Book review of 400 DAYS

Having spent my childhood reading Chetan Bhagat’s earlier works which mostly centered around romance, engineering or both, his recent foray into mystery and crime has definitely been refreshing and has showcased his versatility as a writer.

400 Days, the third installment in the Keshav and Saurabh detective series follows the duo as they tackle a cold case that had remained unresolved despite intense media attention and intensive police investigation. At its heart, the novel is about a mother’s unwavering determination to find her abducted daughter. Bhagat is a seasoned storyteller who rightly understands the mentality, the taste and the cultural setting of the South Asian society and uses it in this novel. As expected, I was so hooked that I read the entire book in one sitting, even after a long day of travel. The characters are well-developed, each with distinct personalities.

However, the ending felt somewhat flat and the romantic angle could be definitely avoided. The culprit’s capture and the rescue of the girl couldn’t be rejoiced as the book doesn’t present the legal measures taken against the culprit or if the accomplice involved is booked or not. The emotional aftermath of a child who endured a year of trauma is hardly explored and Bhagat could have focused on these aspects rather than stretching the narrative unnecessarily in the middle which could have given a powerful opportunity to this book for depth and closure.

Despite a few flaws, the novel echoes a familiar theme: friendships remain although lovers grow apart.  The book is undeniably addictive and, in comparison to several recent reads that lacked coherence or logical structure, it felt like a welcome change. I would definitely recommend this book.

Lockdown Tales: Lives of Journalists

I opened my eyes to clean Kathmandu and inhaled the fresh air. Kathmandu had never been this silent yet this loud where all I could hear was birds chirping.

Just like every millennial would do I grabbed my phone and turned on my wifi. I wondered how would people survive during the lockdown if there were no internet.

The phone started vibrating and didn't stop for a while.

I opened up a message. "Listen is this tiktok video true?" It read. I opened the link to find out a tiktok video where a guy living in US says how he had seen plastic wrapped dead bodies of Corona victims being taken out of Teku based hospital with his own eyes.

"No it's just a gimmick of the tiktok user to get more views. Plus he has apologized for his actions as well." I typed back.

"Listen is the state owned media trying to hide something?" The other message read.

Aee baba private mediale ta dekhaauthyo hola ni ta bhaako bhaye, hoina ra  ( If it were so wouldn't the private media expose it atleast?) I thought.

Yet I replied "No we are not hiding any thing. The truth is right in front of your eyes."

I knew I would be late if I started to answer all of the queries so I finished my breakfast and made it to my office along the empty roads.

I reached my office, applied sanitizer, got my temperature checked, wore my gloves, put on my masks and started working.

I checked all the updates to find majority of the news were about Corona.

Just few months back I had read news on how Corona virus had taken lives of 100 and then this morning I was preparing news on how the death toll had surpassed 50 thousand.

No sooner had I started preparing my first news my brain talked to me "Everyone's enjoying the lockdown and here is poor Shail working in the office and is using the keyboard which might have been used by a Corona victim."

Remembering that I had put on gloves and every single staff had to undergo the thermal gun screening I pleaded my brain to stop chattering and not to play games with me for a while .

After preparing some national news I checked to see if there were any new updates in the international front.

I then stumbled into an article on how countries were investing on producing anti corona vaccines and how number of cases in Wuhan and South Korea had declined and how so many people had recovered.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

I prepared the news, presented it, bid goodbye to the viewers and went back to the cubicle.

"I was stopped by traffic for 7 times today. The police has definitely beefed up the security" one of my colleagues shared.

"Well I wasn't stopped even once" I shared.

"Maybe because they couldn't collect themselves as they had not seen such a beauty since long" my other colleague replied.

All of my colleagues had a good laugh.

I knew it was because I had my pass along with me but who doesn't like a compliment now and then so I chose to stay shut.

My phone beeped.

"Listen before you enter home make sure you hang up all your clothes, wash your hands and sanitize yourself and then enter the room. Clear? " It read.

The message from my mom was valid because if the Corona virus would enter the house it would only be through me. I would be THE REASON. "Is putting work ahead of everything healthy? Is your work bigger than your life? " My mind chattered again.

