They won't let you quit!

By Rinky Kumar

Sale season, that new Blackberry or even a holiday in France, you want it all! So you're planning to wait around until the end of the financial year for that much deserved raise and bonus. Well darlin', given the current recession scenario, the chances of a fat (ter) pay check are super low.
Disappointed? Think quitting is the answer? You may drop in your papers but be ready for a tempting offer from HR which will make you change your mind.

Don't believe us? Read on to find out the steps your company will take to keep you coming into work.

Indispensability quotient

Assessing 'key critical areas' (read: how indispensable you are to the company) is the first step that your superiors and HR manager would take.

"We identify if an employee's cost of replacement is high, how much time and effort was invested in training that individual. We also identify how she is important in achieving an organisation's goals," says Pallavi Lawlekar, HR manager at a leading MNC.

Time please!

If you are absolutely keen on leaving your existing work place in the hope that your future job will assure you a hefty salary, then you will be given adequate time to re-think your decision.

"We try to explain to the employee that the future cost-to-company (C2C) will not be as much as his existing C2C, thanks to the recession," says Yanjana Thuain, HR manager in a financial broking firm. She adds that the individual is also given time to understand the real-world situation.

Free advice

Expect this for sure. Everyone, from your boss, to your colleagues and the HR manager will spout words of wisdom. While some of your colleagues will encourage you to leave, just so you are out of their way, your true friends will say, 'how much they will miss you'. Your boss will all of a sudden find you an 'asset'.

"When I threatened to quit, my boss and HR manager sat me down and explained to me how in the next few years, I could be heading an entire team and why I had bright prospects in that organisation," says Rucha Cherodian, an advertising executive.

Take a hike

This is the most obvious solution. If you are unhappy with your current salary and designation and are contemplating to quit, then you are sure to get a shot in the arm. The catch is - you need to be in your boss's good books and equally good at your work for that much-desired hike.

"If a person is deserving and an asset to the organisation, then his designation can be changed. Not only that, in most cases, we give him more responsibility as an additional benefit, so that he feels he's needed in the firm," says Thuain .

Perk it up

If you are thinking of quitting simply because you are not enjoying your job, then you might be suggested an employee referral programme. This includes an opportunity where you can rope in your friends or acquaintances in the same company and get a rise in your salary.

If you are lucky, your boss might also send you on a foreign trip where you can forget your 'sorrows'.

"I was tired of my job. All of a sudden, my boss sent me on a junket (an all-expenses paid trip) abroad. I was ecstatic," says 23-year-old Deepali Shah, a media professional.

So, this time around when you threaten to quit, just give into temptation instead!

Cream conundrum

By Rinky Kumar

Diamonds might be a girl's best friend but cosmetics and makeup come in a close second, thanks to our vanity insanity. All of us nurture a desire to have smooth, radiant baby soft skin.
Apart from the daily cleansing, toning and moisturising regime, we are often advised to use a variety of creams to pamper ourselves. If you are confused about the various creams available in the market, thanks to the commercials that hound you on television, here's some help.

Here's our guide to the most commonly used creams and how they work wonders on your skin.

Day cream

Day cream, as the name suggests, is a cream meant to be applied in the day. According to cosmetic dermatologist and laser surgeon Dr Apratim Goel, its sunscreen ingredients work as a sun protection as well as moisturise the top layers of the skin. Some day creams also contain vitamins as well as alpha hydroxy acids or AHA which are skin rejuvenators.

Night cream

You can now wake up with refreshed skin, thanks to the night cream. It's a much needed vitamin for tired, stressed skin. "The metabolic activity of skin cells is highest at night and so is the absorption of the active ingredients. In other words, when we are sleeping, our body is repairing itself," says Dr Goel. A good night cream should contain collagen, elastin and essential lipids to help refresh your face while you sleep. Night creams are also essential to keep your skin moisturised.

Moisturiser

Moisturiser is a product that hydrates the skin, and/or protects the skin from dehydration. It not only replaces the water lost from the skin but also prevents its loss to the surroundings. It also protects the skin against the drying influences of the environment such as the effects of the sun, cold and heat. Lack of use of moisturiser can make your skin rough. It can also lead to premature ageing, explains Dr Goel.

Sunscreen

Your once flawless complexion can get sunburnt or tanned, due to the harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun. Sunscreens protect the skin against the damage of UV rays. According to Dr Goel, the effectiveness of a sunscreen is graded by a numerical factor called sun protection factor or SPF.

"It can range from 5-100 and above but for Indian weather conditions as well as Indian skin types, anything from 25-50 is good for use." Sun protection products can be classified as UVB blockers, UVA blockers, and physical blockers. A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB light. Sunscreens can act either by:

• Chemical absorption of radiation energy.
• Physically blocking by deflecting or scattering UV radiation away from skin.

