#payal universe

[mieldreams]

Payal

Summary: Anakin Skywalker is the roommate of your best friend's crush. That's all. Well, he's also a pain in the ass. But could one dance and a lucky pair of payal change things?

pairing: Anakin Skywalker x desi!reader (or just reader who's familiar/involved with that culture, no physical descriptions involved)

Warnings: None, except for 'i haven't proofread a single fucking thing' :) sorry for the mistakes in advance.

A/n: wrote something on a whim again (this is the first ever time I've written a proper fanfic tho *_*). Happy navratri y'all

Edit: Here's some payal playbacks aka any moodboard/refs if you want to know (songs, outfits, word meanings etc.)

It was Navratri, the festival in honour of the Goddess Durga. Nine nights of colours, prayers, and a whole lot of dancing. Oh, and the sweets! You couldn't wait to just rot your teeth on those festive delicacies.

It was the 5th night of festivities and today's celebrations were mainly the daily prayer and the dandiya dance. The special event for today however, was the ladies' dance competition. Your best friend had practically dragged your ass to get your name registered along with hers and your other friend Pari's, a half-assed promise of treating you to your favourite food at that fancy restaurant on the other side of the city to bribe you into the elaborate bollywood-esque romance scheme to seduce her crush. "There's no seducing!" she whisper-shouted, standing at the booth where you had to give your name, her cheeks immediately heating up at your insinuation. "I just want him to... see me, you know?" and you couldn't help but mentally scoff at that, why was she so blind? "Plus the price is money," she added, smirking as she picked up the pen to write down the names.

"Well shit, you should've said that first girl, I'm always looking to make me some moolah" your smirk matching hers even though your brain was already exhausted just *thinking* about the hours of practice she was gonna make you do to make sure everything was perfect to the T. That was over a week back, and after hours of choreographing and practising and picking out the costumes, the day was here, and despite all the whining you had done during practice, you couldn't deny that you actually hoped that her plan worked. Was it because you were tired of your oblivious best friend and her equally oblivious man playing dog and the bone with their feelings? Nooo, you could never be tired of your darling best friend's endless rants about how 'handsome he looked at the cafeteria today, in his lucky white cashmere sweater his ex-grandma gifted him in 2019' (how did she know that?) or how 'it's so sad his little sister's goldfish died because it jumped into the pot of boiling water for tea, and they've invited us to its funeral' (what?). And it most definitely wasn't because you were starting to get sick of having to watch them make those nauseating googly eyes at each other every time you hung out, for the past year. (though you wondered if it would only get worse when they finally got together.)

That's right, when, because if those two failed to get their ship sailing after tonight, you were 100% planning on just walking up to each of them, asking them what time they're free for dinner and setting them up on a date yourself. Your mental planning however, was disrupted by the creaking of the metal gate to the lawn space that had been rented for the festival. You turned around, a smile immediately pulling on your lips at the sight of the said man you were downright ready to shake like a maraca till your best friend got her deserved confession (though you expected the same on her end as well, of course). But the smile immediately fell at the sight of another man walking in right behind him. Anakin. What the hell was he doing here? And truly, the scowl that pulled on your face was hardly your fault when his eyes met yours and his lips immediately turned up into that infuriating smirk as the two of them headed towards you. But before you could march up to him and demand why he was here, your best friend ran up to you, gripping your arm to stop herself from crashing into you (you supposed the accidental intervention was for the better, since asking him such a thing might only give him more reason to mock you, it was obvious he was here with Krish, your best friend's crush who was also very unfortunately college roommates with Anakin, seriously how did someone as sweet as that guy get stuck with a moron like him?).

"C'mon it's time for the competition to start, ours is literally the second performance!" She started to drag you by the arm only to stop immediately at the sight of Krish causing you to crash into her. "Are we sure you can dance in the competition when you can hardly manage to walk without stumbling?" his voice immediately caused you to raise your head, glaring daggers as you squared up to throw your own taunt about how he just had to be oh so special and wear black even though tonight's theme was white. Unfortunately, you were beaten by Krish as he elbowed Anakin harshly in the rib, making you snicker at his grunt of pain, before walking even closer towards your best friend. "Aamani... hi," Krish breathed out, shifting his weight from one foot to another. And though you wanted to roll your eyes at how his eyes seemed to literally twinkle as he looked at your best friend, or how he always took time to call her by her full name despite all her friends calling her Manu, like he just had to say it every time to even begin to appreciate her entire being that he was so clearly besotted with, you couldn't help the small smirk that tugged on your lips as you gently pried your arm out of her death grip. (when the hell did she get so strong?) ‘Let's leave them to it, then.’ You thought to yourself.

And with that you walked away towards the small stage, knowing they'd most likely not see or hear anything besides the other person for at least the next half hour. "They're not gonna leave each other's side for the rest of the night, are they?" Ugh, Anakin. How had you forgotten? and now he was following you. Great. "Well, they wouldn't normally, but we do have to perform our dance and we're up second, which means the lovebirds will have to sacrifice at least half an hour for final practice and the performance." Hold on, why were you entertaining him? You stopped suddenly and turned to him with a scowl, "and I'll have you know I can dance very well and I-" "Is that why you're wearing red? for the dance? I thought the theme was white today," the audacity this man had to interrupt you. "Oh did you? Is that why you instead wore black?" you popped a hip with a closed fist resting on your hipbone, raising a jeering eyebrow at him, his eyes immediately drawn to the movement and indirectly your exposed midriff and then the shiny white stud in your belly button. He gulped before quickly averting his eyes to the stage behind you. "I think they announced that they're gonna be starting the competition soon," he replied instead.

Oh shit.

"Good luck" was all he said before walking away towards the audience gathering up for the performances. Oh shit, you really had to find your best friend fast.

Half an hour later with your costumes readjusted and makeup re-touched you were ready to get on stage. You weren't worried about messing up as much as you were about not keeping the same amount of energy for the next half an hour. That's right, your original plans of going mostly unnoticed as your best friend's supporting dancer for a mere 4-5 minutes went down the drain the minute she blabbered about you being a dancer as a kid to the aunty from down the block who was arranging her own group dance performance and immediately downright ordered you to join her group as well. At the time you didn't mind much but now, now you were wondering if you could pretend to sprain your ankle after your first performance to avoid the other one. I mean a whole half an hour of continuous dancing? and worse, the traitor that was your best friend wasn't in the second one and so you'd been entirely alone with a bunch of strangers during the first few practice sessions. (you knew it wasn't her fault the lady didn't ask her to join but you were sure she might have accommodated another person considering it was a big dance number) So here you were now, about 30 seconds away from getting on stage, sending a quick prayer that you don't throw up at any point considering they were pretty much back-to-back dances. As soon as you heard your group being announced the three of you walked onto the stage to get in your positions. You used the brief gap before the music started to scan the huge crowd, immediately spotting Krish almost at the very front of the audience, closest to where Manu was standing, but Anakin wasn't beside him like you expected. Your eyes continuing their scan to find him in the crowd before you even realised what you were doing. Wait, why the hell are you looking for him? You need to focus on the count before the music starts.

