God is a Gamer by Ravi Subramanian: Book Review

Book Title: God is a Gamer
Author: Ravi Subramanian

Genre: Thriller
Pages: 310
Binding: Paperback

Rating: 4 out of 5
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BOOK REVIEW:

I like thrillers. Especially, if they are fast and can keep me guessing. God is a Gamer is just like that. It keeps my hand glued to the book and meets my expectations.

Here’s what I think of it.

Duplicity - Chapter 18

     Team: Writers’ Express

Read the previous part of the story here.
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       Tara went through some of Cyrus' blog posts again and paid attention to what his readers had to say. She was not surprised to see that the comments on his posts were very strong. 

      While the readers loved his writing style, they objected his views on how the criminals could have gotten away with their wrongdoings. Many condemned him for writing from the perspective of saving criminals. The comment threads were long with some writing swear words while others warning him that they would report his blog. Yet, Cyrus had not replied on any comment. 

Duplicity - All Chapters

For all those who are reading Duplicity, the collaborative story by Writers' Express, this is where you can find all the links to all the chapters. Each chapter of Duplicity has links to to the previous and next chapters as well.

Duplicity Chapters:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

Meet our awesome team:

Duplicity - Chapter 9

Team: Writers’ Express

Read the previous part of the story here.
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     After Tara found the shocking evidence in Cyrus' backpack — the three photos and Jennifer Joseph's visiting card — she started calling Shekhar frantically. When Shekhar did not answer her call after her several attempts, she realised that he must have kept his phone in the silent mode as he was watching a movie with Roohi.

    She could not afford to waste any second, now that she was convinced that Cyrus was a dangerous person. She started imagining all sorts of things - What if Cyrus intended to cause some harm to Roohi? What if he attacked Shekhar? What if he found her alone at home and killed her?

Duplicity - Chapter 8

Team: Writers’ Express

Read the previous part of the story here.
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When Tara realised that Cyrus was not at home in the morning, she was pleasantly surprised. She realised her behaviour was rather rude. She should have controlled herself since Roohi was around. She also felt bad that she didn't even offer him dinner the previous night. Shekhar was right, it was so unlike her.

Duplicity - Chapter 7

Team: Writers’ Express

Read the previous part of the story here.

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Jennifer was worried. Ever since Maya told her about the guy who was not returning her calls, things were getting weird. Maya was adamant about Jennifer accompanying her to Delhi the very next day, no questions asked. Jennifer agreed simply because she did not want to leave a depressed Maya alone.

Celebrating Blogging with Game of Blogs: Duplicity!

DUPLICITY
Chapter 1: Pawan Hegde | Chapter 2: Partha Sadhukhan | Chapter 3: Sujata Tawde | Chapter 4: Shilpa Halwe | Chapter 5: Manjulika Pramod | Chapter 6: Shazneen Pathak | Chapter 7: Anuradha Khanna Pentapalli | Chapter 8: Anuradha Khanna Pentapalli

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There is so much excitement write now... I mean right now ;)

I am participating in Game of Blogs (#CelebrateBlogging), an interesting collaborative story writing initiative on Blogadda. Random teams are created by Blogadda and we weave a story together with our team members. The interesting bit is that every team will work around common characters provided to us! So it will be exciting to see how a particular character will have different roles in each story.

There are lots of rules and, of course, eliminations over three rounds and three weeks. An excellent jury makes it all the more exciting!

I am glad to have a wonderful team of bloggers as we craft our story - Duplicity.

Our team - Writers' Express

Our story follows after this post and we will be sharing the links on Social Media as well. Do read and we hope you like it!

Filing Returns or Returning Files?

It occurred to me
while watching X-Files

I had sent him some
very important files

So I called the tax guy
who was all smiles

As I said with confidence,
"Return my files, return my files!"

The redundant Delhi vs Mumbai argument

As a kid, Delhi was my summer vacation destination. When we were in school, at least once during our Delhi stay, the Mumbai vs Delhi argument would come up. I and my brother used to defend Mumbai (then Bombay) like how -

"We get tasty Vada Pav in Bombay."

