Dhaka Tribune
Tuesday, July 9, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 12
Hot Topic BODY BEAUTIFUL Spotlight God is an astronaut Written in the Stars tasneem tarannum misha
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CHECK IT OUT
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A weekly production of
DhakaTribune Editor Zafar Sobhan Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad TMAG Team Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Rubab Nayeem Khan Munira Fidai Afshan Sattar Natasha Rahman Azfar Rahman Saudia Afrin Tahsin Momin Sama E Deen Alveera Mamoon Rifat Binte Haider
5 Look of the Week The colour of freshness
Contributors Fardeen Ameen Nabeela M. Abak Hussain Imtiaq Salim Shehtaz Huq Tabeen Siddiki Mahmood Hossain Graphics Mohammed Mahbub Alam Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Kazi Istela Imam
6 Hot Topic Love the shape you are in
Editor’s Note
Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed
Dear Readers,
Circulation Wahid Murad Email: tmag@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com
About the cover Dhaka Tribune Tuesday, July 9, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 12
Hot Topic BODY BEAUTIFUL Spotlight God is an astronaut Written in the Stars tasneem tarannum misha
Everybody’s got something about themselves they wish they could change. Photographer Inkiad Hasin
The teen years are difficult for so many reasons. You have to deal with parents trying to decide for once or for all whether to treat you like a child, or as an adult (and they call adolescents “confused”). School starts to get more and more complicated. And to top it all off, your body decides to experiment with a bunch of problems, leaving you with a self-esteem level that’s hit the basement and started digging. If any of this rings a bell for you, this issue is just the right one for you. We’ve put together a comprehensive coverage on body image in Hot Topic (Page 6&7). We’re handing out handy fashion tips to help you look your best self (Page 4). And we have a power playlist to make sure you feel good about yourself. And just remember, no matter what size, or shape, or colour you are, TMAG loves you! Send us your doodles, letters, stories to tmag@dhakatribune.com Love, From the TMAG desk
8 Written in the Stars
3 Spotlight
Misha: Styling her way to stardom
Instrumental harmony
More inside Gossip 12 Dear Diary
11 Gadget hunt Dell Vostro 5460 11 Web Critic Soul Kitchen
picks Of the week 2 Room of the Week Ariba Sattar 3 Doodle of the Week Rubab Nayeem Khan 10 Guitar Tabs of the Week
Horoscope 5 Your Forecast Fashion 4 Wardrobe check Pull shapes 4 Beauty check Fighting shadows
Kings of Leon’s “Pyro”
Your world 5 Car talk 1993 Honda Prelude 9 Fiction Madame Q comes to visit 9 Comic Book Goodbye, Chunky Rice 9 Micro Tale The Critic 9 Book Laugh your way to a happier you 10 Album The devil put dinosaurs here 10 Instrument Cajón 11 Movie Soul Kitchen 11 TV Code Geass
TMAG’s says 2 Funk up Your Room Frame frenzy 2 FYI Warning signs 3 School Survival Bullying awareness 10 Playlist Body positive music Real Life 3 Event Tweets 9 Non-fiction A slab of meat 12 He says She says 12 Exceptional love stories
Status of the week You know you’re weird when at the end of each day, looking at pictures of cats and dogs helps you relax =D
Quote of the week Beyonce has a nose. I have a nose. Therefore, I am Beyonce.
Lingo of the week Minus : take a leak (mainly used by guys) Example Person 1: Wait up, I gotta go to the bathroom and minus. Person 2: Too much information, my friend.
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Your Life
Funk up your room
FYI
Frame frenzy
Warning Signs Your Friend isn’t having it Easy
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Want to give your room a new look? We all know that decorating again means costs but that doesn’t have to be the case all the time. Moreover decorating your walls with diverse frames not only expresses your taste and style but also can be great fun. So here’s a guide to make it easier for you.
Themes
A bunch of photos of your family or your own artwork look great when framed in black. Love sea creatures? Why not put gorgeous jellyfish or starfish on your canvas and hang up the artwork? It’ll be a great conversation piece. Chaotic placement can give your room a very different mood. Display several frames in a random pattern which, when covering the whole wall will just rock your room. Or hang one or more frames over the bed to create a pleasant focal point. If the wall of your room is colourfully painted, empty picture frames can make a bold, funky statement for your room.
Important facts
While you’re hanging frames, a general rule must keep in mind that the midpoint of the frames or grouping ought to be at eye level. Also hanging art horizontally gives it a more voluminous and smooth look; this is perfect for your sofa wall. An odd number of frames appear more attractive to the eye and visually balanced.But, a vertical line is just right, when grouping four or more pieces one above the other on the wall. To avoid seeming awkward and unbalanced, focus more on weight because too much weight on one side will make the thing uneven. Again, it’s very important, a good idea needs to sync with the art either in colour scheme, frame style or subject matter.
Self-harm or body dysmorphia can come in various shadessubtle ones ranging from excessive dieting to anorexia and bulimia to darker ones like cutting or scarring to pure black, suicide. The spectrum is so large that at times we fail to acknowledge signs that have been right there under our noses until it’s too late. Body image issues tops the list of why some teens are the butt of mean jokes and why they fall into depression. In the current beauty oriented society, you have to be tall enough, fair enough and pretty enough or else you just don’t belong
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In conversations
“I won’t bother you for much longer”, “It’s no use” and “Nothing matters anymore” are some catch phrases that scream danger. Heed for an unnaturally upbeat or a totally dejected tone of voice for further hints. If your friend is preoccupied with morbid subjects in conversations, especially death, or is constantly making suicide jokes, be very worried. Research shows that most situations that culminated in suicide started off with people joking about it.
In appearance
Telltale signs like wearing long sleeved clothing in the middle of summer, unexplained scars or bruises and a total lack of interest in one’s own appearance should be a glaring mental 911 to you. Teens suffering from depression or succumbing to self-injurious behaviour will usually avoid parties or hangouts that calls for dressing up or wearing slightly more revealing clothing. Go over to their homes and gently coax them out for their favourite activities. Try to get them to confide in you.
