TMAG, Volume 2, Issue 32

Dhaka Tribune

Thursday, December 18, 2014 Volume 2, Issue 32

That's Christmas to me

Status of the week A weekly production of

DhakaTribune Editor Zafar Sobhan Executive Editor Shahriar Karim Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Asst Magazine Editor Natasha Rahman TMAG Team Saudia Afrin Tahsin Momin Baizid Haque Joarder Rad Sharar Raisa Rahim Contributors Rafid Ahnaf Kyoko Bhuiyan Nasif Chowdhury Ehsan Sunny Imad Khan

Editor’s note

Meme of the week

Let’s all take a moment and be thankful spiders can’t fly

Dear Readers, Christmas is knocking on the door! And we thought we should bring together anecdotes about what Christmas really means to all you lovely people. Turn to Hot Topic(pg6&7) to enjoy the little pieces of joy that we all share with a family member. To gear up for winter, we have for you on Fashion Face-off (pg4) a winter look book for him and her, so you could chill this winter in style. On Teenarama(pg12) find out which Christmas carol are you and also we have Love Gurus Lola and Mr. Twist taking a stab at all your relationship issues. Please send us your amazing fiction, awesome photos and do let us know how we are doing. We are always eaget to hear from you

Hashtag trendings #EnjoyChristmas This hashtag was created in honour of Christmas.

“Christian, Muslim, Jew, or whatever... Christmas IS merry.

So merry Christmas everyone #EnjoyChristmas

More inside Picks Of the week 2 Room of the week Afsha Sattar 3 Doodle of the week Nazia Afroze 10 Spotlight Young and fresh 10 The goodsheet Mary, Did You Know?

12 Teenarama Love Guru

Your world 5 Car Re-suited, rebooted 9 fiction Waking Up 9 Comic Strip Nasif Chowdhury

TMAG says 2 Your room Light of happiness 2 FYI Christmas feast-a-snack 10 Playlist family, fun and cookies 11 News Comicon

Real Life 3 Event Tweets 6 Hot topic That’s Christmas to me

Fashion 4 Wardrobe check Winter lookbook 4 Look of the week Raisa Rafsana

Merry Christmas From, The TMAG desk

Horoscopes 5 Your forecast

Graphics Mohammed Mahbub Alam Tahsin Momin Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Production Masum Billah Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel

5 Car talk McLaren 650S

Email: tmag.dt@dhakatribune.com Website: www.dhakatribune.com

8 Written in the Stars

Kawshik Azad

About the cover That’s Christmas to me!

Model Saudia Afrin and Maliha Akram Samin Photo Anup Munir Art Direction Baizid Haque Joarder

2 Room of the week Afsha Sattar

4 Look of the week

Raisa Rafsana

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Your Life

FYI

Your room

Christmas feast-a-snack prepping exotic Christmas dishes is not your thing, surprise your fambam with a fruity treat instead. What you will need is a loaf of fruitcake, thinly sliced apples and cheese. Place one slice of apple followed by cheese on each piece of the fruitcake, and voila! This classic combo of apple and cheese on a fruitcake never disappoints;

Jingle bells, Jingle bells Christmas is just around the corner.

This calls for a celebration with some jingle bell snacks. Now, preparing an elaborate meal of chicken roast with fondant cupcakes may cause a disaster in your kitchen. Hence, opt to prepare some no-fuss Christmas snacks and win brownie points with the folks, what say?

Strawberry Santa Cut out the top part of the strawberry fruit. Using a knife, dig out the insides to make space for the whipped cream or cream cheese filling. Put a dollop of the filling in the strawberry, and use the cut out top as Santa’s hat. Finally, get some chocolate sprinkles to add two dots beneath the “hat.”

Say cheese If being cooped up in the kitchen

A chocolate mess Hot chocolate fudge. Yes, that’s right.

We have the simplest way for you to make this gooey chocolate mess at home. Hershey’s chocolate bar, or even Cadbury will do the trick. If most of your family members have a sweet spot for chocolate, get four bars for the recipe. You will need a can of condensed milk and about 2/4 cup of butter. Place all these items in a saucepan and put it on low heat. Wait as the ingredients melt to a heavy, creamy consistency. Let it cool for a few minutes and serve right after. This mouth-watering chocolate dip tastes amazing with cookies, biscuits and marshmallows. Or, you could just get a spoon and dig right in.

Natasha Rahman

TMAG’s Room of the week!

