LIFE & STYLE

Dress like newly-wed on Karva Chauth
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Moon does not matter. Stars do. That’s why little Tamana, living alone with her parents, is looking for the ones twinkling on a nice short top. After donning it on Karva Chauth over boot-cut trousers with twin tantalizing slits on either sides, she plans to zip up and down the hearts of city guys in her jaunty jalopy.

Marriage has nothing to do with heart’s desire. In fact, the 19-year-old under-grad wishes to “climb up the ladder of success without stepping on the rungs of matrimony”. Is strictly against the “business of wedding for earning social security”.

Nevertheless, she is hunting for “something glittery dyed in the hues of matrimony”, like so many blushing brides in the neighborhood. “Why shouldn’t I?” she questions. “Just because I do not want knots in my life, there is no reason for me whimper with overflowing eyes and not to let off the steam on Karva Chauth”.

She is not alone. Her best chum Tahira too is prowling after a cheerful royal blue suit with turquoise contrast. She had seen it in some blockbuster weeks back. Since then she has been barging into one showroom after another. “I want it for Karva Chauth,” she asserts, rubbing her fair hands together with excitement. “The search operation is on. I will surely locate it before the big day. Am sure of it”.

The two are all set to pick up the apparel of the choice. Once they find “the right stuff”, that is. Have even withdrawn crisp currency notes from the bank for the purpose after saving it for months together.

The reason behind their enthusiasm is not very hard to analyze. “In days that are no more, Karva Chauth was for wedded wives, religiously,” says young psychologist Simran Singh. “For charmers putting up in spinster quarters, the occasion had little to offer. Yes, some were adorning their hands with henna traced pattern, but that was all they were going in for”.

She adds: “Things have now changed, for good or worse that is another question. Nowadays, you have maidens munching chicken-onion-cheese pizza after dressing up like good wives on Karva Chauth".

Explaining the trend, she utters: “In today’s world of ostentation, Karva Chauth, like Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Christmas, is just another occasion for beauties adorned to celebrate after showing off their charms in alluring outfits. Little wonder, in 2002 you do not have to be married for capturing the trophies of love after dressing up like stunning brides”.

Catering to their demands are so many outlets in the city. “An exclusive range of attires for spouseless dames — that’s what we have for Karva Chauth this year,” reveals Pankaj Gulati, running a garment house in Sector 22. “Offering we are short tops with antique work, besides shiny stuff embellished with sequence and cut danas in front and around the neck”.

So if you haven’t done your shopping for Karva Chauth, rush to the arcade now. But remember to pick up suits in vibrant colours. The ones in tempting lemon, freaky orange and decent rust are in vogue.

“They are not very expensive either,” asserts Pankaj. “You can buy a simple ones for Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Suits with aari work are dearer. You will have to pull out something like Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000” from your handbag”.

Venus Speaks
Beauty unadorned

Beauty unadorned - that is how classmates describe Neha. They have their own reasons. She seldom goes out after dabbing roose on her fair visage. In fact, the third year graphics student in Government College of Arts, doesn’t believe in applying make-up at all. At least not till she is going for some special bash.

“I love to be simple,” she asserts gently combing her silky hair, “for the basic reason that I do not want to be something I am not. Yes, I like people complementing me, but not for complexion artificially acquired from a drug store”.

She explains: “I want people to look at me, to know me, the way I am. That’s why I believe in the concept of natural beauty. I somehow fail to understand how people can accept compliments after wearing coloured lenses or for bleached fairness”.

Pushing back the comb into a leather bag, she hastily adds, “This, however, does not mean that I do not take care of myself. I do make sure that my tresses are clean and shining and my visage is not oily for long”. That’s it folks. 

Tip top
Blush like a bride without being one

The big day, rather the big night of Karva Chauth, is almost here. So what if you are a maiden. You can still dress up like a blushing bride just for yourself. No doubt about it. Here is how to find your dream look:

Get that flawless matte look oh-so-hot these days. Choose a shade of oil-control makeup that is shine free. Make sure that it matches with your skin tone. Dark for dark, light for light. Use a wet sponge to blend evenly around your temples and jawbone for a barely-there look.

Cheeks: Go get that tangy glow by dusting peach hue on your cheeks and jawbone. Blend evenly with dexterous fingers. For those lucky lips that will make the on-lookers slobber, line your pouters with cocoa colour, then fill in with matte lipstick in berry red hue.