In actions
If your friend has stopped eating or is binge eating then later inducing vomit, it’s a surefire sign that they aren’t happy with their appearance. This person is totally having esteem issues due to their weight and has gradually developed guilty feelings even for minimal eating. These people usually also have sleeping disorders or are overachievers who feel like failures in one aspect of their lives and are trying to desperately control the other parts by inflicting injuries on themselves. Psychologists call it coping.
In behaviour
Withdrawal symptoms, irritated attitude, aggressive or hostile behaviour and/or philanthrophic to altruistic conduct are all signs of a very disturbed and possibly suicidal teen. Adolescents are usually flippant in their answers with a ready explanation for their cuts and bruises and try to be as non-conversational as they can be. Try not to be turned off by their attitude- it’s a subconscious plea for help. Munira Fidai
Kheya Mezba
TMAG’s Room of the week!
Name
Ariba Sattar Area
Gulshan A place for everything, and everything in its place. What we love about this room is that it’s neat without being prissy. Plus points for finding creative solutions like using the lamp as a jewellery holder, and the pine cones as photo holders
How to get
You’ll find plenty of wood or metallic frames in Aarong, Jatra, and New Market. Apart from the obvious branded shops; you can find beautiful wood frames according to your desired design and size at Nilkhet, at a relatively inexpensive rate. Saudia Afrin
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Send in a picture of your room to tmag@dhakatribune.com and you may be crowned TMAG’s room of the week!
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Schoologistics
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School Survival
Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones
TMAG asked around in universities and schools this week to find out if, and why patterns of low self-esteem develop in these educational institutes. Turns out, a few harsh words from peers can be the start of a life-long problem. Self-consciousness among girls has been a phenomenon that’s been present for generations. It’s nothing new to this
TMAG’s Doodle of the week!
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age, says the guidance counsellor at North South University. In fact, the trend among young girls these days are actually improving. With more girls gaining awareness of the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet, there are fewer and fewer girls on the “soup and carrot” diet. Moreover, more ambition among the
Rubab Nayeem Khan doodled this while studying for her biology test
female population in Bangladesh has also helped, with more girls playing on sports teams and participating in outdoor activities. Fairness she says, while it is still a concern among many girls and parents alike, is no longer one of those things that causes low self esteem. The case with boys however goes in a completely opposite direction. While in past years, fairness was not a big concern among boys, today, dark skin is one of the causes of low self-esteem. Talking to a dozen school going students in Uttara who range from grades 9 through 12, TMAG found out that schools on the other hand, while they see a similar pattern, focus on a different range of physical and intellectual attributes that cause low self-esteem. Kids who weigh more are likely to be bullied, and hence develop severe self-image issues in their years to come. Constant ridicule from both friends and others embed low self-esteem in their minds. Likewise, something that was seen
more in school then in the university level was a consciousness of intelligence. Be it a product of the O or A level grading system, kids in school have developed a consciousness for grades, and how their own grades portray them. Those students who get excellent grades are made fun of for always having their noses buried in their books, while those students with poor grades also have a hard time when people call them names that portray them as unintelligent. Kids who are different from the crowd are most likely to be bullied in school. Be it those kids who are either overweight or extremely underweight, those kids who are extremely tall or short, and even those kids who have excellent grades and those that have poor ones. Bullying and ridicule is one of those things that is unavoidable in school life, and one of the major reasons for development of low self esteem in kids and teens. Afshan Sattar
EVENT TweetS Green Channel Week
Free Access to Facebook for Airtel users How to use Facebook on the go? How much data is required? These are questions that have always baffled the minds of many teenagers. But no worries! Airtel has come up with just about the right solution for your worries. Airtel mobile customers can now access Facebook from their mobile devices for free, giving them an inexpensive and handy way to stay connected with their online contacts even on the move. Airtel customers just have to log on to 0.facebook.com from their mobile devices for free access to Facebook. It has all the key features of the standard mobile site and customers can update their status, view their news feed, like or comment on posts, send and reply to messages, or write on their friends' walls simply as they do on Facebook.com. Tahsin Momin
“Green Channel Week,” starting from July 13 to 20 is a workshop week dedicated to raise awareness of personal and social hygiene, among the youth, through the means of interactive role play, art competition and setting up of trash cans in schools. They hope to include 150 children from grades 3 to 5 in this edutainment workshop. GC has placed 78 out of the planned 815 green trashcans all over the city this past year and organise these workshops alongside to raise awareness among the youth. So give your green genes a kick start and join in, in their drive for a cleaner, much cleaner city!
Celebrating Lifestyle 2
10am -10pm, July 12 - July 14 Venue EFES Restaurant
IUB Intra-Debate Championship 2013 10am-5pm, July 12 Venue Independent University, Bangladesh
Fashion Fiera July ‘13
11am-10pm July 12- July 13 Venue Platinum Suites, Banani
Minerva “Biday Shongbidhan” Album Launch 7:30pm - 8:30pm July 12 Venue Incursion Headquarters
If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to tmag@dhakatribune. com and see it in our weekly!
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FASHION FACE-OFF
Wardrobe Check
Beauty Check
Pull Shapes
Forget the old-fashioned method of comparing your body to a fruit. TMAG targets problem areas specifically, and shows you how to dress to flatter your unique shape
Women
Men
Top heavy
Chicken legs
Boat necks, square necks, and wide (but not deep) v-necks visually slash the chest and still flatter the girls. Avoid turtlenecks, or very high necks, as they will visually transform your chest into one big lump.
If you have skinnier-than-average legs, avoid skinny jeans like the plague, unless you’re a hipster. Regular fit jeans in slightly lighter blue denim should give your legs the illusion of mass.
Jelly belly
Big gut
Belts that cinch the waist right under the breasts will emphasize the narrowest part of the body and give you a nice hourglass shape. A-line garments, and cuts that flow away from the stomach will hide the belly.
Vertical stripes are your best friend. Unless you’re in a formal or work environment, leave the shirt untucked and it won’t draw attention to your gut. In winter, just throwing a jacket on over your t-shirt and leaving it open will visually halve your belly.
