To Infinity and Beyond?

Large number of people were gathered there, hope in their eyes, all tensed-up. Some were biting their nails, while some were just tapping their foot on the floor. Then the decision had announced by the court, no one believed it first but then they realised that it’s true. All their struggles were worth it. They were finally free to live their lives as they always wanted to live. That was the moment of happiness, the moment of ecstasy.

On 6^th September, 2018, Supreme Court of India announced a historical verdict that changed lives of millions of people in India. The court has abolished the act which denies the sex with the same gender. Homosexuality is no more a crime in India and the members of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) community have the same sexual rights as any other citizen in India.

What is Section-377?

Section 377 was introduced in Indian Penal Code during the British reign in 1862 stated as, “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of the nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years”.

Though the battle was really long. It’s the decades of hardship that impacted the world and help homosexuals to accept what’s legally theirs. Behind this freedom has the struggle, the innumerable fights they had with themselves as well as with the people around them.

In 2000, the Netherlands became the first country which legalised same-sex marriage. Besides that Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Argentina, Portugal, Iceland, Denmark, Uruguay, Brazil, New Zealand, England, Wales, France , Luxembourg, Scotland, United States, Ireland, Finland, Greenland, Columbia, Malta, Australia and Germany are among those countries where same-sex marriage is allowed. India on the other hand won the battle of “decriminalising homosexuality”, whereas it does not allow same-sex marriage.

With all the happiness around the country, the question now arises, “Is India really ready for this decision?” We all know that India is known for its cultural diversity and it’s hard for “people” to gulp the fact that now people with same-sex can be together as a couple. A place where couples aren’t allowed to hold their hands in public, then how those “people” will see them making public appearances. We’ll never forget the incident that was happened in May this year, in Kolkata where a couple was harassed and beaten up by the “people” and their crime was that they were hugging each other inside a metro compartment.

Well it’s really a long walk for every person present at this time to see how everyone will accept them. There are many people who are not talking about this, they think homosexuality is a taboo and whatever they are doing is a sin. But what these “people” are not understanding is the fact that now LGBTQ don’t have to hide themselves behind many faces. It’s the time for them to show the world proudly who they are. It is the time to accept them as they are rather to judge them.

Me Before You

Book:

Searching on the internet like a maniac to get a link to download the movie “Me Before You” was really a tedious task to me. I didn’t know why but I was so eager to watch this movie, maybe because the appreciation it received or just the fact that Emilia Clarke was playing the main lead. Anyway, I downloaded it and then I came to know that it was based on the novel of the same name by Jojo Moyes. So as for my calculation and observation goes, it's better to read a book before watching the movie based on it. The story is based on the protagonist named Will Traynor, a successful, passionate, adventurous and sporty person who loves travelling and do anything which makes his life thrilling. It's 2007 when he’s leaving for his office and the rain was pouring and while crossing the road to hail a cab a bike lost its control and hit him. That accident makes Will quadriplegic. The story starts two years after that accident. Louisa Clark, a bubbly and a chirpy girl, belongs to the middle-class family. It’s the time of recession and Louisa is one of the victims. She tries her luck in different jobs but couldn’t get along with any. Then she finds a job as a carer at Traynor’s house that are paying good hourly wages. Her parents push her to try for this job. The job based on the contract of six-months to take care or somehow entertain Will Traynor. At first, the job seems to her pretty boring because the way Will talks to her made her blood boil. Soon after they become good friends and Will tries to pursue her to do those things which she thinks are not her cup of tea.

I like the way how Jojo Moyes portraits both of the characters. Like all those ways, Will tries to push Louisa to do anything extreme for her like tattoo making, scuba diving, etc. things she only dreamt about but never wanted to take a risk of getting out of her comfort zone. On the other hand, Louisa is trying to change Will's mind and to never let him go to Switzerland. They both fall in love but Will knows that it’s not good for both of them to be like this forever. The story ends with Louisa sitting in Paris reading the letter that Will has written for her before his death. It’s Will wish that Louisa should see the world and do everything which makes her happy and at the end, he’ll be there for her.

I can’t forget about the letter, each word still resonates in my mind and it’s like he’s written that for me, I know it sounds stupid because I cry for that like an idiot and I can’t help it.

Movie:

As soon as I finished reading the book, I started watching the movie.  Well, talking about the movie it’s not that much good but the fact is they can’t put the whole book in just 1:30-2:00 hours. But it is not that bad, a must watch a movie along with Ed Sheeran songs in it. Besides, most of the dialogues are taken from the book. I like Emilia Clarke’s acting, but still, it’s funny to see how “mother of dragons” go crazy over stripy-tights as a present on her birthday (just kidding). The voice of Sam Claflin is so mesmerising, I can listen to him all day, why doesn’t he become a radio jockey (another bad joke, sorry for that).

