TMAG Volume 1, Issue 19

Dhaka Tribune

Tuesday, August 27, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 19

Hot Topic kill those bills with TMAG’s book of bargains Spotlight an eclectic experience Written in the Stars bela’s spirit

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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 Rifat Binte Haider Contributors Fardeen Ameen Abak Hussain Imtiaz Salim Shishir Hoque Q Zulyadain Islam Iftekharul Haque Graphics Mohammed Mahbub Alam Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Email: tmag@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

Editor’s note Dear Readers, A lot of the letters we got this week ask about how this writing prompt system works. We’ll try to break it down for you. Visit our Tumblr page tmagtribune.tumblr.com, where you’ll find pictures of a certain theme.

These are clues about the theme for our upcoming issue. If you have an anecdote or musings piece, or postcard fiction that fits the theme, email it to us at tmag@dhakatribune. com. Moving on, we know that the teen years mark the start of a lifetime of having to consider finances, and this is also the time when all your sources of income are vastly outnumbered by all the stuff you want and need to buy. We hear you.

That’s why this is our budget-savvy issue just for you. From opening your first bank account (FYI on Page 2) to a whole list of inexpensive options (Hot Topic, Page 6&7), we’ve got a comprehensive guide for you. Let the savings begin!

Love from the TMAG desk

5 Look of the Week Nusrat Srabony

6 Hot Topic TMAG Book of Bargains

More inside Gossip 12 Blush Much 12 Dear Diary

11 Web Critic Jet Set Radio 11 Game Fifa 14

picks Of the week 2 Room of the Week Tahsin 3 Doodle of the Week Imad Al Din 10 Guitar Tabs of the Week

Horoscope 5 Your Forecast Fashion 4 Wardrobe check Wardrobe essentials 4 Beauty check Budget grooming for men

Justin TImberlake’s Mirrors

11 App of the week Tiny flashlight Your world 5 Car talk Mclaren F1 5 Sports Fantasy football 9 Comic Book The Flash 9 Book The Snow Child 10 Music News Upcoming concerts 10 Instrument Yamaha drum kit 11 TV Ultimate Cake-Off 11 Movie New possibilities

TMAG says 2 Funk up Your Room New life, new room 2 FYI Max out your money mileage 3 School Survival Saving money 10 Playlist Top 10 ka-ching tunes

8 Written in the Stars Nabela Mohamed

Real Life 3 Event Tweets 9 Nonfiction Shopaholic alert 12 He says She says

Status of the week “Hartal on friday!” - What an idea, Neta-ji?

Quote of the week Just because it’s a rainy day, doesn’t mean the parade can’t go on.

Lingo of the week HYFR Hell yeah, friggin right. A statement of absolute certainty Reader 1 So I hear TMAG is totally awesome?

Reader 2 HYFR

About the cover Let TMAG show you how to slash your spending Models Nusrat Srabony Photographer Homayra Adiba Make up Wasifa Ahmad (Sifa’s Corner)

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Your Life

Funk up your room

FYI

Exhale NEW LIFE into YOUR BEDROOM Just because it’s not on display like the living room or a hub of activity like the kitchen, doesn’t mean that your sleeping space should go without style updates. NO! We’re not suggesting a complete makeover but a few small updates can go a long way in refreshing your space.

Tahsin Momin takes you through a few budget-friendly ideas that will take your bedroom from bland to brilliant Attach AN ACCENT WALL

Adding an accent wall is a great way to brighten up your bedroom on a budget.

Choose a bold shade that complements the current wall colour and paint one wall in the new hue. The new addition will create depth and make the room feel more alive.

trim WITH WALL DECALS

If you don't want to repaint or spend money on art work, you can easily funk up your walls with decals. Choose a shape or design that matches your colour scheme or the look of your room.

The best part is, they're not permanent and cost no more than Tk2000.

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Affix A READING CORNER

Adding a simple reading corner can go a long way in updating your sleeping space. All you need to do is clear out one corner of the bedroom, add a comfy chair, get a floor lamp and a small end table for stacking your current mustreads.

refurbish WITH COLOuR

Many people keep their bedrooms neutral so the best way to add colour is with accessories. Anything from bed covers and bookends to lamps and vases in various bright colours can take your bedroom from bla to beautifully bright in minutes.

FOOL AROUND WITH PAINT

No, we don't mean repaint the room (although this is another great

TMAG’s Room of the week!

Name tahsin Area uttara Now that’s a hawt way to display all your passions (music, cars, movies) in your room. Everything about this room screams “cool”, but we’re particularly flattered by our last issue cover making it to the wall display

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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Max out your money mileage

way to refresh your space), we're referring to the furniture. A vanity table or nightstand can be completely transformed by a new coat of paint in a bright colour. Choose a shade compatible with your colour scheme and breathe new life into tired furniture. Your bedroom will benefit from the addition of a bold colour, and furniture you forgot about will now look brand-new.

craft A PHOTO WALL

Load up on affordable picture frames and get to work choosing family or vacation photos you love. Print them out, pop them into frames and arrange them creatively on a wall of your choice.

There's no better way to add charm to your space than with photos that leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Saudia Afrin

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If financial independence is your goal, it’s never too early to start investing. TMAG’s got some cool tips to help you build a little nest egg for you own Pocket money

Get into the habit of asking for a small allowance. If you have a petty sum, you’ll know that once it’s gone, your parents won’t agree to give you any more; and that will force you to save it. You’ll also be able to keep tabs on your expenditure.

Opening a minor account

Banks offer minor accounts i.e. an account that will be opened by your parents or guardian, and you will be allowed to deposit your money here. Once you turn 18, you’ll be the sole operator of that account. If you start now, you’ll be able to save up a lump sum which will serve you well in the future. Set a target of putting in 10% of your monthly allowance/ earnings from odd jobs into the bank account. Once this becomes a habit, you’ll be able to spend wisely.

18 and above

This is your cue; once your hatching day arrives, ask your parents to help you open up a bank account.

What may look like a boring birthday gift will help you save up enough to buy you presents for the upcoming birthdays. This, unlike a minor account,is one which you get to open using your own name. Curb your enthusiasm for a second; just filling out a form won’t make the cut. In order to make a bank account you must have the following things:

•

Government approved photo ID such as a valid passport, national ID, or a driving license.

