Truth is stranger than fiction

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=4f4c3201-4b8e-4450-ab81-31413d2d5171 Nature is known to have its dark side as well. The recent spells of showers in the maximum city has provided a stage which has proved the enactment of the monsoon melodrama in a negative role. This is no mystery to millions that it’s been raining cats and dogs for the past one week. The harshness of these stormy spells has extended up to places like Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, apart from Maharashtra. The low lying areas are reported to have submerged under water. The fast- paced city is forcibly coming to a sluggish movement. It has once again managed to bring a standstill to the bustling activities, affecting the road, rail and air traffic in the process. The lashings have ruthlessly plundered innocent lives and the baffled individuals are helplessly trapped between the devil and the deep sea situation on a literal basis. These alarming conditions in Mumbai have begun to ring a...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=85d71f60-36ea-41c4-bf8e-41dffdace818 Love is blind’ the famous saying goes. However off late, the law is turning blind too. The softness of the legal system seems to be increasing with the hardness of the alcoholic beverages. Several cases of drunken driving have surpassed negligence due to the lack of appropriate disciplinary action. Numerous instances have been reported in the past. It’s shocking to note the occurrence of 4200 such cases last year in Delhi alone, besides indefinite incidents in other places as well. The latest episode in Delhi reported by the media has stirred a lot of indignant minds. A 22 year old was caught in such an act only to be let Scot free in spite of having taken two innocent lives. While the parents are psychologically bruised and devastated, the young lad seems to have escaped the necessary punishment needed as a corrective measure. Many have lost their beloved due to these rash un...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=366e3dce-811e-42f0-a1e1-c4f7898cf364 While mothers are those who nurture the tree, fathers form the strong roots which bind the little flowers, fruits and tiny branches into one big family tree. Father figure is that unmistakable soul providing the rock solid support for his kith and kin on an eternal basis in every possible way. They stand apart with their inherent charismatic aura around them embarking them to be the evident leader of the pack. My dad is truly one in every aspect. A self -made successful businessman who I look up to, with immense pride. As I trace back memories of his perseverance and innumerable sacrifices, my feelings portray an inexplicable mixture of joy, sadness and admiration. Joy- as I share a vital part of his triumph. Sadness as his profession demanded considerable amount of his precious time away from me. Admiration-as I cannot help but gape in wonder at his strong, confident demeanor ...

- By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=b493ce18-d358-4259-bd9a-7e716223535d This is in reference to the incident that took place in Yuvraj's Singh's party in December. The yuvi war seemed to be flashing all over the news channels. Apparently the "Yuvraj" name wasn't the only common thing between the warring men. According to the reports, Yuvraj Mahajan's girlfriend was snatched away by the cricketer which resulted in a brawl between the two. This verbal and physical combat caused a police complaint to be lodged, only to be withdrawn later by both their respective mothers who seemed to VOICE their cries a little loud to the media. This has gone as far as the infamous cricketer being summoned to the court. It was reported that our mid-order batsmen hit his namesake very hard. It’s a pity that such force and aggression is absent in his batting in the most crucial one day internationals. If only his bat did the hitting, the men i...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=2daaafec-3059-403e-a62e-fd1c2a8c8550 It is that time of the year again. Darkened clouds begin to form groups wiping away the smile on the sun's face. The great battle begins, as these united forces combat the glare of the fierce sun, coming to the rescue of the living beings affected by this eternal furnace. Relenting to retire for a while, the rather reluctant sun finally agrees to crown the new form of nature which will shower and pour its affection on us who are eagerly beckoning it. Yes the reign of the rain has indeed begun. The first spell of showers greets us pleasantly by going pitter patter on our window panes .Waking up to their friendly wake up call, our morning drowsiness gets dispelled as we view this mystic beauty of the rains. A sense of freshness engulfs us as our nostrils pick up the fragrance of the just-wet soil. It is indeed a treat to the eyes to see the teary link between the sky and eart...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=3d867c6e-da61-4860-a0cd-abe4b427295e Time traces back to when man overthrew the monarchy rule to enjoy democracy. History seems to be repeating itself with the same objective being extended into the fauna world. It is no mystery to millions about the recent drastic reduction in the number of tigers in the Indian sub continent. According to the expert sources, the big cats have diminished by an alarming 50-60%. So what is it that is leading to these elite creatures to becoming the most endangered species? There seems to be more to it than what meets the eye. It appears that humans have been invaded by a new found demon in the form of commercialization. Business and money making through products made out of tigers' skin has expanded on a large scale. The quest for more has engulfed man into the web of greed, propelling him to increase his hunting expeditions of these royal species. Poaching, which started out a...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=6232613f-1afe-4079-8115-b5e5eb787e09 Going wild seems to have different connotations. It appears that humans are attempting to seek pleasure from more than just rave parties and alcohol. It is a shocking state to see the occurrence of numerous murders, shoot outs and bomb blasts that have almost eclipsed the feelings of compassion in humanity. It is even more appalling to see the sadistic tinge of humans going as far as to feed live creatures to please the royalty of the animal kingdom. The news channels have covered a horrifying sight of such instances which portray the barbaric side of tourism. Apparently, a new scheme has been introduced to see the wilder side of the wild in order to attract a larger number of tourists. A bull was mercilessly let out of a van only to be preyed ruthlessly by ravenously hungry tigers. One could almost empathize with the otherwise strong bull to be put in a helpless and pitiable s...