While watching the movie, I remembered a Bollywood movie named Guzaarish (2010). The movie revolves around the magician named Ethan Mascarenhas (Hrithik Roshan) who is quadriplegic for 14 years and files the petition in court asking for ending his life. But the court rejects his plea. Sofia D’Souza (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) his caretaker who’s been with him since twelve years after his accident and was married to a man who’s abusive to her. Later on, Sofia gets a divorce from her former husband and confess her love for Ethan. Ethan, on the other hand, loves her too. At the end of the movie, Ethan invites all of his closest people and says that he will be dying a happy man with no regrets and a heart full of Sofia’s love and bids all goodbye.

The story in this book (Me Before You) talks about the people who have lost control over their body due to severe spinal injury caused by accident. There are mainly four types of paralysis, namely, Quadriplegic (is paralysis below the neck), monoplegia (is paralysis of a single part of the body), hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) and paraplegia (is the paralysis below the waist). Though sometimes paralysis can be temporary and is curable with proper treatment. But the fact is if it's happened once then the chances are it can happen again. Because paralysis affects the spinal cord and spinal cord connects the brain to the nerves throughout the body. Unfortunately, in many cases, paralysis isn’t curable. Though medical scientists are trying their best to find the solution for curing it. In the year 2016, there was a piece of news claiming for treatment of the quadriplegic patient. Neuroscientist treated quadriplegic with stem cells and that patient had substantially recovered the functions of his upper body within two months into the process. You can read the whole article here.

There is a non-profit organisation named Dignitas in Switzerland, which provide assistance/accompanied suicide to those people who are suffering from long-time terminal/severe physical/ or mental illness with support from qualified Swiss doctors. Doctors check the person’s previous treatment report and ask them whether it’s their wish to die or they’re coerced to do so. Though the method is a bit costly, still some people prefer it to die peacefully. Dignitas is mentioned in the book as well as in the movie where Will has gone to end his life.

When I finished reading I was thinking what if Will listened to Louisa and never went to Switzerland? Will, that make his life more miserable & painful or better?

In the end, this story reminds me that not every person are meant to stay in our life forever, no matter how hard we try to stop them to go, but eventually, they play a vital role to change our life for better.

Besides "Me Before You", "After You" and "Still Me" are published by Jojo Moyes, making it a series of Louisa Clark and her life's adventure after Will's death.

Everything you need to know about the holy month Ramzan/Ramadan

PC: Tumblr

Every Muslim around the world (and those around you) talking about Ramzan as well as the blessings it shower upon the believers. It is a scientifically proven fact that fasting is good for health. Fasting in Ramzan is one of the five pillars in Islam. Ramzan is a ninth month in Islamic calendar. Islamic calendar or lunar calendar consists 12 months in a year with 354 or 355 days. So, each year every month shifts 10 days from the previous year, for example, last year Ramzan started from 26 May and this year it shifted 10 days earlier that is 17 May. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) had said, “When the month of Ramzan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained.”

Following are some Ramzan-ic elements that you should know-

1. Breaking the fast- It is preferred to break a fast with date because it was the way Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) used to break the fast. But if a person doesn’t have it then he/she can drink water.

2. Charity- Charity is an important aspect in Islam and every Muslim should give charity as money or in other forms. Zakaat is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam. It is a compulsory act that Muslim should perform. Zakaat is calculated on the basis of total savings of a person in one lunar year, whatever the savings would be its 2.5% part is zakaat. Sadqa is another form of charity, unlike Zakaat it is not compulsory but voluntary. It can be given at any time of the year, to anyone and it can be any amount a person may like.

3.  30-Days of Ramzaan- 30 or 29 days (depending on moon) of Ramzan is divided into three phases. Each phase has 10 days in it. First phase is known as “Rehmat” (Blessings), second phase is known as “Maghfirat” (Forgiveness) and last one is known as “Nijat” (Riddance from hellfire). We all know that Islamic Holy Book, Quran was revealed in this month. It is said that Quran was revealed in the last phase of this month and in odd night, it could be 21, 23, 25, 27 or 29. But no one knows its exact date.

Besides, in Ramzaan every 1 good deed equals to 70. People do as much good work as possible. It is said that, as it is necessary to clean our house every year, Ramzan does the same to purify the soul. Ramzan is the month of immense blessing, spirituality, recitation and prayer. After all it’s the way to reach Ar-Rayyan (paradise). Charity is important because there are many people in the society who cannot afford the expenses. It help them to buy things for them and their family for Eid.