Baby’s got back If you want to de-emphasise that booty, opt for kurtis or shirts that cover it up, at least 75% of it, especially if you plan to rock leggings or skinny jeans. In winter months, rock a jacket that ends halfway down your butt to visibly slash it.
Narrow shoulders
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In summer time, opt for shirts and tees with shoulder detailing, like epaulettes, or even patches. In winter, a jacket with minimal padding or “winged” shoulders should do the trick. Sabrina Fatma Ahmad
Look of the Week
Fighting Shadows
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While many of us have outgrown our fear of the dark, the fear of dark circles, is a different story altogether … and quite a sad one. Research shows, dark circles are one of the most common dermatological concern faced by people of all ages. However, contrary to popular belief, shadows under the eyes may be more a result of genetics or lack of vitamins rather than lack of sleep. Whatever the reason, they are unwanted intruders on the windows of our souls. So here’s how to kick them out, for good.
Almond oil Apply this in a circular motion under your eyes every night for two weeks. Almond oil is a natural and useful home remedy that can help lighten the softer parts of your face effectively.
Raw potato Natural bleaching agents present in the potato can help lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness around the eyes. Take a couple of chilled potatoes and grate them finely so that you can use the juice later. Soak up two cotton balls with the juice and cover your eyes with them for about 15 minutes and then rinse. Do this daily for two weeks.
Rose water Rose water is the magic wand for dermatological problems. Soak two cotton balls with rose water and put them on the eyes, completely covering up the lids and the circles beneath. Do this twice daily for two weeks and you may be rid of the problem altogether!
Lemon juice Most fairness face scrubs have lemon extracts to lighten pigmentation of the skin as vitamin C in lemons is a good remedy for dark circles. Again, soak cotton balls in lemon juice and put them on your eyes. 15 minutes, 2 to 3 days a week should rid you of dark circles in a month.
green is the new pink Green is the colour of the year this year, and the rainy week we’ve been having has never been a better time to show off a pop of colour ... or three. Don’t be afraid to go real bold with the colours.
Model Anika Jahan Photographer Homayra Adiba
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Finally, there are some types of dark circles that will not go away regardless of all the time or money you spend on them. Your genes or food habits may be the culprits. If you’re stuck with those, opt for matching skin coloured concealers and pop a multi vitamin pill every day. If nothing else, look up, straighten your shoulders, smile confidently. A couldn’t-careless attitude can have you carrying off even your dark circles with flair! Munira fidai
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Street Car Talk
1993 Honda Prelude Sarwar Hossain Chowdhury: a doctor and a teacher by profession and also the founder of one of the famous institutes in Dhaka, QED. Sarwar is by far one of the biggest motor heads in the country. As a kid, Sarwar had plenty of car posters around his room and that’s when he became enthusiastic about cars. His first car was a 1992 Civic EG8. He adored his Civic and that’s what made him fall in love with Honda. Till this date Sarwar had owned 12 cars, all of which were Hondas. His line up of cars included various Integra’s such as the legendry DA5 coupé, DA8, and bug eyed DB6, DB8 and DC2 coupé. He also had the EG3 and EG8 Civic, and a CRX DelSol. He currently has two cars, a 1993 Prelude BB4 and
a Civic EF2 hatchback which is going through a Type-R conversion. Sarwar got his Prelude 3 years back from a friend for Tk7,00,000. The engine was completely blown out at the time and the suspension was scrap. Being an OEM fan, he decided to completely restore the car using only OEM parts. The list of modification that went into the car is massive. It included an engine swap with a Type S H22A VTi-R 2.2L which produces 216 BHP. The stock transmission the engine came with was replaced with a six speed manual transmission from an Accord Type-R with LSD. To handle the extra power the brakes were replaced with 91 spec NSX braking systems. The handling was also beefed up with
Photos: Tahsin Momin
2001 Type-S suspensions both front and rear with sway bars. The engine respiratory system was updated with a 3” cold air intake and the exhaust, custom made from 2.5” pipe straight from the engine head and added with Brola Muffler. He also fitted an Apexi VAFC tuner to improve the engine tuning. On the exterior the car was fitted with custom front body kits and the side skirts as well as the rear kits are from Veilside. The rims were replaced with 17” O.Z. Racing rims with Good Year Eagle GSD3 tires (front) and Potenza Pole Position S03 (rear) which, as stated by Sarwar, gives the car a bolder look and also increased the ride comfort since the
fatter tires give the car a better grip of the road. He insisted on using Mobil 1 engine oil and OEM Honda Iridium Spark Plugs as they help the engine keep its harmony. The interior of the car was restored to its original state. The sound system included a Sony Xplod CD player paired with a 1200 watt Sony Xplod amplifier. At one point of time Sarwar wanted to fit a turbo, he even had a complete EVO5 turbo kit with H22A setup. But he discarded the idea as the car had adequate power and the extra power would have unsettled the car. At the back of his head he wanted a Grand Tourer, instead of a really fast car. Tahsin Momin
HOROSCOPE Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19) Being productive should be your top priorities at the beginning of this week and it starts with helping someone out. Relationship issues should be the least of your problems right now. If it doesn’t work out, suck it up and move on. Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) You’ll get off on the wrong foot with family members; stall your grudges for a change and learn to compromise. Get affiliated with anything and everything that gets your creativity flowing. Juggling social life and studies is not your cup of tea; might as well stop before you get burned out. Gemini (May 21-Jun20) People will be extremely supportive with the initiatives you take and this is definitely a good start to your week. If someone is being secretive around you, it might not hurt to snoop around a bit. If you can’t get through the week using previous methods, you can always start fresh.
Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) Making someone else’s problems your own will not serve you well at the beginning of this week; the last thing you would want is people forcing you to pick sides. Get done with unfinished chores and projects before you run off to party with your mates. Get ready to leave the safety of logic and go on a wild emotional ride. Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22) Take some time to appreciate the things you already have rather than whining about the things you don’t have. There’ll be quite a few changes, but it won’t be something you can’t handle. Controlling your emotions will become near to impossible. Virgo (Aug 23- Sep 22) You can always rely on people if you have no control over your own problems. Whether it is good or bad, using people’s views about you will motivate you to get better in whatever you do. Rushing into things is a bad idea this week.
Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22) Isolate yourself for the week, but avoid being rude to people if they question you about it. You can make it up to them when you are feeling social. If you are attracted to someone, chances are that they too are equally fond of you. You may set yourself up for failure if you think you have to be accessible twentyfour hours of the day to everyone you love. You will do fine in the long run.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19)
If someone owes you something, there’s no harm in asking them for it; beating around the bush will stop you from getting closer to what you want. Being observant has its perks; try reading beyond the surface of people’s actions. Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)
Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) Your focus is in the right place; your plans however, are not. But you don’t have to feel morbid about it; if it doesn’t pan out for you now then it might just work out for you in future. Try being patient and disciplined over the week. Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)
Quit being stuck-up over things that cannot be changed. Learn to deal with your own problems and let others deal with theirs. Try getting away from distraction before they drive you crazy; silence might be just what you need for a change.
Being self-obsessed is getting old for you; you will engage in helping others out for a change. You might come across a potential love interest in your social circles. Pisces (Feb 19-Mar20) You’ll feel like getting out of your comfort zone at the beginning of this week; this might be a good thing or even a bad thing. Don’t feel betrayed if a friend isn’t on board with your ideas; it’s not necessary to put your mates under gun point at all times. You might go through a drastic change over the week.
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HOT TOPIC
The teen years are a time of selfdiscovery, a time when you explore and try to decide what you’re all about; from your tastes in music, to your faith and personal politics, to your attitude towards things in general. This is particularly true for how you feel about your body. While this is true that during adolescence, you’re only just starting to get the body you’ll ultimately have for the rest of your life, the transition period is extremely tough. The added pressure of social standards and the media doesn’t make it any easier, and everyone has something about their looks they wouldn’t mind changing. This week, TMAG explores the idea of body image
SOCIAL MEDIA 76% said they check Facebook every time they log onto the Internet. 96% said they use their own photos as their profile picture. 34% said they hide previous pictures where they look less flattering. l
to using Photoshop prior to posting 86% admitted photos online. 10% do this for all their photos.
BODY IMAGE TMAG surveyed 50 high school students of both sexes about their looks and self esteem issues. Height Fright l
wish they 96% ofsaidthetheguyssame. 40% girls were taller l
Interestingly, 5% of our female respondents actually wished they were shorter. 36% of the girls said they were satisfied with their height, while 4% of the guys had the same level of satisfaction.
Heavy Lifting
l
36% 16% want to put on weight
40%
36%
are on a diet
12% 4% avoid tight clothes and horizontal stripes
Skin-sational l
24%
36%
said their skin isn’t perfect so they avoid unhealthy food
44%
12%
4%
0%
have acne/ have self esteem blemishes issues and they they want to constantly use get rid of products to improve it
The colour of prejudice l
16% 20% like fair complexions
l l l l
Number of correspondents= 50
BOdy talk
48%
52%
did not mind being a bit on the darker side
24% 20% least bothered about their skin
By Rubab Nayeem Khan, Alveera Mamun, Azfar Rahman, Natasha Rahman, Abak Hussain and Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Photos: Homayra Adiba Models: audry costa, tahsin hasan druvo Special thanks to: Sadia Moyeen and Nibras Panni
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HOT TOPIC
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TEEN QUOTES
The Bald and the Beautiful
“My looks do not affect my confidence level. I am happy with whatever God gave me.”
56% of the guys are satisfied with their hair and 24% feel the same way. 44% girls are concerned about hair fall and so are 20% of the guys. 12% of the guys use products to keep their hair set but none of the girls rely on hair products. 32% of the girls are not satisfied with their hair and try to improve it and 12% of the guys feel the same way.
“I think a person's natural skin tone is what suits them the best.”
48% of the guys are not so comfortable with their reflections and 36% of the girls were also happy with the way they look. 4% of the girls hate their reflection and the guys thought otherwise 20% of the girls feel satisfied if they are well-groomed and 8% of the guys said the same thing.
“I have no insecurities. I am what God made me.”
FAQs Q) I am a 19-year-old girl, 5-feettall and I weigh 60 kilos. I crash diet all throughout the year, but there isn't much of a difference in my weight. Now that Ramadan is starting I want to follow a strict diet that will help me lose at least 5 kilos. How do I achieve my goal? A) At 19 the worst thing you can do for your body and your system is to go on a crash diet. You need to focus on nutrition and good food habits. My best advice to you would be to eat healthy and wisely during Ramadan and choose complex carbs as brown rice/brown bread instead of white. Avoid oil and fried stuff as much as possible and concentrate on eating wisely. Add yogurt and fruits to your diet. Remember to control your portions per meal. Q) I am a 18-year-old man and I have lost 15 kilos in 6 months being on a low carb diet. I also walk 4 days a week. My body has shed a lot of weight and is very lax now; my muscles are loose and saggy, which makes me look ill and scrawny. How do I change that and bulk up? A)Your main problem of having loose and sagging muscles are due to not doing proper exercises while you were on a low carb diet. You need proper exercises along
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Mirror mirror?
