Quikr Nxt, the Best

Courtesy: Indiblogger

 

Quikr is, presently the best and largest portal in India for online and mobile classifieds. It acts effectively to bridge the gap between millions of buyers and sellers sprawled along the country. Not only that, the site keeps on improving itself by adding innovative and unique features.

The most recent feature of Quikr is Quikr NXT. It is actually a next generation feature which enables users to chat using the website or mobile app. The messenger is now an integrated feature of Quikr’s mobile app, mobile site, as well as the website. This, I think, is a product that will change the nature of online classifieds greatly. 

Most of the other sites of this kind  prompt the users to provide their mobile numbers or email ids so that interested customers can contact them. But the messenger app Quikr Nxt has freed the consumers  from all these hassles. There are many reasons why I think Quikr Nxt is a revolutionary product.

Firstly, we all know that the internet has brought the whole world under one roof. While it is a big achievement of science and technology, it has some disadvantages too. Sharing one’s personal mobile number or email address publicly can be unsafe keeping in mind the increasing number of  fraudulent activities on the web. There are many people who are not at all willing to do so and hence, avoid such sites. Quikr Nxt is solving this problem as you can share information about your product without revealing your identity or credentials. Once you feel satisfied and convinced  about a certain person, after discussing and negotiating through the messaging app, you can share other personal details to further the transaction. Easy and effective, I must say.

Secondly, while email is an easy and cheap way of communication, risks are always there getting you inbox over flooded by hundreds of useless emails asking thousands of  questions regarding your product. It becomes really a time-consuming and titanic job to sort out the useful ones. It may happen that you actually miss the most vital ones in your inbox. The Quikr Nxt messenger solves this problem. No bombarding of e-mails to drive you crazy. You can discuss the pros and cons with the prospective buyer/seller without wasting your time searching those piles in your inbox. Really appreciable service from Quikr.

Thirdly, providing the mobile number in such sites means you’re negotiating with your privacy, big time. Even if you clearly mention the desired time frame to contact you regarding the buy/sell, there are always some people, who will overlook that point and, evidently call you up at the time when you’re at your office or enjoying quality time with your family. Moreover, a long conversation over the phone costs quite a bit, more so if it’s a STD. Through the photo sharing option, the consumers can share photos of their products in the most convenient way. And as we all know, a picture says a thousand words. Providing pictures of your products  really makes  it much easier for others to make their decisions.

So, from now on, it’s not only “No fikar, bech Quikr!” but also,“No fikar, chat Quikr”.

This post is written as a part of Indi Happy Hour Campaign, in association with Quikr.com and Indiblogger

My Pimple Saga

Pimple is a small word with a demonic effect, at least to me. I’ve been experiencing this distasteful lesions since my prepubescent days, and I know exactly how it feels with a couple of red zits proudly announcing their presence on the cheeks or the chin.

Most of the times, it starts in this way that, I wake up in the morning with an itchy feeling or irritation on the skin and as soon as I examine myself on the mirror of the toilet, my nightmare comes true! “Oh! NO! not again. These pimples are driving me crazy”! My silent scream mocks me and I realize that I’ve to accept the reality. So for the next few days, my lifestyle changes completely as I try my best to hide those pimples from the world!

First of all, I’ve to stop shaving as I become afraid that I’ll hurt myself badly in the process. The pimples are primarily quite painful and just a little scratch, while shaving, is enough to make me scream. And there I’m, with an unshaven face and untrimmed beard, all because of those PIMPLES.

The next conundrum begins as I prepare myself for the office. Having a face decorated with pimples doesn’t look good at all. It’s not only a matter of concern for girls but, for boys also. Moreover, womenfolk usually throw a look   as if I’m suffering not from acne problems but, from some fatal infectious disease. I can’t use heavy make-up to camouflage it and so it actually becomes a painful problem. I’ve no way but to hide my face and make my presence as inconspicuous as possible among the crowd. Again, just for those PIMPLES!

 

It is said, that “only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches”. For me, it is, “only the bearer knows where the acne itches”! Trust me, the problem is graver when it comes to guys. We can’t keep on ranting about it. We can’t apply anti-pimple masks or blah blah blah things to get rid of them. We just have to bear it silently. This is one hell of a problem and just as I’m about to explain a PowerPoint presentation, the pimples make me aware of their presence with the itch and pain! And here I’m again….trying a move which almost makes me look like a buffoon instead of an IT professional. All because of the PIMPLES.