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=e8d1ba1b-9e7f-40db-b1c1-b3cfcd5a8d1a Happiness: A simple word yet not so common in today’s scenario. The rarity of this psychological well being has emphasized its eternal quest for it. Several connotations have been attached to this term. So what is it that defines this magical state of being? Humans attribute different meanings to 'happiness’. Some denote material comforts and wealth as factors contributing to immense satisfaction. Others go on to equate it to power, fame and affiliation. Despite achieving everything, one still tends to remain in melancholy. This depicts the strange aspect of human nature. A further insight into this mysterious phenomenon brings to light the complexity of the cognitive aspect of individuals. Is it because: They have attached false notions to happiness? Greed engulfs them into aspiring for more that they fail to realize the value of what they have? A mere case of dependence ...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=abb957cf-034f-4fa5-8ec0-df4c4cd70b32 Mothers are those souls whose bond with us begins even before we grace our entry into the outside world. Entwined in the warmth of her delicate womb, marks the beginning of her never-ending nature of nurture. These irreplaceable beings emerge from a protective demeanor and go on to become our friend, guide and philosopher carrying with them an unconditional bundle of love. My mom is no different, yet she stands apart from the rest, emphasizing her inherent special stance. Reminiscence brings back the marvelous memoirs with mom whom I consider my best friend. Being the only child, gave me the privilege of being her sole object of affection and attention. My restless nature and my continuous mischief often exasperated her. Yet, her continued portrayal of tolerance and patience on her sweet face would often make me feel like a little devil being smiled down upon by the goodness of...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=048ef0bb-7c7d-41db-bedc-5df5045452f5 The charming factor of motherhood lies in the fact of it not being restricted to the world of humans alone. It is universal. While people exhibit the motherly bond, one can certainly not ignore the maternal instincts prevalent largely in the animal kingdom. It gives immense pleasure to see the different strokes for different folks and the same principle applied amongst these varied creatures. Just like we shield our young ones from danger, the fauna species are no different. This special link exists; from the shrewd monkeys to the gracious royal family of the jungles. Even the flighty birds portray care and nurture as they run from pillar to post in search of food and building their cozy nests. It starts from, the litter of puppies fighting amongst themselves to bask in their mothers love. Kittens lazily curl themselves with occasional playful jibes at one another to grab the m...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=4749ee16-aed1-4a3d-86f8-d1cf527234a6 Grandparents love marks its specialty by being bountiful. It can indeed make one resort to reminiscence and evoke them to stroll down the memory lane with feelings of nostalgia. I am no exception. Those glorious days with granddad were certainly unforgettable. The wonderful memories of spending my childhood with him make my eyes moist as I think of my late grandfather even today. A quick flashback brings forth the memorable instances which clearly play right in front of eyes now. Being an early riser, his regular morning walks would be accompanied by me holding his hand delicately. Trotting by his side, my little voice would indulge in non stop chatter. The red hibiscus flower would greet us everyday allowing itself to be held in my tiny hands. He used to take me to see the cows being milked each morning. My grandfather who was known for his impatience surprisingly chose to mak...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=4302f356-dabd-4a2a-9183-c98f0e121f81 It’s no mystery of April 20th being a 'special' day for more than one reason. The junior B has managed to win a million hearts and have the world bow before his feet (on a literal basis). After much speculation, the D day for Ash to be accepted as the Bachchan Bahu was decided upon. The media seemed to go crazy hanging around ‘Jalsa’ and Prateeksha’, eager to get a glimpse of the most happening news. The wedding happened to cover the main page of most leading newspapers and marriage between two celebrities seemed the only news that reporters were running after. It appeared that all other crucial happenings were eclipsed behind this ‘drama’ and resulted in taking a back seat. Perhaps to view this entire celebration? Wasn’t that going overboard? This was especially, when they were kept deliberately out of the so called "private "ceremony. It was portrayed to be ...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=8b3d84a1-57d7-4dfb-bf04-1c5be3f607d0 The shootout at Virginia has caused a commotion in the minds of millions. Many are perplexed and baffled at the acts of terror occurring in a supposedly secure educational setting. Students especially are shaken by this entire episode. Colleges/schools which are considered as a ‘safe’ zone are now viewed as a threatening belt. The grave act of the 23 year old South Korean campus resident has caused several to tremble with fear. The merciless firing of bullets has resulted in many casualties and injuries to innocent individuals. One of the deceased victims was Professor Loganathan of Indian origin, who was a campus resident. His unexpected death has left behind a helpless family, mourning over the loss of their pillar of support. His aged mother is unable to gain clarity in understanding as to why her son was a target of such terror. The culprit was reported to have apparently b...