Just then one of my coworkers' child called him and asked him to return home as soon as possible. 

My other colleague was frantically wiping everything with santizer so that he didn;t carry the virus to his house along with him. We had laughed just a few minutes ago yet it couldn't overpower the fear that all of us had in our hearts. We all were  fighting our own battles but silently.

Is it how the armies deployed in violent areas feel ? I pondered.

I prepared news for the second bulletin, delivered it and left for my home.

PC: Prabin Ranabhat

Lockdown Tales : Part 1

Police uses multi functional rescue and arrest device to arrest people defying restrictions read the newspaper which dated almost a week back.

My mom mocked saying police wouldn't be able to detain me as I would be too thin for the device.

"Why would I walk unnecessarily? " I asked my mom.

" I know you don't do unnecessary things. So here's what you have to do which is very necessary and that's purchasing grocery. " My mom handed me the bags.

I don't know what people have evolved to be during this lock down but I have definitely evolved to be the Kaanta Bai of the house.

Along with the list of groceries that I had to purchase I went to the nearby convenient store.

" कोरोना कत्तिको लागेको छ त? ( How is the corona virus affecting you?) " one of my uncles asked me.

I wanted to tell him that I hadn't tested positive yet but I knew he wanted to ask how the corona virus outbreak was affecting my life. 

"Not much. I am still going to work. " I replied. 

" बहादुर हो मान्छे त (Brave) " he said.

Well the bir gurkhas have passed it onto me I wanted to answer but I changed my mind realizing  there are many more Bahadur people who dare to go on dates, morning walks and "hyaa bore laagyo (I am bored)" walks when people are dying of Corona virus worldwide.

“चिनी धेरै नहाल है चियामा तितो हुन्छ (Don't put too much sugar! It will ruin the taste) ” the shopkeeper shouted at the top of her voice. 

"अनि त्या पुलिस आको छ कि छैन हेर है सर्टर लगाइ हाल्नु पर्छ ( And make sure the police isn't around we need to close down the shutters before they come around) " she yelled again bringing me back to reality.

There were days when we wanted to sleep days through and now that we have got days to sleep through it's getting tough. The experience of lock down is so different for all. Some are struggling to bond together some are struggling to tell their stomach not to growl. 

I don't know how the world will be after the COVID 19 comes to an end, what we will evolve to be. But the world won't be same and we won't be same either.

" यो नेताहरुलाई सत्ता बाहेक केहि चाइदैन मध्यावदी चुनाब चाहियो रे ( The only thing all these leaders want is power. They want mid term elections in this situation)  " lamented an old man holding cigarette in between his puckered fingers.

" तपाईंलाई चाही कत्तिको लागेको छ त कोरोना ? ( How is the corona virus affecting you) " I replied.

Welcome and farewell speech for Modern Kanya students

                    

How do you envision a modern Kanya as?

Do we call a woman modern if she follows the modern dress code, works relentlessly in office, imitates man yet knows the difference between foundation and concealer or do we have a different definition for a modern Kanya?

Well we will discuss it later but I hope this question runs in your mind.

Almost 3 years back I finished my bachelors in social work. I studied journalism as my other option. In those 3 years I worked for many organizations including US embassy, Chinese Embassy, United Nations and Maaiti Nepal. I developed a network in the social work fraternity in such a way that I would never end up alone in whichever programs I attended. Yet I wasn't satisfied.  

I left a lucrative career and stayed jobless for a year started taking training, online courses, applying for scholarships and started my masters. That very hustle helped me to crack a scholarship in university of Washington which falls under top 20 universities of the world and that very hustle brought me to Nepal Television.

                  

For the BBS students out here, working a 9-4 job in a bank or financial institution is always easy because you have a set of do's and don’ts to follow but starting your own work needs guts.

For the BA students out here, jobs will only come after you if you are skilled enough for the employers to have no option except hiring you. But at other times you have to hunt for the job yourself. Take that internship that you had been thinking since long and prove yourself. It might not pay you for the first few months but will definitely help you in the long run. It’s always better to screw others money than your own.