Any one of these would do.

Photographs (Number of • photographs may vary) • Nominees’ photo(Whoever inherits the amount you own) Rubab Nayeem Khan

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Schoologistics

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School Survival

Saving Money at School Dates aren’t the only way money trickles out your pockets. Believe it or not, the school is one place where we invariably spend much more than we intend to. For those of us slightly feisty teens, who have broken free from the mom-will-pick-me-up routine, transportation can eat away at savings, we may be spending more on food at the canteen than we mean to, (hey, blame it on growth years, but we gotta eat, yaw!) and/or, the ultimate money guzzlers, books! Here are some top notch solutions to fight off the spender instincts at school Car Pooling/Public Transport

Your friends have a car and can drop you to walking distance of your home?

Go for it! It’s much cheaper than a CNG and easier on your pocket by a mile, pun intended. If you usually go in a CNG and have no friends around your area, sniff around for buses that may take you close to where you live. Public transport isn’t quite as bad as it appears to be from the outside in. Sure, it’s tiring but if you can go in Tk10 where a CNG would take you

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in a Tk100, stare at those saved Tk90 and suddenly your mood is at an all-time high!

at some unusually hot day- that’s when you’ll thank mommy dearest for the free lunch!

Brown-Bag it

Book hand-me-downs

Pizzas, burgers and fried chicken- can all be made at home! No need to spend hundreds at the school canteen when mommy is the world’s best cook! And she’ll give you more generous helpings too. Scared your friends will jeer at your lunch box? Highly unlikely as everyone knows that home cooking is a hundred times better than what any school canteen can provide you. Also, you never know when you need to use the saved cash for an ice cream cone

Textbooks are compulsory, no doubt but why spend so much when you know you are never going to need it again after that one grade that it’s meant for? Pull

Imad al din doodled this when he was bored

out the meek-junior card and ask your senior school mates for their used things.

You can save not just hundreds but possibly thousands, on hand me down stuff. Maybe that’s saying no to shiny new stationery but hello, practicality and prudence! munira fidai

TMAG’s Doodle of the week!

EVENT Tweets

Eastern Darkfest

12pm August 28 Venue National Library Auditorium Band line-up Chronic Xorn (India), Sent Men Revolt, Homicide, Abandoned World (Sweden), Opodeb, Dispersion, Creature Of Judgement, Oath, Warlock, Stygian Oath, Zone of Inner Diseases, and Absentia Tickets Tk250

Local Maniac Syndrome

3pm August 30 Venue Russian Cultural Centre Band line-up Powersurge, Thrash, Homicide, Exalter, Dissector, Override, Sacrilege, and Friday the 13th Ticket Tk200 Dissectors EP Tk100 Dissectors Logo T-shirt Tk200

Music Festival 2013 Sponsored

by Lotto Scan Cement 2pm August 30 Venue City Corporation Soccer Field, Road#3, Sector#4, Uttara Band line-up Yaatri, Nemesis, Shunno, Halo, MinUs+2, Head Underwater, Dhrubosshor, Chapter 3 Tickets Tk199

Seminar on Studying and Living in the UK by British Council

10am-4pm August 31 Venue Hotel Nice International, Ganakpara, Shaheb Bazar and (West of P.N Girls High School) Rajshahi For more information visit: www. britishcouncil.org/bangladesh

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

Manstyling

From Grizzly to Groomed

Hairstyle

First off, you should always know the type of haircut you want. When you go to any barbershop, the ideal haircut that any barber would think you’d want

is to just shorten your hair. If that’s the case, then do mention how much you want it shortened. If you’re going for a different look, explain it to barber and he’ll give you the exact cut if you can explain it right.

ones costing a lot of money will have a number of services offered that other shops can’t. Nowadays, most of the decent local barbershops have upped their game by quite a lot. If you walk into one, the first thing you’ll see is a huge board, or poster, with all their different services offered, starting from simple haircuts to professional hairstyling, from massages to facial treatments, etc. Just check out one of the decent looking hair salons in your area.

Sanitation

One reason why some people choose to go to these fancy male salons and still get ripped off just for a simple haircut is mostly because they think the ones that cost so little, or don’t have such an extravagant outlook, might not be as clean or hygienic. That’s a misconception. The only health hazard that could be present at a low costing hair salon could just as well be present at an expensive one. When you’re going for a shave, always make sure that the barber changes the blade of the razor with a new one, and that it’s washed with a liquid antiseptic before being applied to your skin.

Price Ranges

A simple haircut can cost from Tk50 - Tk120, a shave will cost you from cost something between Tk50 – Tk80 at most of the moderate barbershops in any area in Dhaka. For all the other services offered by these hair salons, nothing will exceed more than Tk200 per service, unless you’re going for hair colouring or straightening. Those will cost you a bit. Azfar Rahman

Services

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Grooming is essential. There’s nothing that says more about a person better than how he maintains his appearance, and hair is an important aspect of this. Unless you’re Chewbacca, it’s necessary to get a proper haircut and trim at least once a month. Of course, quality professional grooming will cost you money but here’s the thing, as some men’s salons in Dhaka charge can charge you up to Tk300 – 500 for a haircut and a shave, it doesn’t necessarily mean that these are the only quality professional hair care services out there. There are ones that cost you a lot less. There are certain barbershops all over the city that might not look, or advertise, themselves with all the glamour that certain stores do, but these guys are very much trained to give you that Tk500 haircut for a price of Tk250, at max. Read on to find out how.

Another reason why a lot of people underestimate the inexpensive barbershops is because they think the

Look of the Week

Wardrobe Check

The Trendy Wardrobe Essentials one’s for the guys, because they can get away with outfit repeats. If Tourist This you’re cash-strapped and yet want to Uma Thurman looked oh so chill when she waltzed into Hatori Hanzo’s shop to buy a sword. Throw on a basic white tee over olive cargos for a chill travelfriendly look.

remain stylish, here are a few key pieces you must have in your wardrobe, which you can wear in various combinations and permutations throughout the year and not have to splurge on clothes for months.

1. A basic white tee – This can be worn as-is with jeans or khakis, or layered under a colourful (unbuttoned) shirt, or even a blazer. Make sure it fits well (the shoulder seams are at your shoulder), and isn’t too sheer.