Name

Afsha Sattar Area

Gulshan Bookworm The neatly placed books and the little knick-knacks tell the story of a sophisticated book lover. The different ways of organising the books make the ‘what is thought to be rather monotonous’ bookshelf much more interesting

courtesy

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Light of happiness Like rainbows, Christmas fills up our lives with colours of love and joy. TMAG is happy to take this opportunity to share some of the ways you can light up your world

Welcome Think out of the box when it comes to your doorway. You can either hang lights of different shapes and sizes or opt for something that represents Christmas in particular. Use nano-size lights while maintaining equal spaces between them, to get a starry effect. To symbolise Christmas, instead of using a Christmas tree or a stuffed Santa, you can go for gigantic versions of candy-cane, colourful Christmas balls or wish card wreath.

Love for the corner Decorative tree branches or tiny cards look nice in the corners of your room.

What do you think of hanging Christmas cards on a rope that is pinned to the walls of your room? If you like the idea, then you can also brighten it up with mini, round shaped light bulbs.

Window Every passer-by is likely to notice your windows, hence they deserve maximum attention. Ribbons, lights or Christmas balls can make your windows more appealing.

Cut satin ribbon in different lengths and tie a Christmas ball or ornament to the end of each ribbon, making a bow.

After that, tie the ends of the ribbons to the curtain rod. Please avoid sticking it on the wall with a tape. Use ribbons of different colours to make your windows give out a festive vibe.

Around the room Your room, your way. However, bed frames, dresser mirrors and ceilings are places that you shouldn’t forget to light up. Do not make excessive use of lights in your room though. Among many ideas, hanging strands of Christmas lights from the ceiling is a good one.

Instead of putting them all in the corners of your ceiling, give it a “Jhar bati” like look by bringing them in the center. You can place them in a haphazard manner across the ceiling too. Avoid the ceiling idea if you have a canopy bed since it is the better place to decorate with lights.

Wrapping the lights around the headboard of your bed and likewise around the foot-board gives out a dreamy feel to the room besides for looking gorgeous. You can finish up by outlining the mirror edges with lights. That has got to look magnificent. saudia afrin

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EVENTS

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Event Tweet

NSUers Corporated

Bangladesh GameFest Bangladesh Electronic gaming festival, titled “Bangladesh GameFest” is a program that provides the e-sports community with a huge scope to show their potentials. The four-day event will commence from December 2014 till January 2015.

The program aims to bring together the large electronic gaming community and its avid players, gaming enthusiasts, e-sports businesses and

NSU YES! - North South University’s most prestigious business club has yet again mesmerised everybody with another successful event. NSUers Meet the Corporate Icons (NMCI) 2014 has been a pure triumph.

The moral of this event is to give an insight to the business enthusiast undergraduates of NSU so they can churn their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur into reality. It helped to build a bridge between the undergraduates and the world of business. NMCI season 5, like the others, was a hit. A large number of business enthusiasts joined the seminars where they enhanced their knowledge by our experienced speakers. The speakers who gave

their invaluable time and shared their stories were: • A S M Mainuddin Monem, deputy managing director, Abdul Monem Group • Golam Sakib Choudhury, area manager, Dhaka East (Marketing), BATB • Solaiman Shukhon, head of marketing, Elite Technologies • Riyad Shahir Ahmed Husain, CEO, Magnito Digital • Selim R.F Hussain, CEO and MD, IDLC Financing Ltd • Shahnawaz Chowdhury, senior vice president, Midland Bank.

NSU YES! intends to continue doing their best works and ensures that the next NMCI will be bigger and better.

Dhaka University Model United Nations (DUMUN) For the third time, Dhaka University is organising a Dhaka University Model United Nations (DUMUN) from December 21-24. Keeping in mind the deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the deliberation of the inter nation community on sustainable development agendas, this year’s theme is “Empowering Youth for Sustainable Development.”

Over 500 delegates from inside and outside the country will be participating this year, where young students will do role-play of diplomats from the 193 member states that make up the UN. The participants will form 10 different UN committees. The venue this year is the Nabab Nawad

Ali Chuwdhury Senate Building, inside the Dhaka University premises. The session will be inaugurated by the honourable Vice Chancellor, A A N S Arefin Siddik; other well reputed personalities like Dr Delwar Hossain from the department of International Relations in DU; UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Argentina Matavel Piccin; and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr M Riaz Hamidullah.

Dhaka University Model United Nations Association (DUMUNA) is organising the entire event. They aspire to push the limits and quality of MUNs in Bangladesh, and their efforts have made DUMUN, country’s most prestigious MUN conference.

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investors; beginners and professionals.

It is being organised by the event management agency, EventUs, Bangladesh GameFest will be held at Saad Musa City Center in two phases: The group stage, December 25-26 The finals stage and community carnival January 2-3

Youth Parliament to Explore Future Bangladesh through ICT “Youth Parliament to Explore Future” is a platform that creates a deep impact on the policy makers of Bangladesh in order to trigger innovative initiatives for a more developed Bangladesh.

The event will be held on December

18 at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, Dhaka University at 9.30 am. Along with many well-known personalities, 456 youth delegates from all over Bangladesh will be present at the event.