Nepal television was also a result of risk. NTV has molded me in such a manner which wouldn’t have been possible if it would  be somewhere else.

                

Meeting people and enlarging my horizon of knowledge during reporting, understanding the gap between the government and the grass root level while preparing news, staying updated on international changes and getting a lovely audience to speak to, none of these would have been possible if not Nepal television.

Media has evolved a lot. The fascination for radios to magazines to televisions has now eventually shifted to digital media. Every profession is ever changing and you should work on yourself in such a manner that you become ready for the ever changing demands.

Every profession is tough but you should make sure it is worth it.

All that I have to say is don’t drape your mind with limitations if you want to be a modern Kanya for draping a Saari doesn’t make you old but draping your mind with limitation that you can't study a subject or you can't conquer your fear will definitely make you old.

Working relentlessly and juggling household chores simultaneously and realizing that you never loved yourself in the end of your life doesn’t make you a modern Kanya but understanding the delicate balance between your mental and physical health and then working for economic fulfillment does.

Not knowing the difference between foundation and concealer doesn’t make you less of a modern Kanya but starving yourself to death and trying to impress the world will definitely make you an unmodern kanya (well if that word exists)

Imitating a man will not make you a modern Kanya for we are not here to compete but complete.

If it’s a farewell for you I hope your hard work takes a shape, if it’s a beginning I hope you become intentional of how you spend your time but again not pressurize your mind with the cut throat competition.

I am sure we have better economists than Elinor Ostrom in this audience, I am confident that we have better anthropologists than Mary Doughlas in this very group of people, I am sure that we have better journalists than Oprah Winfrey and Martha Gellhorn. I am sure that we have Meg Whitman among us all we need to believe in our self and unleash the potential within us.

Thank you one and all.

                  

Do we Nepalese deserve development?

Welcoming gates have been removed, electronic screens in Baneshwor aren’t there anymore, the flower pots that had been rented for the event has been returned, traffic congestion is high, people have once again stopped using overhead bridges or crossing through the zebra crossing and Kathmandu is back to its original state.

The hangover of Xi Jinping on the denizens of Kathmandu has also faded away.

It seems like the capital which had a makeover just a few days back has wiped all the makeup off using cleaning wipes.

Social media was flooded with reviews and memes on this overnight beautification. Some criticized the overnight development as fake and pretentious while some expressed how they wanted government to work in similar pace every day.

Realizing that we pay huge tax I don’t think it's wrong for people to expect smooth roads to ply on or to be able to walk around beautiful parks which only get beautified during international visits.

It's completely normal for citizens to expect to be treated as special as foreign dignitaries.

Yes it drives me crazy as well when I travel through Bouddha Jorpati road stretch. I get angry when I cannot wear my white dresses owing to fear of dust.

On the contrary I also think we Nepalese aren’t responsible enough for such kind of development and maybe in a smaller scale we are also similar to our government.

We forget how we take out finest of cutleries when guests are arriving in our home and have a lavish spread in the dining table which would hardly be served in some other days. We forget how we post beautiful pictures in social networking sites when our life is no way closer to it. We forget how decking our neck with gold necklaces and covering our body with designer dress has become a trend.  I am not playing a blame game here but somewhere similar things happen in my life as well. So I don’t know how fair would it be for me to call someone pretentious.

We forget that these developmental efforts didn’t go through the procedure of 35 days long tender; we forget that if the grant we will receive in the coming days is used properly we will not fall in a loan trap but we will be the one benefited. Let alone the financial assistance the fact that a Chinese head of state came to Nepal for a state visit after 23 years is also an achievement that too when China has emerged as an economic giant.

Not only that no sooner had Xi Jinping departed for his hometown, I saw the streets of New Baneshwor filled with piles of garbage, I saw people plucking the marigolds and a woman throwing a bag full of puke in the middle of the road near Gaushala. Some individuals were also booked for tearing the flex in New Baneshwor before Xi arrived Nepal.

Isn’t the Nepali during the visit of Xi and after the visit of Xi same?