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=bc0b6cd6-5e6d-463b-ae94-469dde19512f It appears that the ‘bachelors’ club is losing the eligibility criteria. Yes, this is in relation to the shunning of these single Martians by housing societies in Mumbai. Apparently residential buildings seem to oppose the inhabitance of single men in their buildings considering it as a disturbance with late parties and being 'unsafe’ for the women. Mumbai is a city of maximum prospects and opportunities for single career oriented men. In addition to which accommodation tends to pose a problem. Ambitious men who dream big come to the island city like charged bulls to make it big before settling down. Not surprising, as the contemporary situation demands the man to earn in 5 figures, to fall into the ‘prospective groom’ category as per the matrimonial columns. In such a scenario, concentration on career becomes top priority, followed by bagging an apartment in a convenient l...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=bc0b6cd6-5e6d-463b-ae94-469dde19512f In prison she found freedom. An ironical statement which is bound to make several faces portray mystified expressions along with a lingering question in their minds-Freedom from what? ‘Circle of light’ is one such autobiography by Rahila Gupta and Kiranjit Ahluwalia , bringing to light the dark side of a marriage. Adapted from the book about an ugly issue of domestic abuse depicts the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia that inspires the making of this film. Provoked that takes you through the unbelievable events which provides an explanation to the rather queer statement. The film starts with a strange figure holding a candle and setting fire to a man who goes up in flames. The identity is then revealed to be that of a quivering Kiranjit (Aishwarya Rai) trying to kill her husband Deepak (Naveen Andrews).An allegation by Deepak and further investigation by the law discloses the at...

Received this via email. This one is quite interesting and really gives us an insight into DECISION MAKING. A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track. The train came, and you were just beside the track interchange. You could make the train change its course to the disused track and saved most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way? Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make................ Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally. But, have you ever t...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=19607b13-55d7-494e-8a58-e4ac0f5fe55d ”Expectations reduce joy” is one of the famous pillars of the art of living. A simple quote and yet, a most challenging principle to follow in life. Akshay and Rakesh were best friends from childhood. What one did, the other was always aware of. Their friendship was one that would cause envy to many others in their lives. Both matured into young handsome adults and as fate always predicts, their paths took two different directions into the further journey of life’s expeditions. Solemn promises were made not to let such opposite routes come in the way of their friendship, thereby assuring one another of the going-on in each others lives. Akshay joined Hotel management while Rakesh went on to climb the corporate ladder of a multinational firm. Their professional lives took a toll that promises once made had to be forgotten as the demands made on each of them stifled them of their...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=843dbd4f-1a0f-4c00-b0ca-c3e25f7bc025 Psychology emphasizes the fact of individuality differences among humans. So what is it that makes our personalities distinct from one another? Several factors are cited for our overall development and competence from our formative to the attractive adulthood stage. The prime backbone stresses the role of parents in our lives and has been of immense interest to millions. Today,the multitasking function consists of a dual nature of being bread winners and family people. Assuring security and stability in every possible manner; imbibing values, morals and code of conduct; handing out suitable reinforcements and punishments indeed requires tact and is challenging on the couple. Striving to attain the perfect balance gives a further insight into the different styles of parenting adopted. This probably provides clarity in explaining the positive/adverse effects on character growth d...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=88c87fce-2f35-4ea2-adca-665c316e0dea A three hour drive from Mysore in the frosty morning brought me to the abode of the wild. Bandipur is one of the well renowned national parks situated about 80 km from the city and was the first Tiger reserves in the country. The cold wave of air engulfed me as I got out of the car. It expelled the tinge of drowsiness that accompanied along with the long drive. As I mounted on to the jeep along with the guide, I eagerly awaited the two hour endeavor with the animal kingdom. As I reached the woods, the guide’s hawk eyes immediately fell on some freshly made footprints. Apparently it was noted to be left behind by an animal probably out on its early morning stroll. Retrospection discovered that to be of the mighty tiger’s. Alerting the possibility of seeing the royalty perked my excitement and elation. From there began a cat and mouse game on a literal basis. Following the footpr...

-By Swetha Amit http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=0b09688c-78b5-4181-9cc2-6a12a6b39dfe What happens when a hard core Punjabi lad meets a British brat? Namaste London takes you through the journey from east to west. Right from the green fields of Punjab to the foreign soil of Britain. The film starts with a breathtaking view of London city. Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif get out of a luxurious car and walk hand in hand up the altar leaving her to marry a foreigner. As he walks away, the movie takes a trip down the memory lane tracing back to the events occurred few months ago. Jasmeet aka Jazz (Katrina Kaif) is a typical London born and bred. She loves the westernized lifestyle which prompts her to party out with her Pakistani friend Imran (Upen Patel) and his girlfriend Suzanne till wee hours. His live in relationship generates shock waves within his father Parvez Khan (Javed Sheikh). Jazz’s night club adventures with strange whites ring an alarm bell for her anxi...