with weight training and strength training to tighten up your muscles and make you look lean and strong. Q) I am almost 20 and due to maybe family genes or maybe the excess cardio during workout, I have a flat chest. No cream or massage works on me for growth. Is there a way I can increase my cup size? A) Our breasts are nothing but fat glands and once you lose a lot of fat from that particular area, it is very difficult to gain back in the same area. If it is a gene factor there is hardly anything you can do about it. Q) Excess sweating while doing yoga makes my entire body and hair sweat profusely. I am 16 years old and I am losing a lot of hair but I can’t stop working out either. What could help me from this hair loss? A)Hair loss these days is a very common problem. Due to sweating hair loss can happen. You can prevent it by taking vitamin E capsules and also B complex regularly. Also drink a lot of water to hydrate yourself to flush out your system. Nibras Panni Senior Instructor for Aerobics, Power Yoga At Dazzle Gym
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Beauty Mantra Even a generation ago, the concept of young people going to salons for personal grooming was simply nonexistent. The usual teen problems of skin tone, acne, unwanted body hair, or hair loss, were chalked down to a “teenage phase” that young people would grow out of. Then of course, there was and still is, the whole obsession with fairness. I am so glad that that is changing. These days, teens don’t have to sit at home and silently suffer low-esteem. They march confidently into the salon for a pedicure or waxing. They experiment with hairstyles, and nail art, and new looks. It is really heart-warming to see them take charge. One thing that really saddens me a little, though, is watching young people go abroad and hear compliments from people there before they can accept their skin colour as beautiful. Why would you need someone else’s validation before you feel good about yourself? It tells me that we still have a long way to go. My advice to young people struggling with body image issues is: Address the problem. Whether it’s a weight issue, or one related to skin and hair, sitting at home and feeling bad about it will not make it go away. Go to the salon, to the gym, change your lifestyle, do what you have to do to remedy the situation, but at the same time, don’t die trying. Good grooming isn’t just cosmetic; it is also necessary to maintain a healthy balance. It’s never too soon to start taking care of yourself.
- Sadia Moyeen Beautician, Labelle
the case of Mishima Japanese author Yukio Mishima is perhaps better known for his personal legend than for his literary output. One of the most significant figures in Japanese literature, Mishima was a strong advocate of traditionalist Japanese values and a worshipper of what he saw as the ideal of masculine physical beauty. In 1970, when he was 45 years old, he committed ritual suicide by seppuku. Mishima may have taken his ostensibly for political reasons, but perhaps the true catalyst of his suicide was his fading physical beauty. Men can be hit every bit as hard as women when it comes to body image issues, especially those with a bodybuilder ideal in their heads. Mishima was an idealist in every way; he started an intensive bodybuilding regimen as soon as he saw the smallest sign of physical imperfection. He was terrified at the prospect of his body going lumpy and soft, and the sagging belly and muscle atrophy of middle age. That he killed himself at age 45 is tellingit was when he was sure that the
peak of his physical beauty was most definitely over. When someone has body image issue—such the condition of body dysmorphic disorder—every physical flaw is magnified and nonexistent flaws are imagined. Furthermore, the individual seems unable to focus on anything else. In their quest for physical perfect, instead of improving themselves in any healthy way, they enter a dangerous freefall. Men are not immune to low selfesteem. It’s just talked about less. The vast majority of men never look in the mirror and see a muscular Adonis looking back at them. The average teenage male of today was not bred on the same ideals as Mishima, but in some ways, he is even more saturated by myth. He grows up on a diet of computergenerated heroes and heroines. He gazes down at a body that isn’t anybody’s definition of perfect. He knows that the hottest girl in the room will never be interested in him. And he knows that if he tries to confide in anyone, he won’t get any sympathy, only laughter and jeers.
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written in the Stars
Yours, Fashionably! “Fashion isn’t about a particular age; it’s how you portray yourself out in the world,” says 23year old Tasneem Tarannum Misha, the youngest stylist in town, currently styling for Ecstasy, the biggest fashion apparel brand in the country. Munira Fidai takes you deeper inside this the much coveted fashion industry and its various quirks and traits. Enjoy the journey, fashionably!
S
tylist or designer? This is one highly prevalent question in the minds of most people today. Yes there is a fundamental difference between the two professions. A designer is someone with a background in design, and is responsible for conceptualising and creating an article of clothing which includes sketching, choosing the right fabrics/embellishments and creating a prototype. A stylist on the other hand is responsible for putting together a synchronised look. For types, we have a celeb stylist who will pick out clothes for celebrities on occasions, an editorial stylist who is in charge of putting together a look for fashion shoots, a fashion stylist who decides what clothes go on the dummies in the stores’ window displays and what clothes are going to
be “in thing" that season and a personal stylist/image consultant, as in the case of Misha, who helps people put together their wardrobe. The job doesn’t end there though; a stylist deals with everything that makes the subject look interesting and that includes jewellery, accessories and even props! Sounds interesting, right? It is, and so much so that Dhaka city now has a number of colleges and institutes imparting knowledge and expertise on fashion designing and styling. However, as in the case of Misha, stylists need only assist an established stylist on a photo shoot to learn the ropes. You can work your way up the fashion ladder with a fashion styling internship or becoming an assistant stylist. Misha too, landed her dream job at Ecstasy while freelancing as assistant
stylist to a bigger stylist on Ecstasy’s big shoot. “Fashion is in my blood,” says Misha. On asking her where she gets her flair for fashion, she flaunts no supernova degree to her name and no famous college name to her résumé. As most fashion stylists, she has a natural panache for fashion who constantly updates her skills by keeping in tune with the newest trends around the fashion block. The fashion industry is booming in Dhaka and yet, a concern about the right pricing for the right purse remains a dilemma to be decoded. On asking Misha, she agrees that teenagers with their distinct dressing style do not find their desired clothing at Doja all the time and on the other extreme are boutiques that may not help
their wallets much. However, at the end of the day, if you want it badly enough, you pay … fair enough? Misha swears by her designers and collection and is confident that shopping at Ecstasy is well worth its price. It’s either that or waiting for the rejects to come out at the end of the season at Dhaka College! Misha hopes to own her own fashion line five years down the line and educate the people of this country more about fashion so that hopefully we see less human fashion fiascos everywhere! For our teens who are hoping to hear a word on Ecstacy’s coming collection, here’s a sneak peek! They have leggings in plain neon colours, animal prints and tops and party wear, rich with sequins and glamour! What say, young fashionistas? All aboard the fashion ship this season?
“
My all-time fashion icon? Barbie! 5 years from now, I plan to be the Rachel Zoe of this country. It’s an honour for me to work with a brand as large as Ecstasy.
