Review : Winter Evenings

 Name     : Winter Evening

 Author  : Navtej Sarna

 Publisher : Rupa Publications

 Cost      :  Rs. 350

Navtej Sarna's stories are keenly observed vignette of ordinary lives, told with profound empathy,a keen eye for the telling detail,and economy of style .

                                                       - Shashi Tharoor

A very good book ,best suited to accompany us in moments of solitude and peace. A perfect read , in case you wish to take a break from the rush and busy life.

                                                        Shashi Tharoor has quoted very correct about the author. Realistic stories that very well  match an ordinary life is the best part of this book. Something that can be throughout observed in all the nineteen stories included in this very book. 

Be it the very first story that sources the name of the book, Every story outcasts a good blend of everyday life situations with another everyday ordinary characters that in fact makes the reader associate the characters with  an acquaintance or a known person that they often come across.

The dialogues and narration with keen description of each and every detail actually makes the stories a very interesting read. Since it is a collection of multiple short stories, it does not demand links or continuation while reading, Out of nowhere the reader can choose a story to read .

The story of Raya , the second short story in the book is the story that I loved the most. A very different take on classic Romance, A different picturisation of the story of an old lady in search of  her lost love that which ultimately land in the author helping her now about the whereabouts of the man she once fell in love in Russia.

The story 'The Superintendent's Formula' is a soft description of the roots of bribery and corruption that emerges from the helpless government officers in the same job without any promotion or improvement in their work.

Since it was the very first story I read from this book, It stayed in my mind for a long time. Though the stories herein are not the one that keeps you hooked up reading, these are the ones that you can pick up anytime and wont be bored in case it is a repeated read

The first person narration of certain stories are very good that gives a very different view towards the story. Most of the stories set in pre independence era or alike situations are very detailed still short and crisp.

Be it the story of the grand son who narrates the story of the sad and terrible days during the partition or the Sikh protests in Punjab that his grandmother faced, Or the story of Madam kitty who has to quit the home nursing job due to suspicions and bad past. Every story has a different background and moral,  which makes this book much different than many a short story collection.

I would suggest this book to every one who loves reading detailed short stories, for I found every story interesting.I would rate this book four out of five.

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Guide to the Ladies DiBbA

No, Inspiration for writing this post, five to six years experience is more than enough to post about a Ladies compartment of Mumbai Local.

Note : Pun intended everywhere




Now the area of Interest aka the Ladies dibba can be categorized as,  front wali ladies, middle and the Last Ladies. ( purely in the true Mumbaikar train life jargon).

Beginning from the start, Lets start exploring a character from the platform itself:

1. Grab it first Aunties: Now these are the most famous species on the platforms, You can find them with the sari pallu tucked to one side , and their handbags gripped tightly. Their most loved position is at the edge of the platform. They will keep of on bending and swaying their head here and there to check if the trains arriving, The best thing is the the weird face expression they make W hen you try to move forward, as if you just invaded into their territory.Once they see the train distance away, they will star the preparations  they will make some space, stretch their hands, twist neck ,grip their hand bags, ( just like the boxer who get started in his ring) . They wont wait for the train to  stop, Once they get hold of the rod or the door  handle of the yet to slow down train, they are inside.Faster than any hurdle champion, you can see them comforting on their DESERVED seat , giving others a victory smile.



2.Forefinger Ladies : Now these are the second most found species. Once they are inside the train, their most flaunted weapon, their forefinger will come hunting you. Pointing towards you they will ask or gesture "kuthey?? " (where ). Now any other regular commuter of Mumbai local knows this question is the first phase of the FREE OF COST seat reservation technique .You are supposed to tell them your destination railway station, after a series of forefinger attacks and decision making they will reply "mala  dya " (give me). And there you are, your seats reserved.In case there's a second forefinger attack you are supposed not to reply or nod your head.




3. Group'ed Ladies: Another practice in the local trains here. A set of ladies aka GROUP will occupy the six -extended to- eight seater  area for themselves . Any external Entities trying to enter their territory will repent the most. Now these people are also a very good company. They will occasionally exchange seats, let the standing ones sit for sometime, and in case you are  a regular face, you will be give more preference. everything is discussed here. Right from the latest recipes   to Ekta 's tragedy serials. Everything is shared here. Right from the sweets to The special dishes prepared at home  Be it newspapers or the headphones, it belongs to everyone here. They wont let the journey go passive and boring. I belong to the 7.14 , CST train , Last ladies  first door group :P




4. The Shift Ladies: The most Irritating species. 'SHIFT'  is their word. Once they are inside the train, their eyes go searching for the BIG fourth seat. In case you are the LUCKY third seat occupant, they will ask you to SHIFT, In short you have to shift a little or like the normal ladies do, shake a little here and there, done their showcase the vanity and comfort of the FOURTH seat .





5.Feel at home aunties : Now, I love them very much. Other than providing you a few weight loss or grooming tips, they are the ones who know everything under the sun. Once they are settled ,they will make the train their own place, with the woolens and the knitting job, they are often busy , be it the torans or sweaters.  The second category is is the perfect homemakers. They will ready the vegetables , clean up the mess in methi or palak , so that its easy to cook at home. Perfect time saving technique . In case its the students like me, we write our assignments, discuss flash cards and quizzes there .  In case its a fashion obsessed lady, she will carry an entire beauty parlor in her bag. Some even have a separate bag to carry the make up kit. Once they are three to four stations away from your destination, they will gradually start the grooming process, . Be it combing the hair, or trying the new lipstick and what not.