And as soon as the music started your body naturally moved to the rhythm and beat, a light laughter bubbling in your chest as you felt the stress melt away with each step. You had forgotten just how fun being on stage actually was, and with the atmosphere of such joy and celebration it was that much livelier. Before you know it, the performance was over, Krish walking quickly to the side of the stage as you got off, still high on the adrenaline and euphoria of performing after so long, and everything had gone smoothly too. It was hard to keep the smile off your face, even more so when you saw Manu and Krish talk animatedly at the bottom of the stairs to the stage, her head thrown back, laughing at something he said and then nodding enthusiastically with a toothy grin. Her expression changing to that of shock for a brief second as Krish immediately picks her up to twirl her around, her laughter dancing in the cold night air once again. It was only your obnoxiously loud teasing whistle that broke their bubble, though only temporarily. You had to go back on stage in five minutes and you wanted to make sure that Manu had company since you wouldn't be by her side for at least the next half an hour. Though realistically you knew it was her who wouldn't be by your side for the rest of the night. Ah, young love... or whatever.

"So now that the two of you have finally been cured of your obliviosis, have fun kiddos," you smirked, "and make sure to be safe." You winked at the pair, earning you a half-hearted angry call of your name from Manu as Krish let out an awkward nervous chuckle, burying his face into her shoulder. Aww, you had embarrassed them. "What? I'm just saying, have her back by 11." you gave a pointed look at him to which he immediately straightened up, enthusiastically nodding to your words while Manu continued to glare at you. "Back by 11? What am I in middle school?" "If you were in middle school I'd want you home by 9 miss, just what the hell sorta parents did you have?" You looked down at your watch realising your 5-minute break was nearing its end. "Okay lovebirds, I gotta go, but seriously have her home safe if you guys decide to leave the ground," you said pointing a finger at Krish, "and you," your finger pointing at Manu now, "don't forget to text me when you're leaving and when you get back home, alright?" She left his arms to quickly walk up the stairs to the top where you stood, pulling you into a bear hug as she rocked you side to side without even giving you a chance to hug her back as she held your arms at your sides, "I'll text you." She freed you from the hug to squeeze your palms in hers, "I had a lot of fun with the dance, thank you. And good luck with your next dance, sorry I won't be there to watch it, I mean we could stay till it gets over. we'll have the rest of the night anyway. Hey Krish, maybe we should stay for��"

But you immediately cut her off, "absolutely not, you've been looking forward to this day for almost a whole month now." You shook your head as you saw her open her mouth to argue, "plus I know you have that scarf you knitted for him in your bag." you smirked as her eyes went wide with surprise, not having expected you to know that. "Pulling that lovely 'oh it's a cold night, isn't it? Here, I just so happen to have this beautiful scarf that I definitely didn't knit just for you, here, let me wrap it around your beautiful neck. Oh no, you don't have to give it back to me at the end of the night, I have a matching one at home that I totally didn't plan as a couple’s thing, no seriously you can keep it' on him? There couldn't be a better opportunity." You laughed as her ears became bright red, "I hate you and your Nancy Drew observation skills." she mumbled out of puffed cheeks before immediately pulling you into another hug. "I love you. Good luck." "Thanks, I love you." In the end, you were about 2 minutes late to your dance and the aunty's scary face as she hurriedly signalled you to get into your position made you cringe on the inside, but oh well whatever, there were so many people you doubted that anyone had noticed there was supposed to be another dancer. You were here now anyway. You were halfway through the dance, your back turned to the audience when you felt a sharp gaze on you. Weird, there were about 100 people watching you, why did you feel this one particular stare stand out? It was only when you completed the circle to turn to face the audience again that you immediately connect gazes with the sharp eyes you had felt on you. Anakin. He was standing at the very back, close to the water coolers and refreshment tables, leaning on one of the empty tables with his arms crossed. His gaze never leaving yours. For a second your thoughts drifted and you were annoyed at how good he looked in the black shimmery kurta, though the top 3 buttons being left unbuttoned was so unnecessarily extra. The sleeves folded over his forearms that stretched the fabric, his collarbones standing out from the open collar. Such a slut. But damn did he look fine. Wait, what the hell? Focus, focus, focus. You couldn't lose count mid-step. And tripping right now would mess up everyone's steps since it was a circular movement. Why the hell would you trip over him anyway? Ugh. And so you focused back on your steps, continuing to feel that strange unwavering gaze on you for the rest of your dance.

Half an hour later, you were entirely done with the dance competition. Your feet hurt, your stomach was grumbling every few seconds and you were sure you'd be getting a headache from being so close to the speakers for so long. Thankfully, the emcee had announced a short break for refreshments and such, before the rest of the dances and then the final event to end the night — the dandiya dance. Were you positively exhausted and maybe even getting real tired of all the dancing and loud music? Most definitely. But Manu had texted you saying they'd be back for the final dandiya dance and you were really hoping to get to dance at least once with her, you know, outside the competition, just for funsies sort of stuff. So your irritation? Nothing some tasty snacks and maybe a cold drink couldn't solve. That was until an unfortunately familiar face came into your view as he plopped into the seat right next to yours at the circular table. Not the two other tables that were entirely empty (wasn't he supposed to be some emo loner who preferred to sulk in a corner?) or even the chair on the other side of the table (though you wondered if having him directly in your line of sight would make it worse). But no, he just had to sit right next to you with his stupid pretty eyes purposefully not meeting yours and his annoying plump lips innocently wrapping around the spoon with a piece of gulab jamun on it. He didn't even like sweets.

"Um— what the hell?" "What?" he looked at you with doe eyes rounded in innocence, and your eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Nothing, never mind," you were too tired and too hungry to start anything right now and what would you even ask, 'Why the hell are you sitting next to me?' 'didn't know there was some rule telling me where I can sit' is what he'd say, maybe roll his eyes at you, the usual stuff. So you continued eating your puff pastry in silence. Until you just had to ask, "I thought you didn't like sweets?" You tried to make your voice sound as non-judgemental as possible, you were only curious after all. "And who told you that?" he raised an eyebrow at you. Truthfully, nobody. But you had noticed the way he always avoided the dessert table at parties and functions, the way he only drank his coffee black; not even your best friend's infamous black forest cake that she had made for Krish's birthday a few months back had tempted him to even grab a Yolanda-approved bite. Yolanda would certainly be proud. Obviously, this had nothing to do with you observing him particularly, you just observed a lot of things around you, and he just very unfortunately happened to be around you a lot, being Krish's roommate and 'brotha from anotha motha' or whatever they said. And yet, here he was eating a freaking gulab jamun that was absolutely dripping with the sugary-est syrup. Did he hit his head on the way or something?