Arsenic and Old Lace On December 9-10, North South University Cine & Drama Club (NSUCDC) staged its in house drama production, “Arsenic and Old Lace” at NSU Plaza.

“Arsenic and Old Lace” is a play by the American playwright, Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. The play was directed and guided by M Arifur Rahman.

Famous Director, Tariq Anam Khan and NSU Club Coordinator, Prof Emdadul Haq attended the event as special guests on the first day of the

event.

On the second day of the event, Chairman of board of trustees of NSU, Benajir Ahmed and Vice Chancellor of NSU, Dr Amin U Sarkar were seated in the guest panel. Prominent poet and writer, Asad Chowdhury inaugurated the event as the Special Guest.

NSU Cine & Drama Club (NSUCDC) aims to promote the appreciation for art of cinema and theatre. It not only strengthens the knowledge of theatre and cinema but also helps its members bring out different sides of themselves.

Inter Varsity Debate Championship “NSU IV” North South University Debate Club (NSUDC) hosted it’s annual Inter Varsity Debate Championship “NSU IV” from November 21 till December 1. With a Game of Thrones theme this year, the tournament observed over 250 participants competing from a total of 23 universities of Bangladesh.

The tournament was divided into two language based sections: English and Bangla. The teams DUDS Shoparjito Shadhinota (Zehad Al Mehedi, Mahadi Hasan and Sobhany Sourov) and GOD Aungshuman (Akib Bin Rashid, Yasin Shafi and Nahian) made it to the Bangla finals. On the other side, teams from NSU(Tasnuva Raidah and Niladry Sabir), IBA(Wasifa Noshin and Saad Ashraf), IUB(Fardeen Ameen and Christopher Sangma) and BRAC(Wasifa Noshin and Saad Ashraf) made it to the English

finals.

The grand final and closing ceremony took place at the NSU premises on December 10. DUDS Shoparjito Shadhinota was crowned champion in the Bangla section, while BRAC University claimed their victory in the English section. Zehad from DUDS was announced the best speaker in the Bangla finals, while Yasin from GOD was the best speaker of the whole tournament. Azraf from BRAC was the best speaker of the English Finals, but the award for the best speaker of the entire English tournament went to Rishad Sharif from DU. The event closed with a grand prize giving ceremony and dinner. NSUDC plans on organising more successful debates in future.

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FASHION FACE-OFF

Winter look book

Christmas Fad Let’s vivify them grey sweaters and black scarves sitting in your closet. To help you add some funky layering to your winter style, TMAG brings you some amazing tips Fun accessories Big earrings and statement jewelry are a great way to funk up your pair of jeans and sweater. Try headbands, flower clips and embellished scrunchies to add a touch of old-world glamour. Infuse bright colours into your accessories like belts and bags, to balance out the plainness of your sweater. Hats are also trendy for a winter accessory. A soft woolen beanie or any other type of headwear, perched on your crown, will always make a stylish statement. Ditch the fedoras for cosy woolen ones instead.

Scarf it up Your winter look will be incomplete

Look of the week

Haute in Hijab

“The gorgeous dress, heavy with sequins and laces, is paired with very few accessories and a plain, yet shimmery hijab.

The pop of red fabric on the headwear gives the look a more party like essence.”

Model Raisa Rafsana Photo Courtesy

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without a scarf. You can wear it in multiple ways, by draping it over your shoulders like a shawl, or tucking the ends into a straightforward jacket. Feel free to play around with how you knot the scarf, or you can just keep it simple and let it hang loose from your neck.

Tighten it up Tights and jeggings are a wardrobe staple during winter. One way to layer up with tights is to wear them under shorts or with fitted tunic tops and a cardigan. Don’t be boring and wear only solid colours; go with printed leggings that will definitely make you look edgy.

Blazers, cover-ups and stripes Go with pop-colours to bring out the stripes more. The mutton chop sleeves have made a comeback this winter, so layer them with a blazer to switch things up. A smart pair of trousers will complete this look.

You can get creative and layer your shirts with a sleek blazer. Cardigan is also quite popular this season. For a sophisticated, nerdy look, put on a simple button down cardigan and wear them with jeans or loose palazzo pants.

It’s time to brighten up your wardrobe girls! Kyoko Bhuiyan

Winter staples for guys Winter! That amazing time during the year when you can finally bring out your favourite sweaters, unstructured blazers and that oh-so-slick leather jacket. And wear them without breaking a sweat; now that’s the icing on the cake! Let’s prepare a check-list, more like a casual round up, of your wardrobe for the chilly season Under shirts We may not feel the need for these during the summer but under shirts are considered to be a necessity during winter. This is something that fits you nicely and does not reveal much of itself through the outfit you are wearing.