6.The door obsessed ones: These are the kind of people who love the doors more than anything. It doesn't matter to them, if the train is Crowded or empty, all they want is the door. Most of them have this scarf wrapped across to combat the dust attack.Now they love their doors more than the seat loving aunties, the shift system is applicable here too (unfortunately , yes , you have to book doors too).




7. Lookaholics : I hate them, yes . These are the ones who will keep on staring at you if you are wearing a nice kurti, or a short dress,open hairstyle or reading a novel If they don't find anything n you,they widen their horizons  they will search for another prey If you are in a first class ladies compartment , you will find some in the nearby gents compartment too. Or if its the middle ladies second class, mind you , the handicapped compartment will provide you such onlookers. Some of them love being the peeping Tom in case you are texting someone.

8. Shopping spree : These are the ones who will aim all the salesmen on the train.They will check everything right from the nail polishes, hair clips  mobile case ,teddy bears to the 5 on 10 pens. After trying a range of products either they end up buying none, or bargaining with the poor chap.  These aunties will give you free suggestions in case you look on some products, and once you buy they have this dialogue "the lady on the 8.24 train sells it cheap" .



9. I love your family aunties : Don't go by the name, these are the ones who just wait for a the right moment. If by any chance , you happen to push them, or even touch them by mistake I bet they are gonna screw you . After a set of daily abuses, they will start blaming your family for ill mannered behavior . Your mothers and sisters will be remembered often. In case you are silent  , they will continue irritating you until you speak up and they will make sure your day ahead is ruined.  In case you travel in first class, they will screw you culturally in a sophisticated manner.

10. The sleeping beauties : They just wait for the train to catch up speed and in a moment they are asleep. They will occasionally fall over your shoulders, No matter how hard you try to keep them away. Some even posses the quality to sleep standing in a very crowded train, but that needs hell lot of experience. The best part is the sixth sense wake up call these people get once their destination is near.




All Images courtesy : To the ones who clicked or designed it , And to beloved Google


The list is not over , there are lot many species out there on the Mumbai locals, Ladies dibba. The journey isnt complete, Every day you discover a new type. However Its no less than pure Entertainment. If you manage to get into the train, You are already one of them.

To be continued :)

S(h)ave

She never leaves him alone, By the time he manages to get rid of her and forgets her, she returns back to screw the happiness and fun in our life. Every time he ends up looking in the mirror, and keep on mumbling this , we look so good together thing and there he is , in the most dreadful tone, "Don't you feel so?", I end up staring at him, while he still fantasies her.

She clings to him like nothing and For a time being, He wastes more time at the mirror grooming for her.

Whenever he returns home, all tired and slogged, I loath the dreadful stinking odor that he brings back, I believe she is the root cause. No matter how hardly I try to convince him, he just doesn't understand shes not at all good for him.


Not just his looks, when shes around , he behaves like a freaked weird guy, All of a nowhere he gets this
 I am so cool guy attitude, And metal replaces his playlist. Out of nowhere he changes his career interests and once again ends up in front of the mirror, "Oh shes helps me grow so much, she awoke the artist in me, But am confused its the bass or the drums, Or I will end up writing a story, What do you think?"

He has sacrificed a lot for her, even his new job Interview, He was so much 'She' obsessed and screwed it up
"What? I cant shave it off for their shitty job?" . Obviously, no company hires a person who itches his beard during an interview. She ruined it, For your information 'She ' aint his ex or office secretary trying to woo him, SHE is the dreadful stubble, that ends up as a long weird beard due to the am so cool with the beard attitude

She makes me do lot of helpless stuff to make him crave to shave her off, and by the time he shaves, in a weeks time, the army returns.






Dear Dreadful prickly stubble,

Why don't you ever leave him alone, Every time I manage to get rid of you, you start growing up again.
You never allow my happiness stay more than a weeks time, By  that time your little black head army approaches and spoils all the good fun. I guess the after shave he uses, tempts you back.

Having tried, multiple times, Its not easy to make him crave to shave you off. You cling to him to make it a no shave month every time.

Be it Begging a hundred times or leaving him high and dry, be it gifting him the amazing shaving hamper or lauding beardless men, sometimes they just don't  seem to work. In case I plan to help him get rid off you by myself, Err, even the thought dreads me.

You stink, sometimes after he returns from the jog, or a gym session, you make him stink, plus you give that itchy feeling , and the uncomfortable ones on the lower chin, still he doesn't get you off.

He resembles a homeless guy when he refuses to shave for long, Unless and until its a sophisticate dress up, I worry someone would drop in coins or food packets at his desk.

DO you think you are very healthy? If not, he does. He advocates women love guys with stubble. STUBBLE AINT HEALTHY FOR FLIRTING , PROVED

He feels you make him look like the cold guy, He claims that you give him The manly attitude.

Shit with the attitude, he looks like those obese pumpkin guys at the burger point.

SO please do me a favor, you are an unwelcomed guest, who leaves sme red faced, call it anger, or the stubblle diseased, Spare him

Yours truly, 

The stubble diseased

Few weeks later, She succeeded, She looked like a half dead warrior who had just won a battle all by herself. With the dreadful red face, this is what happened

image courtesy   : http://9gag.com/gag/5759813

This post is a part of the 'Shave or Crave' movement in association with BlogAdda.com