”
- Tasneem Tarannum Misha
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tmag 9
comic
Fiction
A slab of meat Lately, Mehran hadn’t been himself; he lost interest in all his “new” women in a blink. “We are done,” Mehran shouted on the phone. He couldn’t take any of her crying anymore. Mehran got out of his house and hit his favourite coffee house. For some reason, he felt “lucky’’ tonight. Grabbing a cup of coffee, he made his way to the table when he noticed the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Sitting by herself with a book in her fitted jeans and a white tee, she had the perfect silhouette he had ever seen.
He approached her, “Hey you seem familiar.” She smugly looked at him, and then looked away, completely ignoring him. He took that as an invitation and introduced himself to her. She let him talk, not saying much herself and thoroughly enjoyed his awkward attempts at impressing her. After a while she said “I have to leave, how about we talk about this tomorrow over coffee here at 4.” She seemed so familiar, her eyes, her mannerisms, and crazy as it may sound he thought he had met his soul mate. He
came back to the coffee shop the next day and sat at the same spot as yesterday. On the table he found an envelope with his name. In it was a picture of a 15-year-old fat girl that he remembered all too well. With that came a note. A reminder of an incident that took place ten years ago in the school courtyard. You had said to me: “You are fat, and unattractive and I don’t know how else to say this, but we are done.” He slumped down and felt karma hit him where it hurt the most! natasha Rahman
Madame Q Comes to Visit Through the sliver of the living room that I could see from my vantage point, I noticed how wide of an expanse Madame Q’s posterior was. The couch was beige, and Madame Q’s taupe hue blended into the fabric so that she looked like a quivering sandstone igloo. “What about marriage? Are you looking for a suitor for your daughter?” “After university, we will start looking—“ “Ish!” Madame Q set her cup down. “That will be too late. Already she is too ugly.” I walked over to the bedroom door and closed it, loudly. Perhaps Madame Q had known all along that I had been lurking in my parents’ bedroom, SAT prep books and flash cards scattered
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willy-nilly across the carpeted floor while I lounged by the door and eavesdropped. Perhaps Madame Q thought that I, like all the other American teenagers she did not know, was gallivanting with a white boy in tow, waiting in vain in the company of SAT books and Ivy League dreams. No proposal for this one. Too ugly, she would say. She would not be wrong.
My mother was rationalising with the taupe igloo. Families wanted their sons’ wives to have a college degree. “Sometimes,” and here my mother drew a pause, “even a driver’s license.” The sandstone igloo shuffled in her perch. “Ish.” I imagined her quivering mass shaking its head. “What a waste.” Shehtaz Huq
book
NON-Fiction
YOU WRITE IT
Laugh your way to a happier you Tongue-in-cheek, just as the name suggests, Laurie Roserworld’s book All The Wrong People Have Self Esteem is for the young women (or anyone else for the matter) asking good questions about life and then loving to laugh at the answers given. Rosenworld combines collages, artworks, articles and some good ol’ fashioned rants and ends up giving a product so brightly unique, helpful and hip at the same time too that it should become the new teenagers’ (or anyone else, for the matter) go-to manual! Think of it as a comic strip that has you laughing while at once, changing the way you see the world! There are messages of self-acceptance, social criticism, matter-of-fact takes on how we perceive ourselves and in-your-face honesty that is far more palatable than caffeine-laced positivism of some books of the same ilk. At the end of the day, unlike others, it will also make you think! Why not give it a read? Good for giftgiving too! Nabeela Maswood
micro tale
A tale of loss Craig Thompson made his name with his heavily lauded graphic novel “Blankets” and Good-Bye. Chunky Rice is a tale that’s just as absorbing and powerful. The story focuses on a turtle named Chunky Rice who is happily in love with a mouse named Dandel. However, the time’s for Chunky Rice to leave home and that’s when you realise you’re in for an emotional rollercoaster of a book. The use of simplistic cartoon images as art, adds to the simplistic beauty of the book, it’s cute and easy to absorb while at the same time managing to portray a poignant and emotional story.
Thompson focuses on various types of loss throughout the book as Chunky Rice interacts with various animals on his journey. The story is well paced and the charming artwork accompanied by the deep meaning hidden behind simplistic actions and all the other positive traits combine to create a spellbinding and heart-warming tale of love, loss and friendship. All of which will most likely have you reaching to call your last girlfriend or boyfriend once you finish – an absolute must read. Fardeen Ameen
The Critic I wish you would stop looking at me like that. You know what I’m talking about, with your eyes squinting as they pass over my body, looking for the shape of my belly in this t-shirt, or a muffin top in these jeans. Your eyes tell me that it’s a look I cannot pull off. I don’t need you to make me feel worse about myself than I already do. And so, I’m going to step away from the mirror now. Sabrina Fatma Ahmad
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10 tmag Guitar Tabs Artist – Kings of Leon Song – Pyro Intro:
stereo
This week’s best spotlight
No matter if you are wide-eyed or sleepdrunk, just plug in your earphones and listen to “God Is An Astronaut”. You are bound to just forget about all your problems within a few moments. You don’t need to be in a good mood at all. With some post rock, ambient and electronic flavours God Is An Astronaut will serve you up some good sounds. Their music combines epic melodies of post-rock, the precision of electronic-fueled Krautrock and elements of space rock.The band was formed in 2002 by twin brothers Niels Kinsella and Torsten Kinsella. The name was inspired by a quote in the movie “Nightbreed”. Soon, other member Lloyd joined the band. The current lineup contains; Torsten Kinsella (vocals, guitars, keyboards); Niels Kinsella (bass, guitars, visuals); Jamie Dean (keyboards, synthesiser); Gazz Carr (guitars); Lloyd Hanney (drums). Their debut album “The End of the Beginning (2002) was released
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Chords: C# A Em Note: The whole song is played on these three chords.