2. At least two pairs of dark wash, regular fit jeans – Coloured pants will come and go. Khakis aren’t as versatile. A pair of good jeans will last long, and can be worn with almost everything, and almost anywhere. The dark wash will even pass muster for fancier events.

Model Nusrat Srabony Photographer Homayra Adiba Makeup artist Wasifa Ahmad

3. At least two button-down shirts – You can undo the collar button, roll up the sleeves and leave it keep it untucked for a casual look, or button up, tuck it in for work situations. Throw on a blazer, and it becomes formal attire, and the tie is optional. You’ll need more than one throughout the year, but choose a nice, solid colour, or, if you must do prints, go for subtle stripes.

4. A navy blazer-cut jacket – cheaper than a suit, this is an immensely flattering piece, and will dress up a

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casual outfit. Pair it with a buttondown for more formal occasions, or throw on over a t-shirt for more relaxed occasions. In most cases, you won’t even need a suit.

5. Black dress pants – You won’t be wearing this often, but it always, always pays to have a pair in your closet for a serious situation. Dress pants worn with a button down will work well for interviews.

6. Two pairs of loafers – One black, one tan. They’ll pretty much go with everything, and pass muster for a variety of occasions.

Have these pieces in your closet, along with a few colourful t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops and you’re good to go for the entire year. Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

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Street FPL

Monsoonletters.com FFPB Fantasy League Top 10 (Gameweek 1) Rank Team 1 FC Arclyne 2 The Cereal Killers 3 007 FC 4 Phoenix 11 4 Breakthrow 6 blackhood team 6 ENFORCERS FC 8 DC-15 8 Hectorious Tristan 8 Spellbinder

Manager Rishad Mubtasim Zarib Zayed Boby Gates Nayeemulislam RezwanShovon real32 zissan9 Shakil Mahmud Niamul Leon Mohammad Sharifur ArifinSatej

GW 118 112 110 108 108 107 107 106 106 106

TOT 118 112 110 108 108 107 107 106 106 106

Car Talk

The Ultimate Fantasy Gordon Murray’s dream, BMW’s supremacy, Peter Steven’s blueprint and McLaren’s obsession of extensive attention to detail - it can only be the legendary F1

HOROSCOPE Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19) Thinking of ideas won’t cut it; fuel your dreams this week so that they are up and running.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) If outsiders pry into your life, gently tell them to take a hike. Try not to fly off the handle.

Gemini (May 21-Jun20) Background checks always come in handy, especially if people’s ideas come off as shady or unreliable. Do them.

Cancer

Crosscheck details when working on a serious project.

Carelessness will make you look incompetent.

(Jun 21-Jul 22)

Let’s spin the clock back 20 years, and in the 1990’s, this was the ultimate road car - The McLaren F1. The philosophy behind the F1 road car was simple - to be the finest driver’s car ever built, or ever likely to be built.

This meant producing a car not only with outstanding performance, but one that is versatile and usable as an everyday vehicle.

Today it is no longer the world’s fastest street legal car. In 2008, Bugatti Veyron snatched the spot from the F1, which it had clung to for 15 years. Like the Bugatti, the McLaren is an orgy of mind bending numbers.

It was the fastest with 240Mph, and it was the most expensive, costing half a million pounds in 1993. Today

a decent one would set you back around 3.25 million pounds.

And like the Bugatti, the McLaren was built completely without any compromise. The F1 is the lightest and least compromised, of the great modern supercars. The engine bay was lined with gold because gold is the best reflector of heat. An entirely new bespoke trans-axle six speed gear box had to be developed because no existing gear box could survive the sheer torque from the 6.1Liter quad-cam V12 BMW engine which was specifically designed for the F1.

Even though it is naturally aspirated, it still could chunk out 627BHP. Even by today’s standards, it is more than adequate to take out most of the supercars on the street. Imagine what it did to the streets back in the 90’s.

It was the first carbon-fiber bodied car. Although this car has so much in common with the Bugatti, they are actually poles apart. Where the Veyron is loaded with technology, the McLaren gets almost nothing. There is no traction control, no ABS. Its gizmo cover is completely bare. The F1’s

creator just wanted his machine to be the purest of driving machines, same way as the Bugatti’s creator wanted it to be the most amazing technical achievement. Changing gear on the F1 is like sliding bolt actions forward on an old rifle. That oiled, mechanical, metallic feel. And you sit slap bang in the middle for that racing driver sensation.

Absolute power has cast its spell. The 627-horsepower F1, which humbles all previous slingshot exotics, is just what design director Gordon Murray promised it would be: the ultimate motoring experience, the closest sensation to a street-legal grand prix car. Forget Porsche, Ferrari, Jaguar, and Bugatti. They are all overweight, underpowered pussycats compared with McLaren’s BMWpowered blockbuster. The F1 not only crushes them emphatically, but does so with a spine-tingling sound effect.

The F1 is more than a hedonistic plaything. It is an intoxicating challenge, a car you could dedicate your whole life to. Tahsin Momin

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22) Trouble in paradise?

Spend some more time with your partner before your relationship loses its flare.

Virgo (Aug 23- Sep 22) Don’t let rage get the best of you; dig deep to find out what’s truly bothering you.

Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22) Being responsible has its perks, but that doesn’t mean it won’t have setbacks. Don’t get too burned out.

Scorpio

If you want to bear hug happiness, come to terms with all the ugliness around you. Reality checks will make or break you.

(Oct 23-Nov 21)

Sagittarius

A potential love interest may be hovering around you; give them a chance. It can’t be that bad.

(Nov 22-Dec 21)

Capricorn

Listen to what you say; some people may not get your drift. Don’t end up face-palming yourself for making booboo’s.

(Dec 22-Jan19)

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18) Kick out the habit of typing, and texting. Go out there, smell the flower. Quit confining yourself within four walls.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar20) Indecision has been an age old problem. Find a solution; don’t just come to terms with it.

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HOT TOPIC

TMAG

book of bargains Dhaka may not be New York, but for people here, it’s still an expensive city to live in. This is particularly true for teens who are still too young to have “real” jobs, and yet have burgeoning costs to deal with. From commuting to socialising to feeding your growing body, the bills just keep on piling.