Shirts Although we normally tend to choose breathable fabrics when shopping for shirts, it would be wiser if you opt for materials like flannel, linen and blends of warmer materials.

Sweaters and cardigans Picture a winter scenario. Yes, you are definitely thinking about sweaters and cardigans. But make sure you keep in mind that this is not the 90’s any more which means, bulky and loosefitted sweaters are not in vogue. As for cardigans, team them up with a shirt, make sure they are slim-fitted and you are good to go.

Jackets While stocking up on jackets, keep in mind a few things like warmth, fit, cut and whether you want it to be formal or informal. Answer these questions and you’ll get the perfect jacket for you. Both comfortable and fashionable. As for leather jackets, a decent shirt along with a desert scarf will be hard to not look good; unless, you are wearing an awful excuse of a jacket. Whether it is a leather hoodie or a biker’s jacket, one is sure to make a style statement, considering it is of good quality.

Miscellaneous Mufflers, desert scarves, socks, beanies (popularly known as “monkey caps” in the shops) should make it to your list.

Gloves aren’t much of a necessity here in Bangladesh but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

With all that being said, winter fashion is all about layering. Doesn’t matter if you are wearing Gucci or something from Doza market, if you don’t layer your clothes right, it’ll not help your case. The simplest rule of layering is that, you start with the lightest clothing and end with the heaviest on the outside. So, layer it right and you should make a few heads turn when you pass by. Baizid Haque Joarder

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Street

HOROSCOPE

Car Talk

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19)

Cancel vacation plans if you want to explore into a spiritual journey.

You want to break free of the chains and shackles, but don’t act impulsively.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 20)

Your mind is corrupted with backdated ideas and beliefs pushing you away from what you want.

Gemini (May 21-Jun 20)

You’ll be encouraged to make promises you can’t keep, don’t let your emotions distract you. Keep things lighthearted, and desire security.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)

Don’t let personal relationships stand in the way of your success.

Say yes to new people, places, and experiences. Doing so could be a revelation.

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22)

Re-suited, rebooted McLaren calls its latest model the 650S, but we reckon 12C-2.0 might have been a more suitable name for it The Mclaren 650S replaces the 12C; a car that put the British company back in the business of building road cars that rivals to the likes of Ferrari. Hang on a bit; you probably didn’t even know that they were a British company till now.

Well, that’s how bad their marketing is!

But then again we are not here to talk about their marketing skills, are we?

We are more interested in the updates that the 650S has got!

The 650S adopts the 12C’s midengine chassis, which includes a formula one-style carbon-fibre passenger tub; but then again, 25 percent of the 650S’s parts are new, counting the engine’s cylinder heads, pistons and exhaust valves; combine all of them and the upshot is a horsepower lift.

The 650S grabs the 12C’s baton and sprints like the wind, with 641 horsepower and an exotic hydraulic suspension that tames potholes and racetracks alike. Be it on road or the track, the 650S is quicker, sharper

and more alluring than the somewhat clinical 12C. It tops out at 207mph.

The 650S features a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8, a race-calibre chassis and a dual-clutch transmission that creates a vivid impression: This car is eccentric, encouraging and engaging!

McLaren’s no-stone-unturned engineering of its seven-speed paddle-shift transmission shows in the “inertia push” feature. On the other hand the clutch engages the next gear with supplementary force, delivering acceleration with an extra bit of oomph.

McLaren’s styling director, Frank Stephenson, whose earlier work includes the designs of the reborn Mini and Fiat 500, grafted the face of McLaren P1 on the 650S, including LED headlamps and radiator inlets, which recall a pair of striking cobras.

For some though, the 650S arrived a bit sooner than expected. McLaren’s unexpected decision to replace the 12C outright after just three years has left the 12C as an orphan and a lot of angry

McLaren enthusiasts. It is a bit like the grumbling that surrounds Apple’s new product updates, but only at six-figure stakes.

The 650S coupe starts at $269,200 and the open-air Spider is $283,925.

The McLaren’s launch control enables a 2.9-second explosion to 60mph as sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires paint thick stripes on the pavement. Reaching 100mph in less than six seconds. According to the auto manufacturer, the 650S is quicker than the legendary $1 million McLaren F1 road car produced in the 1990s.

On everyday roads, the McLaren as a super-car is quite liveable, aside from the upward-swinging “dihedral” doors and the awkward entrance and exit created by wide door sills. And yet, nobody cares that the McLaren isn’t as beautiful or soulful sounding as the Ferrari 458 Italia, because it is simply a brilliant toss-up in handling and it is definitely a hell-lot faster!

Tahsin Momin

Big questions circle around in your head as you may notice a desire to escape from too much responsibility, but at what cost? It’s time to direct your energy to activities.

Virgo (Aug 23- Sep 22)

Give yourself a chance for some alone time, as this is when inspiration could strike, bringing solutions to problems and creative ideas. Let your feelings go, rather than holding them back.

Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22)

Your outlook is upbeat and exciting, with a desire to reach out and connect. Send cards and messages to those who are dear to your heart. This might be an opportunity to bring back pleasure in your life.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21)

Spend time alone at home or with family and friends to discuss about your ambitions. You might want to buy a few gadgets to make your life easier and reaching out to the world.

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)

Responsibilities towards others have held you back and diminished your enthusiasm. Rather than carrying all these extra baggage, pack up and go for an adventure. It’s high time you needed a break.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19)

Start thinking about yourself.

You keep cutting yourself short neglecting your own needs while carrying out your duties. You need to strike a balance.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)

Social life is going to be hectic but you won’t complain because this is what you love doing.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)

You might want to lay off the pressure for a bit. Your lost precision in life may do more damage than you might have anticipated.

Meditate and get back on track.

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That's Christmas to Whether you’re of the faith or not, there’s one aspect of Christmas that rings true for almost everyone, and that’s family. Disconnected as we sometimes tend to get from one another, what with deadlines and traffic and social commitments, at the end of the day, a little quality time with the loved ones hold the most meaning. This week, the TMAG team talks about some of their memorable moments with family. Join us on our Facebook page and share your special family moments

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Telepathy

It was just another day. The family in the car and me sitting on the passenger seat listening to music with my headphones on. It was almost silent in the car, save for the ambient noises coming from all the traffic and people outside on the streets, and the leaking sound from my headphones. It was quite normal for us to be so quiet; my family barely talks amongsts themselves unless the discussion surrounds trivial family matters or education. And then there’s me; I barely talk or discuss anything with them. I’m not a reserved person, but around my family I shut down as I do all the conversing with friends instead.

However, while I was sitting there on the passenger seat, I was keeping to myself like everyone else, and in one glance my dad knew something was wrong.

“It’s about your friend who lives in Canada, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I’ll get you a ticket soon,” he said.

It is profound how strong family bonds are. They’re relationships that don’t require pragmatic efforts to keep it healthy. And then there’s the understanding between us that requires little or no explanation. Gotta love family. - Imad Khan

Jovi Duos

Despite the big age difference between my elder brother and me, we’ve always been very close. One of my very fond memories with him is of a cassette player on which we’d listen to music together. We would buy new cassettes and sing along like we were out of our minds. This one time, we were listening to Bon Jovi’s “Its my life” and our mother rushed inside to see whether one of us were hurt after she heard our version of the chorus! - Baizid Haque Joarder

Worth millions

How does an ordinary morning transform into the best memory? When you wake up to see your father, who had just survived a heart attack, walking around, greeting all three of his daughters who are all home after a long absence. That unforgettable moment remains priceless in my memory. - Saudia Afrin

HOT TOPIC

7

o me Visit home

Big bundle of love

How amazing would it be to live in a fleeting time span of the happiest moment of your life? Some moments are so deeply imbued into our memory that the mere thought of them fills us up with sheer joy. Such an occasion was the birth of my first niece. Not only does 15th January of 2013 mark the birthday of my favourite niece, it stands witness to a joyous family reunion.

As I reached the hospital, I found my brother treading along the wide corridor, a tense look lining his otherwise impassive face. The whole extended family was there, scattered all over the waiting room, a bunch of misfits. My arrival was soon followed by the obstetrician who informed my brother that both the mother and the baby were in perfect health. His transition from “tense” to “the happiest man alive” was a sight for sore eyes.

There was smiles all round, the stony mood, it seemed had lifted.

Everybody was grinning ear to ear, some congratulating him, others slapping him on the back. We were making so much noise, how we managed to not get kicked out of there was beyond me. - ASM Foysal

We used to visit our mother once every two weeks back then. Us brothers would dress our best (Ammu would have killed us if we weren’t presentable) and somehow, I messed up every time. Trousers with shirts.

Panjabis with khakis. I was an idiot. Her place was our real home; our chance to be part of a real family for a few hours as we used to sit with our uncles, aunts, and cousins at the lunch table for a feast. What may have been a usual setting for many, it was something I realised to be very precious to myself. I loved it. We hardly left that table for hours as the discussions continued about my school grades and must-get haircuts. - Rad Sharar Bin Kamal

SURPRISE!

It’s the holiday season and I have nothing to do. So I naturally do what any other bored teenager would do: raid the refrigerator for food. Mind you, this activity is no less than a treasure hunt! After opening two ice-cream containers loaded with torkari, three peanut butter jars stuffed with achaar (pickles) and a mouldy half eaten sandwich, I finally hit the jackpot - an ornately decorated chocolate fudge cake. But instead of plunging into chocolate-y salvation, I let it be because it’s a birthday cake. For yours truly.

