The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

Gesture of a kind
Ashima Sehajpal

On World Kindness Day, stars remember an act of kindness that moved them

Celebrity status is addictive. Glamour, fans and endless autograph-signing sessions. Wow! And the people we are talking about here have seen it all. But in this journey to stardom, these people from the tinsel town have not forgotten the little gestures of support. Some from known people, some from unexpected sources. And looking back, they share an act of kindness that made a difference in their lives. And as they say, "Doing it helps us in valuing and rejoicing our present." We hear from them the one such act that they recall without racking their brains.

Home support

All praises for his wife, Baba Sehgal, the pop singer of the nineties, can't stop raving about his kind-hearted wife. "She has been my best support ever. Even in the rough phase of my career, she was always there to pep me up." When asked about any specific act of kindness that has touched his heart, he says, "There was a time when I used to come very late from shoots and was hardly able to give her time. She never complained and was beside me all the time."

Ghai the giver

We certainly agree with the charming lady as Mahima Chaudhary tells us about an act of kindness done to her, "Subhash Ghai gave me my first break in the film industry in Pardes. But what makes me look upon him is the way he taught me the nuances of acting." And she took no offense at all when the director used to scold her on the sets amidst the crew. "He was a teacher and a friend to me. Extremely supportive, he understood so very well that I was a fresher and patiently helped me improve my dialogue delivery."

Honesty moves

A star in the making, for this youngster from the city being honest is showing kindness.

Vansh Bhardwaj feels that the secret behind his getting such an opportunity as to make a debut in Deepa Mehta's flick is the moral lesson that people around has taught him.

Recalling one such act he adds, "After getting my vehicle filled from a fuel station, without taking back the change, I started from there. It was after a minute or so I realised somebody was chasing me and so I stopped.

It was a worker from the station who covered some distance to return me Rs 50." He feels that it is such everyday instances of kindness and honesty that inspire him to work with sincerity.

Bigg gratitude

Debojit Saha might have been a part of conspiring Bigg Boss' house but he hasn't forgotten the benevolent acts done to him.

Ask him about the same and without a second thought, he shoots back, "It was for the guidance of my music guru, Pandit Askaran, that I have reached so far."

The singer here takes the opportunity to pay gratitude to his teacher for the moral support he had extended, "Encouragement was very important in the beginning of the career.

He showed confidence in me and that gave me the motivation to win the first reality show I participated in.

ashima@tribunemail.com

The K-Quotient
Mona

A little act of kindness makes a life-long impression

TODAY is World Kindness Day. For many of us, it might come as news that there is a day that celebrates compassion and goodwill. But the idea to make this world a better place took seed almost a decade ago. In the late 90s, 11 countries got together for what was called the World Kindness Movement and the decision was taken to celebrate November 13 as World Kindness Day. The statement reads: "The purpose is to look beyond ourselves, beyond boundaries, culture, race and religion, and realise we are citizens of the world."

On this benevolent day, Lifestyle talks to a cross-section of people in the city to know what kindness means to them and how it has touched their lives.

Gift of service

"Kindness is contagious. It comes in many forms, but the best way to show it is to work for a cause. I recall when I was in class X there were not one but at least three teachers who would give us tuitions without charging a single penny. They say it's a game of pay-it-forward. Perhaps, that's why whenever I am able to help someone in need, I feel a sense of satisfaction."

— Zulfikar Khan, Theatre Age

God's ATM

I remember this particular incident when I was young. I went to see my friends in Shimla on a bike. Midway, I had a flat tyre. I decided to take a lift in a truck. The driver offered me something to drink. When I woke up, I found myself lying on a roadside with all my belongings missing. The robbers had even removed my shoes. Penniless, I approached a shop nearby. While the youngster at the counter dismissed me as a cheat, an old man sitting there gave me a Rs 50 and said 'Chalo daan hi sahi, par yadi tum jhooth bol rahe to mera duniya se bharosa uth jayega.' I took it, and called my parents. When I tried to return the money, he refused to take. Even today, whenever I cross Solan, I make it a point to meet that old man, who always responds with a warm hug. I don't know what would have happened to me had I not met him on that day.

— Kanwaljit Singh, businessman

Friendly appearance

"I had a tiff with a girl in my class and she retaliated by poisoning my friends against me. The very thought of my friends seeing me in a bad light made me go into depression. But then another friend came to my rescue. She backed me. That helped me regain my self-esteem and slowly my life was back on the track."