Under eye creams

These are special formulations that reduce the pigmentation, dark circles and lines under the eyes. "Look for skin creams that contain Vitamin C or K, elastin, collagen, Vitamin E, AHA and kinetin. An under eye cream is necessary because the under eye skin is devoid of any oil glands. So it has to be moisturised daily," suggests Dr Goel.

An eye cream prevents further moisture loss, assists the skin in absorbing moisture from the air and stimulates blood circulation.

Now that you know the real meaning of creams, take your pick and look your radiant best.

Have a one night stand!

By Rinky Kumar

It's Saturday night. After slogging endlessly for a week, it's time to let your hair down and have some much-needed fun. How about shedding your inhibitions and having a one night stand?
Stop, before your dirty mind starts working overtime, it's not what you think. It's an evening for "pubgoing, loose and forward women" organised by Village Idiot Ventures, a Goa-based events and travel services company. "One night stand", the event, marks the protest against Sri Ram Sene's moral policing in Mangalore on January 29 when hordes of women were brutally thrashed by Ram Sainiks.

Gig rig

The brainchild of Luke Sequeira, founder of Village Idiots, One night stand will kick off a series of 20 gigs across the country including Mumbai, Goa, Baroda, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata in mid-June.

The objective of the event is "to pull together everyone, including, and specifically, the 'loose, forward and pub-going women', to head to one (or more) parties as well as to highlight the fact that, the darker connotation of a 'One Night Stand' is a personal choice, that both men and women are entitled to make."

Sequiera decided to come up with a shocking name to generate a lot of buzz and awareness around the event. And it worked!

Two genders, one species

Sudeip V Nair, one of the directors of Bombay Elektrik Projekt, a forum that provides a platform to aspiring musicians, deejays and artists to perform and the organiser of the Mumbai event says, "Going to pubs and enjoying ourselves is a personal choice without any kind of political interference. This is our way of asserting that we are two genders but one species. So only one set of rules must apply."

The organisers started off the whole movement by setting up a group in social networking site Facebook. "We asked our women friends to join the group, who in turn asked their friends to join One night stand. Today we have around 3,000 members. The whole idea is to ask women to come out and go for gigs."

The 20 gigs across 12 cities, which will kick off in mid-June, shall see a veritable exchange of artists like deejays, performers and musicians in different cities.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead, shed your inhibitions and have a one night stand!

Host your own IPL bash

By Rinky Kumar

Cricket is back with a bang. Thanks to Indian Premier League aka IPL, the gentleman's game will invade our lives and throw the nation into a tizzy for almost a month starting this Saturday.
So, how about cheering for your favourite team with your friends, gulping downs cool shots and digging into some yummy food - all this in the confines of your home?
Here's how you can be the envy of your friends! Throw an IPL bash with these simple, but cool tips to celebrate cricket in style:

Dress code

We are sure by now you must have already chosen your favourite team. Now all you have to do is buy the team jersey or (recessionista tip!) sport the colour of your team with any t-shirts you own. So, if you are cheering for Mumbai Indians, Delhi Dare Devils, Rajasthan Royals or Kolkata Knight Riders, you can pick from blue, red or black tees.

Better yet, buy some fabric paints and paint the name of your team along with their logo on the t-shirt or maybe even on your face (ditch the fabric paint though!).

Snack time

The cheering, screaming and swearing is sure to drain you out. You and your pals would sure want to tuck into some delicious food that can be rustled up in a jiffy! But theme the food as per your team. So if Mumbai Indians is your favourite team, you can opt for vada pav, pav bhaji and dabeli.

Take your pick from gol gappas, samosas, rosagullas or bhujia, boondis and nimkis if you are cheering for Kolkata Knight Riders or Rajasthan Royals. Choose from an array of idlis, dosas and appams if you are an avid supporter of Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers or Bangalore Royal Challengers. And if you are a Delhi Dare Devil or Kings XI Punjab fan, then it's time to dig into samosa, jalebis, aloo chaat and chole bhature.

Down the drinks

Swig some drinks while hooting for those fours and sixes. Tap into your creative side and concoct some heady drinks like tequila panipuri, white rum gola and jaljeera vodka. Pour out these drinks into funky glasses and decorate them with cherries, blue umbrellas or mint leaves, depending on the colour of your team. Down these drinks and get heady.

Let's play it loud

It's time to get high on some music. So go ahead and play latest chartbusters and get in sync with your team. Play rocking remixes of Jai Ho, O Saaya, Jee Karda, Appadi Pode, Aa Dekhen Zara, Chandni Chowk to China every time your favourite player hits a four or a six or grabs a wicket.