But what about eyes? Make-up artist Anu Bhalla has a suggestion. She says, “Draw a fine line close to your upper lashes using a lining pen in black. Extend the line slightly beyond the outer corner of your eye. Next curl your lashes and sweep mascara in black to get that doe-eyed look”.

This is not all. Here are some trendy tips for all you damsels eager to get your nail paint right: If you have short nails, please ditch dark hues. They make the nails look even shorter. Opt for light and shimmery tints like shiny purple or alluring browns. Says Bhalla, “Remember to match the colour of your pouters with complementing nail enamel. You can pair lip hues like plump and chocolate with nail shades like copper or plump tint”.

Also get rid of the dark circles. They do not match your complexion. “You can perk up tired eyes by placing two slices of cucumber over them,” says another make-up artist Rahul Verma. “If you do not wish to sit in your living room with your eyes hidden under cucumber, you can apply a cream that contains natural extracts. After cleansing, dab a small amount around the area with your fingertip. Blend in without rubbing too hard”.

If dull skin is what you are suffering from, listen to what Rahul has to say, “When washing up after a night out, use a moisturising body wash or a soap to breathe life into dull skin. Gently slough off the flakes”. So folks, follow our simple fundas to look simply great. y

At PU, its fun

Techno music’s thumping beats reverberating against the blank walls of Panjab University’s Student Center announce the arrival of yet another car even before it reaches the hot spot. As the wheels wildly spinning against the tatty road come to a screeching halt, two damsels emerge from dense cloud of dust after banging the door shut. Cutting their way through the jostling crowd of unshaved aliens, they reach the coffee shop, unfazed.

Yes, so many outsiders - with their hands full of hearts - on the Panjab University campus are no deterrent. Students, including lasses, still come to the coffee shop for savouring nice lemon, or peach, tea, if not to munch sumptuous muffins and croissants.

As strangers to PU’s culture in shinning shirts over crumpled trousers ogle at the crowd hoping to win trophies of love, the dames gently open the strings of their handbags to pull out crisp currency notes. Clutching cold coffee cups in their fair translucent fingers, they walk down the concrete slabs, indifferent towards the lecherous stares.

Interlopers were always there on the campus, but their number was limited. Moreover, they were hardly a source of nuisance. “Wow” - was the strongest comment that escaped their dry lips. That was years back, when the students used to sit on the center stairs, instead of chairs.

Remembering his days as a post graduation student, research scholar Raman Sharma says, “You had the same crowd visiting the center every day, session after session. Little wonder, everyone knew everyone. Even if you were not breaking the ice, the dame from the other department sitting on the opposite bench would acknowledge your friendly glance by running her fingers through her silky brown tresses. The result was there for all to see. The outsiders had no scope”.

Agreeing with him, another research scholar Neeraj Kumaria asserts: “Now the things have changed and definitely not for better. As more and more pairs prefer to whisper sweet nothings in secluded canteens hidden behind the department buildings, you have intruders coming to the center for something more than just coffee and burgers - adversely affecting the atmosphere”.

Anyway, strangers or no strangers, you can still go to the center, pull up a chair, place it away from the direct gaze of the gaping sun, and relish cold coffee, besides lemon and peach tea after taking out just Rs 10. This is not all. You can even have grilled sandwiches and éclair rolls after spending just a few rupees more. So folks, have a nice time away from home.

CONSUMER COURTS
Online Fincaps’ appeals dismissed
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 15
The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has dismissed five different appeals filed by Online Fincaps Limited through its director, Mr Sandeep Grover, against the order passed by the UT District Forum (I).

In the first case, finding deficiency in the services of the firm, the Commission has upheld the order passed by the Forum, which directed it to deliver 100 shares of Telco repayment to Mr R.K. Trikha, a resident of Sector 42, along with accrued benefits on these shares with effect from July 1, 1998, till date within three months from the receipt of the order failing which it could be liable to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum.

The complainant, Mr Trikha, had stated he purchased 100 shares at the rate of Rs 192 per share from the firm through Mr Grover on June 30, 1998, and paid Rs 19,569 to it.

The complainant stated that the firm had assured him the delivery of the shares within 15 days of the bill but the shares were not delivered.

