Review Diaries (Life Over Two Beers and Other stories by Sanjeev Sanyal)

Irony-A statement that, when taken in context, may actually mean something different from, or the opposite of, what is written literally; the use of words expressing something other than their literal intention, often in a humorous context. And ironic is how I would describe Sanjeev Sanyal's book Life Over Two Beers and other stories. Its funny in a very self-deprecating way, of one's own self, surroundings and society at large.
And being a self proclaimed Queen of Sarcasm I abso-freaking-lutely loved it.
Each one of the 12 short stories are incredibly well put together and unlike many short stories where one doesn't find closure these gift you a sense of peaceful ending, I mean as peaceful as you can expect from an extremely sarcastic short story that puts forward a very true picture of the world we live in.
Every single last one of the stories are about everyday themes and ideas. Some of these stories are almost urban legend like in their plots for example The Intellectuals and Waiting at the time of Cow-Dust. But the thing that sets this collection of short stories apart is the way these done and dusted stories have been approached. The writer has very aptly placed the stories for when one reads them one after another at the end of the 232 pages there is this smile that keeps lingering. The 3 poems are equally important part of the collection and my personal favorite is Of Forbidden Memories.
In short this book has made me laugh and be a tad bit sad and also given me courage. That even when things are looking bad and gloomy and beyond repair, take a deep breath and try again may be things might just take a turn for the better.
Quick note- I personally hate short stories and if anyone who knows me is asked they will let you know that the reason for this deep hatred is the fact that I like endings be it happy (preferably) or sad, give me an ending cause otherwise I sleepwalke throughout the day thinking of all the possible outcomes. And since this book has given my endings and much needed dose of ironic sustenance: I, Manali Dey, will love to give it 5/5 hearts. And a big hug to the author, please do pen down more such wonderfully different takes on everyday ideas. This has been a wonderful read.
Thank you.
Life Over Two Beers and other stories-
❤❤❤❤❤ Out of 5 💞

Crush Diaries

So hi there.
This post is more like a continuation of the Office Diaries and Crush Diaries, why you will soon know.
A few days ago I had was fortunate enough to spent some not-so-quality-time with my crush. And the first question that moron asks is "Are you okay?"
My heart flutters like a butterfly and I even have some of those butterflies in my stomach (Ps when butterflies are in crush mode what or rather who do they have in their stomachs?).
But I was suddenly over the moon cause that day I had broken a nail, and I was surprised that he noticed it.
I, Manali Dey, blushing to the roots of my hair was just about to tell him how sweet he is, when he bursts my bubble of happiness with his next words.
He- Cause you look so weird and sickly. Like someone had eaten all the chocolate in the world or may be run your puppy over.
Hearing all this I nod and say to myself, "You did"
He- Did you say something?
Me- Nopes.
He- You sure?
Me- Yes.
He- Are you fine? Do you want to take some time off? Do you ...
Me- Arghsss. I am fine.I was late for office today so  I didn't...
He- Put kajal on. (And they he looked deep into my eyes. or that is what it felt like for me)
Me coming out of my trance- Yeah. Right. No kajal.
(Note- I don't have the crush any more. Thank you very much)
So bye bye butterflies!!!!

Office Diaries (Coffee Special)

How to know if coffee rules your life?

Step 1- Let's do an experiment, if asked who do you love the most at any other time of the day, you will name your parents or other half or your kids. But if this is asked the first thing in the morning before your first cuppa you will ask for your "precious" (full on Gollum mode on, mmhahaha) and not be above of going full on Hulk on them for asking such silly questions in the first place.

Step 2- When you wanna be friends with your office colleague, whose existence you deny to accept on an average day, just so you can have his very costly, pretentious but smells good af coffee.

Step 3- When you turn into one of those girls from perfume advertisements on smelling the dreamy aroma coming from the local coffee joint.

 Step 4- The only reason you don't kill your irritating colleague is cause you will not get coffee in prison and that just might result in you turning into a mass murderer. So honestly you are doing it for the betterment of the world. (Bow down to the Queen of Hearts)

Step 5- When nothing makes your day better than smelling that freshly brewed cuppa.

If your answer is yes to all the answers, cause let's be honest you just can't have one symptom only, you my friend are someone whose life is ruled by COFFEE!!!!

Congrats!!!

How to get a Scorpio to adopt you? (Part 1)