I know some of you might say that those actions might have been taken in a fit of rage or why can't the metropolis use broomers just like it did when Xi was in Nepal.

I don’t think  it makes sense for some to keep on dirtying roads and for some to keep on cleaning. 

I might be blamed of generalization too but why do we forget that the roads are ours, we belong to this country and we are also equally responsible for the cleanliness? Why is it wrong to pluck flowers from your own garden but okay to steal from others lands or from those planted by the government?

I am not saying that the developmental efforts must not be carried out. Government must carry out its responsibilities. But just like that we should too. How fair would it be to question our elected representatives when we ourselves are not responsible?

I hope we understand its not only the government that needs to change or bring reforms, the bureaucracy needs a change and the most important one our mindsets need a reform too. 

Leaving all the things aside I hope this state visit will be as historic, fruitful and successful as it has been termed. I hope the streets will remain as clean and as beautiful as it was in President Xi's maiden visit and I hope people of Kathmandu also become as civilized as they were for the 20 hours. Long live Nepal China friendship.

 Photo Courtesy: The Kathmandu Post

Happy or Crappy Shrawan?

All I can think about when I hear SHRAWAN is people clad in reds, greens and yellow dresses, dangling potes on their necks, clinking glass bangles, hands and legs filled with designs of henna and FASTING.

Every thing goes great until I imagine fasting.

Would a man live more if you stop complaining and cooperate with him or would he survive more if you fast? Well men on those days were pretty clever because the lesser energy women have the lesser they fight right?

I know. I know. Fasting and abstaining from meat is pretty healthy, during this time of the year more as  the metabolism is poor and meat carry much more germs than vegetables.

But how sane would it be to push yourself to fast if your body can't cope with it and you land to hospital with your entire week's diet jumbled.

Not complaining more let's look at the better part. Everyone goes Gaga over  Mehendis during Shrawan. Whether it be incorporating the name of your loved ones or your favorite football team or favorite series Mehendi is bae.

It gets better because compared to potes Mehendis don't have the marriage quota.

Aunties say darker the Mehendi the more love from your husband. It's funny how my would be husband's love is directly proportional to the chemicals used in my Mehendi.

Again I wonder how these aunties are so into darker mehendi but not into darker girls and push fairness creams every time as if fair and lovely had sponsored them .

No attacks on the religious sentiments, do what makes you feel good. If doing all of these makes you happy do it I am no one to poke my nose on everyone's business. My nose is anyway smaller compared to the Brahmin standards.

But make sure you stay away from Mehendi filled with chemicals and stop fasting as soon as you feel you can't handle it.

Happy Shrawan.

Mehendi and Life

Just like Mehendi or henna takes time to get darker things and relations take time to get stable and smooth.

If you want to get a faster one you will have to retort to  red ink stamps. Well  if you have applied it earlier you must know how messy it can get  and can fade off in a day.

Yes you might say Mehendi doesn't last more than a week either if you work regularly. Well nothing does but for things to get beautiful you gotta be patient. That's how life is. You gotta be patient until the flower blooms, you gotta be patient until your hard work takes a shape.

With that I don't mean be patient with people who abuse you, exploit you. Either you have to develop a thick skin which might explode any time or you have to step away because being patient with what makes you vulnerable is detrimental.

If you have read this post make sure you are patient with things but at the same time not with those which troubles you. Make sure you are the first baby boo and kissy poo of your life. Love yourself like no one has. Things will gradually start falling on right direction. 

19 resolutions for 2019

I am not a resolution kinda person but lately as I have to constantly juggle between work, education and family and there's so much on my plate, things aren’t going as smooth as I anticipated it to.

So this English year just to make my year a bit systematic and my life a little sorted, I have come up with 19 resolutions for 2019 (Even if I get half of them accomplished that would be enough). Here they are:

1) Keeping  my laptop and gmail sorted

There are times when I need pictures or files immediately but I tend to forget where I had placed it as they weren’t properly organized.  My mail is flooded with spam and messages that literally have no connections with me. My desktop is clogged with so many files that my desktop doesn’t seem any different from Kalimati fruits and veggies market. Thus, I have cleaned my desktop with only 6-7 icons now and have deleted more than 300 mails to start with.