God sometimes plays really foul with me by making the most dreadful nightmares real. As I reach home after a long tiring day at the office, my girlfriend calls me up at her own will ( which she rarely does).  With an extremely cheerful voice, she asks me to meet her the next day. I would have considered this offer as something equally prestigious as the Nobel Prize at any other time! But with these pimples on my face? How can I meet her? Just think of the dilemma, man! You can’t refuse her for she will take that as an extreme insult, and if you agree, you’re sure to get a loathing look from her for your acne infested face. 😦  Koi karein toh kya karein!!!

NO, I can’t just imagine standing in front of her with a face like this! I mumble and inform her that I’ve to attend an important meeting and so, we can’t meet. Not a single word and…she hung up. Oh! is there nothing which can save my love life from ruining?

My sulky face attracts my sister’s attention.

“What happened bro?”

“Nothing”.

I know she will definitely tease me if I tell her the truth. Sisters are always there to pull your legs and, a naughty sister like Pinky, can make you feel even worse. But she is my best friend too and this time as I looked at her flawless skin with no acne or anything, a faint ray of hope arises in my mind.

“Errrr…sis… do you know anything that can solve my pimple problem? I need some good stuff…effective and fast.”

“Oh! now I can understand. She must have called you up and so you’re seeking advice from me. You know, I’m a very sensible and good girl and so I’m here with the best remedy you can have.” She winked.

“Please, please tell me and I promise, I’ll give you a nice gift.”

“That’s great! Have you ever heard of Garnier Pure Active Neem Face Wash? It’s the best thing one can get to get rid of those wretched pimples. It contains real Neem leaf and Tree Tea oil extracts which naturally fight against germs and pollution and make your skin oil-free. An oil-free skin doesn’t let dirt and germs settle on it causing the pores  to get clogged. Thus, the skin becomes healthy and free of pimples.” 

She knows so many things! I should have consulted her earlier. After all, a sister is always there for you when you’re in danger. 😀

“How do you know all these?” I ask her.

“No rocket science. Just visit this Garnier site, Nopimplesnomarks and you’ll understand everything. And don’t forget my gift.”

After using Garnier Pure Active Neem Face Wash for just a few days, I feel as if I’m sailing in the sky with a much smoother face and I even try to sing a song in its praise! Much in the tune of “Pyaar to hona hi tha“!!!!

All I can say, thank you! my sis, for being with me and thanks Garnier for coming up with such a product which is equally helpful for guys also. It really works on our rough skin too. If you suffer from a pimple problem like me, just try it out and it will be of real help.

Last but not the least, I called up my girlfriend after a few days to make everything clear and after hanging on for more than one hour, we somewhat came to a truce.

All’s well that ends well.

This post is written as an entry for the Garnier Pure Active Neem Face Wash Contest, in association with bit.ly/GPABlogLinkIndiBloggerActivity , bit.ly/GarnierPureActiveNeemWebsite and Indiblogger

The cartoons are made with Bitstrips.

Weekly Photo Challenge, Depth

Weekly Photo Challenge : Depth

My Choice, My Kind of Device

In today’s world, we can’t think of a life without gadgets and gizmos. The internet has become an indispensable part of our daily life and we can choose the most appropriate device that suits best to us from a variety of ranges. When comes to gadgets, I’m a little freaky and my preference keeps on changing. That doesn’t mean that I buy all the devices that are flooding the market every day, but rather I make a survey of my own regarding a particular brand and its products. After judging the pros and cons of a device I usually take my decisions which are, as my friends say, always wise.

The Zenfone range of ASUS already has already surprised me with their wonderful features and that, too, within an affordable budget. Now, they’ve introduced the EeeBook X205TA and All In One PC ET2040. Both of them primarily look irresistible to me. The EeeBook comes with an Atom Quad Core (4th Gen) processor, 2GB DD3 RAM and 32 GB EMMC HDD. And the price is unbelievable! only INR 14,999! It’s really #GoSleek in every way. It has color variants too and that makes it more attractive, (especially among women 😛 ) But when I checked the All In One PC ET2040, it just bowled me over.

The All In One PC ET2040 has innovative gesture control which enables the user to control the device from up to five meters away! Wow! sounds really cool. I have a sort of addiction for computer games. I spend most of my leisure time playing games on the computer. Every game-freak knows that one needs a seamless and efficient connectivity to play high-end games like Asphalt 8, Airborne or Assassin’s Creed. You’ll miss all the enjoyment and excitement without a super-fast graphic. The ASUS All In One PC with it’s latest Intel Processor makes gaming an effortless fun. Moreover, multitasking is a child’s play when I have this with me. A big enough screen to share multiple apps, which run simultaneously without any interruption, makes gaming and working synonymous.