By all rights of ownership, I could’ve devoured MY cake right then and there, but I waited. There is an unspoken rule in my household. Every birthday must be commemorated at 12am, on the dot, with cake and cards. And what’s funny is, the entire thing is designed as a surprise, even though every time I sort of know what’s coming (hard not to when you find your cake just sitting around in the fridge). Everyone pretends like there is no birthday, even though everyone knows exactly what’s up. 11:50 pm you see a perfectly normal dining table, but by 12am they transform it into a full-on party. The table set, my parents call me (like I know they would) and I come play the happily surprised son.

These precious little things families do for your happiness really make them precious. And it makes you do little things - like feigning surprises for them too. In the end, that’s what really matters - family.

- Mustafid Raiyan Khan

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Written in the stars

From the desert of Abu Dhabi to the metropolis of Dhaka city, Kawshik Azad leaves an undeniable impact wherever he goes. Not only is he a vocalist and a model, but also a wonderful pianist, one that speaks magic.

Natasha Rahman loses track of time as the 24 year old Kawshik plays Yanni’s “One Man’s Dream” and tells his tale

Never without that bright smile on his face, Kawshik reminisces his school days at Al Dhafra International school as a vocalist.

“Back in Abu Dhabi, I used to have a band called ‘ecstasy.’ In 2006, Bomba energy drink sponsored a ‘battle of the bands’ competition in which we decided to participate. I was a little nervous but I knew I had awesome band members who would take the audience by storm.”

And they did.

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to win. But when they called out our band’s name, I was elated.” Not only is Kawshik an amazing singer, but he has played at choirs as well. “I was 12 and my sister who was the head of the choir team motivated me to join in.

At that time, the hardest part was to harmonise the scales and then balance that with singing and playing the guitar at the same time.” Kawshik pulled it off brilliantly and was offered to play at the church choirs too.

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The versatile pool of talent that he is, soon he gave tap dancing a shot.

“I love dancing, and hence, while I learned to tap dance, I managed to learn it relatively easily.” In a matter of two months, the quick learner in him decided to awe the audience with his new found love for tap dancing. “I tap danced at my school’s annual show and also tried a bit of break dancing.”

Unfortunately, that didn’t end too well for him. “I fractured my leg and was bedridden for weeks,” he said. However, that never clipped Kawshik’s wings.

“My band members wanted me to play with Maliyali artists. It was challenging for me as I had to learn about their music and culture, and also understand their language at the same time. It was amazing to be able to play the guitar and the keyboard with such talented singers.”

Always up for challenges and being a thrill seeker, Kawshik dived right into skate boarding. “I used to love skate

“

If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. But if you are determined, then no one can stop you

“

Meet the firecracker

boarding after school. I enjoyed it so much that I volunteered and gathered all the skaters and cyclists to come to the skate park and have a skate off to show all their tricks and stunts to everyone.”

With so much to do and so little time, Kawshik managed to try out almost every new hobby, new interest and has been applauded for it. “The one memory that still surprises me is when I had the honour to play piano for the queen of Netherlands, Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, at Radisson Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka.” After practicing for only two weeks, Kawshik was a little unsure about playing the national anthem of Netherlands for the queen. “It was slightly nerve wracking and I was worried I might get it wrong, but luckily I managed to play it perfectly.” Kawshik played the piano for three hours, getting barely a few minutes of break in between. “I played pieces by Ludovico Einaudi and Yanni and tried to set the mood for the session.”

Being a performer doesn’t come easy, but Kawshik enthralls and stuns the audience every time he is put under the spotlight. “I was never camera shy because I always loved showing my talent to people and have done a lot of stage performances since I was eight.”

Being completely at home, he performs with openness and an unabashed passion that makes the crowd love him.

“On stage, when I feel a little nervous about myself or my band members and end up messing up a little, it may go unnoticed by the audience, but I don’t feel satisfied with myself.” Kawshik believes, “if you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. But if you are determined, then no one can stop you.”

And so far, no one has stopped him. n

Photos Courtesy

Which instrument do you enjoy playing the most and why?

I like to play the piano when I am alone and guitar when I am with my friends How did you get into modeling?

What was your first modeling gig?

A friend of mine took me to a photo shoot for a Banglalink commercial where I auditioned and they called me in to let me know that I was selected for the commercial. I got in touch with the production house “Apple Box”, and whenever they needed characters they felt I could pull off, they called me.

If i was stuck in an island I would be someone like Tom Hanks from the movie “Cast Away” and build a strong personality and interact with mother nature.

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YOU WRITE IT

fiction

tv

Waking Up There was this guy; the most perverted one I’ve met in my life.

And although he was telling me the dirtiest jokes a girl can dare to hear, I was actually laughing! I was laughing with my stomach clutched and wondering when was the last time I felt so much at ease! He was laughing too. Tapping my shoulder lightly he said, “there’s more, there’s more!” I shook my head, wiping the tears inundating my eyes, only being able to say “no more, please!”

