Hot D̶u̶d̶e̶s̶ Aunties Reading

People following me on Twitter and Instagram keep wondering why do I like to call myself a "Creep with a capital C"? This blog post might just answer that question.

We are all familiar with the rave that "Hot Dudes Reading" has created. It is all over the internet trending and creating headlines. It has made reading look sexier than ever. (If you are unaware of "Hot Dudes Reading" just Google it, might not be able to stop yourself) Because conventionally it has been tried and spoken about by everyone, I thought why not test the waters and do an Indian version of the same?!

The idea seemed to appear very straightforward. Only after I started working on it I realized how complex this was going to be.

Problems: I have been secretly working on this blog post since past 6 weeks or more. I have faced plenty of difficulties while being on this secret mission. I foremost grasped the evident difference between India and other countries, if it wasn't obvious already. 

Mumbai local trains have a distinct segregation of ladies and gents compartment. Apart from the fact that we are deprived of hot dudes who actually read, finding hot men who read while traveling by train is next to impossible. Hence, I was left with the only option of doing an alternate version of Hot Dudes: Hot Aunties Reading!  

In other countries it is OKAY to click a random picture of a hot guy/ girl passing by, but in India you would immediately be labeled as a pervert and if some catches you, you’d probably be beaten to death. 

Clicking these pictures haven’t been an easy task. It is definitely not a piece of cake. You are engrappled with the fear that someone in this oh-so-crowded-train-that-i-can-not-breathe will notice you clicking a creepy picture of another innocent lady. The outcome wouldn’t be pretty. 

I had to be discreetly discreet while clicking a picture. The technique I used was to reduce my phone brightness to zero so that no one would be able to clearly see what I was doing on my phone. Thankfully it worked. 

Every time I clicked a picture I literally peed a little in my pants out of fear. It was like an adrenaline rush, I felt like I was violating my own boundaries and performing a crime. 

Despite all that, I thoroughly enjoyed performing this stunt. And I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do.  

Note: Before you scroll down and look at the pictures, I advise you not to be judgmental and excuse these bad unedited pictures.

It was super crowded and we all were queued up to get down at the next station,

 yet she continued reading.

I double checked whether she was reading or watching a video.

She takes the same train that I take. It was only after four days 

I managed to click her picture while she was busy reading.

She was intently reading a prayer book.

It was raining heavily, windows and doors were shut. 

Aunty used her mobile backlight and continued reading.

Luckily I found this lady as soon as I arrived at the station.

She was reading a health book in Marathi.

With rains I agree Ebook is the best option.

She was too engrossed in reading Fifty Shades of Grey to notice me.

She was busy studying for some exam

 (Technically should fall under the category of reading)

Photo Courtesy: Ashna Bahl

Never let any kind of baggage weigh you down.

Observation: Not many people read. Or not many read while traveling. Though getting these pictures have been difficult for me, it is interesting to see how these ladies despite so many complications make some time in whatever little space they find to read.

I am a little upset that I couldn't find more ladies. It has been a tough six weeks for me. It wasn’t that I was alone working on this blog post; I had spread the word and asked my friends to contribute for photographs if they came across any lady reading in train. Despite that I was able to come up with only 11 pictures.

 6 weeks + 10 people > 11 pictures.

If I were to do a post on “Watch Movies While Traveling- Saves Time” I probably would have got more than 20 pictures. 

It is sad to find such less amount of people reading while traveling. In fact, traveling is the only time for me when I can read peacefully; throughout the day I am so caught up with work and other stuff that I am left with little or no time to read.  

As far as "Hot Dudes Reading" in India is concerned, it won’t ever be possible. As I mentioned earlier, the proportion of hot guys reading to hot guys reading while traveling in train is very less. 

You aren’t alone, everyone has a hidden creepy side. Hence, I ask you guys to try this not-so-secret anymore mission of mine. Email me not only the pictures but your experience as well at foramdhruv92@gmail.com. I will post it on my blog as soon as I have enough pictures.  

