Manali Manan Desai's Blog, page 35

A Star Is Lost

Source: Google

It’s been a year since we lost a gem of an artist and a human. He touched a million hearts but for me, he’ll always be remembered as someone inspiring, because :

1. He made it big in an industry that doesn’t encourage or openly accept outsiders.

We all know that Bollywood is a nepotism industry. Outsiders rarely make it big in this glam world. But SSR did it and how! With a smashing debut followed by continual good content, he made sure he did good work, worthy of notice.

Source: Google2. He gave me some of my all-time favorite movies like Kai Po Che and Chhichhore

Kai Po Che is one of those rare movies I liked more than its adaptive source (The 3 Mistakes of My Life) and one major reason for this was SSR’s honest and tear-jerking portrayal of Ishaan. And, what can I say about Chhichhore that’s not already been said? It gave me so many nostalgic moments and life-affirming lessons that it’s difficult to list all the reasons why this movie is one of my all-time favorites.

Source: Google3. He was a human beyond his craft; someone with a brilliant mind and a big heart

Sushant Singh Rajput was so much more than an actor. He was a rare gem in an industry considered to be full of dimwits. With his love for books and astrophysics, he stood out from the rest of his peers. Not to mention his big heart and generous nature that reflected in the way connected and interacted with fans without any pretense or openly donated most of his earnings to charity.

Source: Google

R. I. P. to this star we lost all too soon. We truly didn’t deserve him.

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Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Send me an email: arusticmind@gmail.com/manali1988@gmail.com

The Panipuri Crimes by S B Akshobhya

Book blurb:

The young and driven Sagar Bansal leads a team of six on the path of a digital adventure. His plan is to put the humble cane-panipuri vendor, found in every other street in a metropolitan city, on a digital platform.
As they gear up to launch an app to sell panipuri, the cloud of risk looms large. All five entrepreneurs who earlier ventured into the business had died in road accidents. But all that is overlooked and forgotten in the excitement of the team reaching the verge of a VC funding.
Is the death of all five entrepreneurs a coincidence? Can Sagar and his team overcome the odds? Why are the ordinary vendors dying one after another like a pack of cards?
The Panipuri Crimes is a thrilling story weaving together the world of entrepreneurship and struggle, love and other demons, and the murky world of crime.

Pages: 123

Genre: Fiction/Crime Thriller

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 119.77/$9.99Paperback: 190 INR/$15.99

My Ratings: 4.3/5

Sagar, Rathishree, Rudra, Yashshwini, Jim, and Koyal; six engineers with an entrepreneurial streak, set out to start their online panipuri selling venture. Things start off slowly and pick up pace steadily. However, there is a mafia in the setup that controls all the local vendors who aren’t very thrilled about the dish going the internet way. Will the 6 entrepreneurs have to face the wrath of this mafia who don’t think twice before pulling the trigger on the innocent vendors?

What I liked about the book:

-> The plotline is unique and the author has chosen a dish that is rarely not a favorite snack of any Indian. So while reading it you’re almost tempted to order or make one for yourself.
-> It sheds light on the underbelly of crimes in India, be it as small as a roadside panipuri business; everyone is notorious and wants a piece of the pie.
-> All the characters are flawed, making them authentic.
-> The way the engineer turned entrepreneurs plan out the business and execute it, is very inspiring for those planning to start their own venture someday.
-> The characters of Veena and Rathishree were the most kickass and inspiring.
-> The technical contents of the story have been thoroughly researched, be it digitalization, the complex web of the panipuri mafia and how it works, or the planning and execution that goes into entrepreneurship. This makes the story engaging and easy to understand.

What I did not like about the book:
-> There are too many characters to keep track of which makes the reading confusing and off-putting.
-> The third-person narrative is very nonchalant. It comes off as if an observer is telling the story, in turn making the reader feel less involved too.
-> The treatment and opinions around female characters felt misogynistic.