We were sitting together on a bed with his laptop on my knee and him reading a book beside me. I don’t know how he knew, but he quietly laid out his arm for me to put my exhausted head on. I was not thankful, I was grateful as I took

Person of Interest refuge, secured and loved, on his strong arm. We stayed quiet. The whole world was silent, as if it didn’t want to disturb this private moment.

He was still silently reading the book.

Someone knocked at the door.

Without any further warning, it opened and his arms were gone. A tall woman appeared “get up!” With a jerk, my eyes opened and I regretted instantly. Mom was at the door still urging me to get up. I rolled aside, grabbed a pillow and buried my head under it with a groan.

It was all a dream and I didn’t want to wake up. As much as I knew that the feeling wasn’t real, I wished for Gerard Butler to stay a bit longer. dania Manal

Person of Interest is a new CBS crime drama and the brainchild of Jonathan Nolan. Jonathan is the brother of director Christopher Nolan and wrote the screenplays for Christopher’s movies like Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight and The Dark Night Rises. His collaboration with JJ Abrams (executive producer of Lost) delivers thrilling action in both its plot and provides action scenes at its best.

The story takes place in present day New York City, a city still living in terror after the attacks of 9/11.

Massive security and surveillance are now being undertaken by the government and at their request Harold Finch, a billionaire softwaregenius, makes a machine that can

detect acts of terror before they can happen. Finch partners up with John Reese, an ex-CIA agent, to save lives via a surveillance AI that sends them the identities of civilians involved in impending crimes.

It might seem similar to Minority Report for those who have watched the movie but unlike the movie, Person of Interest is more realistic and less fictional. The story has the action, plot twists, suspense and all the other things we expect out of a show like this these days and can carry the weight of holding one’s attention for an hour. The casting and acting is quite impeccable and doesn’t disappoint the viewer’s high expectations from the two great producers. Ehsan Sunny

Comic strip

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stereo

Spotlight

Goodsheet Mary, Did You Know?

By Pentatonix

Intro: Am G2 Dm9 E7sus E7 Am G2 Dm9 E7sus E7 Am

G2

Dm9

E7sus

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?

E7

Am

G2

Mary, did you know that your baby boy Dm9

E7sus

Would save our sons and daughters?

Dm9

G

C

G/B

Am

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

Dm9

Esus

E

This child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you?

Am

G2

Mary, did you know that your baby boy Dm9

E7sus

Would give sight to a blind man?

Young and Fresh

TOP Family,

Music is an integral part of our culture. Amidst all the typical, mainstream songs today, Hridi Ahmed proves to be a fresh chapter in the list of young artists of this country

1. Landslide Kurt Hugo Schneider

Hridi Ahmed is the daughter of renowned radio/television artist, Timir Nandy. She started singing at a very young age, without receiving any specialised training in music.

“My father has always been my greatest source of support,” says Hridi. She also adds, “I never took music lessons from anyone. Growing up, I watched my father sing and it soon became my passion.”

Hridi started with a few studio covers back in 2007, few of which were aired on television. Her cover of “One original thing” was broadcasted in Muzik Jamz on NTV. From then onwards her career took flight.

10

fun and cookies

2. Maa James 3. Happy Marina and the Diamonds 4. Mor Bhabonare Saptarshi Mukherjee, Sahana Bajpei 5. Carol of the bells Piano Guys 6. Cats in the Cradle Harry Chapin 7. Chim Chimni OST Ghoonghat 8. Dance of the Sugarplum fairies Pentatonix 9. Home Ingrid Michaelson 10. Such great heights Joy kills Sorrow

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Idol and Inspirations Hridi has recorded two original tracks, which are yet to be released: “Roopkotha” and “Ashoni.” She tries to incorporate the styles of Amy Lee and Avril Lavigne in her songs. Hridi is a big fan of British alternative rock band, Coldplay. She finds the unique style of instrumentation and their larger than life stage performances, widely amusing. “I hope I can perform in that manner, or at least give it a try one day!” said the enthusiastic young artist. Evanescence is also one of her biggest idols.

Current work Hridi Ahmed continues to do covers of popular songs, such as “Call me maybe”

by Carley Ray Jepsen, and “I knew you were trouble” by Taylor Swift. Her Facebook page is very popular among teenagers and young music enthusiasts; her followers ncreasing in number every day. Hridi also performs in live shows.

She is taking acoustic guitar lessons and has already played it in her recent covers of songs. “I believe there is always scope for improving, and giving something new to my fans,” said Hridi.

Future plans Hridi has an upcoming show on December 13, at Russian Cultural Centre, Dhanmondi. Besides continuing with live performances, Hridi wants to launch her own album, with a mixture of her original tracks and covers of popular songs. The young artist is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Engineering at a private university.

