“Shut” day shopping: Central Market

(Text and photos by Pupps Roy)

Some work on Sundays and some rest on Mondays. Cycle of life rotates entire Delhi stopping in a loop for a day in our man made seven day week. Business Delhi. Bizzare bazar. Do they actually shut in any day? Every Market area of Delhi chooses to stay closed once a week. Really? Have you ever visited any market on such day and came out lugging shopping bags in two hands? Delhi is unpredictable. This can happen to you if you visit any market which is especially close on that particular day of a week. You can even get better deal specially marked for that day. Yes it happens!

 

Enter Central Market at Lajpat Nagar? Isn't lajpat nagar only known for Central Market? This phenomenal Market is officially close on Mondays. But the entry area is open and also there is a syndicate for Delhi Police and there are two cops controlling the security measurement and watching every entrant carefully. No there is no restriction that you cannot enter the Market. Why are they entering? What will they do in the market on such day? Is this a residential area? No not at all. Then?

 

The huge corner shoe shop upon entering is open and is displaying Sale. Two middle-aged women are coming out empty handed. Array of clothing, cheap cosmetics, hair accessories are being sold on the road by the hawkers under kerosene Hazac light. Everything is available here. This market has to offer a lot on Mondays like any other day. Sandals, junk jewelry, skirts, shawl, kurtas, fashionable t-shirts, harem pants, shorts, scarves and lot of inexpensive pretty looking wallets and bags are being sold. You will be baffled exploring the scene on an official close day. Some salesman and hawkers are even aggressive on selling their stuff. The arguments just started between a customer and the salesman. Not much sell happening today so why not trying a bit with the customers? They might end up buying some. Customers won’t give up and hawkers too. This goes on!

 

So what is the reason? Ajit a local hawker says “The market needs cleaning once a week so we close it on Mondays." He is fibbing or does not know the reason because the market is equally dirty like any other day. Litters are everywhere from plastic packets to crushed coke cans. "This market is actually close today, only we small time hawkers come with our stuff to sell", this guy is wrong too. "Incense" the biggest chain of Delhi urban fashion is open, even "Ritu Wears". They are big ones. Another comment from a salesman, "We are open for this marriage season, otherwise we are close". It looks like people just need some reason to keep their shops open. There are Autos waiting outside, The Car Parking guy is shouting and directing cars to park properly, Delhi police PCR Van is waiting around the corner, many food stalls are selling mouthwatering greasy snack. The entire market is lit up with 60% open stores and many customers going in and coming out maintaining the hustle-bustle of the market atmosphere but maybe little less than other day. So what are you waiting? Shop till you drop. Are you open or close? Yes or no?

How to get there: Nearest Metro station: Lajpat Nagar.

Kabuliwalahs: Lajpat Nagar

(Text and Photos by Pupps Roy)

Yes they still sell dry fruits and engage in money laundering.  Well, the former happens in Delhi and the latter source is not a part of the story. A gritty side of Delhi wrapped in exotic Candy Floss. Come eat it. The Crowd, hustle busle, flea Market and people are around everywhere. They are walking, running and also shoving you if you plunge into the crowd of Central Market. Once a refugee colony still maintains its status for many. Welcome to Lajpat Nagar. One of a kind and is the largest colony in the entire south Delhi. Lajpat nagar has a history of embracing foreigners from pre-independence era. Many outsiders have made this colony to their home but the presence of Afghan Community has been manifested since many years very strongly. Some have their business, some come to India for the medical facilities, Some for studies and rest are living here permanently while others are just having a good time in Delhi as tourists.

 

There is no reason why have there been so many Afghanis. In the close vicinity of Lajpat nagar in Bhogal area there is even a specialized Afghani hotel called "Hotel Kabuli". There are handfuls of Afghanis in Bhogal but the whole lot continue to exist in Lajpat nagar for over a decade. They look different so they are easily identifiable. Tall, extra fair with long clothes and loud accent. That’s how they have been dealing in business. Many fly over the borders to India to sell dry fruits. Aaraq or Aaragh is 32 years old man and drives a Honda City and has an Indian Driving license. He finds handling business in Delhi easy but again there is a lot of competition with other Afghanis who are emerging in the same business every single day. With more and more Afghanis pouring in Lajpat Nagar has become the hub of Afghanis.