P.S: Ladies who have been featured in this post, I assure you your pictures haven’t been used for any creepy purposes, and I sincerely apologise for invading your privacy.

An Incomplete Love Affair

Reading a novel is an art. There are a lot of factors that are taken into consideration for it to be passed off as a good book. You look at how developed the story is, how well-rounded the characters are, how skillfully the author manages to get his message across to his reader, and much more. 

All of these features are of utmost importance for an author to keep into account while writing a book. Only then will he manage to keep his audience engaged.

For a reader, every new book is like a new love affair. He/ She is booked for a few days or weeks to come.  If the book manages to fail the above test, the reader has no option but to abandon it. 

I know it sounds harsh and cruel, but many readers I know of (including me) are at ease with leaving a novel halfway. 

Photo Courtesy: Goodreads

Am I guilty about it? Definitely. I am not pleased about it at all. Undoubtedly, abandoning a book is the easiest way out. It may only be for cowards. But what is the point of continuing reading when the content is not good enough to keep you captivated? My list of abandoned books is too long to keep track of, but several American classics make it to that list. 

Do you feel this sense of unfinished business, which is complicate to explain? Time and age when you read a particular book is also important. Would I ever go back to finish the unfinished? Maybe. Will I still have the same feelings or will it develop into something else? I don’t know. The probability for both is equal. 

Rare are those gems who would never abandon a book mid-way. 

I go by the principle of life being too short to read shitty books. 

We all have different reading style and habit. Share with me your thoughts on this incomplete love affair between you and your book. You won’t find yourself alone.

Photo Courtesy: Goodreads

The Unsung Hero: Bookwallah

City Book Centre

I could see his bookshop from across the road. Rows of colourful titles piled up next to each other. As I approach the bookshop, the smell of old used books get to me. Nostalgia kicks in, it has been more than 3 years since I last visited this place, not much has changed. I skim around looking at the kind of books he has and I wasn’t disappointed. 

Readers/ Bookworms prefer purchasing books to borrowing them. Storing the memory of the book they just read in a shelf, in an enclosed space of a cupboard. When it is bought out of the shelf to re-read traces of those memories are still wavering around.

Buying a book has its own plus points. But what about those who are not able to buy them for various reasons? I often wonder how anyone can spend so much on these expensively tempting books. 

I started collecting books 5 years ago, when I was in Degree College. Being a student I am always on a tight budget. My parents think it is a complete waste to spend Rs. 500/- on a book that I might just read once. But who could argue with them? Any attempts are futile. Crossword and Landmark are just out of question, and it was a time when Flipkart and Amazon weren’t a “thing”. Thanks to my friend, I discovered Bookwallahs.

Bookwallahs are not Radiwallahs. They are basically sellers of second-hand original or pirated books for dirt cheap prices. It is a treasure trove for book lovers, hoarders or collectors. You can find all kinds of books, and I am not kidding literally all. From hardcovers to paperbacks, books on design, architecture, India, Lonely Planet encyclopedia, fiction, non-fiction, academic books, everything under one roof. Best part being the price. Though they usually keep used books in good condition, but that has never a problem for me. 

Since then I have continued to maintain a loyal relationship with my Bookwallahs. I have acquired several hardcovers of original books for 60% less than the market price. Despite being second-hand books, they are in really good shape. 

Where I grew up, it was very difficult to find libraries, hence Bookwallahs came to my rescue. I have borrowed and read books by Sidney Sheldon, Nora Roberts, Harry Potter, and much more from them. Bookwallahs have been a minor part of my growing life, and I have never acknowledged them or thanked them enough for providing me with required novels.

Hence, I thought of dedicating this post to those “Unsung Heroes” for us readers.