TMAG knows the pain of being broke, which is why we’ve put together a guide to stretching your pocket money as far as it could go

doja deals Badruddoja Market, best known as ‘Doja’ amongst bargain hunters is the location for people looking for trendy clothes that won’t break the bank.

How do you make the most of a small budget? TMAG shows you how.

story By Rubab Nayeem Khan, Tahsin Momin, Natasha Rahman, azfar rahman, munira fidai Photos by Homayra Adiba Models Nusrat srabony, baizid haque joarder MAKE UP WASIFA AHMAD (SIFA’S CORNER)

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The basics (Please note that all prices are approximations, and depend on your haggling skills) Regular t-shirts are available at a price of Tk1 00; you can buy three of those. With the remaining Tk700 you can get 2 pairs of jeans at Tk300 each. You can either buy tank tops or lingerie with the remaining Tk100. If your wants outweigh the needs, you can always shop with this approach: Summery tops are available at a price of Tk200; you can get two of those. The remaining Tk600 can get you either a pair of jeggings or a decent pair of coloured pants within the same price range as jeans. With the remaining Tk300, you can buy yourself a good belt that goes with all kinds of trousers or buy t-shirts.

Rubab Nayeem Khan

travel smart Money is one of those things that have baffled the teen minds for ages. And situations go further beyond salvage when it comes to accommodating transportation costs.

In most cases, teens tend not to include transportation in their calculations. Well, TMAG will help you out on how to tackle such situations.

It all depends on the mode of transport. If you insist on travelling by bus then Tk1000 will take you around Dhaka city twice and you’ll still have enough money left for you to get a decent lunch. If you opt for CNG then it should cover expenses for a round trip no more than 140kilometers in total. And then again, if you have your own car,Tk1000 is more than adequate to cover over 200kilometers of road inside Dhaka city. tahsin momin

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HOT TOPIC

BARGAIN BITES Whether it’s a busy day of classes, or a chill one with buddies, one thing’s for certain, the “hunger games” are bound to strike sooner or later. Fancy restaurants aren’t the best idea during rush hours. Thankfully, our city doesn’t lack food shops catering to a student budget.

To start off with what’s available out there all over the town, the most common and popular example would be “Fuchka.” These are found in stalls almost at every corner of the town.

Prices vary from Tk20 to Tk35 per plate for both the items.

If you’re ever in Dhanmondi and you’re craving for something cheap and quick, check out the newly launched hotdog stands that can be located around Dhanmondi Road 12/A or Road 25. These hotdogs will cost between Tk60 to Tk100, depending on the size of the hotdog you order. Then there are the newest food store additions outside Shimanto Square, formerly known as Rifles’ Square. Starting from subway type sandwiches to shwarmas and burgers, along with a whole other set of delicacies, these food items will cost you a maximum of Tk200.

If you’re around Gulshan or Banani, your ultimate cheap and quick food destination should definitely be the famous Berlin Bakery. This store offers food items ranging from “Daal Puris” to fried chicken, thai noodles to soup items, and prices start from Tk10 to a max of Tk75, based on the food items.

These are pretty much the most basic stores that you know you can always find if you’re ever in these areas, and if you’re not close to any of these areas, then just explore!

That’s the best way to find out all these awesome food stores. Just look around, and you’re bound to find something just around the corner! azfar rahman

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talk is Love don’t cheap cost a thing In a world where communication is faster than ever, everyone clamours for the best possible deals at the cheapest possible rates. Previously, text messages and phone calls were all the rage, with telecom companies trying to outdo each other in price wars. However, nowadays, the number of text messages sent is decreasing every day and the culprit here is the king of all appsWhatsapp. Oh wait. What’s that?

Viber? Alright folks, so “viber-ing” is the new “calling!” With free calling, including overseas calls, and free text messages, there’s heaps you can save on communications.

After research, we have found that the average rates that all telecom companies offer for their various internet packages.

Usually a 1GB package, costing about Tk350, would get you through the month comfortably if you stick to using Facebook, Whatsapp and Viber only, which is pretty much what most of us want the net on our phones for anyway.

For heavier users with tabs who want to avail services of YouTube or send emails and download pictures, a 2GB, costing around Tk500 should suffice.

However, if your world is your tab and you do everything but eating and showering on your smartphone, the unlimited usage, costing approximately Tk850 is best for you.

The rest of the money you save out of the permitted Tk1,000, can be spent on phone credit because you are bound to make some calls and write some conventional text messages to those of your friends or family who have yet to jump on the smartphone bandwagon. The telecom company that offers the lowest call rates right now is Airtel. munira fidai

Tired of going broke at lounges and ice-cream parlours? TMAG gives you refreshing dating alternatives for under Tk1000 for both parties.

Movie Bashundhara City Cineplex can bag you two tickets at Tk600 (max) and you are still left with Tk400 to indulge in popcorn and drinks and make your way back home.

Art galleries If you’re the artsy type, head to art exhibitions all over Dhaka City and enjoy the visual treats, all for FREE. Boat rides Take a boat ride on Banani or Bashundhara Lake and enjoy each other’s company in the hands of nature. It should cost no more than Tk300 per hour.

Picnic on the roof Forget going out of the city to find a spot for picnic when you have a rooftop. Get a rug, a pizza, and some fizzy drinks and you are good to go.

Natasha Rahman

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written in the Stars

Spirited Bela A dash of spunk and whopper confidence; add to it that alluring smile and we have Nabela Mohamed for you! Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from York College of PA,this 22 year old You Tuber has her official channel “BelasSpirit” with hoards of viewers logging on to check her super fun beauty and makeup tutorials, try out her DIY goodies, or watch her inspect, her insatiable make up collection.

Natasha Rahman is awed by the new-age fiery fashionista as she parades through this joyride in vogue!

B

orn in New York and currently living in York, Bela visits Bangladesh every few years and still feels a deep affinity towards Bangladesh.” Although my birthplace is in America, I fully identify myself as a Bangladeshi.”

We urge this young diva to handpick a few things she misses about Dhaka.

“My family, especially my nani and cousins. Riding rickshaws in the late afternoon before going to visit my nanibari in Kaligonj and of course, Bashundhara City Mall. I love that mall so much. I love the stores, the Hindi music blasting in each shop, and the yummy food.”