 

Welcome to "Kabul Delhi Restaurant". This is a pure Afghani restaurant where they serve delicacies of Afghanistan. It is located right across the Central Market. You can actually see all tables are full and mostly Afghan patrons and few Indians are starting at the menu deciding and discussing what to order. This busy restaurant also has a dias where you can sit down cross-legged and eat. It’s like sitting on the floor and eating food. This restaurant is tiny but looks pretty with the giant picture of Ayatollah Khomeini that goes so well with the size of bread that they serve with pickled lady fingers, worth a try. The best and talked about dish here is Biriyani and korma served by some young Afghan men.

 

Back to the rutted road of Lajpat Nagar. Next to Kabul restaurant is an Afghan Medical store. Even the name and the address is written in Afghani language or in Arabic. Afghani Women walking in groups and one of them is carrying a Haruki Murakami, hawkers shouting and selling their stuff, Rickshaw walas are waiting for their customers, a group of young men are congregating around the tea stall and engrossed in some loud conversation, Smart Afghani guys in skinny jeans are coming out of the parlor one by one and the scene goes on and on. There is a also a small travel agency that sells direct ticket of some Afghan airline and also promoting medical tourism. On top of it there is a sign of "Room to let". Everyone has a place to stay and live their own in Delhi. Diversified Delhi is proud to host Afghan Community in its warm lap of Lajpat Nagar. Its crowded but welcoming. So come and absorb.

After Rape...Now what?

(Text by Pupps Roy)

What happened in Delhi was horrible and beyond mercy. Delhi has been once again proved to be the rape capital of India. Many rapes have been unreported in the city. But this unfortunate incident has brought some changes in our society which may not be short term because this created a social catastrophe. Everyone is awake from 6 to 80 years old. This is not an incident that newspapers forget after 7 days. This is as serious as "Arushi's case" or "Mumbai blast". The whole nation is falling apart and raising voice for action. Rules and Acts have to be amended. Mentality needs a change, approach has to change, and Behavior has to be different. How much change can we succumb to? It is not ONLY about the gangrape of a college student. It is about our city, entire nation, all of us.  Men, women, transexuals and every minority group who go through all these on every single day. Can we really change? That’s the question. And why do we change to stop Rapes to happen? Why can’t Rapes stop itself? Ok let’s stop dreaming and get real. Rapes won’t stop but it can lessen in number. Rape is a heinous crime. On top of that violently killing after rape is unforgiveable. It would have been so nice if the girl lived after her "fight with life" in the hospital. She died a life of a Hero and left the nation to wake up from the slumber.

 

Everyone is coming out with new plan of punishment against rape. Not to mention about the useless souls who think changing dress code or addressing brothers to the rapists will change the situation. Neither Arab law will ever prevail in India. This needs a myriad change of acceptance and understanding to the punishment of such heinous crime which shook our entire nation and our conscience. What’s happening in its wake is just as sad to hear the great minds of India are so childish in their quotes. Touch wood they were never raped! They would never be able to get up on their toes and give a speech again in life. It feels so disgusting when men pass such remarks. It truly reflects that some of their brains are located in their genitals. The reason we are ranting to its stance is this is heartfelt as if it happened to one of our family members. Almost 80% Indians have shown some sort of protest through talking it out, going to the protest march, discussing it or spreading in the social network media. Finally it’s the time to forget our developing India and time to realize that it’s not that great. But there is area of improvements. We can make it a better place to live in. Is it that difficult to unify India and to get this installed into the heads of Indian women that Rape is not horrible because you become spoilt. It is not horrible because your family will lose their respect and will walk with their heads down in the public places. Please delete the idea that your virtue lives between your thighs. The whole thing gave other Indian women strength to come out and many have reported incidents to police after this. A Rape victim always needs empathy instead of the gory details which is often asked by  the authority. Discussion should only be restricted between the victim and the female police officer. Is this practised? Is the post Rape treatment shown in Movies real?