"Did you hit—" "I ran into Krish and Aamani, she told me to give this to you," he interrupted you yet again, turning to face you and pulling out a long silver chain-like thing, which upon a closer look you realised with an elated gasp, was the missing half of your lucky pair of payal, the one you'd been looking for everywhere earlier that evening. "I thought these came in pairs," it was a question from the tone with which he said it, but his eyes remained fixated on the jewellery in his hands, thumb running over the delicate silver with a gentleness you didn't know he possessed. You lifted the hem of your skirt a little, head tilting down to point at your left ankle, "they do. I just couldn't find the other one." You shook your head, going back to taking a sip of your drink, "I like the sound they make when you dance, it's fun, so I thought ek hai toh ek hi sahi," catching his questioning gaze you translated, "if there's only one then so be it, I hardly ever get to wear these anyway." You shrugged, "Manu must've found it later and forgotten to give it to me earlier. I think their dating honeymoon phase is gonna be worse than their not-dating honeymoon phase" You rolled your eyes affectionately, expecting him to make a teasing remark too or at least give you that amused smirk. Instead you saw him give an almost imperceptible yet decisive nod, quickly sliding off his chair to kneel in front of you. "What are you-" He gently lifted your right foot onto his folded knee, his nimble fingers making quick work of the clasp on your anklet. Your stomach fluttered as you felt the warmth of his hands on your cold bare ankle, and you were sure if you still had that sip of cold drink in your mouth, your lungs would be burning from snorting it down the wrong pipe, and definitely not because he might've stolen your breath. His fingers skimmed in a barely there touch down your foot. Till now, his gaze had been entirely focused on clasping the jewellery but now that he was done he lifted his head, looking directly into your eyes from his still kneeling position, your faces a few inches apart. This time you could feel your heart burn. Dang, maybe you should cut down on the greasy food and drinks. His gaze briefly shifted to your lips, but then he quickly got up, dusting off his pants, picking up his empty gulab jamun cup, throwing a quick, "I'mgonnagothrowthis" over his shoulder and then he was gone. He quickly disappeared into the crowds while you still sat there, entirely motionless. Your mind blank except for the phantom feeling from his feather touch on your skin.

It was finally time for the last round of dancing. You had run into Manu and Krish while carrying your trash to the bin, the emptiness of your thoughts completely overthrown by the excited shout of your name. You were surprised they had spotted you first, considering all the doped-up lovey smiles and heart-eyes you noticed when they walked to you. The brief hand squeeze and wide-eyed glance from her let you know you were in for an entire night of dramatic recalling of every detail of their evening and you could only shake your head with a fond smirk. As you all walked back towards the dance area, Manu spoke up, "Oh, did you get the payal I'd given Anakin to give to you?" she looked down at your feet though they were covered with your skirt. You supposed she heard them jingle, the sound louder and more noticeable now that you were wearing both of them. But her question brought back that unwanted memory from earlier in the evening instead, and you fought real hard to keep your face from heating up, inhaling a deep breath as inconspicuously as possible, "uh– yeah, he um.. he did." you nodded your head a little too aggressively, "I mean I got it, yeah." Lightly lifting your skirt to show your pair of anklets safely secured, by the most gentle hands you'd ever felt. This time you felt your ears undeniably heat up. 'What the hell? Why were you so fixated on that one thing? It was nothing. It's not like he was sliding a wedding ring on you or something.' Though for some reason, that thought only made your breath stutter as you felt the lava-like blood now rushing to your cheeks. Ugh, get a grip, get. a. grip. And since you were too busy trying to appear totally normal and shoot the butterflies in your stomach dead, you missed the mischievous look that Manu shot Krish as she gave a quick squeeze to his hand in hers. "Should we really have been spying on them like that? And worse, taking photos of them without them knowing?" and though his question was whispered through a sigh he squeezed her hand right back.

"Oh, hush. 10 years from now when they have cute little munchkins running around, I'll have proof to show that I was the one that set their ship sailing." she answered with a smirk. "You've thought about their kids? 10 years from now??" he raised his brows with an incredulous laugh. "Of course. I think about everything." Even the things that you were too practical to consider. Your words, not hers. 'Blind' is what she would call it. You may have the observation skills rivalling that of the most infamous detectives, but she had The Vision. And she knew in her guts that you two were just meant to end up together. "Oh yeah? Then what have you thought about our 10 years? We got 'cute little munchkins' in our cards too?" he tossed an arm around her shoulders, snuggling her close to him to teasingly tickle at her exposed waist. "Mmm, for now our cards hold a very very important mission." She answered and he sighed again, knowing exactly where this was heading. "Let me guess, mission 'get your best friend and my best friend together for the last dance to recreate another Bollywood-style romantic scene?" he raised a brow, coming to a stop as they reached the edge of the canopy of lights and fabrics. "It's only been a few hours and you've already gained the boyfriend-telepathy skills. Impressive." She wiggled her brows at him while turning around in his arms, "I need you to find Anakin and somehow get him to agree to dance." Sensing his hesitation she quickly continued, "I know it won't be easy, but you'll manage. Once we get them both here we need to make sure they're on opposite sides of the circle so that when the final song comes they'll be paired together" she finished. "You really have thought this through, huh? I can't guarantee that he'll agree to dance, I mean it's Anakin we're talking about," noticing her pleading pout he rolled his eyes in fond exasperation, "but I'll try."

With that, he left and she walked to where you were standing, finishing up talking to some old lady, no doubt held hostage to some good ol’ ‘I knew you since you were thisss little’ talk for the past few minutes that the two had spent whispering their plan, but she quickly patted your cheek and left. "So, tonight's the exclusive dandiya night," she wiggled her brows like it was supposed to mean something, it was. You laughed, not understanding her implication. "What about it?" She rolled her eyes good-naturedly, "it's dandiya dumbass. As in, you know, pairs dancing," she continued when she realised your light bulb was still dim. "Oh," you hadn't thought about that, too caught up in the dance competition to care about the other stuff. "Yeah, ‘oh.’ So, who you gonna choose?" "Um...you?" though it came out unsure. "I appreciate the sentiment babe, I really do. I would choose you too–" You raised a brow at that, "but?" "But'" she made a show of dragging out the word then throwing her arms out to her sides, "look at the crowd around you, there's so many kids our age, there's quite a few guys our age too." And finally you caught onto her line of thoughts, narrowing your eyes you shook your head. "Absolutely not. We are not doing this tonight, well I mean you're settled, so I'm not doing this tonight." But the fates seemed to be on her side that night, as she noticed Krish and Anakin talking a few paces away towards the outskirts of the canopy while you both stood at the centre, you hadn't noticed them yet but she could see Anakin shaking his head in a firm no as well. Gosh why were the both of you so difficult? But she also noticed another opportunity walk towards you, and a hopeful scenario played out in her head, courtesy of The Vision. And so she immediately got to work.