Cheer it on

Poms poms and cheerleaders are so passé. It's time you jumped into action to cheer your team. So get into the bhangra mood if you are a Delhi Dare Devil or Kings XI Punjab fan. Bring out the lejhims if you are a Mumbai Indian fan. You can arrange for Bhangra or lejhim players from your local mandals. They can break into a gig every time you have something to cheer for.

You can also buy drums and bugles and blow your own trumpet when your team is on the winning spree. Go ahead. Have a blast!

A gourmet's delight

By Rinky Kumar

Head chef of Sitaaray and head chef and manager of Chor Bizarre restaurant, London, Manpreet Ahuja shares his culinary secrets with us.

When did you start cooking?

I started cooking towards the last couple of years of my schooling. My mother had a transferable job and she was posted in our hometown after a very long time. But since it wasn't advisable for me to shift school at a senior level, I stayed back and learnt to prepare my own meals.

Where did you do your training?

I graduated from the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Mumbai in 1995. During this tenure, I underwent my industrial training at the Oberoi Hotels and Towers, Mumbai. I joined Old World Hospitality Private Limited, New Delhi's leading restaurant group, straight after college and underwent further training not only in the kitchen but also in all other departments.

Was your family supportive about your decision?

When I got selected in IHM Mumbai, I was thrilled. My mother was happy and supportive but my father and my grandfather were not sure as to why would I want to choose a career where I would become a 'cook' or a 'waiter'? Later, I entered the industry as a Chef which raised many eyebrows. It was only as the years passed by that I was able to demonstrate that one could make it big as a 'cook' or a 'waiter' too! The image of the professionals within the hospitality industry is very different now as it was earlier. I am glad I took up this career.

Tell us a little about your funniest kitchen experience?

In one of the cooking competitions, we were given a surprise basket of ingredients and we were to make a three-course meal out of it. One chef was attempting to make a cake and took a rather long time trying to make royal icing. On careful inspection, I saw that he was attempting in vain because what he needed was icing sugar and he had corn flour in his bowl.

What would you say is the criteria for being a good chef?

It's not one but a combination of the following that, in my opinion, every good chef must have. " A clear and refined palate. " Sharp senses " An eye for appreciating anything good, fingers that can feel and touch the food. " Ability to visualise the end product without having to cook it and the ability to conceptualise. " Most importantly, a good chef will always cook from the heart.

Do you see any visible differences in the work culture in India and abroad?

Most people abroad consider their work as a means to earn money, so a job is not a religion for them. They are also able to strike a work life balance which a lot of people in India are unable to. Also over there, people work have a greater commitment towards their jobs.

Any advice for budding chefs out there?

Never consider any job to be below your dignity and be considerate towards others who are working with you. Don't worry if your bakery skills are not as good as your ice sculpting skills. Concentrate on your core strengths and remember Sachin Tendulkar will always be known as a specialist batsman, although we know that he can also bowl extremely well, if required.

Any tips for individuals who cook at home?

Cook with your heart. It's difficult to get fancy ingredients for garnishing or presentation when we cook at home, but it's the cake that we want to eat and not necessarily the garnish. Please don't get swayed by fancy TV presentations, howsoever easy it may look to prepare - it takes a million onions and multiple cuts on the fingers before a professional chef can flaunt his skills of chopping onions superfine at the lightning speed.

Rapid fire:

Favourite spice: Coriander

Haven for food: An empty stomach

Favourite gadget in the kitchen: A stick blender

She needs your help

By Rinky Kumar

It was just another day for Sabira Khan as she was returning to her Dockyard Road residence in BPT Colony, Wadala, after taking private tuitions. But destiny had something else in store for her. All of a sudden, a blast ripped through a taxi that was parked next to where she was standing. It was the ill-fated night of 26 November 2008 when 10 terrorists stormed Mumbai and wrecked havoc.

Four women who were travelling in the cab died immediately while Sabira was flung 20 feet away from the taxi. Her son, Abdul Amid Khan who was accompanying her, started bleeding after a splinter brushed past his right eye. Sabira too was bleeding profusely since her limbs were damaged. Her son, who was badly injured himself, rushed her to JJ hospital at Byculla but she was admitted almost after an hour.

Abdul alleged, "My mother stayed at JJ for almost one and a half month but the doctors never treated her. They didn't dress her wounds properly and just meted out initial treatment to her." After Abdul complained to the dean about the neglect at the part of the doctor's concerned, his mother was discharged the next day.

Abdul then admitted Sabira to Saifee hospital where he was helped out by social workers, Gulzar Ayub and Farid. They arranged Rs 1.5 lakhs for Sabira's operation. But the doctors soon detected that during a blood transfusion at JJ hospital, harmful bacteria-causing jaundice was transferred into her body.