— Amlok Grewal, student

Knock, knock

"Last September I lost my bag containing some cash, driving licence and few other important documents in a UT bus. Two days later, when I had given up all hopes of getting it back, a Sikh gentleman knocked at my door early in the morning. He had my purse in his hands. His name was Gurchan Singh and he was the conductor of the same bus. The man took out time to deliver my stuff. I offered him some cash reward, but he politely declined it. I was really touched by his act."

— Amrit Anand, a senior citizen

Unforgettable gesture

"When I Landed in Delhi I wasn't aware that I needed to book a ticket beforehand for a train to Chandigarh. I reached the railway station with my entire luggage and was completely lost. A stranger came to my rescue, he directed me to a tour agent, got me an auto and told me not to pay more than a fixed amount. He even gave me his number in case of any problem, I think he was an angel in disguise for me. I can never forget this gesture."

— Noorja an Aiesec, intern from the Netherlands

Right path

"When I was in France, I asked an old lady in her 70s for road directions. By mistake, she showed me the wrong path. I had walked around 2 kms, when she came all the way to tell me that I was on the wrong road. At her age, it was very convenient for her to ignore it, but she stepped out of her comfort zone just to ensure that I don't face any trouble."

— Navdeep, B. Com student

mona@tribunemail.com

Nail tale
Saurabh Malik

Strikingly good nails can now be on your fingertips

For, you now have “bars” that just don’t remove the cuticles, and soften the hands, but also enlarge the charm of your short nails by lending them some length. And if that’s not enough to nail your guy down, you can safely place yourself in the dexterous hands of the artists at the bars. They translate the beauty of nature, even cartoon characters, on the tiny canvas of your nails with soft stroke of paintbrushes. To top it all, you do not have to spend more than 25 bucks a day for hands down beauty. Finger out something like Rs 500 from your handbag, and you can wear your attitude on your nails for the next 15 days.

Mix and match

Alright! You have already painted your peroxide blonde hair burgundy to go with your wine-red backless dress for the grand weekend bash at your favourite discotheque. Now get your nails dyed in harmonious hues of celebrations by going in for matching nails. Walk into a bar and get the pattern of your apparel traced on your nails. The artists can also customize your nails to match the occasion. Going for little bro’s birthday party, get Mickey Mouse on your nails. Wedding? Go in for nail embellishments. How about diamond encrusted nails? Expensive? No probs! Paint on paint with nice little silvery flowers will do the trick. You can get all this without even chugging down the fast track of life on a Shatabdi for going to the national capital of beauty. If you haven’t guessed it right, nail bars are coming to the city sooner than you can imagine. That’s right, gals! The region’s first nail bar is all set to be inaugurated in the city on Monday. And, coming for the gala ceremony at Tress Lounge-8 is none else than Jacqui Jefford.

Starry start

Just in case you do not know her, the director of Nail Artistry — a UK-based nail and beauty academy with annual intake of over 600 students — has worked for celebrities. Nay, not your desi damsel-out-of-distress Rakhi Sawant, but the likes of Sophia Loren, Kate Winslett, Belinda Carlisle, Cheryl Crow, Robbie Williams, Stephen Fry and many more.

Scratch and win

Bringing you the concept is UK-returned beauty therapist-cum-top honcho Pammy Kaul. The “lady with the alluring nails” now heads Scratch India Limited. Ask her and she says: “Stunning nails are just a scratch away”. Pammy says the bars, later to be set up in gymnasiums, spas and even hospitals, will bring about “standards” in the nail-care industry. “Before embarking upon the task of giving you the nails of your dreams, the trained staff will ask you questions on allergies, maladies and other health concerning matters,” she says. “If we think the malady afflicting you can spread to others through instruments, you will first be advised to go in for a complete treatment”. Only after the staff is satisfied, hands are sterilized with special creams, nails are filed into shape and cuticles removed scientifically. Special scrubs follow the treatment. Don’t worry, if you are a guy. They are going in for the treatment too.

Learning the art

You can also learn the gorgeous art of nail paint and hand care. “A five-week module transforms a trainee into a trainer,” says chairman of sister-concern Brushman Kapil Kumar. “A certified trainer can display his flair anywhere in the UK”. And if you are finding all this nail biting, you know where to go for repairs.

saurabh@tribunemail.com

Write to Renee

at lifestyletribune@gmail.com or Life Style, The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chd

I am a twenty-two years old guy and on vacation from my college in Pune. I came across your column and was delighted to know that someone from my laid back hometown was actually trying to give some answers to people’s problems. Well, I have one — girls. I am extremely gregarious and friendly when it comes to guys but the moment I am in female company I am tongue – tied. Before I head for a party I am all geared to play the role of this charming and dashing young man but the moment I am in the midst of the party scene my confidence seems to hit rock bottom and I seem to just stand in a corner and watch. Please help.