It has three Superspeed USB 3.0 ports which enable me to charge other devices like smartphones, tablets at a much faster speed. It can also transfer data between devices at a 10 times faster speed! I can connect to the built-in-HDMI-out port to connect to a second display, and wait, that’s not all…. to experience entertainment more vividly, it can also be connected directly to an HDTV! Whoa! sounds hell of a thing! As we all know, the bigger, the better.

The All In One PC ET2040 is actually a device that can be effectively used both for work and entertainment purpose effectively. I can watch movies on a big screen with the help of it; can play songs while preparing a presentation or while playing. The most attractive feature being the gesture control! With 2GB on board memory and Intel HD Graphics, it is all the more attractive. The OS is Windows 8.1.

I’m presently targeting for it because in my opinion it seems to be the best in its category at a price of only INR 25,999. So, what are you waiting for? Go get it and enjoy the experience.

This post is written as an entry for the Indi Happy Hour campaign in association with All In One PC ET2040, ASUS EeeBook X205TA and Indiblogger.

Picture Courtesy: Indiblogger & ASUS

Cupid’s Game

PC : Indiblogger

Shakespeare said in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” Nothing can be more true than it and when I think of my girl, I can feel her presence everywhere with me. Emotions fire up when I think of proposing her and with that, a sense of hesitation too. Will she like the way I’m going to tell her the most precious words of my life? Will she accept me in the way I’m? I have so many thoughts in my mind and this Valentine’s day, I’m going to take the most valuable decision of my life, I’m going to propose my dream-girl.

On the morning of the V-day, I will call her up early in the morning. I’ll make an arrangement with the florist and while she will pick my call, the florist boy will ring the bell to deliver a bouquet made up of hundred red roses and a box of heart shaped chocolates. I want to hear her shout of joy and want to feel her ecstasy of that very moment. A good start to the day.

Next, I’ve planned something a bit weird but that’s because a little spice makes life nice. I’ll send her a text that I won’t be able to take her out in the evening because I’ve to attend a meeting and it is urgent. Surely that’ll make her fuming with rage! Meanwhile, I’ll connive with my friends and, as instructed one of them will call her to inform that  a friends’ meet has been arranged and she must join them in the evening. It’s up to that friend  how will she/he will coax her to join them. I need help of my friends to make my plan successful.

In the meantime, I’ll book a table at her favorite Italian restaurant. I know she loves Mozzarella balls in Caprese salad and potato gnocchi just makes her drool. The Italian backdrop will make the final scene bold and romantic.

As per the plan, the friends’ meet will take place at one of our common friend’s house. As soon as she will arrive there, one of the friends, will deliver a dialogue which will be something like this,”You know, I called up Anil, but it said ‘not available’. Then I tried to get him through his official number, a person told that he had left for the day”. This piece of information will surely make her upset and even more infuriated.

The next part of the plan is all of them will decide to gang up and spend the evening at the same Italian restaurant where I will be waiting for them. I think I can even  come up with a tad bit disguise 😀 Nothing so dramatic though, a wig and a Valentine special tee-shirt would be enough.

I’ll make myself something like this ~~~~~~~~Pic Courtesy : Leisure Club~~~~~

 

After entering the restaurant, my friends will pretend to be busy with their mobiles or anything and when she will be standing there, alone in the crowd, with an unhappy face and big, sad eyes, I’ll make my move. I’ll go and hold her hand and will be on my knees to propose her with nothing expensive but a single red rose.

The simultaneous wave of happiness and wonder will make her face glow and she’ll blush as all of our friends will begin to cheer. I’ll give her the rose and say, “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…I could walk through my garden forever.”

The demure, after a few seconds, will smile coyly and accept my proposal.

That is how I would love to propose to my crush. A dream now, but I hope soon it will come true.

Love is a Cupid’s game, isn’t it? Visit CupidGames.CloseUp to know more this Valentine’s day. Find your love and get closer with confidence.

This post is an entry for the Indi Happy Hours Campaign in association with http://cupidgames.closeup.in   and Indiblogger

The Litterbug’s Story

Who is The Great Indian Litterbug? 

A person who tries to fill this country with all the wastes he has is adorably called a litterbug. To him, all the public places are his litter bins and so it is the sole aim of his life to make proper use of them. He, by no means, wants to leave a space on the face of this planet spic and span. He considers that a sacrilege. So, let’s  consider a few cases which will make you familiar with his ‘modus operandi’.