Body Positive Music 1. Barbie and Ken 101 Rafael Casal 2. Unpretty TLC 3. Don’t let me get me Pink 4. Black or White Michael Jackson 5. Bootylicious Destiny’s Child 6. Beautiful Christina Aguilera 7. Born this way Lady Gaga 8. What makes you perfect Backstreet Boys 9. Beautiful One Direction 10. Stay the same Joey McIntyre
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The Drunken Deity
Album
from the Revive Records label which is independently owned by the band. In 2006, they got deal with Rocket Girl (record label) to re-release their EP called “A Moment of Stillness” and second album “All Is Violent, All Is Bright.” The single “Fragile” from the album received plays on MTV2 UK’s 120 minute show and MTV’s show “The Comedown.” The third album “Far from Refuge” was released in April 2007 on Revive Records. Their fourth self-titled album “God Is an Astronaut” was released in 2008 on the same record label. After spending two years playing at various gigs, they released their fifth album “Age of the Fifth Sun” in 2010. God Is An Astronaut have always walked the line between rock and ambient music. If you’re in the mood for some instrumental magic, give them a listen. Imtiaz Salim
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here The big task for Alice in Chains on their 2009 comeback “Black Gives Way to Blue” was to prove they could carry on perished and smashed, missing Layne Staley but still in touch with their core. They had to demonstrate the band had a reason to exist, and “Black Gives Way to Blue” achieved this goal, paving the way for another record just like it. The Devil Put the Dinosaurs Here, a record that is pretty close to similar to “Black Gives Way to Blue” in its sound, aggression, and feel. Where it differs is in the neoteric, as the overall album feels lighter and, at times, the individual songs do, too. “Scalpel” flirts with the acoustic bones of Jar of Flies and also has perhaps the richest melody here, working as a song, not a grind. That said that there is an appeal to that unicoloured churn, the kind AIC created on Dirt and haven’t
let go of since. The lightness comes not from the songs, the tempos still follow their standard, the guitars mine a minor key, the harmonies are in fifths so they sound like power chords, but rather from the precision of the band’s attack, and especially the production. This has a digital glossiness that was missing even from Black Gives Way to Blue, and it gives the album an expansive feel, so the patented churn doesn’t seem quite claustrophobic as before. Then again, perhaps that expansiveness is just a sign of age; Alice in Chains is now firmly entrenched in their middle age and settling into what they do best; holding their signature without pimping and, tellingly, without succumbing to the darkness that otherwise defines them. Imtiaz Salim
instrument Keeping the beat Over the past couple of years, this South American musical instrument, the Cajón, has gained quite the popularity in our local music scene. Perfect for a chilled out acoustic session, the Cajón is simply just a hollow box. Well, of course it’s not just a box; there are mechanics behind the instrument’s refined tone. The general idea of the Cajón originally came from African slaves slapping on fish crates to be used as box drums. Later on, the instrument was upgraded from crates to a fully solid wooden box with a hollow interior, and a small cut away on one side. A typical Cajón has five sides and is made out of half to three quarter inch thick pine or other white wood. The sixth surface, which is the striking side, is made out of a thin sheet of plywood. This
side is called the Tapa. The cutaway hole is on the side opposite the Tapa. To play the Cajón, one normally sits on the box positioning the Tapa between their legs and slapping the box with their palms. Players who are more experienced also use their feet, with bass drum pedals, for an additional enhanced bass notes on the Cajón. The Caj n’s price varies like any other musical instrument in the market, depending on the brand and the quality. The instrument is still not that popular with our local music stores but some shops like World Music, at Bashundhara City, will import the instrument if anyone places an order. Prices may range from Tk5,000 to Tk 45,000. Azfar Rahman
tmag 11
playroom
WE RECOMMEND TV
Where the concept of the world being dominated by a single empire is concerned, a lone vigilante trying to fight for what’s right, is an idea that everyone is familiar with. However, it would hardly describe the anime Code Geass, created by Japanese
Gadget hunt
Code Geass animation studio Sunrise, directed by Gor Taniguchi and written by Ichir kouchi. The story concerns a young rebel named Lelouch Lamperouge who harbours a hatred for the Britannian Empire, which is one of the superpowers of the world. He miraculously achieves the power of Geass through a mysterious character known throughout the series as C2. Lelouch gains the ability to command others and make them obey through Geass. But the catch is that he can command others only once and he requires eye contact. His ambition to change the world is derived from his instincts to want to protect his baby sister Nunally, who is blind. As the story progresses, we are introduced with numerous other characters and are
entertained by the action packed sequences of the anime. How the plot escalates is also quite interesting. The climaxes are reached and the appropriate twists are there to keep you constantly hooked. Code Geass is one of those animes which contain a strong theme and motif. Therefore, as you watch the series, not only are you entertained by the plot and scenes, but you are also cajoled into thinking about more serious issues like sacrifice and friendship. All in all, this anime is a must watch for everyone because it perfectly balances action, plot and thematic presentation. Tabeen Siddiki
Hands on with Dell Vostro The kind people of Dell gave us the opportunity to be mischievous with their new ultrabook. Not to worry, Dell, it’s still in mint condition. After a few days of regular use, we were left with a majority of good marks. The appearance is exactly what the company boasts. It’s thin, sleek and professional. The design is sharp and stunning, especially the red one. The moment it was held, it was difficult to let go. As expected, the laptop is incredibly light. It’s the perfect weight for on-the-go users. But don’t let the looks and weight fool you, this Vostro packs a punch. The Vostro 5460 boots up incredibly fast. This shouldn’t be a surprise for a 3rd Generation Intel Core i5. The 4GB RAM does a fine job during multitasking. Mind you, only a small percentage of
web critic
MOVIE
the 500GB hard drive was used. Even with the latest Microsoft Office and Adobe products installed, it runs magnificently smooth. This has got to be the perfect choice for mobility and performance. Watching a video or movie on the 14” display is a pleasant experience. The speakers play along quite well and there’s a little surprise underneath. The Vostro also possess a subwoofer that’s built in. Get work done and be entertained by the new Dell Vostro 5460 with its original Windows 8 operating system. It’s a gadget that can be welcoming to newcomers and comforting for advanced users. Dell hits the right spot with this model. Well, done. Very well done. Mahmood Hossain
