A hero around us.

Well, I was moved when I first heard of Blogadda's initiative with Gillette. Soldier for women; well there are so many bad apples in the basket and they stand out by their sheer rotten smell- teasing women, throwing taunts, disrespecting them and doing other unmanly things; but there are good ones too. People who stand up for women. Many women have objected against the idea of chivalry and misunderstood the whole movement as is evident with the comments on Blogadda's blog. Well, it's not that they need to be helped or saved; rather, it's actually about whether a man who disrespects a woman or lets it happen under his watch, is a real man? Just like we need good citizens in this country, we need better men; who can take responsibility. We also need better women who can stand up against crimes of all kind but, this is about men- men who can be soldiers. Every woman as she battles the various challenges in society is born a soldier but among men, soldiers are made. Proper education, moral background, an alive conscience- all go into making them. Here are a few examples I can think of-

1. I was in 11th class, annual function was right around the corner. The girls of the class were performing, they thought they'd rehearse their dance in the classroom itself in a free period. A few guys started clapping and whistling as they saw the girls dance. The girls were getting annoyed and soon the situation escalated as one of the guys used some derogatory words for the girls without any provocation. A few guys in the classroom started laughing with him. One of them wasn't. He stood up against the gang and asked them to keep quiet or leave. He was beaten black and blue by the rowdies. He sat in the corner crying as no one really cared, and the rehearsals continued.

2. There was a discussion forum on Facebook where people were allowed to post anonymous comments about their college life, you know, sort of a confessions page. Someone posted that he liked a particular girl in college; upon reading that, the girl didn't really reciprocate and not-so-subtly turned down the creepy anonymous proposal. The next anonymous comment that followed was a sexist slur in disrespectful, mean and rude language. The girl was appalled at this audacity. One of the members of the forum posted a link to the cyber laws prevalent in India and the punishments for such a person who abuses someone publicly on the internet. Next anonymous comment was an apology.

3. On a bus journey from Davangere to Bangalore, a woman passenger was constantly getting harassed by the passenger sitting behind her he tried to touch and grope her with the excuse of constantly trying to adjust the curtains. One of the fellow passengers saw this happening and informed the conductor immediately. The passenger was made to alight in the middle of nowhere as the bus zoomed past him. Till date this example scares the hell out of mischief-mongers.

F?@K KNOWS Review.

Author- Shailendra Singh

Pages- 234

Publishers- Roopa

Genre- Self-help

Roopa publications have been striking a cord with the audience ever since their tryst with Chetan Bhagat. This book also goes into the club of those young, unabashed, truthful books that speak their minds without much beating around the bush. If you go by the biography of author Shailendra Singh, you'd come to know that he is a go-getter. Every go getter has a winning policy. His policy has earned him results and he has done many things from his to-do checklist in life. A list most of us give up on too early.

About the cover- 

The bright yellow with that huge F-word title is like a shout out. If you are in a conservative family, you might need to hide it from your parents. I think the title could have been a little more subtle and have still carried the point across. Anyway, the artwork is funky and makes you pick up the book.

About the book-

This book is divided into 72 chapters. The chapters are small and are like chunks of life wisdom. You might want to read them at your own pace to imbibe it all in. Yes, 72 chapters! Hours of preaching you say? This book is no yawn-fest. Why? Firstly because it's your friend. Not your teacher. As if  that wasn't evident from its cover, the book uses the F-word profusely. It's for those who have sought for happiness and have found themselves lost in the search. I, in my personal opinion, have always been skeptical about books that try to lead me somewhere. Those motivational, guides which claim to lead me to the truth become dust-collectors at the top shelf in my cupboard but not this one. This one doesn't take itself too seriously. It has its light moments. The author is not trying to seduce you to his ideas. He is subtly persuading you to win. Very subtle, it works. It works because it doesn't try too hard. But like any other self-help motivational book, it does make judgments. It does try to generalize and you might end up hating the book for slyly pointing out your follies. People who do not like too much honesty or are on a different intellectual plane might require the author to be present in physical form so that they can cross-question. Of course, that is something that can't happen unless people at Blogadda are thinking about convening a promotional conference. Anyone listening?

The book sometimes slaps you for not giving life a fair chance. I got reminded of Gerald Butler's "Ugly Truth" movie while reading the book, although of course this book doesn't totally focus on sex. For those looking for some undiscovered pearls of wisdom, or secrets of life, the secret elixir, I am sorry- there is nothing for you there. The book only tells you what a good friend would. You know the truth already but doubts, suspicion, procrastination clog your system. This book frees you of your doubts. It will help you make a decision that you wanted to make but never did because you had other stuff in mind. Think of it as a mental broom clearing away dust from your thought processes. 