"Hey AJ!" she called out to the guy just about to walk by you a few steps away, "didn't you mention that you don't have a partner for tonight's dandiya?" Your eyes widened and you subtly tried to pinch her to stop her from saying the next words but it was too late, "My best friend here also doesn't have a partner, would you mind pairing up with her if you haven't already found someone else?" In speaking to the guy, both of you had turned to fully face him, so she couldn't see Anakin’s reaction anymore. She hoped he had heard what she had just asked this guy. He had. While the two had been devising their plan off to the side, you had been standing at the centre of the canopy taking time to clear your mind and cool yourself. Your gaze was immediately drawn to the gorgeous lights and colourful fabrics that hung above you, mesmerised by how pretty they looked standing out against the dark nighht sky beyond. And though you may never know, Anakin had spotted you right then, standing there in your pretty red ghagra, face tilted to look above you, and it had looked like one of the most gorgeous things he had ever seen, you had looked so pretty with all the lights gleaming in your eyes. And though he was too far to see it, he knew your gaze held that golden twinkle that shone every time you were genuinely happy, though he had hardly been on the receiving end of it. So he had always observed from afar, just as he was doing tonight. His thoughts had been interrupted by the movement of someone approaching him in his periphery. It turned out to be Krish, who clapped him on the back as a greeting and then asked him if he had eaten anything to which Anakin's mind flashed to the almost nauseating sweetness of the tooth-rotting dessert he'd had, immediately followed by the image of the delicate jewellery around your ankle and he quickly shut the door on that thought, instead answering with a single nod.

"Good, good 'cause you're gonna need some energy for a while." Anakin only raised an inquisitive eyebrow in response, while Krish thought of the best, most convincing way to... well, to convince him. "Y/N needs a partner..." "Okay…?" "For the dance, I mean. She needs a partner for the dandiya, she doesn't have one..." he trailed off again, should he just be straightforward with it? "It's you." "What?" Anakin's head snapped to look at him like he was insane. "It's you. You're going to dance with her." "What the fuck? No, I'm not?" it came out as a question because he was baffled as to how his own best friend could say something as dumb as that. Dancing? him? That's fucking funny. "Yes, you are. She needs a partner. You need a partner. The solution is obvious." "Like hell it is. I don't need a partner, 'cause I'm not fucking dancing." He shook his head decisively. "You want to though. You know you want to dance with her." Krish said with a pointed look. "And just what the hell made you think that?" "I'm your best friend, Ani. Do you think I'm blind or—" "Hey AJ!" Aamani's voice had carried over to the two of them, halting their conversation as their attention was now on the two of you, though your backs were turned to them. Aamani's voice was somehow loud enough that they got the gist of it, she had asked this AJ to be your partner, and from the way he walked over to the two of you, your best friend introducing you to each other, him shaking your hand and the dazzling smile you gave him in return, Anakin felt an irrational sorts of a burning pit in his stomach. "Well, looks like the deal's done. She's got her fucking partner." He pushed off the pillar he’d been leaning on, walking away. "Wait! Dude! Where you go—" "Out." and with that he quickly walked towards the back exit of the ground, walking through the gates and out into the cold night. But he had been wrong. AJ hadn't yet agreed to dance with you, or rather Aamani hadn't given him the chance to, stalling him by telling you that he was studying the same thing as you, though he went to a different university. She had been buying time, hoping that any second now, Anakin and his impulsiveness would come barging and say that you've already got a partner. But time was running short as the conversation between the two of you came back to the topic of tonight's dance. "So, you don't have a partner for the dandiya either?" she heard him ask. Where the hell was Anakin? But her movie-like vision for his entrance onto the scene immediately shattered when she turned to see what was holding him, only to see Anakin nowhere in sight and her boyfriend standing alone with a small frown on his face. Catching his eyes she sent him a questioning look, to which he only shook his head dejectedly. And she knew her plan had failed. For her, at least. Because when she turned back around, she saw you agreeing with AJ to meet up under the canopy before the start of the dance before he excused himself, mentioning something about helping move the chairs or whatever. You too said something about meeting up with one of your older hometown friends you'd run into right before the dance competition. You'd promised to come find her when you were free to catch up on things. And so you left as well.

But at that point, Manu could only think about how wrong this was. She knew it was her who had asked AJ to dance with her best friend, so she couldn't blame him. But Anakin – Anakin she could blame. And she could also just about drag his ass back here to ask him what the hell was he doing? With the way the whole payal scene had gone, and knowing Anakin's possessive nature, she was almost 100% sure he'd metaphorically sweep you off your feet (before literally sweeping you off your feet during the dance). So why the hell was her best friend going to be dancing with a guy she was (frustratingly) getting along with instead?

Krish had walked his way back to stand behind her, but not even his warmth and the comforting palm he ran up and down her bare arm could stop the disappointed frown pulling on her lips. She turned to her boyfriend with a concerned expression, "Did I just accidentally push my best friend towards the wrong guy, with the right guy storming off to who knows where?"

Part 2: Jhumka

a/n: so.... there's 4 more nights left... do you think they'll ever get their dance? 👀

A/n: Thank you all so much if you spent your time on this trash wreckage fuelled by finals stress and unfulfilled dreams </3

Would love to hear feedback on this one! Don't hesitate to send me any ques or just anything that comes to mind relating to our dearest love-haters and the overzealous matchmakers ;)

[animusrox]

Golden Globes Nominations - FILM

Best Motion Picture – Drama​

The Brutalist (A24) A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures) Conclave (Focus Features) Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros. Pictures) Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon Mgm Studios) September 5 (Paramount Pictures)

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy​

Anora (Neon) Challengers (Amazon MGM Studios) Emilia Pérez (Netflix) A Real Pain (Searchlight Pictures) The Substance (Mubi) Wicked (Universal Pictures)

Best Motion Picture – Animated​

Flow (Sideshow/Janus Films) Inside Out 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Memoir of a Snail (IFC Films) Moana 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix) The Wild Robot (Universal Pictures)

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement​

Alien: Romulus (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Bros. Pictures) Deadpool & Wolverine (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Gladiator II (Paramount Pictures) Inside Out 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) Twisters (Universal Pictures) Wicked (Universal Pictures) The Wild Robot (Universal Pictures)

Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language​

All We Imagine as Light (Sideshow / Janus Films) – Usa / France / India Emilia Pérez (Netflix) – France The Girl With the Needle (Mubi) – Poland / Sweden / Denmark I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics) – Brazil The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Neon) – Usa / Germany Vermiglio (Sideshow / Janus Films) – Italy

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama​

Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl) Angelina Jolie (Maria) Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door) Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here) Kate Winslet (Lee)

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama​

Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) Daniel Craig (Queer) Colman Domingo (Sing Sing) Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy​

Amy Adams (Nightbitch) Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez) Mikey Madison (Anora) Demi Moore (The Substance) Zendaya (Challengers)

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy​

Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain) Hugh Grant (Heretic) Gabriel Labelle (Saturday Night) Jesse Plemons (Kinds of Kindness) Glen Powell (Hit Man) Sebastian Stan (A Different Man)

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture​

Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez) Ariana Grande (Wicked) Felicity Jones (The Brutalist) Margaret Qualley (The Substance) Isabella Rossellini (Conclave) Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture​

Yura Borisov (Anora) Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown) Guy Pearce (The Brutalist) Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice) Denzel Washington (Gladiator II)

Best Director – Motion Picture​

Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez) Sean Baker (Anora) Edward Berger (Conclave) Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture​

Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez) Sean Baker (Anora) Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold (The Brutalist) Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain) Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) Peter Straughan (Conclave)

Best Original Score – Motion Picture​

Volker Bertelmann (Conclave) Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist) Kris Bowers (The Wild Robot) Clément Ducol, Camille (Emilia Pérez) Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross (Challengers) Hans Zimmer (Dune: Part Two)