What it feels like to be bullied A couple of weeks ago, we covered a Russian venture that aims to increase empathy for blind children. This week, we look at a Swedish project that attempted to raise awareness about a problem that’s a little more relatable for the general public: cyber bullying. The anti-bullying agency “Friends” came up with a very daring social experiment – a bullying simulator. We’ve heard a lot of stories, watched a lot of movies about harassment online, and there have even been a number of widely publicised stories about teens driven to suicide because of it, a recent example being Amanda Todd. It’s easy to be judgemental and shrug it off as teens being “misguided” and “emo” and “dramatic,” but the truth remains that you don’t know what it feels like
unless you’ve been through it. And that is exactly what Friends sets out to do. They have a small Facebook app that temporarily “hijacks” your Facebook account and then spews it with hateful messages from your contacts. Don’t worry, while you’re logged on to the app, it’s only you that’s seeing these messages, and there’s a “Panic Button” that you click on as soon as you’ve had enough. The PSA, which generated enough of a conversation to snag a Webby nomination, has run its course, but a demo version of the simulator is still up on the site, so if you’re curious, you can check it out at: http://www.anonymousagency. net/showroom/friends/the-bullyingsimulator/ Sabrina Fatma Ahmad
Food for the Soul Continuing on the recent swing towards foreign language flicks, this one’s relatively older, but no less enjoyable. The story focuses on Zinos Kazantsakis, a German-Greek café owner. The equilibrium in his simple life, which revolves around his locals-only eatery “Soul Kitchen” and his beautiful and ambitious girlfriend Nadine, is upset by three things that happen concurrently: Nadine gets a posting in China, Zinos’ brother Illias gets out of jail on a special probation, and Zinos himself injures his back trying to lift a stove, forcing him to look for a substitute chef. His problems snowball when he hires a hot-headed five-star chef with a rebellious side, when Illias starts to fall for Lucia the waitress and engages in a lot of illegal tomfoolery trying to impress her, when a shifty real-estate agent tries to sabotage Soul Kitchen in order to buy it. From start to finish it is a tightly written comedy that keeps delivering the laughs, while at the same time raising the stakes so high that you’re almost afraid to keep watching how bad things get for poor Zinos. The acting is a little uneven, with the exaggerated antics of Moritz Bleibtreu (Illias Kazantsakis) looking positively hammy next to the subtle transitions made by Adam Bousdoukos (Zinos). But the boo-boos are offset by the fun factor, the kitschy music and the pacing of the movie. In the end, if you’re looking for a feel-good laugh, this is the movie for you. TMAG rating 3/5 Sabrina Fatma Ahmad
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12 tmag
TEENARAMA
As much as we hate to admit it, we are all, to a certain extent, victimised by the bombarding body image advertisements, celebrity life and even our societal idea of “beauty.” Couples always have a hard time dealing with their own bodily “defects” just because their significant other develops an itch over their so-called “shortcomings.” Here we have for you 2 situations about how he and she deal with this debacle The problem of not being “snow white” ...
He says A tanned girl isn’t
my cup of tea. I have nothing against them, I have many female friends who are on the darker side of the scale, but for a girlfriend or a life partner I need my woman to be glowing fair.
She says Travelling by public transport is beginning to make me darker and lately my boyfriend has been miffed at me for this. He keeps wanting to buy me fairness products and compliments celebrities on TV so I get the message. The problem of not having the “right” height
Love across the seas When opposite souls come together, great love stories are made. Faisal Zahir and Tanya Mahmood’s story is as such. Classmates since grade-7 Tanya and Faisal were hardly acquainted. Leaving for Canada in 2003, she returned to Dhaka in 2011 and the lovers met through mutual friends. Once she returned back to Canada, the virtual world of Skype and Face book forged a deep friendship and they started falling for each other. After two months of nonstop talking, Tanya impulsively decided to follow her heart and flew to Dhaka to see Faisal. Faisal, being the reserved one in the relationship was blown away by this crazy gesture, and they spent one month discovering each other. Tanya’s heart broke as she flew back to Canada, leaving her love behind. Hell broke loose when her family member was hospitalised. Her depression was affecting their relationship. Faisal couldn’t stand Tanya’s sadness and flew to Canada to
be by her side. When bad times rolled, Faisal went out of his way to help out the family in every way he could. A proposal was the last thing on Tanya’s mind and he sensed her discomfort; her uncertainty. He planned a movie night with her parents and her two sisters at home. He played the movie, and amusingly, they noticed the movie’s director’s name was Faisal. As the movie went on, Tanya was shocked to see Faisal on screen proposing to her! As he asked her to marry him on screen, he bent down on one knee in person and took out the most exquisite ring. She was baffled and at a loss of words. Choking back tears of happiness she said “yes” and hugged him. They got married soon after and it was everything Tanya ever imagined it to be and more. Tanya grew up thinking that soul mates are a figment of one’s imagination but in Faisal she found her soul mate, her reason to live … natasha rahman
He says I am 24 and my
height is 5’6’’. I feel very insecure around taller guys, but what makes it worse is when my girlfriend complains about not being able to wear heels when she is with me. She knows I am insecure and she can easily do without the snide jabs.
She says I am 5’8’’ and I should be able to flaunt my height but instead I get rebuked for it. Guys seem to get insecure of my height and repel me. I love wearing high heels but I stash them away in the hope that people would stop treating me like an alien.
Dear Diary,
July 07, 2013
I sprinted out of the beach as fast as my legs could take me. My phone continuously beeping with Imran’s name was giving me a panic attack. I rushed into my car and dashed home. I thought I would call him once I reached home and away from this dream world I created for myself. I unlocked my door and saw Imran standing there, with that murderous look on his face. I quickly made up a lie saying that my phone was in the car, and I had my regular doctor’s appointment which ran late. He didn’t seem to buy it but I changed the topic and brought up our wedding plans to divert his attention. I really don’t want to lie to Imran anymore. I don’t think I can even go ahead with this wedding. Yes, its rash for me to break things off with him but after meeting Sameer, I don’t think I can go ahead with this. We are going out for dinner tonight, and I am hoping to break things off then. I need God by my side. THE DREAMER
If you want to share your awesome or not-so-awesome life events email it to us at tmag@dhakatribune.com
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