Can't guess what the photo is all about? Well, it's the wind-chime and plants from the balcony getting reflected in the morning sunshine on a wall of the living room. The sight made my day :-)

The Great Food Show, Nehru Science Center - today and tomorrow. For more information - http://in.bookmyshow.com/events/the-great-food-show-mumbai/ET00028099


J.J. College, Lit O Fest - 28 February and 1 March. More information http://www.loksatta.com/vruthanta-news/lit-o-fest-in-j-j-school-of-art-1076004/ and http://travel.india.com/articles/lit-o-fest-mumbai-invites-experience-literary-journey-weekend/

You Belong To Me – Mary Higgins Clark (Spoiler Alert!)

You can’t help but feel jealous. And wonder. How is it that every man that Dr. Susan Chandler runs into is tall, dark and handsome? First, it is the lawyer Douglas, then the celebrated psychologist who is a guest on her show Dr. Don Richards and finally, Alex Wright. What in the name of God?

Now that I have finished turning green with envy, a little bit about the storyline. Dr. Susan, a psychologist, runs a daily talk show and invites Dr. Richards to talk about his forthcoming book ‘Vanishing Women’. She asks Dr. Richards his opinion on the case of Regina Clausen who disappeared while on a segment of an international cruise three years ago. A caller, who identifies herself as Karen, calls during the show and tells the doctors that a couple of years ago she had been approached by a man while on a similar cruise herself and that she had been smitten to the point of thinking of disembarking from the ship to go with him. She also tells Susan that the man had given her a ring with an inscription ‘You Belong To Me’.

Susan requests the lady to meet her in her office. Regina’s mom who has been listening to the show tells Susan that when Regina’s belongings were returned from the ship she had found a similar ring with a similar inscription. As Dr. Susan sets about finding more about the case, she doesn’t realize that she is putting her life – and that of everyone else who decides to come forward – at grave risk.

Any reader of whodunits, worth his or her salt, would quickly dismiss the lawyer as red herring thus leaving Don and Alex as the prime suspects. I must admit that once Dee was in the picture, I thought of letting Alex off the hook because the rules of the ‘and they lived happily thereafter’ kind of story dictated that this time Susan would end up with The Guy. Plus, there was some uncertainty as to how Don’s previous wife died. Then I realized that it was too easy, too predictable. Alex was too nice to be true. And too nice to be innocent.

I was afraid that in the last pages of the novel I would find Susan in some dark corner of the cruise ship, locked and bound, as the killer whispered the lines of the song, only to be rudely interrupted by the Prince Charming’s breaking the door open to rescue the damsel in distress. Well, it didn’t pan out exactly like that but was on similar lines.

I would have loved it instead if the Damsel had reached the conclusion on her own and made sure the cops were waiting in the wings as the killer arrived to finish his agenda.

Ain’t never gonna happen. :-(

Much was said and written about how Dhoni wasn’t given any special treatment at the airport as the team departed after their win against Pakistan and how he complied with all the security procedures without a murmur. I couldn’t understand why there was so much gushing about this though. It’s a well-known fact that you have to follow these procedures in these countries – no matter what your social standing is.

It would be interesting to find out if Dhoni does the same at an Indian airport. And doubly so, if the authorities there subject him, and the rest of the team, to the same security checks that the rest of us mere mortals are made to, without getting all starry-eyed.

Tamnak Thai, Shivaji Park

This has always been one of my favorite eating joints. Their Phad Thai Phak is out of this world, in my humble opinion at least. This time around we wanted to try something different but weren’t too keen on trying yellow, red or green curries. So we zeroed in on Koi Tiow Phad Thai Kai – noodles stir-fried with bean sprouts, ground peanut and chicken – and Khao Phad Phrik – fried rice with pepper, garlic, onion and chicken.

The dishes were served, steaming hot, within minutes – and that too when we had landed at the place towards the end of lunch hour, around 2:30pm. The way I tore into the food must have convinced the server that I had starved myself for minimum of 2 days. :)

It would be fair to say that I hate tofu as much as I hate paneer. But I completely forgot that as I enjoyed every mouthful of the flavorful food. And as I did that, the thought that was uppermost in my mind was - I could eat this every weekend :)

P.S. The two chutneys that they served with the salad of cucumber and onion were amazing. Wish I could make such stuff at home :)

Aahat, Sony, Wed-Thurs, 11p.m.

Horror shows are supposed to make your hair stand on end, right? Wrong, if the latest season of Aahat is anything to go by. To be fair, they are making an effort – as can be seen from the scary beginning of every episode. But they go back to their old ways soon thereafter – ghosts with bags under their eyes, parts of their faces peeled off and throaty hoarse voices. For some reason best to known to the director, both episodes of last week had people flying through the air or hanging upside down midair. I wonder if the makers of this series can answer the following questions:

1. Why is the ghost always a female?

2. Are the ghosts fined if they tie up their hair in a neat bun?

3. Are the bags under the eyes and pasty complexion mandatory?

4. Can the ghosts do without hideous appearance and creepy voice?

5. When are we going to get rid of creaking doors and barking dogs to create the ‘atmosphere’?

And I absolutely hate it that they have taken to twisting popular Golden Era songs to give them a creepy Avatar. The lullaby ‘Dheere se aa jaa’ and my favorite song ‘Jara si aahat hoti hai’ deserve much better than this.

The Indian version of Supernatural i.e. Daanav Hunters (before you vow to kill me for this comment, let me admit that I am a Supernatural fan and Daanav Hunters is, right now at least, not in its league!) doesn’t fare better either. Last week’s episode had a ridiculous scene in which a blood sample collected from a crime scene was mixed with a solution comprising of bat urine (no kidding folks!), asparagus powder and dhatura. If the whole concoction turns purple then the blood is of a demon. I have no idea how the character called Shundi managed to get hold of bat urine. Nor do I want to know.

Why, oh why, can’t we make decent horror shows/films in India?

Hand over your life to Jesus and no one gets hurt

--- Seen on a board outside Mahim Church

Elementary, Season 3 - The Female of the Species

The case wasn’t terribly interesting but it was a step in the right direction. It projected a sort of mending, and in some cases healing, of old relationships – between Sherlock and Watson, between detective Bell and Sherlock - that still had cracks. They, along with Captain Gregson, make a formidable theme. I just wish Kitty were around as well.

I am glad that Elana March is no longer a threat to Joan but not entirely sure as to why she was bumped off by Moriarty. Looking forward to the next episode.

Supernatural, Season 10 - The Executioner's Song

A big mistake! Nope, I am not talking about Dean’s killing of Cain. To be fair, I don’t have any opinion about that because I am unaware of the fine points of the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel. I am saying that Dean has made a big mistake by not giving the blade back to Crowley. At least he should not have told Crowley that he wasn’t on Cain’s list. Sure, their partnership was one of convenience but some sort of trust was slowly creeping in as well. Now that stands totaly destroyed. I just hope we have seen the last of Rowena and she wouldn’t be around to further poison his mind about the Winchesters.

Now, till the season ends at least, I will live with the fear that Dean is going to end up killing Castiel and Sam :(