Pramod Bodade

I went to a very famous Bookwallah at Andheri station, next to Archies. He usually has a lot of options and a lovely literature collection. Mr. Pramod (owner) is a humble being. At first he was skeptical to talk to me, but later on indulged me with his stories.

Latest Novels

How did it all start? How long are you in this business? 

Before I started this business, I used to work with someone along the same lines. When I felt I have gained enough experience, I opened this small bookshop. I have been in this business for 25 years now.

Chick Lit & Romance Collection

Why books?

I love books. I read a lot of books myself, and wanted to do something in relation to that. I read a lot of literature books and my collection here is also quite interesting. Later on I expanded my business into academic books.

Literature

 Do you love reading?

Yes, I love reading. I have been reading since a really long time. I read both Hindi and English novels.

Regional Books

Where do you buy these books from?

I buy them from these second hand book companies, few distributors come and get me, and sometimes the customers get books they don't want and sell them to me.

Academic Books

You must be getting  a lot of customers, what kind of books do they prefer?

Nothing like a general preference. I get varied type of customers. Depends from customer to customer. Few like to read literature, comics, some buy academic or non-fiction books.

Children's book

What makes your shop so unique?

The fact that all kinds of books are available here at a discounted rate. I maintain a healthy relationship with my customers and make sure that they find a book that they are looking for!

What sort of scheme do you have here?

For people who return me the book (like a library) I take a deposit for Rs. 100 and return them Rs. 70 (Rs. 30 reading charges) and for academic or school books I charge 50/50.

Being at a bookshop, I couldn't resist buying a book. I bought Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. He gave me the book for Rs. 100 without any bargain.  

I left the shop with a smile on my face. 
 

Share with me your Bookwallah story. There are plenty of people out there who share our passion for reading! Let us discover them all. 

Thank You Mr. Pramod for this interview, it sure was fun!

  

Note: The conversation took place in Hindi.

Meanwhile

I am on a mission. A mission to provide you guys with better stories/ articles. But, what I intended to post this week might take a while to develop. Hence, I thought I might as well keep you guys entertained.

My relationship with poems is not really a good one. I am very much neutral towards poetry. I have never had this feeling of goosebumps after reading a particular poem that many of you might've had. But I do have a favourite poem, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T. S. Eliot. This poem has touched me on various levels, most probably the way it was taught by my professor at degree college level. No other poem that I have read till date has managed to affect me as much as Prufrock.

But I realised, poetry is the easiest and yet most complex way to express oneself. I tried writing down my thoughts and it just flowed into a poetry form. 

I would like to share two poems  that I wrote over two months ago. 

I don't like to name my poems. I feel by naming it, I am giving it a more precise definition, which I don't want to. I want it to connect with you on any level, the ability to provide multiple definitions.

1.

I try to grab it, my hands

unable to reach it,

I try my best, stretching them as much as I can.

Just so I can touch it, taste it;

Desperate to feel it.

I get a stool and consider it a cake walk.

Yet am disappointed.

The more I try, the more difficult it becomes.

'Snatch it'

'Grab it'

'Catch it'

Always missing it, if only 

It were that easy.

With my head heavy and eyes red,

I sit down, Trying to think it over.

And unexpectedly it flies over

Landing up on my lap.


2.

Through the thick-rimmed glasses,
He caught a glimpse of her.

Those dimples and crooked teeth,
Enough to make his heart skip a beat.

His greasy hair and unfitted pants
Created a gap.

They were unfit,
And that's what was it.

He didn't make her heart flutter, she said
Or make her stomach churn.

He couldn't help but smile,
For these were the reasons he often heard...

Maybe,
Now was not the time.

I am not a great writer, just enough to get across my message. But sometimes you just have these few words in mind and don't know how to put them or frame them. They tend to become these fragmented thoughts.Therefore Poetry.

I don't know if my attitude towards poetry is still the same. But I am trying, trying to be more accommodative. 

P.S.: I have changed the template of my blog to make it more readable. Hope you enjoy it as much as I am.