 

Delhi police have been pretty much fast on this case. They are well equipped with everything including the latest technology. Run amok with it. They are adapting to the pressure and working to "Fast Track" other rape cases. Let’s stop abusing them. They patrol whole night so that we can peacefully sleep. Their antiquated pistols and their pot belly look so cheap, foolish and unfit during the time of an attack but they can’t roam around with the AK 47. They don’t have the right. Would they kill the rapists with AK 47 like terrorists so that they die the worst death? Terrorists and rapists should die in the worst possible manner or let them suffer their whole life. Rapists should be raped, tortured then sent back to hospital and then should be brought back again for a fresh session of Rape and torture. Or evolve an idea so that Rapists stop taking birth? Yes the key idea is to educate people. Everyone should know what constitues abuse and its degrees. Also educate them their rights and strengthem them to come back to real life and survive. Girl, you fought for all of us. You are an eye opener. Long live Nirbhaya! Lets hope for a better world! Better Delhi.

 

 

 

Pizza Wala in Delhi

(Text and Photos by Pupps Roy)

From Ludhiana to Lajpat nagar. A long way to go! Italian delicacy comes in a decked up vending cart with an inbuilt LPG oven. Its colorful, has night lights, a well described attractive menu and it smells so good from 20 feet. Sweet smell of Onion, garlic and cheese will bring water in your mouth and there you stop. You look for the man to bake your favourite pizza but he is nowhere found. He stands 5 feet 4 inches and hides at the chopping area right behind the oven. He is chopping fresh onion for his next pizza pick up. Meet Kishan kumar. He is wearing his most radiant smile as he welcomes people walking around his cart. "Sometimes I call out people to buy my pizza and sometimes I don't. It totally depends on my mood you see", he says. He doesn’t look to have many mood swings as he always has a smiling face.

 

Pizza comes in different sizes and prices. The menu card is right outside the cart hanging on a nail and is swinging with the cold Delhi breeze and can fly off anytime. The lowest price of the pizza is 60Rs and the highest goes to 90Rs. There are pictures of pizzas everywhere on the vending cart so that everyone knows exactly what they are eating. He also has two customers currently waiting to be served. One family sitting inside a Maruti 800 with two kids and the man of the family is smoking outside and staring at me or measuring me as I am talking to Kishan. He so much wants to be in the photograph and I am just ignoring him. Finally he enters in the conversation, "This pizza is really good. Its my second time here". Kishan Kumar gives a teethy grin, takes out a half done pizza from the oven and sprinkles some extra cheese on it and puts it back in the oven again. It looks like he doesn't want to lose this customer. Who wants to? Everyone is trying to hard retain theirs by offering something or the other these days. Customer's delight.  Never to lose any.

 

"Is that Mozarella"? He looked up blank as if he heard something in Hebrew or Chinese. He needs some sort of simplification. "Is this cheese mozarella?"He thinks for few seconds and then replies "This cheese comes especially from UP and this is used only for pizzas". The texture is soft and the color is pale which is exactly like mozarella. I trust him.  His customers are devouring the pizza so there’s no doubt about it that his pizza ingredients are tasty and wholesome. No wonder that his pizzas are moving so fast. He has two more student customers now. Someone has to know where his skill sets are from. The secret of his fast moving Pizzas. He is busy but he is enjoying this whole pizzacentric conversation. He combs his hair neatly before he is ready for a photograph to be clicked.

 

"Where did you learn pizza making?" He again thinks for a minute or more as he serves pizza to one of his customers. Well, this is actually giving him the time to think. "I learned from Ludhuana Pizza hut". Are you serious? He may be lying. He is not smiling now. He looks serious. Maybe he is trying hard to convince me. He adds on "I used to work there and one of my freinds taught me how to bake a pizza". Now so many questions run in my mind. If he was not baking pizza then what was he doing in Pizza hut? A delivery boy? No no, definitely not. If he learned baking pizzas then why is he not making pizza base? There are many pizza bases stacked in the corner and he tops them with sauces, veggies and cheese and there is his pizza. He may be fibbing or may not be. He may have learned in Delhi from some coffee shop Or maybe someone taught him how to bake pizzas and he is now working for him just as an employee. Let’s not go into this. He is little serious now. He requests me to shift little bit as there are customers around him and I am not one of them. I finally asked for a slice of pizza. "It will take some time Sir". He may have thought that I am asking it for free. There's no need to wait. I am highly contended with the smell of cheese, onion and some burnt herbs and a spicy cinversation. I am convinced that his pizzas are great. Now he really wants me to go. He stretches his hands for a warm shake and then turns sideways. He turns his neck to see if I am still there to conjure him or not. I quickly vanish with the whole thought of this mystic pizza episode. It was awesome!