Taranvir Singh, Chandigarh

I am glad guys of your age are beginning to accept their hang-ups and starting to deal with them. The moment you have discovered that you have this problem you have already taken the first step towards dealing with it. Shyness is an inherent part of our growing up process and we have to learn to make a conscious effort to deal with it. You must remember friends are just friends and people are just people interact with them on a one to one level and stop worrying over the girl or guy issue. If you can be comfortable with guys why not with girls. Ask a few questions about their hobbies and interests and strike a conversation. Please don’t make it sound like an interview but show keen and healthy interest in the person. As the conversation picks up you will feel yourself easing out and not self-conscious. Once you have made some women friends yourself confidence will naturally increase.

We have been dating for the past five years. I am a 25-year-old girl and finally have made the decided to marry my boy friend. The thing is he is a Muslim and comes from a very orthodox family who have already set down a whole set of rules for me. I come from a Brahmin family and this sounds a bit strange as I have been brought up with a very modern perspective. I have decided to marry him as I feel he is the one for me. But now as the date of commitment approaches closer, I am getting the gitters. Please guide.

Mahima Sharma, Ambala City

Your apprehensions are indeed well grounded as in our country we have a lot of dilemma on our cultural fronts. But also we must remember it is completely up to us to know how to deal with the scenario. In today’s globally indulgent set up, I feel we must feel very comfortable with making a few compromises here and there on our rigid overviews on life and learn to step out of our own comfort zones to be able to happily embrace another point of view. Given a little to your boyfriend’s family’s set of rules and then slowly as you will interact with them you can always win their hearts with love. So just go for it with an open mind and heart. Surely you’re the winner.

After 25 years of so-called blissful matrimony, I have discovered that my husband is having an affair. I was completely shocked by this revelation which I came across by chance. I have two daughters of marriageable age and one of them is engaged to be married. I discussed it with my elder daughter who was equally horrified with this new development in her life. She is now not on speaking terms with her father. Although he has begged for forgiveness, I am not able to forgive him. What do I do?

Suhaila, Delhi

As a woman to a woman I can empathise with you but please stop doing this to yourself. Your husband behavior has nothing to do with you so why should you allow it to affect your self-esteem? Do not take his affair personally and allow him the space of having taken his own decision. Your husband has probability indulged himself in a scenario which most men in our society would be just fantasisng about. I can understand the pain you are going through and the irreparable damage he has caused to his own position in the affections of his children. But now that he is begging for forgiveness do try and forgive him and show him some love and understanding. Easier said than done. But trust me give him a chance to prove himself a good dad and a good husband. Since he has not run away from any of his family responsibilities there must be some good in him. Be understanding, he will come round and make a happy once more.

Living beyond death

Not many of us knew Harbhajan Singh of Sector 29 till he starred in an upcoming Saif Ali Khan film, in the role of an elder. He told us the film had made him feel immensely rich. He had been paid Rs 10,000. Just a few years ago, he did not have the Rs-500 bribe the police had demanded from him to release the body of his son who was found dead on the railway tracks in Ludhiana. He had to spend two days sitting by his young boy’s body in the mortuary before he could bring him home. His second son died soon after and his daughter had to fight for a divorce as her husband turned out to be a militant. But, Harbhajan never gave up on life. He had cultivated the duties of life with unfaltering patience through times of despair.

When we visited him last month to talk about the experience of working in a movie, they were pretty excited to talk about their four days’ outing to Rajasthan for the shooting It was incidentally their wedding anniversary. The old man was in a jubilant mood.

On Wednesday, he died. After he drew his last breath, his widow called the PGI cadavar donation helpline to take him away so that others could live. — TNS

Mince melange

The kebab carnival being held at Hotel Orange dishes out a blend of the traditional and the innovative. Leading the menu of the special kebabs are the jugalbandi kebabs, chicken and mutton mince-filled fish preparations, and among the vegetarian fare, the bhutta seekh kebabs and the three-layered paneer titiya tikka.

To lend a distinctive taste to some of the dishes, betel leaves have been used generously, as in the Benarsi murg kebab. “Paan ka pattas are chopped finely and used for the filling,” says chef Sunder, who brings the flavours of Lucknow to the tricity.

“Traditional herbs and spices have been used to evoke a taste of the special recipes of the khansamas of the Mughal era,” says Rajesh Kalra, general manager of the hotel.

The usual dishes include the kakori, gilafi and galouti kebabs. — TNS

On till November 23