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Awaiting the joy of holding, leafing through, sniffing and probably even dog-earing a new book? Look no further! Here is a list of few bookstores for ever student to check out.

  1. The Bookshop, Jorbagh

One of the old favorites of Delhi, opened in 1970, The Bookshop is an Insta-famous and widely loved book store that is frequented by the likes of Wlliam Dalrymple, Arundhati Roy and Khushwant Singh. It houses a vast collection of books from all genres, a separate section for children’s books and offers gift coupons as well! Visit for a quiet afternoon amongst old classics.

Nearest Metro Station: JorBagh on Yellow Line

Credits: The Bookshop, Jorbagh
Image Credits: Official Website, The Bookshop
  1. Cafe Turtle and Full Circle Bookshop, Khan Market

Tucked in the middle alley of Khan Market, the Full Circle Bookstore located a floor below Cafe Turtle is a childhood favorite (I got my first encyclopedia at age eight from here). It has become an icon in the market. Go here on a weekend evening, grab a book and relish it with a sumptuous meal at the Cafe.

Nearest Metro Station: Khan Market on Violet Line

Credits: Full Circle Bookshop
Image Credits: Official Website, Full Circle Bookshop
  1. Bahrisons Booksellers, Khan Market

A Khan Market classic since 1953, Bahrisons is also one of Delhi’s better-known bookstores. They have a packed magazine section at the back of the store with all the latest national and international editions. Bahrisons also opened up a special section for children near the main store in the market and also happen to always have every Man Booker Prize nominee titles.

Nearest Metro Station: Khan Market on Violet Line

Image Credits: Aarohi Mehra for LBB
Image Credits: Aarohi Mehra for LBB
  1. Oxford Bookstore, Connaught Place

Arguably one of the largest bookstores in Delhi, the Oxford Bookstore has an extremely vast collection of books and you can also hope to find many great academic titles here. It also has a Cha Bar, a small eatery and chai-place inside, so it can provide for a great hang out spot for readers. Complement your favorite book with the perfect cup of chai here.

Nearest Metro Station: Rajiv Chowk on Yellow and Blue Lines

Credits: Official Website, Oxford Bookstore
Image Credits: Official Website, Oxford Bookstore
  1. May Day Bookstore, West Patel Nagar

According to the Little Black Book’s (LBB) Delhi chapter, this is one of the ‘few Indie bookstores in the city’. The store aims of creating an active community of readers. May Day Bookstore stocks a generous range of genres but also is popular for its collection of rare second-hand books.

Nearest Metro Station: Shadipur on Blue Line

Image Credits: Official Website, May Day Bookstore
Image Credits: Official Website, May Day Bookstore

Feature Image Credits: Book Lovers in India

Bhavya Pandey

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You can do anything if you really want to! Even if you get nothing to learn in college, there are some opportunities that are inevitably provided to you.

You must have often heard people talking about how there are never enough opportunities for them in college. They substantiate their argument by claiming that somebody else always takes it up or their college is not supportive of the same. However, you need to realize that these are excuses. You can do everything you want to! Even if nothing works out, there are some opportunities inevitably provided to you in college. How you use them and whether you use them at all is up to you. So, regardless of your overall experience as a college student, you will get the following opportunities in your college life:

Connecting with Like-minded People

College is the best time to create a social cum professional network, through which you can access opportunities later in life. This network of contacts might help you climb the ladder of career even after college ends. However, the benefits availed through these contacts is not unidirectional. You would also have to help some of these people later in life. This is a place where all the people around you are like-minded by the virtue of being in the same course of study or field of interest as you. Furthermore, because college societies provide a platform for people with similar interests to come together, the same provides a fertile ground for nourishing your network of contacts.

Pursuing a Hobby

College gives you the scope of doing something other than studies. Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) is not built just on the basis of your grade point. Besides helping you to indulge in and rear your hobbies, there are several other opportunities that are accessed if you join a college society or do internships. It may get difficult and tiring and but it is worth it. It teaches you how to manage time and work under stress. Hobbies are great escapes from the monotony of academics as well.