Her creative outlet BelasSpirit is a little over two years old. Intending to follow the footsteps of her late grandfather, Advocate Mian A.M Noor, she aspires to be a lawyer.

Instead of the cakey makeup that most women opt for, this stylist prefers a palette that is natural, zesty and comfortable.

She quips, “The main objective behind BelasSpirit is showcasing beauty on a budget.”

Bela forges a bond with her viewers effortlessly. Spend a minute watching her vivacious eyes speak and feel her passion for dolling up and you’ll definitely be coming back for seconds!

Her bountiful collection of makeup goodies will put any high end salon to shame. You name it and she’s got it.

Growing up, she would gawk at her elder sister Bithi applying makeup and beg her for makeovers all the time.

This gorgeous beauty makes no bones about who she is.

“To me, being comfortable in my own skin means everything. The way I viewed the world completely transformed after

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I changed the way I viewed myself.

Growing up, I wanted to look like everyone else in my town- blonde hair, blue eyes or brown hair and green eyes with a tiny waist and a perfect smile.

Wanting to be someone else all the time made me a bitter, ungrateful person. The moment I realized that Allah (swt) made me the way I am for a reason and that He makes no mistakes, my life changed forever. Being different is beautiful. My parents helped me realize that being unique is a blessing, not a burden.”

Bela shares a speedy makeup tip for women in Bangladesh to beat the heat and still look fab!

“Take a little bit of your foundation and mix it with your face cream. This will create a lightweight foundation that won’t feel so heavy on your skin in the heat but will provide your face with a good amount of coverage.”

Being in the limelight isn’t always peaches and cream, it comes with its baggage of critics. Bella shrugs off comments about her weight or her style of clothing but does take into account more constructive criticism. “The moment a fan criticizes who I am as a person or what I stand for as though they truly know who I am and what I am about, I get a little emotional about it. It’s hard not to.”

Having over 2 million video views and over 34,000 subscribers, the spirited beauty starlet is overwhelmed with the kind of phenomenal response her videos bring.

“I don’t really bring up how intense my following and fan base is to my family or friends in real life. I normally just keep it to myself. But lately, my audience has grown so fast and I’ve gained so much recognition that now my two worlds have collided and my parents, siblings,

and friends see just how many girls around the world look up to me. It’s so wild. I’m so thankful.”

Though the world is set to be modernized, Bangladeshi women are still battling with their skin tone and weight in order to be “fair, skinny and lovely.” Bela debunks these myths.

“Ignore anyone who tells you that the way you look is wrong. Sure, being healthy is important and trust me, I battle with my weight daily. But I never want to be skinny or a size 0. I just want to be healthier. I do not support the idea that being skinny and looking 10 shades lighter than your actual skin tone is true beauty. True beauty, to me, is an average sized woman holding a samosa in her hand with beautiful tan skin. True beauty to me, is seeing a woman concentrate on her passion and not obsess over the scale and buy more tubes of “Fair and Lovely.” Do not let society tell you that you are not good enough. Embrace who you are.

Getting personal with Nabela Mohamed ...

3 make up must haves Nabela carries Lipstick Eyelash curler Concealer One thing she would never do in public ...

Dance to “ChayyaChayya” from Dil se Her favourite Bollywood movies among many ...

DilwaleDulhaniya Le Jayenge, Jab We Met Shopaholic?

“Yes and no. I only like to purchase great deals and bargains. I am not a big believer in designer things.”

Favourite make up regime “I absolutely love doing eye make up! Your eyes are what finish your entire makeup look. It can make it or break it.”

tmag 9

Fiction

YOU WRITE IT

Covert Operation good as a team.

‘We have to retrieve the data chip from the central lab before saving the doctor,’ said Samin.

With grim understanding Asif replied, ‘Affirmative. But how should we approach the main building?’

‘There are two guards on the front entrance,’ said Samin ‘I will sneak towards them and take them out. Keep an eye on my back. If am spotted, you are going to use the sniper to take out the guards on the observatory towers. I will be relying on your quick fingers.’

Asif said, ‘Do you think most of our troubles will be solved the moment we enter the building?’

‘Not most but a crucial part will be over,’ said Samin. ‘Remember we are good only when we are a team.’

‘Right,’ said Asif.

Samin headed stealthily forward and

with expertise born through practice, he reached the main guards in no time and took them out. Asif had been following slowly behind but the moment the guards had been taken out, he rushed towards Samin.

But it was too late for him to notice Samin’s frantic gestures.

Asif had already activated the motion sensors. An uproar followed as everyone in the area was alerted to the two’s presence.

‘What do we do now?!’ screamed Asif ‘Use a flash grenade!!!’ yelled back Samin ‘How do I do that?’ said Asif While Asif jumped up and down on the floor in excitement, Samin twisted and turned on his couch and shouted, ‘Select the grenade using the right directional key on your joystick, then press X!!!’ Tabeen Siddiki

the quickest man alive The news that a movie and TV show based on The Flash is set for the near-future, sent shockwaves around the geek world. Despite a lack of exposure, when compared to other superheroes, the scarlet speedster has always remained a much adored character, perhaps due to the refreshing, fun & campy stories his character has always provided, in contrast to the darker, grittier tones preferred in stories starring his compatriots.

Rebirth is a tale of the return of Barry Allen, who comes back from the dead to once again take up the mantle of The Flash. Geoff Johns provides a deep insight into Allen’s past as well as the overall legacy of

The Flash. The story is well-paced and purposeful, always keeping the readers on their toes while being supported by some solid artwork and strong character development.

However, there are some downsides of the book – the artwork is noticeably less impressive when compared to other popular comics, while those who aren’t long time followers of The Flash or DC Comics continuity may find it hard to follow the story which is heavily reliant on events that have occurred in other comics.

Despite the flaws, The Flash remains a fun but meaningful character with a lot of depth. Geoff Johns is certainly comfortable penning the tale – worth a quick read, pardon the pun.

Fardeen Ameen

Shopaholic Alert!

Entranced against the glass windows of the mall, your logical mind is nibbling you to make a dash away from it, but your body just won’t listen.

