.


Now you may start devouring it