Best Original Song – Motion Picture​

“Beautiful That Way” – The Last Showgirl; Music & Lyrics By: Andrew Wyatt, Miley Cyrus, Lykke Zachrisson “Compress / Repress” – Challengers; Music & Lyrics By: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Luca Guadagnino “El Mal” – Emilia Pérez; Music & Lyrics By: Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard “Forbidden Road” – Better Man; Music & Lyrics By: Robbie Williams, Freddy Wexler, Sacha Skarbek “Kiss The Sky” – The Wild Robot; Music & Lyrics By: Delacey, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack, Ali Tamposi “Mi Camino” – Emilia Pérez; Music & Lyrics By: Clément Ducol, Camille

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

Hello there, you make the IPKKND universe such a nice place with your immense dedication and sincereity. Thank you for this place to communicate and expand our love for this beautiful show. I hope you are doing well. My question is in the Payal- Akash sangeet if Kushi had infact lost, what do you think Arnav would have made her do? Also i feel like Kushi could have asked Arnav a more tricky question or got him to do something a bit bigger? As it was quite obvious he got her the bangles na.

Hello hello,

AWWW thank you so much love <3 Geez you all are really lovely to me :') Hope you've been doing well too.

If Khushi had lost, there's a high chance Arnav would've asked something romantic out of her. He clearly started developing those emotions and was getting sure that he wanted to essentially date her or be with her. He just did not have the moment, opportunity, courage or confidence.

Also... did Khushi win? She won because of Arnav so technically nobody won. And, Arnav, to be honest, would find no happiness if Khushi was actually miserable over losing.

He would just mumble the competition didn't matter - and again win Khushi's heart by giving up the competition for her. He always would. Her smile and twinkle is what makes his day. He wants to passionately engage with her as much as possible - be it through a challenge too.

You see, Khushi does not need to know that Arnav bought bangles for her. He has constantly done things for her that she needs. He's paid off her father's hospital bills, he's wordlessly helped Akash and Payal get together, he's ensured her family is respected and has stood up in front of Mami multiple times.

He's been there in the hospital when she needed someone.

So Khushi isn't really asking if Arnav bought the bangles.

She needs to know if he can accept that he's been doing this for her. If he can accept that he bought the bangles for her.

There's no going back. She knew he had her anklet, but he dismissed it. She knew they were about to kiss, but he dismissed it. She knew he bought her bangles, what if he dismissed it?

It cannot be another 'farak nahi padta'.

So when Arnav accepts he bought bangles, it's also an acceptance of multiple other feels. And he's confident enough to accept it. She just needs to ask.

And that's why her next question is - why.

Now that Khushi has received acceptance, she's looking for a confession.

Best,

JWB

[oh-munda-kukkad-kamaal-da]

if i were a man and you a woman and we were in another universe, i'd do this to you

I dont mind wearing a payal even right now actually

[cowardlyriver]

love as devotion. love as worship. love as sunlight slanting into a place of worship. love as bowed head. love as standing still. love as where bhagirathi meets alaknanda. love as confluence. love as influence. love as the mountains you love so much. love as hands. love as kashi at twilight. love as removing shoes before entering the mandir. love as whatever makes you, you. love as look into me. tell me what you find there. tell me, tell me, tell me. love as I want to know everything. love as tell me everything mundane about you. which shoe do you wear first. how does the universe reveal itself to you. what do your eyes look like when you are in love. when you are angry. what does the inside of your body feel like. is there enough space for your heart. for your lungs. love as river. love as the fire offered to the river. love as river water, sky and flowers all at once. love as mantra. love as diyas. love as payals, jhumkas, mehendi and chaat. love as old building. love as crumbling but not disappearing. love as prayer. come home to me. come home to me. come home to me. love as eternal. love as the thing that outlasts us. love as the thing that outcasts us. love as the sky bruising purple and pink in yearning. love as feverish yearning. love as chaos. love as failed attempts. love as you have invariably changed me. love as avoiding cameras but not eyes. love as the outcome of a maths problem. love as desperation. love as weakness. love as I wish you had met past versions of me. love as in I have almost nothing to offer you. love as in I am terrified you will see my emptiness. love as trust. love as nothing has ever come close to the moon for me, except you. love as thrill. love as drama. love as epics. love as conviction. conviction. conviction. love as the opposite of shifting sands. love as solid ground. love as the thing you cannot fall beyond. love as the sky. the sky is light. light is time. love as time. love as finality. love love as my laughter means nothing if you are not here to see it. love as everyone I have loved has not loved me back. love as sleeping on a stiff hospital bench at night because my grandfather was sick. love as I would rather exist as the ashes of something than a whole where you did not touch me. love as feeding stray animals. love as climbing mountains to see God. love as climbing mountains to die. love as dying. love as having been held. having been loved. love as if I stop writing I will recede. love as peeled orange. love as sustenance. love as comfort food. love as I will come back. love as endings. love as nothing ends. love as everything ends. love as I am tired of impossibilities. I just want to go home.

[alias-mike]

i need the american dollar to depreciate a bit because i am SICK and TIRED of god awful conversion rates for anyone who isnt american (except europeans maybe). oh my favourite indie designer is releasing a gorgeous jsk! its a very reasonable $300! haha just kidding that usd so its actually $400 cad and anything over $20 can and WILL be hit by customs. also since usd is so universal for some horrible reason non american artists still charge usd for commissions. that $20 comm is actually $26! plus payal frees ofc <3 you just gotta deal with it 👍

[jonfarreporter]

Vitamin C Has Always Been a Good Thing, Especially for Skin

As this fall season begins with a bumper crop of nutritious produce, one of the most important and common vitamins to help us into the oncoming winter is Vitamin C. 

This past September 29 weekend, Caryl Brandes of Caryl B Skin Care Products introduced her Face Cream with Vitamin C at Farmers Market - Marin County Mart in Larkspur, at Larkspur Landing, not far from the Larkspur Ferry terminal. 

Also referred to as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C has been known for centuries for its health benefits.  Primarily through citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. Historians/archaeologist can trace the origins of the importance of this antioxidant-nutrient as far back as ancient Egypt, through the descriptions in ancient records of its lack there of in conditions such as scurvy. 

Egyptologist, professor Joann Fletcher, PhD clarified. “Some scholars have also suggested scurvy is referred to in the Ebers Medical Papyri from c.1550 BC (although the terms used are somewhat vague).”

Yet, as the University of York, England archaeological researcher pointed out.

“It is also worth saying that the Egyptian diet - then and now - has always been very rich in onions and garlic.” “Both are excellent sources of Vitamin C,” she added.

It was during the age of exploration in the 1700s when it was discovered that eating citrus fruits combated scurvy. Citrus was then prescribed as essential for sailors and crew on ships to avoid scurvy by having citrus added to their daily diet. 

And, it wasn’t until the 20th Century when in the 1930s a form of Vitamin C was added to skin care. A Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi, discovered and isolated the particular chemical properties of Vitamin C. From that discovery, Vitamin C became a staple of health. 

His discovery earned him and his team the Nobel Prize in 1937. Since that time, for over 80 years, Vitamin C has become a vital nutrient utilized in many food-nutrition and health care products.