The glimmer of the new bag collection, the glossy heels and that belt that would look just right with your suede pants are surreptitiously chanting ... enticing you.

Read on to see whether the shopping bug is lurking within you!

bigstock

Comic Book

The mission was of the utmost importance and it entirely depended upon the two of them.

The two figures were well-known commandos. Therefore, the wary opponents had constructed difficult obstacles for them to overcome.

But Asif and Samin were just too

nonFiction

book

The trance walk

Going round and round in circles all over a shopping centre like a zombie glued to its preys. Baffled about

which clutch would look smashing with the saree, she will end up contemplating over the same type of bags in three colours and heck, will end up getting them all. You can never be too sure right?

The bling guilt

What shimmers may not be gold, but who cares as long as they blind you with their blatant sparkle? From overpriced iphone covers to the jewellery collection kameez, this birdie has a thing for BLING! Hard earned salary needs a bank account?

Nope, not this one. Once home, she’ll hide her purchases in her secret closet, away from her mom’s death stare.

Credit card debacle

Dad’s credit card is an instant atm! They struggle for a day or two to purchase only “what’s necessary.” But, once he steps into the mall, he succumbs to his inner calling and boom! The overflowing bill is

in front of your dad as he points out your “needs” which include a new spoiler for your car, a fender guitar, hand stitched panjabis for weddings you never attend.

Flashing the card can be so tempting that the shopping bug in you buys the whole world and ends up trying to stuff it in your humble abode.

Frustration= frugal spending

A tiff with friends or a silly squabble at home has you out and about on a shopping spree, drowning your money on items that you will never use. An extra load of napkins for the car, a swimsuit too ‘shocking’ for the Dhaka crowd, you splash money left and right, thinking that this will cheer you up. You squash these packets in your “untouched-shoppingbags” corner, drown yourself in guilt and remorse over spending so much and sprint to a mall first thing next morning!

Natasha Rahman

A Chilling Wilderness

Taking inspiration from a Russian folktale called Snegurochka, meaning, “little daughter of the snow,” The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey, is a story about a middle-aged couple named Mabel and Jack, whofled to Alaska to escape the heartbreak that came with the birth of their still-born child.

They had been drifting away from one another, both freezing in their own sorrow. But one afternoon, the two enjoyed a pleasant moment when during the season’s first snowfall, they light-heartedly built a child out of snow. The next morning though, the snow child disappeared.

In the plain vastness of the powdery snow, their lives were desolate and their hearts were aching until the appearance of Faina, a young, blonde-haired girl who was something in between fantasy and reality. The Snow Child. The story tells the haunting tale of how she brings both delight and anxiety to the lives of Mable and Jack.

The story is a skilful blend of fantasy and reality. The clever use of quotation marks adds to the dreaminess of the story: there is a sudden lack of quotation marks whenever Faina enters the scene, but the moment she exites, the quotation marks come back into play. This feature of the story creates an uncertainty about the physical existence of Faina, which adds a particular charm and mystical allure to the tale.

As the crisp and chilling, harsh and bounteous Alaskan atmosphere begins to engulf the reader, one will realize that this is one of those stories that will gradually grow onto you as you read. A strange story, the plot of which is unique and curious, this tale is bound to suck you in.

This book is available for order in PBS bookstore and is available for download in the form of e-books.

Afshan Sattar

TM AG TU E SDAY, AU G U ST 27, 20 1 3

10 tmag Guitar Tabs Artist - Justin Timberlake Song - Mirrors Note: Capo on 1st fret [Verse I] Bm A Aren’t you somethin’ to admire, Em G cause your shine is somethin’ like a mirror Bm And I can’t help but notice, A Em G you reflect in this heart of mine ...

[Pre-Chorus] Bm A Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul Em G I can tell you there’s no place we couldn’t go ...

[Chorus] G D Cause I don’t wanna lose you now A G I’m lookin’ right at the other half of me D The biggest seat is set in my heart A G There’s a space, but now you’re home D Show me how to fight for now A Em And I’ll tell you baby, it was easy Bm D Comin’ back into you once I figured it out A G You were right here all along ...

(The rest of the song follows the same pattern)

TOP

10

stereo

This week’s best Instrument

The Yamaha Stage Custom Drum kit In Bangladesh, when a drummer thinks about drum kits, they usually think of brands such as Tama or Pearl and such. Very few think about Yamaha drum kit as a top brand in the music industry. Yamaha, originally reputed for their contributions to the motor world, is also highly famous

Music news

The Ka-ching tunes playlist

1. Jessie J Price Tag 2. Jennifer Lopez My love don’t cost a thing 3. The O Jays For the love of money 4. Ima Robot Greenback Boogie 5. The Beatles Can’t buy me love 6. Gwen Stefani Rich Girl 7. Dire Straits Money for nothing 8. Barenaked ladies If I had a million dollars 9. Travie McCoy feat. Bruno Mars Millionaire 10. Tony Bennett Rags to Riches

TM AG TU ESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Spotlight

Get Owned Dirty guitar tones, strong powerhouse riffs, and heavy yet accurate drumming. These things would remind you of a band like Owned. Being around for approximately 6 years, the band has carved themselves a space in most music lovers’ hearts by their character and personality as a band and not to forget, their electrifying live performances.

Owned, by its own definition, is a group of people getting together and doing what they love doing. And by God, you can tell they love music just by listening to their songs. Owned is comprised of 4 men. They boast the brilliant powerful bass skills of A K

in the music instrument industry, producing products such as Guitars, Drums, Electronics and so on.

The Yamaha Drums however, stand out from the other instruments in mass production, particularly the Stage Custom Birch.

The beauty of Yamaha’s drum kits is the hardware and finishing of the drum kit. An instrument needs to look not just “cool” but very classy as well. The Yamaha drops jaws everywhere with their drums. Yamaha’s current reputation was founded on birch drums, with the famous Recording Custom Series introduced at the close of the ‘70s. Although there was nothing new about using birch to make drums, Yamaha cleverly promoted this beautifully constructed series as the ultimate recording kit producing unbelievably beautiful sounds and allowing the drummer in achieving whatever sound he desires.