The Commission said: “The District Forum (I) was absolutely right in concluding deficiency in service on the part of Online Fincaps and was legally just and fair in awarding the relief. Since the respondent/ complainant has not filed any appeal against the impugned order, his plea for award of costs of the complaint is rejected being legally not maintainable. The impugned order is upheld and the appeal is dismissed without any order as to costs”.

In the second case, the Commission has upheld the order of the Forum (I) which directed it to deliver 100 shares of Colgate and 100 shares of LML to Ms Anuradha Trikha, a resident of the sector, along with accrued benefits with effect from July 1, 1998, till date within three months from the receipt of the order failing which it could be liable to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on the amount of accrued benefit from date of the order till repayment.

In the third case, the Commission has upheld the order of the Forum (I) which directed it to deliver 50 ACC shares to Ms Mamta Trikha with accrued benefits with effect from July 1, 1998, till date within three months from the receipt of the order failing which it could be liable to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on the amount of accrued benefit from date of the order till repayment.

In the fourth case, the Commission has upheld the order of the Forum (I) which directed it to deliver 100 shares of Colgate and 100 shares of SBI to Ms Sonia Trikha along with accrued benefits with effect from July 1, 1998, till date within three months from the receipt of the order failing which it could be liable to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on the amount of accrued benefit from date of the order till repayment.

In the fifth case, the Commission has upheld the order of the Forum (I) which directed it to deliver 100 shares of Telco and 100 shares of Reliance Industries to Ms Rashmi Trikha along with accrued benefits with effect from July 1, 1998, till date within three months from the receipt of the order failing which it could be liable to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on the amount of accrued benefit from date of the order till repayment.

Shekhar Kapoor casts city girl
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 15
She is bubbly and can make people laugh without even making an effort. Or better still, she can get you hooked for hours with her melodies and now the time has come for her to combine her talents and make her presence felt on the big screen. She is Kamal Deep, a city girl who has bagged a plum part in Shekhar Kapoor’s film “A Different Sunday.”

“It was by chance I got this part to play Neha Dubey’s friend, the lead heroine of the film,” says Kamal. When the unit had come to Chandigarh to shoot a few scenes in PGI under the direction of Navdeep Malhotra, Kamal had approached the director to get a break in playback singing. “But now I want to give acting my best shot,” she adds.

For Kamal facing the camera is not something new. As an anchor for a live programme called “Sunehe” in DD Punjabi, Kamal comes under constant challenges. “One has to be on one’s toes while facing the live camera and after doing it for so long, I am quite confident about playing my part,” she adds.

A refined singer and winner of French Nightingale award for three consecutive years, Kamal is yet to find out where her passion lies. “I have been too busy with my studies and when my singing career was just shaping up, films happened,” says Kamal, who is doing her graduation with Music as a subject from Government College for Girls, Sector 11.

“Everything depends upon good offers now,” says Kamal. While leaving her options open for both music and films, Kamal harbours a dream to act in a film like “Sur” which would help to showcase both her talents.

Spreading laughter among masses
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, October 15
T.N. Raz is a man who believes in making others laugh and the best part is that his laughter comes wrapped in literary verses. But the fun loving part in him is just skin-deep and as you get to know him better you get a glimpse his serious, sensitive soul which, more than his work, feels strongly about the declining glory of Urdu language and thinks nothing about working day and night for the cause of popularising the language among the masses.

“Urdu, after independence, has been confined to only a certain section of society and the only way to revive its lost glory is to take it to the masses,” says Raz. This is exactly what he is doing in his recent book “Ranga Rang Shayeri”. The author has collected about 1400 memorable and quotable couplets of Urdu by famous poets, all written in Hindi.

“The main objective of the book is to popularise Urdu among Hindi readers and make them realise how gripping the language is,” says Raz. It took him about two and half years to choose the couplets on the basis of their intelligibility and applicability in the present time context. though chosen from diverse walks of life, Raz has wrapped up his book with a dose of humour and satire.

Raz who made homour and satire his forte, started his journey into the literary field way back in the 1970s by writing hilarious pieces for magazines. The brand of humour he uses for his prose and poetry has made him stand out among his contemporaries. “Humour does not mean ridiculing others or being abusive,” says Raz.