The author's bio on Blogadda had a fancy line saying that he has launched the careers and "egos" of country's  biggest celebrities. Now what do you mean by launching an ego? You'll come to know when you read this book. It might be about harsh reality but it boosts your ego. We all are craving to discover some self-worth. This book helps you find that. It helps you admit that you need help and then helps you. 

This Book Review is a Part of the Book Review Program On Blogadda. Join to participate and win free Books!

The Hurt

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

"Do you want to get back together?" she asked. It was the second time she had come back to me. She cheated on me with this guy in her class and later realized that I was her "true love". I was happy. I was madly in love with her. I wanted to take her back but this had happened before. It was like deja vu. She was strongly attracted to this other guy and couldn't resist him when her was around. He, like a douche, used to follow her around, knowing that she was with someone else. I can't blame the guy. She just wasn't herself with me. She had a thing for bad guys while I had none of those qualities.

If I was put in the guy's scenario, I'd never have made a move. Heck, I'd have stopped the girl from making a move. I value honour and integrity much more than the temptation to flirt with someone else's girl.

But here I was. She was in tears, this felt like a dream. She missed me and wanted me back again. She had cheated on me before and I had lost all trust but, there she was. ‘My heart was saying “Yes” but my head was saying “No”‘. I wanted this moment to pass and directly go to the ending where me and her drive into the sunset and we live happily ever after. I said "yes". It wasn't easy, a lot of questions plagued my mind, would I be able to trust her again? Would she stop talking to this other guy? What if she starts talking to him again? Will I be able to handle it?

I jumped into the relationship right back with my eyes closed. I trust blindly because that's the only way I know to love. I held her tight, told her I missed her. She smiled. She was happy too. We took trips together.

We went to a fish spa on Valentine's day, held hands. Exchanged cards. I made her cry with my love. It was picture perfect. I wanted it to live on forever. Then something came up, I had to leave the city for a few months. It was a big deal for both of us. Ever since we had got back together and it had been a while, one month to be precise, there wasn't a day we hadn't met. How badly I was going to miss her. I told her I'll stay connected. I told her to wait for me. I was the knight in shining armour who was setting sail just to come back for his damsel. It was my fairytale.

One week before my departure, she was feeling a bit sad. Said she didn't want to talk. The next morning, I called her for lunch but she said she wasn't hungry. I said I'd just come and pick her up, asked her location. She reluctantly told me where she was. I went there. As I entered the street, I saw a guy hiding his face, tiptoeing away. She froze with fear. I had reached a minute too early.

The day we truly met!

Why do I love her?

Before actually sitting down to write this, I was under the impression that this would be the simplest thing to write about, being so close to my feelings. Turns out- it isn't. I love her but don't exactly know why. Maybe because my thinking and reasoning abilities aren't at their best at the moment or maybe because if I knew *why* I loved her, it wouldn't be called "love" then. I just love her because I love her. I don't love or couldn't have loved any other girl because any other girl wouldn't have been her.


I love her 'cause she deserves to be loved. She is love personified. I can feel her heartbeat when she talks to me, I know her. I know that behind that young girl there is a sensible, mature lady. When she whispers those three magical words in my ears, my heart takes a plunge. She says- "I love you." and I close my eyes, take a deep breath as my heart stops beating and freezes in the moment; goosefleshes run through my skin. My heart sinks deeper in my chest, as if firmly announcing its victory over other realms of my thought sphere.


I love her because I know I can be all that she needs. I can swap skins with her, I can be her and no one will spot my camouflage. I know her from within. When I close my eyes, I hear her; when I open my eyes, my eyes search for her. When I do anything, her happiness remains my top priority. I want her to get happier by every breath I take. I just want to make her the happiest girl on earth and I know nothing else.

RIP By Mukul Deva- Book Review

This review is a part of the biggest Book Reviews Program. for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

Book- RIP
Author- Mukul Deva
Publisher : Westland Books
ISBN : 978-93-82618-19-5
Genre : Thriller, Fiction

Thank you once again Blogadda for the opportunity to review another nail-biter. The book cover has a dangerous feel with the syringe pointing downwards against a backdrop of a soldier standing guard against the enemy on a hill top as the sun shines. That kind of sets the mood for this fast-paced thriller which has all elements of an action movie with an emotional appeal. 