If you see and experience a Yamaha

Stage custom, you will see the birch shells of the drums that are expertly cut around the edges. The grain pattern of the birch is mundane as always, but the transparent lacquer over the cranberry red stain of the kit is flawless. Yamaha badges always look corporate, but this new one is rather attractive – tasteful silver and grey on a black-backed plaque (try saying that with false teeth) that stoutly proclaims the kit as “Made in China.”

The Stage Custom Birch is now in production in China or Indonesia. It is usually targeted toward intermediate drummers who’re planning on recording music regularly. It requires maintenance, but the final output is just beautiful.

The full drum kit is priced at $699 at MusicianFriend.com with hardware and cymbals and available in 7 different colors. You could also purchase it here, but it may cost you around Tk95,000 – 125,000. It is definitely worth it.

Q Zulyadain Islam

For the love of metal The last couple of months had been booming with concerts in Dhaka city. And it gets better for all you music lovers. Yes, we are talking about Eastern Darkfest which is being held on August 28 at the National Library Auditorium, Agargaon.

The gig comprises of two bands hailing from Sweden and India along with our local bands. The band line-up is Chronic Xorn (India), Sent Men Revolt, Homicide, Abandoned World (Sweden), Opodeb, Dispersion Creature Of Judgement, Oath, Warlock, Stygian Oath, Zone of Inner Diseases, and Absentia. Tickets are Tk250 a pop and the show starts at 12pm. Dissectors EP album will be sold at a price of Tk100, and t-shirts with Dissectors Logo will be available at a price of Tk200. Now isn’t that a cherry on top for this month?

For more details visit: https://www.facebook.com/ events/258189600989302/?fref=ts For those of you who are keen on listening to thrash metal, the uprising band Dissector is here to blow your mind away by releasing their debut EP album at Local Maniac Syndrome which will also hold performances by major underground bands such as Powersurge, Thrash, Homicide, Exalter Override, Sacrilege, and Friday the 13th at the Russian Cultural Center, Dhaka on August 30. Show starts at 3pm and tickets are available at a price of Tk200. Get ready to head bang till you get dizzy!

For more details visit: https://www.facebook.com/ events/217575311699477/?fref=ts

Ratul, the strong riffs of Mushfiq and Fasi whose madness in live performance is a thing to watch, and last but not the least, Sami, the backbone of the band whose powerful and accurate drumming keeps them so stable. Each of them complements the others just by playing music.

Individually, they are influenced by different musicians and genres. They like and tend to blend their different tastes in music. And that’s what makes them unique. To completely understand their sound, a listener needs to understand the concept of the 90’s Seattle grunge scene, but they also experiment with various different styles of music and combine them together. This is something you’ll get to know when you listen to their upcoming album.

Owned is quite proud of its achievements, as it should be. They have gone through a lot of struggle, and a lot of hard work but at the end of the day they believe

they have managed to come up with something unique and something they can be proud of.

Owned has featured a lot of guest members and they are A K Rahul (Trainwreck and Poraho), Sifat Hasan (Absent Element), Tinu Rashid (Karnival), and Shahed Hossain (Poraho). Owned also features a few great musicians as live members, and they are Pritom Arefin on guitars and Samiul Haque on keyboards.

Owned has completed recording 8 of the 10 songs for their album. A much awaited bunch of songs, their album is about emotions that people usually feel.

However, it is set in a way for listeners to have their own interpretations. As for labels, they have remained secretive but they have spoken and we have received positive responses from all of them. The album could be out sooner than we think.

Imtiaz Salim

Q Zulyadain Islam

tmag 11

playroom

WE RECOMMEND tv

A Tower of Delicious Ideas Ultimate Cake Off is an American television series based on how professional bakers and cake artists go head to head to create a dramatically decorated cake, which often reaches or surpasses five feet in length.

Each professional gets a supporting team of bakers and designers. Each episode involves three such teams, and they have nine hours to create the concept, and construct and assemble the individual layers of the colossal cake.

The cake is baked for a particular client and event. So it might be for a wedding, or it might be for the launch of a new car showroom. The cakes are judged on three criterions: client

Game

satisfaction, technical difficulty and aesthetic appeal. The winning cake receives $10,000, and display at the client’s event.

The level of creativity when it comes to decoration really takes the cakes to a new level (sometimes literally!). It’s a show that everyone will enjoy, but particularly those baking enthusiasts who are hungry for more techniques and ideas.

Ultimate Cake Off was a much-loved show that would air on TCL. They have showed season one and two, and we are waiting on the third. The show is available for download as well.

Afshan Sattar

Countdown to kick off!

Once again, it’s that time of the year again that all crazy football gamers look forward to each and every year, the release of this year’s FIFA franchise, FIFA 14. For all the football gaming fanatics out there, wondering what EA Sports has to offer in this year’s installation of the FIFA franchise, read on to find out some of the most important upgrades in store for you.

So firstly, let’s address the update that EA Sports declares to be the most important upgrade that sets FIFA 14 apart from every single one of the franchise’s previous series - Precision Movement. In previous FIFA games, player movement has always been extremely smooth; somewhat close to gliding all over the pitch. With the Precision Movement, it makes movements not just look real, but also feel real. It’s the vital change in gameplay that will affect pretty much everything in the game now, starting from first touches, to dribbling, to shooting, to even AI motion movements and positioning. This feature might not result in more control over the player, it’s to recreate the look and feel of the real game. In the simplest explanations, the Precision Movement feature is what will bring “life” into the game, and is this year’s biggest addition to the gameplay.

web critic

app of the week

Moving on to the second improvement, it can be considered just as important as the first since the second upgrade focus in not on the gameplay or players, it’s on the football. Pure Shot, as it’s called, will allow players to have better accuracy while attempting distance power shots at the goal. Depending on the player stance or movement, the ball will now swerve, dip, bend or even rise with deadly precision. Not necessarily that it’ll just end up making scoring goals a lot easier, the goal keepers will be just as difficult to beat.

Another notable update will be the Protect the Ball feature. Not much needed to explain there, right? All there’s to say is that like the former games, this feature has just been improved with stricter controlling to bring more reality into the simulation.

So pretty much these are the most important additions to this year’s FIFA franchise. Ultimately, with each annual FIFA release, the gameplay just keeps getting harder, as well as more lifelike.