Before I start my thinking out loud, let me take a minute and pray to the God's of all things social media. You all have made my life so good that it's almost scary.
*deep breath in* and *prayer started*.... and *done and done*.
So now that I have paid proper homage to these wonderful tools of our virtual lives I move on to why I feel this chirpy even when I am working on a Saturday.
Recently I was introduced to this particular book, the writer is a best seller but I was very apprehensive. In the past I have read a lot of books that were supposed to be very "ga-ga" worthy and have been gravely disappointed by them. So this friend/adopted mom of mine asked me to take a huge leap of faith and go for it.
And me being me jumped with my eyes shut close and with both my feet and hands in it. I Googled the living daylights of the said author and then I realized my dilemma, I was horribly confused. He had too many books to his name, so I text my friend.
Me- Dude what do I read?
Me- Bro I am going maddddddd.
Me- OMG!!! this can be happening to me.
Me(again)- This is a disaster.
Me(yet again)- What do I do now?
(Quick note- This situation of me not letting her talk and ranting on and on went on for quite sometime after which she texted me a screen-shot.
My darling girl knew the author and she had texted him saying that a friend(read me) is "confused"(read going bonkers) over which book to start off with.
He, being the awesome Scorpio that he is(which I later found out) replied with all the patience in the world(I envy his patience even more than I envy his writing awesome stories) that I should be given the basic list of all his books and given its short summary. I was like "Okay… On it"
So I went off to Google it all and selected a book and started reading the "sample"(read free part) that one get on a ebook downloading cite.
So I start reading when my friend texts and it turns out the book I had selected was part of a trilogy and I was reading book 3.
So like me, right?
So next I move on to a book that is a stand alone and boy did it give me whiplash.
I am ashamed I called the writer a few real choice words, wait!!! Not the writer in real like, more like his creation. The book I was reading had a writer as a protagonist and that character made me cuss out loud in a crowded metro(trust me I am still traumatized by that incident). Anyhu so after finishing the book I text the said author, for my friend had told me so much about him that it felt like I knew him already and he is dying to adopt me.
So I being the adrenaline junkie that I am send him a very risky text.
It said…
Wait for it…
Hi.

What! I didn't stop there.
I read your book and I really liked it.
PS you are gonna adopt me soon, you just don't know it yet.
Brave man he is for he is yet to block me.
But saddness in life is, he hasn't adopted me yet.
Darn it!
Wonder if he would help me write a rule book on how to get adopted by a Scorpio in 3 simple steps.

Doctor Special

#MimiDiaries
#WorldInMyDiaries
How to properly hate your doctor?
Step 1- Get into an accident(preferably the day after you should have office)
Step 2- Ride an adrenaline high and go to work the following day.
Step 3- Realize your mistake and call your orthopedic for an appointment (yes I have a oprtho on call, so sue me)
Step 4- Find out he is out of station so you havta visit your general physician, who is also your Ortho's friend and on receiving your call promptly tells you that you need to walk, like a lot so that he knows the extent of your injury properly.
(Note- When asked why is my case history being discussed over phone with his fellow doctor and why my privacy isn't honored he promptly laughed his head off, the reason I found out when I reached his chamber)
Step 5- Reach the said Doctor's chamber, sweaty from the walk that you were advised to take, only to see your parents waiting for you. Mimi close to tears and Bapu fit enough to kill for I had previously very conveniently forgotten to tell them about the accident's after effects. Needless to say I am on house arrest.
(Note- I have nothing but respect for the nobel profession, so kindly feel free to blame my foul mood on the pain and the uncle who almost ran me and my brother over)

Life Diaries

Before I start my thinking out loud, let me take a minute and pray to the God's of all things social media. You all have made my life so good that it's almost scary.
*deep breath in* and *prayer started*.... and *done and done*.
So now that I have paid proper homage to these wonderful tools of our virtual lives I move on to why I feel this chirpy even when I am working on a Saturday.
Recently I was introduced to this particular book, the writer is a best seller but I was very apprehensive. In the past I have read a lot of books that were supposed to be very "ga-ga" worthy and have been gravely disappointed by them. So this friend/adopted mom of mine asked me to take a huge leap of faith and go for it.
And me being me jumped with my eyes shut close and with both my feet and hands in it. I Googled the living daylights of the said author and then I realized my dilemma, I was horribly confused. He had too many books to his name, so I text my friend.
Me- Dude what do I read?
Me- Bro I am going maddddddd.
Me- OMG!!! this can be happening to me.
Me(again)- This is a disaster.
Me(yet again)- What do I do now?
(Quick note- This situation of me not letting her talk and ranting on and on went on for quite sometime after which she texted me a screen-shot.
My darling girl knew the author and she had texted him saying that a friend(read me) is "confused"(read going bonkers) over which book to start off with.
He, being the awesome Scorpio that he is(which I later found out) replied with all the patience in the world(I envy his patience even more than I envy his writing awesome stories) that I should be given the basic list of all his books and given its short summary. I was like "Okay… On it"
So I went off to Google it all and selected a book and started reading the "sample"(read free part) that one get on a ebook downloading cite.
So I start reading when my friend texts and it turns out the book I had selected was part of a trilogy and I was reading book 3.
So like me, right?
So next I move on to a book that is a stand alone and boy did it give me whiplash.
I am ashamed I called the writer a few real choice words, wait!!! Not the writer in real like, more like his creation. The book I was reading had a writer as a protagonist and that character made me cuss out loud in a crowded metro(trust me I am still traumatized by that incident). Anyhu so after finishing the book I text the said author, for my friend had told me so much about him that it felt like I knew him already and he is dying to adopt me.
So I being the adrenaline junkie that I am send him a very risky text.
It said…
Wait for it…
Hi.

What! I didn't stop there.
I read your book and I really liked it.
PS you are gonna adopt me soon, you just don't know it yet.
Brave man he is for he is yet to block me.
But saddness in life is, he hasn't adopted me yet.
Darn it!
Wonder if he would help me write a rule book on how to get adopted by a Scorpio in 3 simple steps.