"We have so many local trains."

READ the full post here.

When life gives you lemons

My version of the phrase is: When life gives you lemons, just take them. Lemons are pretty expensive now. Yesterday, I went veggie shopping and the vendor quoted INR 5 for one tiny lemon. Seriously? Really unfair this summer. Talk about lemonade!

But on a serious note, the phrase really guides us in tough times. Look at the amazing people who did so well despite the lemons life threw at them and I bet you'll be so inspired:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Who hasn't heard the German composer and pianist! 
READ MORE HERE.

Thousand-word article?

 

A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

Phone number

Did anyone ever ask you for your phone number?

Did you give your phone number to someone?

What? To all the people listed in your contacts?

Then, when you have given your phone number, how come you still have that number?

*Running away at full speed ; )

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PS: This PJ post is specially written as part of my participation in April A to Z Challenge 2014. I am also participating in the challenge with my photoblog. Check out all the action on Photopunti

Newton's third law does not work. How?

So Newton said, "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."

Action: Wife started speaking to her husband.

Reaction: NIL

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N: This PJ post is specially written as part of my participation in April A to Z Challenge 2014. I am also participating in the challenge with my photoblog. Check out all the action on Photopunti

The last local

It was late at night and she had boarded the last local. She got in the ladies compartment even though it was unoccupied as she saw a policeman in the compartment. Good, or so she thought.

The policeman came and sat a little away from her. She took the window seat and he took the aisle seat. She looked scared as she unknowingly covered her mouth and nose with her hand. She was thinking a lot. She looked scared. It seemed she couldn't breathe.

The policeman glanced at her a few times. She tried to look outside while staying alert at the same time.

There was a long disturbing silence. Finally, after two stations, he policeman spoke.

"Any problem madam?"

Jim Carrey becomes what when he visits India in summers?

Jim Aam!

Carrey (Hindi name of raw mango) in India changes into Aam (Mango) in summers.

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Day 10 - J: This PJ post is specially written as part of my participation in April A to Z Challenge 2014. I am also participating in the challenge with my photoblog. Check out all the action on Photopunti

Did he say Yes?

It was one of those days I wanted to stay late at work. Yet again, my parents had invited a family to 'see' me. For those who aren't aware of this term, it means when a prospective groom and his family visit a prospective bride to plan an arranged marriage.

I wasn't ready to get married, I was still hoping to find my True Love, the kind you see in Yash Raj movies. The guests were supposed to reach at 7 pm. I ensured that I reach home after 8 hoping they will be gone by then. I was extremely irritated and nervous as well. What if they were still at home? The hot summer made things worse and so did the super crowded train. It was like everything was going against me that day.

I know what you did last summer...

...

...

...

...

...

...


You drank a lot of water, perspired a lot and cursed the season.

Head over heels in love? It's untrue love

Have you even thought about it?

Head over heels in love is an incorrect usage of the phrase.

We always have our head over heels, that's part of our normal evolution.

The phrase was first coined as "Heels over head" as in topsy-turvy, upside-down, etc. So when you say you are heels over head in love, that's when you mean you are crazily in love as heels over head is not the way a normal 'not-in-love' person will stand / walk.

A person crazy and happy in love may perhaps do a cartwheel when the heels are over the head. Of course, after a long term commitment, one might have the need to do Shirshasana/ headstand in yoga to stay calm, but that's a different story altogether : )

So the next time you wanna confess your love, try using, "I am heels over head in love with you." I bet, once you explain the logic, you will be considered as a smart bet ; )
 
PJ ALERT: God is in each one of us. How?
 

God is in each one of us. How?

So, when we are in trouble, we first pray to God as a habit. Here are some examples:

1. "Oh God, I am late, please do something. My boss is already mad at me"
2. "Oh God, the guests will reach home anytime and there are clothes everywhere. I am in such a mess, please help me."
3. "Oh God, I can't find my nail paint remover and I have to leave for this party in 10. Please help."