Quotable quotes:
-> The danger was not the problem; it was the misconception that there might be a hazard that was even more ominous.
-> The rumor of a lion in the jungle is different from the confirmation that he is ruling the roost.
-> Replacing the lion to take the kingdom is much easier than assembling all creatures in the wild.
-> When Plan A is about doing nothing, then plans B to Z are also about doing nothing.
->When the sex is good, the love also grows.
-> What’s in a name that’s not in a brand name? Nothing. Is it true- what name is to a person, is the brand name to a business entity?
->A business deal should be kept in mind with a business intent only.
-> Every decision in a democracy need not be that of a democracy.
-> One must love the sport over individuals, no matter how big a star that player might be.
->Trust deficit kills everything.
-> Even when there are lesser animals to hunt in the jungle, the big cats need to periodically leave their scent to mark the territory.
->Desperate times create more opportunities.
-> Employees’ salary money is never a source for the organization.
-> When money is the remedy, its dearth is the source of the issue. It does not matter how much of it is arranged, the demon at the other end will keep on increasing.
->Don’t expect magic if you aspire to deliver engineering excellence.
->Love can’t always be about yourself.
->Many times people don’t take help because they are sure of the other’s lack of capability in solving the problem.
-> Was it time for him to get settled down in life? Was marriage on the cards? Or was it a promotion in the new company? He was not much worried about marriage or development, as the matter is a matter of eventuality.
->There are difficult choices to make in life.
->What happens in an instant is not a term, and if it is not a term, there is no plan but only action.

Buying details:

Amazon.comAmazon India

Author’s social media links:

InstagramFacebook

Emotions are Complicated

Why would you hate someone?

Because they disagree with you.

Because they don’t walk, talk or dress like you.

Because their way of working and thinking is so different from yours.

Because they did something to offend you.

Because they said something that hurt you.

Are these reasons enough to hate?

For me, it would suffice at dislike,

Or most times even at indifference.

Because there are things worthier of my time and effort,

Then focusing my energy on something someone said or did,

That might affect me just a little bit, or sometimes not at all.

Do you hate someone?

Because for me hate is a complicated emotion to understand.

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Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Send me an email: arusticmind@gmail.com/manali1988@gmail.com

Add These Words to Your Vocabulary For Some Self-Love

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Because we need more self-awareness and self-confidence in this world.

Each of us deserves to be loved, but more so by our own self than anyone else.

So here’s a little help to get you started on appreciating the self.

1. Chutzpa/Chutzpah (noun)

Self-confidence or boldness.

Example:

“Manali is so successful because she is brilliant, very hard-working, and has a lot of chutzpah.“

2. Amore propre (French) (Noun)

A sense of one’s own worth; self-respect

Example:

It is only through amore propre that one can learn to say no to people and things not worthy of their time and effort.

3. Moxie (noun)

Force of character, determination, or nerve

Example:

“Her moxie helped her continue towards the finish line and complete the marathon even when exhausted.“

.

Do you know of more such words?

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Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

I Am Flawed (A Poem)

A Rustic Mind on Instagram

I falter and fail,

I fall and surrender,

I doubt myself,

I question my work and decisions,

I criticize myself,

I hesitate when taking up something new,

I confuse myself,

I am suspicious about whether I can do it the way it is supposed to be done.

And it’s alright.

Because which sane person doesn’t?

Those who say they’re content

With themselves and their lives,

Those who say they never fall or fail,

Are definitely lying.

Doubting oneself goes hand in hand with believing in the self,

Otherwise, we’d all be on the top, all the time.

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Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Send me an email: arusticmind@gmail.com/manali1988@gmail.com

My Digital Trio

I’m an all-in digital slave and writer, so I don’t know how I’d do it without my laptop.

Pen and paper writing would not work for me, because sometimes I myself can’t read what I’ve written.

So forget content creation and sharing.

Then there’s my iPad.

I haven’t read physical books in a while, so this device is my digital library and my mobile workstation.

I literally carry this everywhere, even when I’m travelling or stepping out just for grocery shopping.

Life would not be the same without the easy access to multiple books and the option to check my emails while waiting in queues or suddenly coming across an ideal reading spot.

What would I do without it? Maybe read only physical books I guess.

Last but never the least is my phone.

The alarm clock in it helps me wake me up on most days,

Yes, I can wake up without it too, but not on time, for sure.

The Instagram and Facebook apps help me satiate my social media needs, right from sharing my writing to connecting with like-minded content creators.

I can survive without it, but I don’t know how I would share my writing, promote my books, find more virtual friends, and more importantly make a living then!

And book reviews? Even if I’m reading physical copies, how would I rave about my latest reads without my phone and laptop to help me write and share?

Let’s not forget the virtual connections with family and friends too,

All three of them have helped me stay abreast and feel close to my people, despite being miles away from them.

So, this goes as a thank you to my dear digital trio of my laptop, iPad, and phone.

My life would be without purpose and dull without you three.

*****

Thank you for reading.