Rafid Ahnaf

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comicon

DHAKA COMICON 2014

AGE OF BRILLIANCE It happened and it was brilliant

It was surprising to see so many characters of the pop culture world come to life on a cold winter morning in front of Banani Chairmanbari field.

No, they were not shooting the next big superhero movie, it was the third edition of Dhaka Comicon Dhaka Comicon 2014: Age Of Brilliance concludes with a bang on the 13th of December after starting on the 11th.

Cosplayers, comic books, collectibles, along with performances from popular bands like Nemesis, Cryptic fate, artists from Electro and Wreck records and many more delighted everyone who visited the venue. The highlight was definitely the number of cosplayers

who came and the effort that went into the costumes was overwhelming. It was the place to be, and now that it’s over, the pop culture enthusiasts are going through a withdrawal syndrome anticipating the next one!

Organisers, Saadi Rahman and Abu Yousuf pulled off yet another successful Dhaka Comicon giving the youth of the nation, a productive and fun platform.

The event was powered by Interspeed activation, Elite Force Security, Bellissimo, Airtel, Radio Foorti, Channel 71, Dhaka Tribune, New Age, Sound Machine, Incursion, Rollout, Dhaka Museum of Toys, and the Old Car Club of Bangladesh.

Baizid Haque Joarder

Photos Courtesy

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teenarama

Love guru Q

TMAG presents, Lola and Mr. Twist to aid you in all of your romantic endeavours. Send in your love/ relationship/crush problems and have them take a stab at it

I don’t know what’s happening. For the past two months, I feel like I’m losing interest in my boyfriend. He is kind, sweet and perfect, but I don’t know why, I just don’t feel there’s love any more. I don’t know what to do.

Mr. Twist: Whoa! You, my friend, are blessed to have such a sweet and kind partner. But ask yourself, do you really want to walk away from that?

Relationships have ups and downs, you just have to deal with them. Talk to him, tell him how you feel and if he is as perfect as you describe him to be, you will feel all the love there is.

Lola: I think you need to chill out and appreciate your boyfriend. If he is kind and perfect, and that bothers you, then are you implying that you want a bitter, abusive relationship instead? If that’s so, then you need to spice things up. Surprise him! Go out to a place you both have never been to before. Also, count your blessings as there aren’t many couples who get to complain about having a perfect partner.

Send us your love related problems at tmag.dt@dhakatribune.com Or message us on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/dhakatribunetmag

Take TMAG’s PERSONALITY QUIZ Now!

Which Christmas Carol are you?

Find out which Christmas tune you are

1. What would you like to do this holiday?

A Go on a trip B P-P-P-Party!

C Try things you’ve never done before D Stay home and organise everything

3. When you find a talking fish stuck in a net, at first you would probably: A Tie a string to it and find more of its kind B Tape it and share on Facebook C Scream D Set it free

2. Which would refer most to you?

A Football matches B Concerts C Hangouts D Exams

4. Which Harry Potter characters are more like you?

A Harry Potter B Fred and George Weasley C Ron Weasley D Hermione Granger

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Illustration by Rio Shuvo

5. What would you want for Christmas?

A More time B New clothes C More money D A book or gaming console

Mostly As Jingle Bells Mostly Bs Rockin’ around the christmas tree Mostly Cs Grandma got run over by a reindeer Mostly Ds Santa Claus is coming to town

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tidbits

Santa Wish list

Afra Anam: “I want true friends, and a closet full of shoes and books.”

Shuprova Tasneem: “I’d like a time machine, and a robot, like the one Richie Rich had; just a cooler version of that, who would do everything for me “

Raj Skulcandy: “I want a fully functioning 500MW power plant and a helicopter with a helipad.”

Christine Diaz: “This year, I definitely want an iPhone 6.”

Nini Mahmood: “I want a teleporting device so I can be anywhere, any time.”

Nishita Sanaul: “TIcket to Tomorrowland and a brand new Harley Davidson bike.”

Sohani Shahid: “I want Santa to give me an apartment with Mariah Carey’s shoe closet, Nigella Lawson’s kitchen; I want it to look like Harvey Specter’s apartment in the TV series, Suits.”

Tamzidur Rahman: “I’d ask for the ability to fly and telekinesis so I could move things physically using only my thoughts.”

Shefayat Chowdhury: “I want tons and tons of Hot Wheel cars.”

Imani Khaled: “I want Santa to give me an eidetic memory. That way I won’t have to study super hard the night before exams.”

Bigstock

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Customise your TMAG experience!

Send us your short fiction, works of art, selfies, cool status messages, reviews and more to tmag.dt@dhakatribune.com TM AG th u rsDAY, Dec e m b e r 18 , 201 4