Then, we wait for a little while. No help arrives. God is too busy, obviously. We find some temporary / permanent solution in a jiffy. Consider the examples again:

1. We run out of the house, run to the auto rickshaw, agree to pay extra / race our car at times, we run to get into the train, the lift, our workstation... Phew, we somehow make it to work in time or at least in a way that the boss doesn't notice it.
2. We dump everything inside the wardrobe and ensure it is not opened in presence of the guests.
3. We apply a couple of extra coats on the chipped off nail paint.

God = X
We = Y
Who help themselves = Z

Friend in need is a friend indeed

For a minute, forget the story you heard. Seriously, now don't try to remember.

Now read the phrase carefully.
A Friend in need is a friend indeed[Okay, I ate the "A" in the title but I am making a strong point here about F for Friend]

It actually, grammatically, means this:
A friend, who is in need, is a friend indeed.

So all our friends, at least at one point in time, have been our friends indeed ; )

For those who do not know the story behind this saying, here it is.

English ease a funny language

Eye love the language, and eye mean no offense hear.

But seriously, who coined the initial words / spellings of the most popular and one of my favourite languages?

Here are some examples that make me wonder:

Chivalry: If they want it to sound like shi-valry, why not spell it Shivalry? They use Chi for words like China, Chimpanzee, Child and Chicken. Imagine how these words would sound now if we go with the "Shi" version.

Then, Than: Do you have any idea how many students score less in exams just because of this E and A confusion? What's the logic? 

To, Two, Too: Seriously? The person who did this definitely wanted to earn the title - No one can beat me in English.

Doctors never live close to supermarkets. Why?

Supermarkets have everything from unhealthy biscuits to refined oils.
But that's not the reason.

Supermarkets also have frozen foods and fizz drinks.
But that's not the reason either.

Supermarkets also have butter and sweets.
But that's not the reason either.

Supermarkets also have APPLES. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Supermarkets have tons of apples.
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Day 4 - D: This PJ post is specially written as part of my participation in April A to Z Challenge 2014.

I am also participating in the challenge with my photoblog. Check out all the action on Photopunti

Customer never left. Why?

C'mon, the customer is always right, not left!
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Day 3 - C: This PJ post is specially written as part of my participation in April A to Z Challenge 2014.

I am also participating in the challenge with my photoblog. Check out all the action on Photopunti

Beauty is a liar. How?

Everybody knows...

...

...

Beauty LIES in the eyes of the beholder!

*Running away at full speed ; )

[You are lucky, not all my posts will be this short!]
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Day 2 - B: This PJ post is specially written for as part of my participation in April A to Z Challenge 2014.

I am also participating in the challenge with my photoblog. Check out all the action on Photopunti.

Cats love Mr. Stitch. Why?

The cat community would like to thank Mr. Stitch for being the one who really cares for them.

Thanks to Stitch, who ensured and saved the nine live of cats, someone up there decided that while we humans struggle with one, the cats can enjoy all their lives!

After all, A stitch in time saved nine!

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Day 1 - A: The phrase starting with letter A: A stitch in time saves nine
This PJ post is specially written for as part of my participation in April A to Z Challenge 2014.

Don't Click when you can Save

This is my second post about the incident. I have tried a timeline here to work out how someone could have been saved. When a train derailed in Mumbai and 17-year old Dhaval Lodaya lost his life as medical help did not arrive till 90 minutes, here's how people clicking photographs could have managed to get him help in not more than 40 minutes. Perhaps, he could have been saved. Please READ here and Share, so that God forbid, if something like this happens the next time, people are prepared.

The long and short of it

They were too many. Mostly beautiful, dark in complexion, but a few (10 to 15) were very fair and they sometimes felt discriminated as they were looked down upon. Nevertheless, they all were pally with each other and often played little games.

Time flies?

"Listen, I am the grandmother and you are just the mother," cried Ileana as she pulled little Sammy towards her.

"That's what I am saying too! Since I am the mother Sammy's got to be with me," Hally lifted Sammy in her arms and resumed her seat on the sofa at Andrea's house.