Delhi Diwali: For them

(Texts and photos by Pupps Roy)

1am. Diwali night in Delhi. Diwali is over for all of us. everyone has gone off to sleep. But the celebration still continues for the have-nots of our society. Meet Sanju, he is the domestic help of a rich family in the GK area. He wants to celebrate the festival of lights and fire. Even though Diwali is over he is still ecstatic with his Diwali do and why not, Diwali comes once a year. Irrespective of the social division between the poor and riches the excitement is sky high for everyone. He is searching some skyshots, crackers, anaars that have not burnt properly or thrown away carelessly by some rich kids so that he can use them and bring on Diwali. He is wading through the heaps of crackers waste, Cardboard and paper litter scattered near every house with the help of a stick. Hope he finds some!

 

'I love diwali and I love fireworks. Just wait and see.' He lights up like a skyshot. He spoke like a storm now is gone and busy with joy and Diwali enthusiasm. His mom is watching his son from a distance with her saree that she covered her nose and ears to protect from cold and pollution. It gets quite chili at this of the year in Delhi. Some people are still burning crackers even after the deadline declared by Delhi Police. How many abide by law in Delhi? Only Jude Law works! Sanju comes back with handful of crackers and other diwali fiework stuff. Its enough to keep him busy for 15 minutes. There he goes lighting them. His mom cusses him and follows him around and asks not to go very close to the fire crackers. Her name is Meena and she too works in the same house as a cleaner.

  

"We are from Muzaffarbad and its so nice that they kept us here" Meena says with a deep breath. They are poor but they are happy. Or its just Diwali in the air and their happiness reflects in their face. Its risky to light the crackers that have not burned properly. The wicks are almost gone. But Sanju won’t listen. He is a superman in a joyful state and he can do anything. "You know parents wont change, children wont listen". Meena is right. We all pass through the same phase in life. Sanju feigns a superhero character from a TV commercial. He carries 10 kilos of Atta in one hand and also lugs a big bag of vegetables in another. He walks from GK to Aiims and back twice a week to save the bus fare. He runs and fetches tennis balls for his employer's son during his entire tennis lesson.

 

Boom. Zooot Bang! Theere is Sanju's skyshot. It glows like a flower in the darkest sky. His mother claps and Sanju jumps in joy. He goes on lighting an Anaar. His ma warns him not to go too close to the crackers while lighting them. There it is. He finishes his diwali crackers one by one, bit by bit. Mother shouts at Sanju, "let’s go and sleep now. Lot of cleaning to be done tomorrow morning”. Sanju stares back and gives the best smile in the world and disappears with his mom behind the huge wooden gate.  Happy Diwali!

Ode to Delhi Winter: Eggs

(Text and photos by Pupps Roy)

Students snacking before they enter for their tution class

Last year it was 1 for 5Rs. Last to last year it was 1 for 5Rs but 8rs for 2 again this year its 6Rs for 1 or 7 for 40 Rs. There's an inflation and it shows everywhere in India so why not with the egg industry? Why would they be exempted? Autumn reflects the transition from summer into winter. Mercury in Delhi starts dropping and the poultry price starts increasing. This happens every year in Delhi. So here is the story. Sometime in the month of September Egg-walas(egg-man) flock up in every colonies of Delhi with their cart full of eggs in different choice and size. Eggs, one of the notorious body warmers for Delhiites can’t wait to enter in their lives. The arrival of night becomes one and half hour earlier than summer and these Andewalas(egg-men) adorn their carts with their ingredients and utensils and they are out on the rutted roads of Delhi. They are here, there everywhere.

 

 

Eggs in different forms. You can have it boiled, half boiled, fried, half fried, omelette or toast with eggs. Just tell him and he will do it for you. He is making it right infront of you so you can stop him if he is frying your egg a little longer than you want it so. He is your egg-man, Andawala. Imagine cool breeze blowing on your face and you are taking a hot bite of a boiled eggs spiced with onion, green chili and corriander. Winter doesn’t get better than this.