After all, that’s the best part, isn’t it? The desire to thrive over a new challenge, and it goes without saying, FIFA 14 will definitely deliver what’s expected of it.

Like it always does.

Azfar Rahman

Minting Money If you’re never sure why your wallets empty out faster than a classroom at recess, don’t be too hard on yourself.

Money management is something that confuzzles even many adults. Lucky for us Netizens, we can pretty much turn to the Internet for just about anything.

Personal finance is no exception.

Mint is a good choice for beginners, because it’s intuitive, user-friendly, and offers you a variety of options. Whether you’ve opened your first bank account, or just need to keep track of what you’re spending your pocket money on, it has

built-in spreadsheets to help you keep tabs. You can generate colourful graphs to focus on any particular aspect of your earning, and you can set alarms and reminders to help you pay your bills on time. The site also provides useful suggestions on ways to save. The built-in security features ensure all the information you enter into your account remains absolutely safe.

And the best part? It’s all absolutely free. Sign up with www.mint.com and say goodbye to your saving woes.

Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

Tiny FlashLight Price Free Platform Android/iOS Size 600KB This app enables you to find your way through the darkness. Incredibly simple and yet very useful, it uses your device’s camera LED / flash / screen as a torch.

Tiny Flashlight is currently the best free led flashlight app on the market. It is also one of the highest rated app in the market. It has a very low memory footprint which makes it easy on the battery as well as the CPU consumption.

What makes it even cooler is its Morse code functionality. Worried about getting lost? Have no fear, Tiny Flashlight is here! Tahsin Momin

Movie Monsters in class Pixar started off as a scrappy startup, making heart-warming children’s animations on a dime that were both critical and commercial successes. After being purchased by Disney, they’ve managed to maintain their core DNA in making enjoyable wholesome family movies, but they’re also becoming “very Hollywood.”

Monster’s University is set before Mike Wazowski and Jake Sully who are the rock-star “scarers” in Monsters Inc. Starting off as bitter rivals in university with limited social skills, they learn to work together and pick up some life lessons and life friends along the way. The backbone of the story is Mike Wasowski, and despite the lack of an adorable human child and this reviewer’s scepticism about ever being able to humanly relate to Billy Crystal’s voice, Mike makes an extremely convincing, relatable, conflicted youngster. Some excellent elements of coming-of-age themes are used in this movie, making it not only enjoyable, but genuinely educational too, setting a good example for younger viewers.

A lot of characters in Monsters Inc. appear in the prequel, and George Lucas should watch this movie to learn how prequels are done tastefully. If Lucas ties his prequels with the original material with an oxyacetylene lamp and soldering iron, Pixar does it with the sophistication of friction-stir welding: seamless and seemingly effortless.

After a summer of muddled and confused narratives, it is so refreshing to see a movie with a clearly written script with crisp structure, good pacing, and flawless execution. You’re never bored, you’re never confused, it’s genuinely funny, and it’s got a good message.

5/5 Iftekharul Haque

TM AG TU E SDAY, AU G U ST 27, 20 1 3

12 tmag

TEENARAMA

He says

Dear Diary,

She says August 23, 2013

It was a soothing night. I was in Sameer’s car and he drove me away from the city out in the wilderness. Peak of dawn and the wind against my face, I couldn’t enjoy it like I used to. I looked at Sameer and hoped he could read the guilt in my eyes, but he looked at me with those angelic eyes and I tore my eyes away from him. He is everything I want in a man and more, so why is it that I am still thinking of Imran? I couldn’t wait to get home.

As I was about to step out of the car, he kissed my hands ever so gently. I didn’t even know him that well, but his eyes spoke to me. It broke my heart to know that I am here toying with both their feelings. I don’t care what tomorrow holds for me, but I need to come clean with both Sameer and Imran. It’s unfortunate that the rule of life is to be with one person for the rest of your lives.

Whoever made this rule was definitely lonely, pathetic and miserable! How is it possible to find all the qualities you want in one person? It’s not. I will sit with both of them tomorrow and no matter how ugly it gets, I will remove the mist of love that they are both so blinded by.

Tomorrow.

Money talks, we all know that, as much as we choose not to admit it. TMAG spoons out what happens in a relationship when materialism kicks in and love finds its way out. Here we have three incidents where money can be a deal breaker for couples

The problem of giving excessive gifts to your partner

He says

I love showering my girl with presents.

Some may think I am trying to buy her affection but that’s really not my intention. I am not a very talkative person and presents usually bring out a scope of conversation for us both.

Although I must admit that she does cringe when I give her presents, she is more patient to my delays and ‘boys nights out.’

THE DREAMER

She says

If you want to share your awesome or not-so-awesome life events email it to us at tmag@dhakatribune.com

1

When I was changing in my room, it slipped my mind that the windows were wide open and by the time I realised it, I was running around in my semi birthday suit in search of a towel.

Blush Much?

2

My kid brother was running around wearing my bra in the presence of my friends. It was awkward.

3

My cousin nudged me while praying, and I accidentally let out a burp.

4

My mom thought that an allergy on my neck was a hickey and she kept teasing me about it.

5

Two of my friends bought me a thong for my birthday. I’m a guy.

6

My accounting sir was sitting in my bedroom, and my maid came in and dumped all my lingerie on the bed right in front of him.

Email your confession today to tmag@dhakatribune.com

TM AG TU ESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Who doesn’t like getting gifts? But too much of a good thing should be avoided. My boyfriend gives me one too many gifts and that too on weekly intervals. Neither do I earn like him nor do I feel the need to show my feelings to him through presents. A gift from him usually is a burden to me; it keeps me from getting mad at him and also makes me feel guilty for not giving him a present in return.

The problem of fighting over the bill on a date

He says

It’s very ordinary nowadays for couples to split the bill, but I cannot stand it if my girlfriend tries to pay for dinner. It makes me feel useless, out of control and less of a man. Yes, it may be very sexist of me but I can’t help it and she’s got to let me pay for her every time we are out together.

She says

I am a working girl and my boyfriend knows my need to be self sufficient. When he makes a fuss every time I reach out for the bill, it makes me really mad. I get that he wants to be the ‘man’ but he doesn’t get that if he really wants to man up, he shouldn’t be such a sissy every time I take my wallet out.