How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Send me an email: arusticmind@gmail.com/manali1988@gmail.com

The Proust Questionnaire Answered by Manali Desai

A Rustic Mind on Instagram

This challenge is initiated by Tree Langdon.

Here are my responses to the questions asked in this challenge.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A: Being content with whatever I have; which I believe I have achieved a bit, especially in the past year. The pandemic has definitely taught me how to be more grateful for what I have rather than complaining about what I don’t have.

2. What is your greatest fear?

A: Losing credibility. If I lose credibility as a human being, I lose my value as a writer and everything that I’ve come to be known as. And this thought scares me a lot.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

A: Overthinking. I wish my brain would take a hike sometimes. The thoughts just keep churning and most of the time I conjure up situations and things that are far from reality.

4. Which living person do you most admire?

A: My father. (know why here: An Open Letter to my Feminist Father)

5. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

A: Honesty. I think it’s okay to lie sometimes; especially if it comforts someone or makes them feel better. It’s called being nice for a reason, right?

6. On what occasion do you lie?

A: When comforting someone or trying to encourage someone.

7. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

A: Not sure about words or phrases but I do use filler words a lot. Hmmm.. ummm… okay… I see… are just to name a few.

8. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

A: At the cost of sounding a narcissist, I’m going to say myself. When I look back at my teenage self, I marvel at my resilience and growth.

9. When and where were you happiest?

A: I believe I’m the happiest currently; being able to earn a steady income by doing something that I love.

10. Which talent would you most like to have?

A: Dancing. Being an anxious person, I always feel conscious when I dance (not that I’ve done much of it in my life). But I’d love to lose that anxiety and dance gracefully and that can only come with the confidence of knowing that I’m dancing well.

11. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

A: Being accommodative. I put myself in discomfort while trying to make others comfortable and ultimately end up being unhappy.

12. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A: My decision to take up writing as a profession.

13. Where would you most like to live?

A: Norway; in the lap of the Northern Lights.

14. What do you most value in your friends?

A: Being my constant cheerleaders. My BFFs are those I have been friends with since my childhood and teenage, and they have always believed in my abilities, sometimes more than I have.

15. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

A: Sylvia Plath.

16. Who are your heroes in real life?

A: I’m inspired and motivated by every person I know. Because I believe there’s something to be learned from everyone.

17. What is your greatest regret?

A: Not taking up Arts after my 10th grade (in India we can choose a specialization from Science, Arts, or Commerce after passing the 10th grade)

18. What is your motto?

A: Miles to go before I sleep.

Thanks, Tree Langdon for this amazing questionnaire and Sahil Patel for tagging me. I enjoyed writing answers to these questions.

It gave me a chance to think about myself.

Here is the post about the challenge by Dr Mehmet Yildiz

Couldn’t Resist More; I Finally Took The Plunge And answered a writing challenge called “The Proust Questionnaire”medium.comKnow more about the author:About Me: Manali Desai

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How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Send me an email: arusticmind@gmail.com/manali1988@gmail.comView at Medium.com

Adventures of a Countryside Doctor by Dr. Thomas

Book blurb:

Sally, a beautiful young pregnant woman who came to the hospital for what seemed to be pre-term labor pains, delivered a fully mature healthy boy.

“Doctor, what will you tell my husband and family?” She asked. “Can you please tell them that the baby is premature?”

“How can I?” Dr. Thomas replied helplessly. “The baby is fully grown and mature, as anyone can see.”

“You mean to say that there is nothing wrong with the child, Doctor?” Johnykutty, her husband asked in dismay and anguish. “But we’ve been married for just seven months!”

Her husband and his family go away, leaving Sally and the illegitimate child.

What will be her future?

What fate awaits the unwanted child?

READ the book and FIND OUT

This book is an enchanting story of a young doctor couple who ventured into a remote, rural forested village to re-open a defunct hospital, their involvement in the mysteries and conflicts of their patients, the daunting challenges – both nonmedical and medical. The story is set in Chittar, a village in India, in the state of Kerala, known as ‘GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.’ It describes beautifully in simple language, the various interesting experiences with the villagers and tribal patients.EXPERIENCE the agony of their failures, and the ecstasy of triumphs.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 162

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 145 INR/$3.27Paperback: 295 INR/$7.00

My Rating: 4.5/5

A freshly passed out MBBS doctor decides to use his degree and knowledge for the betterment of society. He joins a rundown hospital in a remote area village of Kerala, alongside his doctor wife. Though his intentions are pure, he isn’t prepared for the challenges thrown his way. Right from lack of basic facilities to losing out on precious family time with a very basic pay grade, everything about the job is demotivating. What does he learn from his experiences and does he stick by the job?