"The operation got stalled. The doctors said that my mom had to be cured for jaundice. We ran out of cash, so we shifted her to Mumbai Port Trust hospital at Wadala since my father is a BPT employee."

In the last five months, after losing his job at a cloth shop in Mumbra, Abdul had to pawn his flat in Govandi. Moreover, he had to run from pillar to post to organise money for his mother's treatment.

"We are very worried. I have six siblings, since I'm the eldest, I have to shoulder the responsibility. My mother's three nerves in her left leg are completely damaged. If they are not operated upon and repaired, then her leg will have to be amputated. The operation cannot be done till the money is organised."

But the BPT doctors allege that Sabira's nerve is already damaged. According to the chief medical officer AV Pawaskar, BPT hospital, "Sabira has suffered a great shock. The nerves in her leg are beyond repair. We cannot do anything but her family refuses to understand."

In the fight between a patient's life and the dire struggle for money, it's sad that bureaucracy has seeped in and usurped the lives of a family.

If you would like to lend a helping hand to Sabira's family and contribute towards her treatment, please send in your cheques or demand drafts to: Abdul Amid Khan Room no 22, Bldg no 1, BPT colony, Wadi Bunder Dockyard Road, Mumbai.

Editor's note: Due to security reasons we won't be able to share the bank account number belonging to Sabira Khan's family on the site. But those wanting to help, can call on Abdul Amid Khan's no: 9930065936 and extend their help in any way possible.

3 cheers to women

By Rinky Kumar

Women have broken the proverbial glass ceiling in almost all fields. So, it comes as no surprise that women film-makers are penning scripts and donning the director?s hat. They deal with diverse topics and lend a certain sensitivity to their films. How can we forget, Mira Nair, Aparna Sen, Sai Paranjpe and Deepa Mehta, who have given us thought-provoking movies. We take a look at three dynamic women who have welded the director?s baton and of late given us three interesting films:

1) Nandita Das
Claim to fame: Award-winning actress, seen in films like Fire, Earth, Bawandar, Aks

The actress has enthralled and entertained us with her heart-rending critically acclaimed performances. Born to an artist father and journalist mother, Nandita Das had artistic sensibilities at a very early age. After acting in a street play, she got a chance in a small film Ek Thi Gunja. She later landed the role of Sita in Deepa Mehta?s Fire. After being deeply disturbed by the Gujarat riots and participating in several debates, Nandita decided to make Firaaq.

Directorial debut: Firaaq

Firaaq explores how different relationships unfold a month after the Godhra carnage. It?s about how violence lingers on much after the obvious manifestation is over. Nandita describes it as a very personal film. ?It is an expression of all the helplessness, anguish, anger, frustration, and the fluctuating optimism I have felt over the years. Firaaq explores the fierce and delicate emotions of fear, anxiety, prejudice and ambivalence in human relationships during such times,? she says. After winning several international awards, the film is slated to release today. We, for sure, can?t wait to watch it!

2) Parvati Balagopalan

Claim to fame: Rules:Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula

A graduate from Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi, Parvati Balagopalan gave us the hugely enjoyable Rules:Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula in 2003. The film took a satirical look at a girl who is given 10 formulas by her grandmother to get a good catch and how these rules backfire. Parvati has also directed several tele-serials on human relationships.

Second film as a director: Straight Parvati is back with her second film Straight. It revolves around the life of Pinu Patel, a London-based restaurateur, played by Vinay Pathak and his attempts to find a suitable girl. But then, a sudden incident compels him to re-think his sexual confrontation and decide if he?s straight or gay.

Gul Panag, who has acted in the film says, ?This is my second film with Parvati. I have earlier worked with her for Phir Zindagi, which is currently under production and will be released later this year. Parvati is a complete professional who has a discerning view. She has given an interesting twist to Straight which takes a refreshing and different look at sexuality.?

3) Sooni Taraporevala

Claim to fame: Scriptwriter of Salaam Bombay, Mississipi Masala, The Namesake and photographer.

Sooni Taraporevala has made India proud in the global arena several times. After graduating from Harvard University, she wrote the screenplays of Mira Nair?s Salaam Bombay and Mississipi Masala. She later collaborated with Mira for My Own Country and The Namesake. She has also produced Such A Long Journey, based on Rohinton Mistry?s book of the same name. The scriptwriter is also known as a photographer. She has published the first coffee table photography book on the India's Parsi Zoroastrian community.

Directorial debut: Little Zizou

The internationally acclaimed scriptwriter and photographer recently gave us the sweet, entertaining Little Zizou. Seen through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy Xerxes, it has an ensemble cast of several Parsi characters with diverse inspirations and aspirations. The light-hearted film attempts to highlight the dispute between the fundamentalists and liberalists within the Parsi community. It has won largely positive reviews for its cheerful charm.