After observing fast for 30 days what Muslims get in reward is Eid-ul-Fitr (yayy😃). A person can observe fast whole year but it is prohibited to fast on the first day of Eid, because it’s the day of happiness, peace and harmony and above all it’s the day to eat Sewai.

Guido Brunetti on His Way to Solve a Horrid Crime

Lately I’ve read Donna Leon’s crime fiction novel, “A Venetian Reckoning”, based on the work of fictional character Commissioner Guido Brunetti who solved crimes in Venice, Italy. There are series of 27 novels. After the popularity of these books, there was a German television series broadcasted from 2000 to 2015. “A Venetian Reckoning” also known as “Death and Judgement”, was initially published in 1995.

The story starts with a horrific accident that takes place in Tarvisio, leaving both drivers of sixteen-wheeled truck dead on the scene. But what creates the buzz in the mind of people is that the truck contains half a dozen of girls without any information concerning their know-about. Though it’s a matter of utmost importance but soon the investigation of this case fade away because of the unavailability of the information of the girls found in the crash.

Carlo Trevison, a prominent advocate in Venice, Italy. One fine day when he was returning back home someone shot him dead in the train. Next day, when commissario Guido Brunetti is leaving for his work he reads Trevison’s death news in the newspaper. When he reaches his office his head Vice-Questore Patta handles him this case. For further investigation he asks few questions to Signora Trevison but nothing useful comes up. The following day, newspapers informed about the death of Rino Favero, one of the successful accountant. While investigating Trevison’s murder he receives a call from Captain della Corte from Padua police telling him that he finds Trevison’s number in Favero’s diary and that both death might be linked. Both dead men’s connection by some means mysteriously connecting to the same point which is a bar in Mestre. Brunetti along with della Corte decides to meet in the bar which was linked to both dead men. In the bar Brunetti meets a girl named Mara, a prostitute from Brazil.

Each passing day adds up more complications to the case. Then one morning it startles everyone when news flashes that Ubaldo Lotto, brother-in-law of Carlo Trevison found shot dead in his car. Della Corte calls Brunetti to inform him about the restaurant where Favero was last seen and ask him to accompany him. There they get to know that Favero visited that restaurant along with a blonde woman. When they are leaving, restaurant’s owner hand them glasses of that lady which is made up of titanium and Brunetti estimates that these sort of frames cost almost a million lire so it will be easier to find the owner.

To know more about the bar in Mestre, Brunetti along with his officer arrests Mara with bartender Franco Silvestri. After talking to Mara, he comes to know about girls like her that how they come to this country from different parts of the world, and resides here illegally because whoever brought them here has taken their passports. She also tells him about those girls who went missing but no one ever noticed. They have no more work to do so they find themselves in prostitution. When Brunetti asks Franco more about the girls he tells him that he gets all information through an anonymous man’s call, and there is a lady who collects money from him but he had never seen her. Brunetti realises that the missing girls that Mara was talking about were those who found dead in September in Tarvisio.

Now Brunetti knows that the owner of those glasses is Regina Ceroni who runs a travel agency. It’s time for Brunetti to meet her. After asking her few questions Brunetti comes to know that Favero and Trevison both were her clients.

One day while Brunetti is busy in grave case, he receives a call from his wife Paola, asking him to come home as soon as possible it’s the matter of their daughter. When Brunetti reaches home, Paola tells him to watch the tape first before talking to Chiara. The tape contains the brutality of men raping a women and killing her after. After watching that he meets his daughter and then she tells him that this tape was given to her by Francesca, Carlo Trevison’s daughter.

Brunetti in rage, visits Signora Trevison and asks her ferociously the truth about the tape and her husband. Then she told him that Rino Favero and Ubaldo Lotto were his partners. They involved in the making of these videos and were trying to expand this “business” with the help of a woman. Signora Trevison doesn’t have any idea about that woman, but that woman managed their travel-affairs. It rings a bell and Brunetti leaves her house and visits to Signora Ceroni for further queries. One question leads to another where she confesses that she killed all three of them because of their atrocious nature and mentality. Brunetti arrests Signora Ceroni and take her to the Questura, where he held her in the prison but doesn’t record her confession officially leaving it to the next day. When he arrives in the morning next day he comes to know that police from Padua had taken her in their custody before his arrival. He called della Corte in Padua to ask whether she is there or not but he has no idea about anything. But soon after, he informs Brunetti about the death of Signora Ceroni. She had used her panty-hose to hang herself from the heating vent in her cell. Brunetti has no word remains but only a thought that their network is vast enough to do anything they want.

This story unveils the dark world of prostitution, extortion, corruption and evil-doers who resides in the society as clean people. A must read book for those who love crime fiction.