Book cover taken from Amazon

What I liked about the book:
-> It is an eye-opening read, bringing forth a lot of facts about healthcare and medicine.
-> It made me develop a newfound respect for doctors and healthcare professionals.
-> The book offers an incredible presentation with a mix of facts and fiction. Dr. Thomas paints a clear and pretty picture of the tiny village Chittar nestled among hillocks.
-> Dr. Thomas’s professional navigation, clearing all obstacles and ultimately winning the hearts of the public makes it a fantastic story. The reader is forced to give a big salute to this special doctor (and many others like him) who stand tall and use their knowledge to make the world a better place (unlike the usual doctors that we see around)
-> The simple and effective first-one person narration and the well-connected flow of events makes this book, fit both as a professional memoir and novel. This book truly captures the real challenges a community doctor faces in our society. Written in a simple endearing style, every chapter of the book is packed with its share of human emotions.
-> It hints at the darker aspects of the society namely corruption and callousness at the managerial level.
-> There is a subtle dialogue in between which teaches us that if we let the authorities exploit us, they will.
-> How the characters of Pappichayan and Krishnadas have been portrayed to show us two opposite sides of a society, where an educated and wealthy man lies to make his son understand moral values whereas the poor merely have to teach by action.
-> The medical terms and ailments have been explained in laymen’s terms quite nicely making it easier for non-medicos to understand.

What I did not like about the book:
-> A lot of the characters were introduced and used repeatedly assuming that the reader is familiar with them. This became a little confusing to follow at times.
-> The flow of the events became complex at few points.
-> The tenses are a little mixed up.

Quotable quotes:
-> Atheist, agnostic, or believer; it is the basic nature of each individual that makes them behave the way they do.
-> There is nothing more fulfilling for a doctor than conducting a normal delivery and seeing the smile of fulfillment on the mother’s face upon hearing the cry of the child.
-> Brooding all the time and not working upon it will only make matters worse.
-> The boy survived, and the hospital thrived.
-> If you value your life, it is better to give ample berth to the buses and lorries wanting to overtake you.
-> Success also sometimes comes unexpectedly.
->It is really quite stressful, treating your own friends or relatives.
-> Food tastes better in the company of near and dear ones.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

WebsiteInstagramLinkedIn

To Do or Not To Do

The dishes piled in the sink,

The clothes falling out of the laundry basket,

The empty fruit basket on the dining table,

The fridge full of old items and needing a restocking,

The garbage bin waiting to be emptied out,

The dust settled on the floor and furniture,

The bedsheets and pillow covers needing a changeover,

All look at me as if asking,

“Today or tomorrow?”

And I find myself wondering,

“To do or not to do?”

I sigh and get up to finish them one by one,

Chuckling, I answer my own question,

“There really is no question here, Mr. Shakespeare.”

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How to contact me:Connect with me on LinkedIn.Subscribe to my YouTube channel.Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Send me an email: arusticmind@gmail.com/manali1988@gmail.com

Adventures of a Countryside Doctor by Dr. Thomas

Book blurb:

Sally, a beautiful young pregnant woman who came to the hospital for what seemed to be pre-term labor pains, delivered a fully mature healthy boy.

“Doctor, what will you tell my husband and family?” She asked. “Can you please tell them that the baby is premature?”

“How can I?” Dr. Thomas replied helplessly. “The baby is fully grown and mature, as anyone can see.”

“You mean to say that there is nothing wrong with the child, Doctor?” Johnykutty, her husband asked in dismay and anguish. “But we’ve been married for just seven months!”

Her husband and his family go away, leaving Sally and the illegitimate child.

What will be her future?

What fate awaits the unwanted child?

READ the book and FIND OUT

This book is an enchanting story of a young doctor couple who ventured into a remote, rural forested village to re-open a defunct hospital, their involvement in the mysteries and conflicts of their patients, the daunting challenges – both nonmedical and medical. The story is set in Chittar, a village in India, in the state of Kerala, known as ‘GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.’ It describes beautifully in simple language, the various interesting experiences with the villagers and tribal patients.EXPERIENCE the agony of their failures, and the ecstasy of triumphs.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 162

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 145 INR/$3.27Paperback: 295 INR/$7.00

My Rating: 4.4/5

Book cover taken from Amazon

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

WebsiteInstagramLinkedIn