2) Reading more books

Maybe this tops the list. It's been approximately 4 months I have not read a single new book. The last one I read was from Rupi Kaur but since then all the new books I brought are virgin and completely untouched. Thus its time I actually get back to my bookworm mode at least partially if not completely.

3) Playing games

Okay with playing games, I do not mean PUBG or mini militia or clash of clans but I mean real games. This year I am planning to getting back to the 90's and actually playing indoor and outdoor games.

 4) Stop procrastinating

Well with passing year my habit of procrastinating has declined significantly but there are still rooms for improvements. It is definitely not an easy task to snap myself out of it but I will try my best. J

5) Visiting doctor more often

It's not that I am afraid of doctors or their fees but I am also a typical Nepali who visits doctor only when the condition has significantly worsened and I literally have to get hospitalized. Thus I prepared myself to visit my general physician and dentist more often.

6) Working on my Vlog

As you all know along with blogging I have started vlogging too, I will be working on it this year.I uploaded a vlog on Tihar which not only helped me to learn adobe premiere but also other skills.

This year I have planned to learn adobe Photoshop as well and more tips and tricks, effects and ways to make the videos better on content, visuals and presentation. Along with blogging I will keep continuing the vlogging as well .

7) Developing my vocabulary

Hadn't I started working in Nepal Television, I would hardly understand the value of a robust vocab. During my work here I have understood that 2 words which we believe are synonyms do not actually mean cent percent same. Thus one needs to have words in order to perfectly describe a moment and that wont be possible without a good vocab.

8) Keeping a memory jar 

Facebook has helped me a lot with it but I realized that I totally neglected my small achievements while I was looking at a larger picture. This year I will strictly maintain a memory jar so that I can know how I surpassed some moments I thought would be impossible to cross.

9) One movie a week

Not necessarily in movie halls, but I will make sure to watch one movie a week. I have already started this resolution of mine way before the year 2019 has actually begun and I feel pretty good. Not only are they entertaining but it has helped me to learn many new words and structuring as well. 

10) Going through social media detox

I don’t know if I will be able go for a complete one month detox as majority of my works and opportunities come from these platforms. But I will definitely lower down my usage of social media. 

11) Saving Money

If I compare myself with the old Shail, I have started spending money way more lavishly. I don’t know how much can I stick to this resolution of mine, nevertheless I will definitely control my expenditures.

12) Learning to drive and dance

I had already learnt how to drive a car but as I haven't practiced it since very long I don't know if I can make it without few accidents. moving to dace, I do dance well but I want to learn new dance forms as well. Thus this year will be about learning how to make a body and vehicle move systematically and beautifully. :D 

13) Making a Schedule

I have realized that schedules make you work more systematically and when its written its better. Thus I will start working with a written schedule.

14) Travelling more

Except to nearby restaurants and cafes I hardly remember a day I had stepped out of my zone let alone district.

I did go out to conduct research but I have traveled nowhere since then. This year I will make sure I travel more often.

15) Being kinder to myself

I have noticed that I have been really harsh to myself this year as I hardly go out without a purpose. So this year I am definitely being kinder to myself and taking myself out for dinner, massages and spas.

16) Staying on diet but experimenting with food

I stayed on a diet for almost a year with a weekly or monthly cheat days. Now I feel that I had actually been pretty unfair to my taste buds. Thus this year I will not stop myself whenever I feel like trying a new item but I will not overeat or binge eat.

17) Exercising

As I have stopped gymming and I hardly walk 20 minutes a day I feel that I am not as energetic as I used to be. So this year I have planned to spend at least 20 minutes on stretching and light workout besides walking so that my energy levels are high throughout the day. 

18) Talk to my old friends

Making new friends is fun but if you actually have to vent your frustration and anger or relive your old memories you need an old friend. Talking to your old friends when you are completely devastated actually helps. Thus I will make sure I talk to my friends more often.

19) Making sure I keep all of the resolutions above :D