As noted by researchers at Harvard Medical School, “clinical studies have demonstrated that vitamin C can improve wrinkles,” noted Neera Nathan, MD & Payal Patel, MD. 

The two Harvard University physicians went on to say… “Topical vitamin C is a science-backed, dermatologist-favorite ingredient that may help slow early skin aging, prevent sun damage, and improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and acne.”

This is why Brandes wanted to incorporate the use of Vitamin C in her face cream product line. “Vitamin C helps, said Brandes - it is just one of many ingredients I use in my specialty skin care products that are beneficial.”

As one who is well acquainted with skin conditions, Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in New York City, added. “Vitamin C, stimulates collagen production so it helps with fine lines.” As a safe and effective ingredient, Dr. Jaliman says, Vitamin C decreases spots, patches of discoloration, and melasma on the skin.” 

Melasma can occur when the skin is exposed to too much sun. Hot weather and intense heat can aggravate the skin. With fall weather temperatures continuing into 80 degrees, Caryl B’s face cream and face serum are a welcome relief to sun-stressed skin.

Because Caryl B products are made essentially for those with sensitive skin, having a high quality face cream is vital. Pleased that her skin care products are well-received, Brandes said. “I just try to educate my customers as to what certain ingredients such as Vitamin C can  do to help.”

For more information about Caryl B skin and personal care products, visit the website.

[venkateshwara-group1998]

Shri Venkateshwara University organized an on campus placement drive wherein 42 candidates got jobs.

Shri Venkateshwara University/VGI Meerut organized an on campus placement drive wherein reputed education consultancy Educon Private Limited shortlisted 42 candidates.

Over 400 students took part in the Campus Placement drive held at the Gajraula & Meerut campuses. Out of these, 42 candidates were shortlisted after going through 3 rounds of a rigorous selection process.

These BBA. B.Com & MBA students will work in Senior Executives & Assistant Manager profiles.

The candidates were jubilant after getting placed. They will join the service from coming June 1st .

The Company HR Manager Ms. Payal Tomar, along with the College Management, gave them offer letters.

The Venkateshwara Group Founder President, Dr Sudhir Giri, along with the Pro Chancellor, Dr Rajeev Tyagi, congratulated the selected candidates and wished them a bright future.

The Venkateshwara Group Founder President Dr Sudhir Giri, Pro Chancellor Dr Rajeev Tyagi, Educon HR Manager Ms. Payal Tomar & the T & P Director Mr. Saurabh Mitra inaugurated the campus placement drive 2024 by lighting a lamp to Goddess Saraswati.

The Venkateshwara Group Founder President Dr Sudhir Giri reiterated through quality education & skill development our students are making their presence felt all over the world.

We are committed to provide an excellent, stable & secure career to our students.

He said despite global recession & the Corona pandemic, there are plenty of job opportunities for skilled professionals in the commerce & management sector.

By taking inspiration from the honourable PM’s Skill India Digital India schemes, the country is rapidly progressing on the path of growth and development  

The Pro Chancellor Dr Rajeev Tyagi asserted through quality education & best industrial exposure we have successfully placed over 1700 students in the last academic session.

These students belonged to Commerce, management, paramedical, nursing, healthcare & other faculties from Gajraula and Meerut campuses. These students have realized their dreams of getting a stable & secure career.

Those present included the Registrar Dr Piyush Pandey, Dr Rajesh Singh, Dr Sarvnand Sahu, Dr Divya Girdhar, Dr Laxman Singh Rawat, T& P Director Mr. Saurabh Mitra, & the Advisor Mr RS Sharma.

Maroof Chaudhary, Arun Goswami, Dr Vivek Sachan were all present.

The Meerut Campus Director Dr Pratap Singh was present & also present was the Media Incharge Mr. Vishwas Rana among others.

[selectivf]

Dr. Payal Bajaj

Dr. Payal Bajaj stands as a distinguished figure in the realm of reproductive medicine, serving as the Medical Director and Senior IVF Consultant with an impressive track record spanning over 18 years. Renowned for her expertise in obstetrics and gynecology, she has carved a niche for herself as a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist, showcasing unwavering excellence in her field.

Education Prowess: Dr. Bajaj’s academic journey reflects a commitment to a strong foundation in medical sciences. Graduating from the esteemed Lady Hardinge Medical College, she further honed her skills during postgraduate studies at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. Complementing her proficiency, she holds a Diploma in Minimal Access Surgery (DMAS) from the World Laparoscopy Hospital and a Diploma in Reproductive Medicine (DRM) from the University of Keil, Germany.

Accolades and Contributions: Throughout her academic tenure, Dr. Bajaj has garnered various awards, a testament to her dedication to medical excellence. Her contributions extend beyond clinical practice, encompassing co-authorship of numerous national and international papers, publications, and chapters, indicating her commitment to advancing medical knowledge.

Leadership in Reproductive Health: Dr. Bajaj is widely acknowledged for her ethical and evidence-based approach to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), particularly in complex cases like low ovarian reserve, multiple IVF failures, and recurrent miscarriages. Her approachable, friendly, and honest demeanor has solidified her position as a trusted figure in the field of reproductive medicine.

Public Engagement and Advocacy: Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Bajaj actively engages in raising awareness about reproductive health through her writings. With authored blogs and articles for various health magazines, coupled with a substantial social media following, she is making significant strides in educating the public. Dr. Bajaj is also involved with clubs and organizations dedicated to empowering women globally.

Professional Memberships: Proudly affiliated with esteemed Gynecology and Infertility societies in India, including IFS, ISAR, AOGD, FOGSI, DGF, and FPS, Dr. Bajaj demonstrates her commitment to staying at the forefront of advancements in her field and contributing to the broader medical community.

Diverse Skill Set: Dr. Payal Bajaj’s expertise transcends conventional medical education. Certified in minimal access surgery, she exhibits proficiency in advanced surgical techniques. Her specialization in reproductive medicine is further accentuated by a training certificate from St Mothers Hospital, Japan, under the mentorship of the renowned Dr. Atsushi Tanaka.

Having served as a former Senior IVF Consultant at Aveya Fertility, Dr. Bajaj’s contributions to the field of assisted reproductive technology have been substantial. Her journey is a testament to a multifaceted professional who not only excels in clinical practice but also actively contributes to the advancement of reproductive medicine and the empowerment of women.