Exploring and Failing

Now, though it may sound strange, you need to realize that the option of exploring and failing is actually an opportunity. You are just in college and are still exploring your life and career options. Therefore, it is your time to go and explore all you can – food places, sectors of interest, jobs and careers, offices and other possibilities for the future. You are allowed to get a “feel” of what you want and choose accordingly. When people around you see you as a fresher or just as a college student, they understand that you are allowed to commit mistakes and learn from them. Many will also want to teach you how to move past mistakes! This becomes very conducive for your growth and development as a person. College is that place which allows you to fail at things and still not be socially disregarded.

 

Feature Image Credits: HuffPost

 

Khyati Sanger

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Writer: Have you watched the American T.V. series named Breaking Bad?

Readers: No, we haven’t!

Writer: Okay, but can you please try to remember the scene from season 2 episode 9? Pinkman and Walter had been cooking for 4 days, somewhere near the Indian desert, and suddenly the truck’s engine exploded because of Pinkman’s antics. But the fun part was Pinkman’s hilarious arguments. He refused to take the blame himself!

Readers: But dude, we have not watched that serial!

Writer: Oh, now you remember, right? Wasn’t it funny?

I know this whole conversation is not funny but annoying. If a person hasn’t watched a particular series, how can I expect him to remember a particular scene? But isn’t life the same as an American T.V series, and aren’t your experiences like those scenes?

Can you feel the same emotions when I tell you that for the last four days, I have been sleeping inside a brothel, and working for the rights of prostitutes and their children? Will you understand when I tell you that for the last 7 months I have been working as a photo journalist for one of the best media houses? Will you understand how it felt when I covered Farhan Akhtar’s concert as my first assignment? Will you be able to feel the same way when I tell you how it felt, sitting in the park, with a cigarette in my hand, at 3:00 AM, discussing how to change the scenario? No, you won’t. You won’t understand a bit of it, because a year ago, I didn’t understand it myself. I had no idea how it would change the way I look at society, because I hadn’t experienced it before, because, maybe I was busy sleeping, like you are now. Your small town might brighten your life with simplicity, but it will keep you in a closed cocoon—your family will guard you at every point.

When I took my first puff of those crystals, I saw the power of freedom that this new city gave me, far from my native town. Then, I took my second puff and I saw my freedom juxtaposed with fear and anxiety for all the things I had left behind, and of the future that was all alone. And then, the dawn of realisation knocked on my door. Only then was I ready to take responsibility for my actions. I was robbed and badly beaten, because I took a decision to go on a solo trip without telling anyone. I slept for 3 consecutive days, only to realise that now, no one will wake me up. But didn’t these experiences make me the person I’m today? Didn’t these experiences ‘make’ every person who tried to come out of their shell, and out of the luxurious life that their parents provided them with? It has been a year and I have achieved a lot and learnt a lot from my mistakes. Like any other waterbug who didn’t want to be a ‘Junior Sharma’ or ‘Junior Bajaj,’ now I have my individuality.

Now, let’s discuss the problems. I know you have a hundred reasons to remain in your native town. We also had those reasons—maybe your family is too conservative, maybe your family’s financial condition isn’t that good. My grandma told me, “You have got your family business. I’ll die in the next two years. Why do you need to go out and explore the world of art? Don’t you see my face, it’s full of paintings?”

But isn’t that the true essence of life? To survive amidst all the difficulties? Tell your parents that it’s time for you to fly like a dragonfly and inspire other waterbugs to come out of their shell. It’s your time to face the reality and create your own scenes so that one day you can watch your own TV series.

That’s what Walter White did. No matter what, he survived. Oh I forgot! You haven’t watched Breaking Bad.

Image credits: www.nawa.org

Vegh Daswani

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Q. He likes to do it on the floor when we are together, but I prefer the bed. How can we resolve this?

A. Aiyoo! You naughty idlis remind Amma of her maiden days when the floor of the paddy fields used to be her mattress. But that is a story for another time *winks*

There is nothing wrong with having different preferences when it comes to the art of dosa making. Your boyfriend might have dissimilar tastes than yours, but there is no harm in indulging him once in a while. You never know when you start enjoying it on the floor too. It is normal to try to introduce some spice into your otherwise plain dosa batter, it might jazz things up a little and might end up enjoying yourself.

Finally my puttu, don’t be afraid to try out something new. But if you are not comfortable then talk to your boyfriend and let him know. You idlis can try out something else where both of you are comfortable. Lastly, don’t think too much and just have fun my naughty idlis!