Yogesh is chopping green chilli and not wearing a sweet grin. But he tries to. He is found everyday at the corner of Ljapat nagar 4 ring road

 

Mostly these egg-men hail from the rural districts of Bihar and UP. In summer they sell Kakri, a vegetable from the same family of cucumber and radish. Greener, thinner, little spirally in shape and longer than cucumber and it tastes chewy and soft as you go on eating. You have to eat it with a dash of chaat masala and lime. After the month of August Kakris slowly exit from the vegetables Market and just then they are replaced with eggs. And now eggs roll all over Delhi to bring warmth to the delhiites.


Smoking oil waiting for the chili and onion

 

Cheap diet, pretentious, tasty and considered as almost vegetarian in mostly Delhi households. So why not eggs? Have you forgotten the old commercial "Meri jaan, meri jaan murgi ki ande, Sunday ya Monday roz khao ande". This daily diet of Delhiite becomes rife in winters and around these "thelawalas(egg cart men)" become the gathering of heady passersby, mid-lifers, hard labourers, drivers, students and many of us. An uniform clad cabin crew maybe going to the fancy places for snacking but he knows exactly what he is eating now. Eggs for the evening at this nameless mobile egg cart. He devours a boiled egg in one gulp. He is sorted. The egg-wala serves one by one with his utmost pleasure and skillfull hands. Cleanly deshelled boiled eggs, nicely fried eggs without burning the white, well cooked omelet and perfect egg toasts with exact amount of chilli and salt. Because Delhiites will not pay for bad food so he has to be perfect. Your egg meal is over and you ask for napkin and he gives you a piece of a newspaper cutout. "No napkin sir, sorry!". Such a nice thought of recycling paper. Amazing!!!!

 

Fun doooo!

(Text by Pupps Roy, photo taken from google images)

Delhi sleeps early thesedays. Cops shut out the parties at 1am in the water holes of Delhi. Every day hauz khas village and GK are periodically busted after midnight. PCR vans are permanently posted at the entry of every party area. So please go home. Dont be out till late. This implies how unsafe Delhi is. But Delhi's nightlife is diverse and growing everyday. People are coming with new concepts. Tucked away, you will see everything from dive bars theme pubs, to multi-level nightclubs. Even the bars around the hedonistic, hippy side of Pahargunj close around 12.30pm.

So what Delhi banishes parties after midnight? House parties have always been favourite.
1. You can drink as much as you can without having to take any tension to go back home.
2. You can crash in there after the party is over.
3. You are safe with the people you know of in the party.
4. Its your party.

But what can you do other than parties? what if you dont like to party? Catch a night show movie in one of the malls and then sit around in some coffee shop till the wee hours.

You dont even have to spend a lot in Five star coffee shops. There are few upmarket coffee shops that are open till 1.30 and beyond. And the famous one around the Nizammudin station is open for 24 hours. So go and give a treat to yourself.

Who says that Nightlife in Delhi is considered to be luxurious and lavish life if compared with mumbai? Drive to India Gate and or a take night bus. Most of the night buses pass by India Gate with the sole intention to entertain delhite. Lick an icecream and watch the spectacular India Gate. Survey says 97% delhiite has visited India Gate in the mid night.

If you like adventure then run errand to the famous dhabas for a treat just at the Delhi Haryana Border. You may come across your colleague and his family there. Enjoy spicy paratha with home made unsalted butter. Not bad for a change on a saturday night.

Delhi is tired but not old and it has many avenues to enjoy despite its strict rules thesedays. Well rules are arbitrary and pretty needless for people who do something more insightful. Lets not go there. Lets draw a lakhsman Rekha to our fun limit and enjoy limitless. Happy Delhi, fun Delhi...there you go!

Rhyming Varanasi and Delhi all the way......

(Texts and photos by Pupps Roy)

To purify the sinful soul, for a change of wind, or just for a short holiday trip and above all to seek salvation Delhites go to Varanasi. The city of lights, the oldest, ancient city of India and city of Ghats. Surprisingly a magical similarity is found between Delhi and Varanasi. The entire Varanasi resembles old Delhi while some of the areas look little like the Darya Gunj. Narrow gullies, kids playing cricket in the backstreets, paan stains in every step you take, amazing smell of sweet wafting in the air all the time and what not. This holiest city of India has awesomely large number of cows and buffaloes roaming on the road freely without any traffic control. American visitors find the cows are fattest here compared to the other places of India. They are like the fat American cows just like the similar to that of the Prize Heifers. Have we been transported to dilli? Pinch yourself...no you are in Varansi and you are not dreaming.