[24hrsallnews]

Singham Again Update: Rohit Shetty unveils Ajay Devgn's first look from 'Singham Again'

Singham Again is an action, drama film, which directed by Rohit Shetty. Rohit Shetty and team have today revealed the look of Ajay Devgn, in which Ajay Devgn's famous look is seen as Bajirao Singham. Ajay Devgn's first look looks angry and flames and a lion are seen near him. Today Rohit shetty post Instagram, "Sher aatank machaata hai, aur zakhmi sher tabaahi! Everyone’s favourite cop, BAJIRAO SINGHAM IS BACK!… SINGHAM AGAIN…", and Ajay Devgn tweet, "He is Mighty He is Power He is Danger He is Strength Singham will roar again!"   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Rohit Shetty (@itsrohitshetty) Singham Again is written by Yunus Sajawal, Shantanu Srivastava, Milap Zaveri and produced by Rohit Shetty. Singham is again going to be a multistarrer film. Singham Again is a part of Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe. It is the fifth film in Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe and the third installment of the Singham franchise, following Singham (2011) and Singham Returns (2014). D.J. Chetas, Payal Dev, Divyansh and Manuraj, Lijo George, Jam8 have given music in the film. Kareena Kapoor is playing the role of Avni Kamat Singham. Rohit shetty instagram post, "Meet the strength behind Singham… Avni Bajirao Singham… We first worked together in 2007… 3 blockbusters till now  Golmaal Returns   Golmaal 3  Singham returns… And now working on our fourth project… Singham Again… 16 year long association. Nothing has changed, Bebo is still the same, simple, sweet and hardworking."   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Rohit Shetty (@itsrohitshetty) The film stars Ajay Devgn, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor. Singham Again is scheduled to release on 15 August 2024. Singham again Pushpa 2 is also scheduled to release on the same day. All four films of Rohit Shetty Cop Universe have turned out to be blockbusters. Rohit shetty instagram post, "In Singham Again, we are just doing what our fans want us to do! So here it is… Akshay Kumar and a helicopter! As we complete 2 years of Sooryavanshi, VEER SOORYAVANSHI joins the battle with Singham."   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Rohit Shetty (@itsrohitshetty) Tiger Shroff is playing the role of ACP Satya in the film. Rohit shetty instagram post, "Meet Special Task Force officer ACP SATYA 🇮🇳… the immortal, like Truth! Welcome to the squad…Tiger"   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Rohit Shetty (@itsrohitshetty) Deepika Padukone plays the role of Shakti Shetty in the film. Rohit shetty instagram post, "NAARI SITA KA BHI ROOP HAI AUR DURGA KA BHI... MEET THE MOST BRUTAL AND VIOLENT OFFICER OF OUR COP UNIVERSE… SHAKTI SHETTY... MY LADY SINGHAM… DEEPIKA PADUKONE". View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Rohit Shetty (@itsrohitshetty) Shakti Shetty is portrayed as the most brutal and violent cop in Rohit Shetty's Cop World. The film is expected to feature some of the biggest action scenes in the history of Indian police films. This is the second film of Deepika and Rohit, before this they worked in Chennai Express, which was a blockbuster. This is Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn's 11th film together and Singham is again their 12th film. Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn together have given many hits and blockbuster films.   Read More - Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video review: Is a mirror of society with a dose of suspense thriller - 12th fail movie Review: Vidhu Chapora 12th Fail Will Inspire You To Start - Rohit Shetty showed a glimpse of Singham again - Suriya, Dulquer Salmaan, Drishti and Vijay Verma team up for Suriya43 film - Love, Death, and Horror: 1920 Horrors of the Heart - Best Comedy South Indian Movies Dubbed in Hindi list - Kushi movie review, Reaction and box office collection - Iraivan has been released on OTT - Rolex Will Return In Kaithi 2? - Leo Hindi Poster has been released today - Ram Pothineni starrer Skanda movie cast, budget and Box office collection Prediction - Unleashing the Ultimate Battle: Skanda vs Chandramukhi 2 - Brace Yourself for the Clash of masterpiece! Read the full article

[mieldreams]

um, hi! (awkwardly waves after a month of radio silence) I have an announcement!

real apologies for being so late but the final part to the navratri series is done and I'll be posting it next week, just wanted to give a heads up if anyone's even reading that. 😅

See ya next week, xx miel

ps. is anyone still keeping up with this?

[marwahstudios]

7th Dr Sarojini Naidu International Awards Honor One Hundred Outstanding Women at Marwah Studios

Noida: In a remarkable celebration of the achievements and contributions of women, one hundred exceptional working women from India and abroad were recognized and celebrated with the prestigious 7th Dr. Sarojini Naidu International Awards. The gala event took place at Marwah Studios in Film City, Noida, under the auspices of Dr. Sandeep Marwah, Chair for the Dr. Sarojini Naidu International Awards.

Dr. Sandeep Marwah, the visionary behind these awards, emphasized the importance of encouraging women and recognizing their immense contributions across various fields. He noted, “It is not only necessary but essential to encourage women; their contribution is immense and can rise to many folds if women are encouraged to come and work at every platform.”

The chief guest of the evening, H.E. Lalatianna Accouche, High Commissioner of Seychelles, graciously accepted her award and shared motivational words with the gathered audience of women. She stated, “Any work with a clear intention is going to bring back results.” Her presence and words served as an inspiration to the other one hundred women honored during the ceremony.

The First Secretary of the Embassy of Gambia, Aji Fatou Joof, also received an award and expressed her appreciation for Dr. Marwah’s initiative in starting these remarkable awards. She highlighted the profound impact of recognizing and appreciating the efforts of women and emphasized how such awards play a significant role in supporting and motivating women.

An alumna of the Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT) and Chair of the Women Commission in the Government of Haryana Renu Bhatia was presented with Life Membership of International Women’s Film Forum. She eloquently pointed out that women do not need empowerment as they are already empowered. Instead, they need encouragement and support to create their own paths and shape their destinies.

The awards were presented to one hundred remarkable women from various backgrounds, including business, different professions like art, culture, fashion, law, media, cinema, management, administration, poetry, writing, science, research, event management, education, and social work. Each awardee’s name is a testament to their individual accomplishments and dedication to society.

The esteemed recipients of the 7th Dr. Sarojini Naidu International Awards included Aarti Agarwal, Abhilasha Pattnaik, Rekha Shukla, Seema Patnaha, Anjali Rohan, Anju Malhotra, Annu Kalra, Anupma Bhardhwaj, Aparna Singh, Archana Singh, Bharti Kakwani, Chanchal Bhargava, Deepali Gupta, Deepali Roongta, Deepanshi Nandi, Deepti Gupta, Divya Bhatia, Dr. APS Gandhimathy, Aarti Agarwal, Abha Yadav, Anita Sharma, Anju Malik, Divya Goel, Divya Kirti Gupta, Geeti Sharma, Hemlata Gandhi, Keerthi Bollineni, Komal Jain, Kuljeit Uppal Mala Bhandari, Mamta Singh, Mamta Rani Kaushik, Mamta Singla, Namrata Kothari, Nidhi Menon, Payal Anwar, Priyambada Sarangi, Pulin Saluja, Radha Maddisetty, Rajshree Katke, Rakhi Singh, Ranjana Kaul, Richa Choudhary, Sarika Takhar, Seema Aseem Saxena, Shelly Bisht, Shernaaz Cama, Parul Purohit, Geet Mala Jalota, Gouri Kalra, Gouri Sahni, Harisoa Lalatina, Hema Paul, Hemangini Sudhir Patankar, and many more.

This illustrious event celebrated the accomplishments of women across a multitude of fields, reinforcing the message that women are powerful contributors to society and deserve recognition for their invaluable work. The event was supported by AAFT University, International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry, International Women’s Film Forum, Asian Academy of Arts and World Peace Development and Research Foundation.