Courtesy : http://greatindian.timesofindia.com/

The Great Spitting Spirit

Due to some inexplicable reasons the Great Indian Litterbug has a tendency to salivate most of the times. He is often seen to throw out that unwanted thick liquid in the form of ‘spit’. Moreover, he spits more when he chews tobacco or betel leaf or gutkha. We don’t blame him for spitting for it’s not at all healthy to store those gallons of spit within his body. He happily paints the wall red, that’s also good as the colour red signifies strength and vigour. Not only that, in addition to his spitting spirit, he gladly throws his phlegm (in case he catches a cold) on to some walls or on open road. So clever of him! It’s really nasty to blow globs of snot on tissues or kerchiefs. Using public properties for throwing such wastes is the best solution and the litterbug knows that very well.

Clicked by me

Spreading of (Un)Holy Water

The Great Indian Litterbug always answers promptly to his nature’s call, even when on the road. He is quick-witted, you know, and has an instant solution to every problem. He evidently finds a nook or corner where he can safely let out his bodily waste called ‘urine’. Maybe, it is the wall of  another person’s house or the corner of a children’s park, but he doesn’t mind these trivial things. The reeky smell of that particular place may raise your nausea, but he just doesn’t care. As the melancholy Jaques said in Shakespeare’s play As You Like It, ”all the world’s a stage”, so our litterbug keeps on saying,”all the world’s a toilet”.

Eat & Throw

This is the favorite game of our litterbug. He loves to eat fast-foods, especially chips, burgers and after munching them what is to be done with the packets? Oh! the poor litterbug! He doesn’t even know the word ‘litter-bin’. So what does he do? He just throws them on the road. Packets, bottles and everything (Now don’t get infuriated, do you expect him to carry all those things in his bag? Oh, I pity you!) And he enjoys this throwing game very much. Litter here, litter there, what a beauty!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this wonderful account of the Great Indian Litterbug. He is really a great soul and we need to understand that. So. next time you spot him carrying out his favorite activities in public places, don’t forget to take a picture. People like him need mass recognition so that they can be properly rewarded. Untill then, watch this video and enjoy.

To know more about the Great Indian Litterbug, visit greatindian.timesofindia.com

This post is written as a part of the Indichange campaign in association with Indiblogger and  http://greatindian.timesofindia.com/.

Her Story

She got married at the tender age of fifteen, when she actually had no idea about marriage, husband or responsibilities. But she had to take a lot of responsibilities. Her mother-in-law had a partial paralysis, she had to take care of her. Her husband had seven more little brothers and sisters and she had to look after them too. Her husband lived in another town for his job and visited them once in a month. She was the guardian of the family at the age of  fifteen, she managed everything and even resumed her study. She had a passion for education and she used to get up even before the sunrise every day so that she could read and write for an hour before starting the daily chores.

That was the time when there was no electricity, no electrical gadgets and appliances, and no maids for her also as they belonged to the lower middle-class section of the society. She never demanded anything expensive or fancy to her husband, instead, she told him to buy her books. She knew that her husband had to feed and look after his siblings and that was a huge responsibility. She began to make small handcrafted baskets, rugs and similar items and sold them to her friends and relatives. Almost 75 years ago, that was a step which earned her much condemn but she believed in herself and dignity of labor. Slowly but steadily, she built a niche market for her products and after a few years, when her children were big enough to look after themselves, she opened a shop.

She gave birth to her first child at the age of eighteen and  by twenty-five, she became the proud mother of three more. She never discriminated between her sister/brother-in-laws and her own children. She was like a tree providing shade, fruits, flowers and shelter to all those who came to her.

She was my grandmother.

 

My Grandma with my sister 😀

She was a caring daughter-in-law and a dedicated wife and a loving sister-in-law and a dutiful mother and a self-educated person and a businesswoman and a true friend to all. Apart from all these facets, she was a great cook and singer and was very good in maths.

She was one of those women who effortlessly make them multidimensional and have so many layers in their character. She was a perfect example of #UseYourAnd.

“This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus“.

 

The Woman of Substance

Women are multi-dimensional by nature. I’ve seen many of them around me, who are simultaneously playing different roles in life, mother, daughter, wife, sister and they, are equally proficient in all those roles. Not only that, they have established themselves in the outside world also, professionally. One of the most accomplished women I’ve ever seen in my life is Dr Sulabha D’souza, my mother’s childhood friend.

D’souza aunty, as we used to call her, was a rebel since her childhood. To much annoyance of her father, she decided to pursue her chosen career, she wanted to become a doctor so that she could help those people who didn’t have enough money to go for speciality treatment. And a doctor she did become. Not only that, though she belonged to an extremely conservative Hindu Marathi family, she showed the courage to tie wedlock with a Christian. This inter-religion marriage created much ruckus in her family and she was disowned by her father. She was asked to choose, family or marriage. She had nerves of steel and she wanted to live her life with the man she loved. There was no ‘or’ in her life, only ‘and’ and she added those ‘ands’ according to her own will.