 

Stop there.  The crazy sight of few red and yellow speckled snakes danced by a black turbanned man swaying to the sound of his cacophonous pipe and the beating of a miniature drum that brought everyone to a standstill situation in the bustling expanse of Pathani Tola, another crowded ignored area of old Varanasi. Isnt Delhi the city of snake Charmers? Name it to Varanasi now. Nomads are now in Varanasi. Villagers who learnt to live with buffaloes come to graze them on the city roads. The entire city is a zoo. Farmers feed on weed while the animals eat the wastes and occasional servings from some generous passersby. Not forgetting barking mangy dogs around the narrow lanes after the buffaloes. Some of them look like domesticated wolves. There are no deserts to find snakes but the charmers catch them from jungle and bring them to the city to make them dance and earn money. The teenager girl in burqa looks so cute as she pops out from the top window and then hides again. Restriction is everywhere but there are exclusions. This holiest city is a hub of non-vegetarian food but not around the ghats. You get all on the other side of the Ghats which directly doesnt keep any relation with the Ganges. There is always a love hate relationship.

 

Out of nowhere there stands a Japanese eatery. “Cafe Iba” is just next to the Assi Ghat. Decent Jap food in Varanasi comes unexpectedly. Upon entering you will see 70% are foreigners and out of which 50% are Japanese and rest are urban locals in fancy clothes trying their skills with chopsticks. An awesome Japdin can be enjoyed in just 300rs that too a hardcore non-vegetarian meal. Quirky decor and Japanese cold beverages will make you sit here for more. There is an archive of Japanese books. You either can rent or buy them or even can donate yours. But don’t compare this restaurant to that of the hoity toity japanese eateries in Delhi. This one is so different with a life and true Japanese simplicity.

 

Ghats are definitely a hotspot. Basking in the early evening heat to see the sundown and watching the Ganga Prayer from the boat is not to miss. Locals still throng the ghats while all the eateries and coffee shops around the ghats are still clearly designed for foreigners. Exotic food, cool sorbet and pizzas with home made mozarellas definitely attract foreigners. Some of them even offer beer and other hard drinks not around the Ghat though. Mint tea is served in every restaurants. But there is a smell of weed almost everywhere. It looks like every youth is high and doing their own thing unperturbed by the crowd. Have you been to "My Bar" is PaharGunj? You will find its ditto here in Sigra area called "Yelchiko". You can buy a beer for just 100 bucks. Worth a deal in a chilled bar with a chilled beer from this searing heat outside.

 

This muggy weather doesn’t make Varanasi more interesting. No saints on the road but only around the temple area near the Prayag Ghat. Their life goes on squatting around the circle listening to the super saint amongst them and then looking around for alms while smoking some pure weed as a breather. Jai ho! The whole city is so interesting with so many things happening midst of the hustle bustle that will definitely keep you busy with something or the other till the time you leave Varanasi. Many places to see and many things to do. The whole city looks like the movie set of "Delhi 6" which has scene for every climax.

 

There you go Varanasi. You are colorful, busy, quiet and serene as the ghats in the midnight, you light up like Diwali in every evening and you are like an addiction. You are like cocaine. The more you do it more you get into it except you don’t get a downer.  There’s no wonder why does the whole world come to your feet for a visit or for a dip.  Standing before Ganga I lose myself into its tranquility.  I am in my thought-shop now. Ganga is flowing in the reverse side due to the harsh monsoon this year. Maybe it’s uniting Yamuna somewhere near Delhi? I have no idea about it. I stood still.

 

 

Makeup and Make out?