The book begins with an introduction to the author and all the rave reviews that he has received thus far. An ex-army personnel with a record of five best-sellers in last five years, India's literary storm trooper and one of the pioneers of Indian thriller novels in the military genre. This impressive record and background sets the mood for the read and there will be no disappointments. Yes, you can smell the gunpowder quite literally while flipping through the pages. The details although purposefully kept vague as a precautionary measure are chilling and realistic at times. 

Coming to the plot- it revolves around the K team called simply because all it's members' names start with the letter K- Colonel Krishna Athawale, Major Karan Singh, Major Kevin David, Major Kashif Nadeem, Major Kamlesh Saikia and Major Kulwant Singh Bajwa. Notice that the team is very secular. It seems to be a very bright move by the author to infuse a bit of symbolism in the story. So this team comprising of ex- para commandos sets out to cleanse the system. On the border they've saved us from the enemy but now they've started this movement against the enemy within. People in politics and bureaucracy who have been eating away the nation bit by bit and have been escaping the wheels of justice- they need to be steam-rolled and weeded out from the nation's system in order to secure a developing, healthy society. With this ideology and oodles of patriotism, our protagonists set out on their mission. The best part about having many protagonists is that the author gets to play with a lot of emotions and invoke a lot of feelings. The book never loses its grip on the reader and is as fast-paced as guaranteed in the reviews.

This team is countered by two sets of individuals. One is the CBI team comprising of Vinod Bedi and Nandakumar while the other is a fallen angel Raghav Bhagat hired by Home minister who too is an ex-para commando. 

The novel starts in a classy James Bond-esque setting where the K team is shown in action while the emotions at play are described in a seamless manner. It is not a hollywood thriller with no soul but an Indian movie with a very Indian soul but a classy, to the point approach.

The author seems to have a lot of pent up anger inside him  against corruption which is visible on the pages of the book. He doesn't want to promote this killings but he clearly states that he wouldn't condemn such people like the K team. This strong sense of patriotism is visible in his writing. It is very real and certain characters will make you sit up with wide eyes. I won't divulge any further details now.


All in all, a good late night read. It sets the blood boiling and if yours is already boiling, it'll set your heart racing against all that's wrong with India today. Read it as common man. It'll make you feel empowered.

Hair today, better gone tomorrow.

This post is a part of the Gillette Satin Care contest in association with BlogAdda.com

She looked at me angrily,

It was a cold January night.

I froze in her gaze, and grinned,

as I didn't want to fight.

She gave me the look,

the look of disgust.

I was shaken from within,

If know, you must.

She had been an angel,

and was calm and composed.

Never did I expect her,

to scream and explode.

I am not good at this,

figuring out what's wrong..

I am one of those, who'd

rather sing their own song.

She was angry and,

I didn't know my mistake.

Asking her about it,

wasn't a piece of cake.

There was no other choice,

I had to take a guess.

For crimes I didn't commit,

now I'll have to confess.

I took a deep breath,

"Is it something I said?"

I spoke with a shudder,

I was as good as dead.

"Is it the comment I made,

about the way you talked?"

"Or is it the jest I made,

of your mom's wobbly walk?"

Her eyes filled with wrath,

I was hard to save.

I knew this was a bad idea,

I was digging my own grave.

She stopped me mid-sentence,

perhaps, out of pity.

Her eyes fumed, with no mercy,

burning my arguments' nitty gritty.

Before she could begin,

and I knew how it was gonna go.

She caught me staring,

and don't get me wrong bro!

It was a harmless strand of hair,

Shy, reticent, looking for approval.

Peeping through her armpit,

I wish she had opted for hair removal.

The bugle of the the war, 

that had been sounded.

Was withdrawn for a while,

as the leader was wounded.

She was a tad embarrassed,

wasn't gleeful as such.

I was like a foreign spy,

who knew too much.

She was about to scold me,

for not so long.

But now that I had seen it,

bro! It was on!

She went on explaining,

my each and every crime.

She went on from that moment,

to the beginning of time.

It was my fault or not,

guess, we'll never know.

I have no proof other than,

fingerprints to show.

Yes the prints came from,

that one tight slap.

Which ended her argument,

like a racer's last lap.

I am a victim of fate,

a fate so cruel.

I really wish she had,

opted for hair removal.

-Abhyudaya