But she had no grievance towards her family. She  wanted and tried in her own ways to make them understand that religion didn’t make a man and it’s never justified to judge a person by her/his religion. She succeeded after a long time and her father did understand  his mistake.

Throughout her life, she tried her best to help people who were below the poverty line. She didn’t take any fees from them and mom told us that she didn’t think twice before answering an emergency call even at odd hours.  She was associated with a lot of charitable organizations. Apart from being an extremely hard working medical practitioner, she was a doting mother and a loving wife. She was a woman of substance who knew how to make her presence felt everywhere in a positive way. She was an inspiration who always held an encouraging view towards life.

Perhaps due to this indomitable life-force, she stood firmly grounded in stormy times. Her only son, Sunny bhaiya, was detected with a Stage 1 throat cancer. While he was under treatment, D’souza uncle one day, met with an accident. Perhaps sometimes, God up there took severe test of those people whom He loved most. And D’souza aunty passed the acid test with her determination and courage.

My mom and D’souza aunty, (left)

The life of this remarkable lady stands as an epitome of encouragement and inspiration. To me, she is one of those women, who knows how to keep a balance in every sphere of life. Hard work, determination and diligence are the mantras of her life. A few years ago, after her husband’s death, she has shifted from Mumbai to D’souza uncle’s ancestral village in Kerala. Still, in her early seventies, she is very much active and alive. She is associated now with a local church and often arrange free medical camps for poor and needy. Still there are a number of ‘ands’ in her life. No ‘or’ ‘if’ ‘but’, only AND. Through this post, I pay sincere regards to her spirit.

“This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus“.

Go to Bangalore, Quikr

Source : Indiblogger

Relocating to any place means one has to plan millions of things. Gathering information about the pros and cons of the place, searching for a decent place to start the new household, inquiring in social networking sites about the available means of transport, or, if anybody is there who can give you company while you’re struggling to customize yourself according to the ambiance of the new city.  But relocating to Bangalore (or Bengaluru) means you’ve to deal with much more. Apart from the aforesaid things, the weather of Bangalore is quite hot and humid, the autowalahs are famous for their whims and tantrums and getting a decent flat with reasonable rent in the famous “Silicon Valley of India” is like getting the Nobel.

How does it feel when you get a friend who provides you solutions to almost all of your problems regarding relocation in Bangalore? Well, I  know your are saying after reading this,”no such friend exists in this cruel world!” But keep patience, to make you feel relieved, here comes Bangalore Quikr.com, the exclusive “it’s just Quikr in Bangalore site”!

As we all know, Quikr is, at present India’s largest portal for online and mobile classifieds. It acts as an effective conduit between buyers and sellers and thus helping millions of people everyday. The idea of developing exclusive city-based portals is unique and proves to be helpful for not only those who live in that particular city, but also for those who find them at a loss while relocating for the first time to an unknown city.

Let’s take an instance. The primary need while relocating to a city is a rented flat. I gave a search in the Bangalore Quikr.com website for a 1 BHK (I’m single and 1 BHK is enough for me) flat and within seconds it came up with a staggering 10505 results! The locations, rents etc are clearly mentioned and one can easily select something which best suits him. Quite a quick and easy job. Isn’t it? Hunting for houses in Bangalore was never so smooth.

After selecting a shelter, next things that prioritize my list, are those people who prove to be essential for us at any point of time. More so, when we are new to a city. Yes, I’m talking about, electricians, mechanics, plumbers and most importantly doctors. You can see in the screenshot provided below that there is a convenient list of all sorts of services, the nitty-gritty of life is well conceived by Quikr and it has catered all the necessary information one could possibly need in Bangalore.  From conveyance to catering, from astrologer to lawyer, from baby-sitters to maids, you name it, they will present a nice list within seconds.

Just take a glance at the main page of Bangalore.Quikr.com and you’ll understand that it’s not an exaggeration. This site, dedicated particularly to Bangaloreans, is proved to become essential for those who are relocating there. My office has a branch in Bangalore too and they could send me there any day. In that case, I would like to depend solely on http://bangalore.quikr.com/ for all my needs. In the same order as described in this post. Thanks to Quikr for coming up with such an useful site.

All screenshots provided here are taken from bangalore.quikr.com

 This post is an entry for Indi Happy-Hours Campaign in association with Indiblogger and bangalore.quikr.com