 (Text by Pupps Roy and photo from Google Images)

 

Makeup and make out have sort of a way along each other. How inviting and sexy those prostitutes look in TV or in real life just before taking them in bed. Ok set aside prostitutes, what about the mujras? The neat way the desi dancers dress up and their aesome make up do! Lovely deep kohl around eyes, loud lipstick and their beauty spots. It definitely draws a mile towards making out. You cant wait to get the girl naked exploring each body part. Then again the body make up or touch up! Highlighting bosoms, bronzing the collar bones. Buy those shimmer moisturizer. What are they for? apply it in ur arms and increase the hot factor. Jergen's shimmer Moisturizer and Dove's "summer glow" does all the trick.  A little powdery effect to the whole thing? Go for Mac Bronzer powder and keep dabbing before he rubs on you! The makeup is bound to stay even after a long hot massage.

 

Oh My God you are a sex goddess straight from the vogue magazine. Its good to eat grapes off the wall paper if we can’t live in wall paper. The feeling is fantastic till the time the make up is on. How about sex proofing it? Make up running over on the pillow case during the make out session? Absolutely no! Such a turn off! Use lip gloss or those Mac Stay-on lipstick to arouse your man to your red hot lips without fear of leaving a lipstick stain on his or your linens. Even the Revlon sticks are not bad. You are safe darling. Rub a very little from your lips on ur cheeks and then blush, blush, blush. You may just try Mac Fetish or Mac Lust or even Mac Fondle. Well they are not the names of a soft porn flick. They are the latest ones from Mac. Get a screaming sex appeal with these.

 Spray some Victoria secret's sweet seduction in your favourite spots. Belive me it will work like the Axe-deo commercial. The sweet sexy smell will let him ask you for more. It reacts so well with body and gives out an orgasmic fragrance so enjoy the euphoric moment and let it just linger.

 

Not to forget the X-rated eye shadows to play with your eyes if you want to get on to your sexy side. Try shades of grey or black. There are fifty shades of grey available. So get into the gritty side of it. Add some silvery touch to it or just blacken it wholly.

 

Let him play you around for a while. To finish it spray some rose water on ur face from few inches from your face to seal the makeup. You can buy Mac's make up fix or some same make up sealers from Clinique or Chambor or even L’oreal has some nice ones. This will not crack or crease your make up. Look for one that is moisture resistant so feel free to sweat the night away with your partner. This is ideal to deal with Delhi's muggy weather. So dear Delhi girls you are sorted, no fear of spoiling your make up while making out! This will definitely make your boyfriend to stay home with you on a stag night. Have fun: All Nighter.

 

Lonely Tomb: Neela Gombat

(Text and Photography by Pupps Roy)

Another blistering day of summer and the temperature reached 45 degrees in Delhi. 1pm at Nizamuddin East. Many are resting on the green turf behind Humayun tomb to get rid of searing loo and scorchy sun. The bits of Humayun tomb are visible and the peak is sparkling under the super hot sun. Its another 15 minutes walk following the railway track to reach Humayun Tomb. Heat wave is unbearable. "A glass of water please?" But where is the water? No shops, no stalls in close vicinity. Look right. There's a tomb which is partially covering the Sun. It looks spectacular under the sun. It looks like its playing hide and seek with the sun. A part of its has shed and the other side is so bright that you can't see with eyes straight open as if someone is reflecting sunlight off a mirror on your face. Meet Surinder the security guard and the sole manager of this historical property. He talks about this tomb.

This Octagonal tomb is known as Neela Gombat or Blue Dome. This is not a major tourist attraction spot but lot of tourists stop by this tomb and spend quite some time on the way visiting Humayun Tomb. You can enter here for free without buying any ticket. This work of ancient Indian architecture is located right behind the Humayun tomb adjoining Nizamuddin Railway track. It’s called Neela Gombat because its "onion" shaped peak is made up of glazed blue tiles which was rare those days. There are rumours about this tomb. It is said that it has been built by Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khana for his faithful attendant Fahim Khan in 1625. But there is no historic signboard here which tells the story of this tomb. However Surinder versed a totally different tale about the Neela Gombti. He said that Humayun’s wife Hamada Banu Begum's special attendant used live in this tomb who specially made Churis(Bracelets) for her. After his death he was buried here. Now Fahim Khan could have bourne two identities. He could be Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana's servant as well as the servant of Hamida Banu Begum. Both are believable. But Wikipedia does not mention anything about the Bracelet making history. Maybe some secret stories are only told only at the right place, right time and to right kind of people.

This spectacular tomb has awesome view from all across its sides. The maintenance is really poor. Each sides of this Octagonal tomb look unique. Sadly you can’t enter inside the tomb due to security reason. It’s closed forever and is only opened for cleaning purpose. A devout Muslim is reading namaz next to the tomb. Bangladeshi refugees have made plastic tents across the railway track to live there. "This place is not good Sir. Anything can happen here. All wrong kind of people live by the railway track. See these lights are missing. We lost many signboards as well." said Surinder with a very emotional tone and points his finger to the empty light holders. Thieves and beggars steal lights and sell them outside. "Sir this tomb looks awesome during the sunset and also when the lights are on in the evening". He sits on the floor with a frustration look and stares at the empty light holders. Lonely tomb stares back at him.

Foods dont lie: Assam Bhawan

(Text and Photography by Pupps Roy)

22 year old Punjabi lad "Sunny" does not eat Rajma Chawl on Sunday afternoons. Instead he gives his taste buds an experience of Assam at "Jakoi" which means Fishnet in Assamese. Savour Assam's haute cuisine at "Assam Bhawan" at Sardar Patel Marg located amongst the home of many foreign embassies in Chanakyapuri. Jakoi is the in-house restaurant of Assam Bhawan.

You will not have any car parking issue and it’s free of charge. Plus it’s connected by major bus routes. The nearest bus stop is just few meters away. Now you choose your mode of transport to get there. You need to sign your name at the entrance with your address and phone number. This is just a formality also it tells you that you are stepping into a highly secured area. Enter Assam Bhawan go straight and then take a left and the sloping stretch will lead you to Jakoi. Few cane chairs and painted chastes with the lots of indoor plants in the open area certainly makes a minimalistic statement to its quirky decor. But it’s empty. No one enjoys lunch in an open area at 2pm in this Delhi heat in the month of June. Turn around. You see a huge glass door and that opens to a large air-conditioned banquet looking sitting area. There are sofas with low length tables as well as normal table chairs for dining. The ambience is totally theme centric. An Assamese throne with Archery, fishing weapons nailed on top of it in the red background. There are photos of the great personalities of Assam such as Bhupen Hazarika, famous actress Bidya Rao, Actor Nipan Goswami and the talented classical singer Dipali Barthakur and many more. It does not only offer food but also offers the knowledge of Assamese culture with nice Assamese music playing in the air.

It smells exotic. Some herbs which we never smelt before mixed with a fine aroma of camphor and fish. The smell wafts in the air and makes us hungrier. The menu is extensive plus it has some seasonal dishes to offer which is separately mentioned on a standalone menu kept nicely on each table. There is regular non-vegetarian and vegetarian thalis mentioned in the a-la-Carte menu with variety of fish, chicken and duck preparation. Vegetarian and Non vegetarian thalis cost Rs 200 and Rs 250 respectively. It looks huge, elaborate and of course cheap with so many items on the plate. The service is also quick with neatly dressed up waiters serving the best from Assam.

The Non Vegetarian Thali comes with two bowls of thin grained aromatic rice. They said this particular rice is easily digestible. For "Starters" they have Aloo Pitika and Dali. Aloo Pitika is spicy mashed potato and Dali is lentils prepared with their traditional spices. Tastes great. In "Entree" there is Xaak which is actually Spinach cooked with chillis and spices. Then there is a Khaar which is cooked by burning banana skin and adding baking soda in it. Another tasty dish. They say it cleanses the stomach and acts as a detoxifier. Then there is main course which includes Tenga Fish which is a huge piece of Ruhu fish cooked in spicy tangy gravy. This is a delicacy of Assam. It tastes so good that you have to ask for more. In Assam no meal is complete without Tenga Fish. This is not the end. There is also chicken curry. The chicken curry is spicy yet you can taste the chicken in it and not the spice because the spice is perfectly cooked with the chicken. All's well that ends well. In the dessert they have scented rice boiled in thin milk. The whole affair is worth remembering. You will come back for sure. The most expensive dish in the A-la -carte menu is 350 which is Steamed Hilsa in Assamese style. You will never find Duck fry for 300 Rs in anywhere in Delhi. One phrase to the whole thing: Very affordable, tasty and something very different. Welcome all.

Lovely Decor

Archery weapons

They made Assam proud

And the merry meal

The a-la-carte Menu