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

IPKKND + Zodiac Signs

(An in depth explanation as to why I chose the sign per character and tagging @chutkiandchotte for the wonderful analysis on zodiac pairs!)

Nani, an aries because: opinionated, headstrong, do their things their own way. Usually they take charge or situations and can be impatient, hotheaded and do not apologize (remember the whole pressurizing Arnav into marriage and never quite apologizing for her own mistakes eh?) Also Aries hate when they're taking the backseat and aren't the most important person behind the wheel of their life. An Aries needs to reminded they're a leader, not a tyrant. And a good way to make Aries made is to steal their power and Arnav constantly bickers with Nani that really he's the one making decisions, not her!

Taurus ♉️ Anjali Raizada

Anjali was Taurus because: homebody, hates big changes, stable, grounded, grateful, diligent, stubborn, but great listeners and very very dependable. And no matter what, they will overcome their obstacles. Also, Taurus does not respond well to criticism nor to change and can eventually become reckless. However, they do have strong emotions, are attracted to people who make them safe and comfortable (she initially felt deep gratitude to Shyam) and they're incredibly loyal. Great family people.

Gemini ♊️ Shyam Manohar Jha

Shyam as a Gemini comes from the unfair bias of viewing them as two faced people. But hey, the goods of gemini really applies to him! He's charismatic, has a good sense of humor, knows a little about everything, literally being a lawyer is one of the best careers a gemini could have, incredibly intelligent, perceptive (he's the first to smell what's between Arnav-Khushi and genuinely sniffs out every secret around him). He has an uncanny ability to exactly understand someone's personality, is a very good lie detector, and can easily switch based on situations. Also, he can quickly fall out of love and abandon people.

Cancer ♋️ Khushi Kumari Gupta

Khushi is Cancer because of her heightened sensitivity - otherwise she exudes all the energy of a Leo (who literally think they're the kings of the world!). Also a cancer always takes on other people's problems and that is the definition of Khushi Kumari Gupta. She has many moods (some contradictory!) but also a deep core self. It's hard for her to share her fried with others and have learned how to hide her pain to avoid burdening anyone else. She often pretends she's ok when she's not. Also, the slightest provocation gets to her! Slightly traditional, does not like change, hate surprises (remember in sangeet she had to know what's going on!). Also cancers are often in love with the idea of love! And they're terrible hiding their romantic feelings (cue a very flustered Khushi!). And Khushi cannot understand why everyone isn't a nice person. And she loves deeply, very very deeply. A romantic relationship plays a key role in her as a person and it shows!

Leo ♌️ Manorama Raizada

Mami is Leo because she is vain, has a really big personality, wants to always stand out, is very creative and is very interested in luxury! Typically Leos are bold, warm and an ultimate performers! She's brash, over bearing and loves to brag. She always wants to feel important and be the center of the universe! She hates being bossed by Nani, and hates being told what to do! But secretly hates that she doesn't have the wisdom herself! Her resentment to Payal is obvious given how she's forced to say yes to the situation! However, Mami is also very loyal and when she loves, she does love from the bottom of her heart! She loves it when she's made to feel special! And despite having a big social circle, she has a hard time opening up her heart to her few true friends and are scared of being vulnerable. Her relationship with Khushi is built on reluctant friendship and it's very sweet to see that.

  Virgo ♍️ Payal Gupta

Payal is a Virgo because she's intelligent, introverted, has a difficulty expressing her emotions and likes to be needed/useful. Also, she's very very modest and is happy by the smallest gestures (so when Akash does the small thing of buying vegetables to buy potatoes, it really means a lot). And she's perfectly aware of consequences - unlike Khushi! So it makes perfect sense why she realizes her marriage cost a lot to her family and fights to tell Raizadas the truth than hiding it because she fears the worst will happen if they hide Shyam's truth! Also she appears very rational and has a deep set of feelings that is tough to see superficially. And as a Virgo it takes time for Payal to fall for Akash. Virgos usually have a great control of reality that might unfortunately overpower love at times!

Libra ♎️ Akash

Akash is Libra because he's conflict avoidant, sees every side of the picture, has a tough time making decisions and is compassionate and empathetic. And sometimes he might be so concerned about other people's feelings that he might just let other people make decisions for him (he readily agrees to cancel his own sangeet because his cousin isn't ok with it!). So it makes sense why his mom and cousin can push him over given Akash's personality. Akash doesn't exhibit the other aspects of Libra because honestly we don't see much of Akash at all!

Scorpio ♏️ Arnav Singh Raizada

Arnav is Scorpio because he's completely fine with silence, one can't be sure if he's joking or serious, he has eyes that look straight into your soul and has the personality of infinite complexity. As a Scorpio, Arnav is always scanning, perfectly picking pressure points to get the answer they're seeking (hence the all why farak padta hai to Khushi). And honestly, Arnav is very lonely. He has a ruthless view of the world. Everyone either wins or loses. He's blunt. He does NOT lie nor spreads lies. And Arnav is scared of nothing except vulnerability. Opening up is the scariest part because pain is familiar, hope and trust not so much. And he doesn't have a favorite color - dark is perfect. So people do fall for Arnav much faster than he'd ever fall for anyone and when he does - it's fiercely possessive. And his flirting is *phew* - you know the one to whisper, challenge, watch from the mirror, catch you staring, offer smug smiles. And as a Scorpio he is attracted to who pushes his boundaries and brings out his most intense desires and profound fears - intrigue, passion and lust. And just as much as he loves passion, he hates it too. And weirdly while he desires intensely, he hates it if it overtakes his rationality. Which is why he ends up marrying a personal who is the exact opposite of who he verbally said he'd ever want! And to go further into why he's a true blue scorpio is because he will never make his feelings known. First there's a venomous, pentrating look to test the person in front. After that, the look softens. And they usually pursue their interest with intensity of pursuing an enemy. And he will seduce Khushi with magnetism. And tbh, he is pretty loyal and can do anything for his loved ones - morality matters little (cue whatever he feels he is doing for Anjali). Also he understands emotions well and will often help Khushi even before she realizes she needs it (while violently denying anything he feels for her - also the scene where he pays off everything in the hospital)

Sagittarius ♐️ NK

NK is Sagittarius because he forms his opinions off pure emotion, is obsessed with improving himself, is very true, the friendliest person at a party and is just a fearless adventurer. He is overly aspirational, loves to learn and is incredibly open. The opposite of all of his cousins actually! He loves to have a good time, and uses his ability to tell the truth like a power - which works so well against Arnav who just does not express anything. (And he enjoys watching Arnav burn in the discomfort of his own feelings). I just love NK.

Capricorn ♑️ Mahinder Raizada

Mamaji is a Capricorn because he's motivated by duty, is responsible, disciplined and mature to a certain extent. We don't see much about Mamaji in general apart from the fact that he eloped! Lol! Which is hilarious but also understandable if he views it as a moment of weakness instead of adventure! (There's no question doubting his love for Mami though). But he is a value centric man.

Aquarius ♒️ Lavanya Kashyap

La is Aquarius because (water sign like Khushi!) is because she's often an outcast, thrives in large groups, tries to be weird, finds normalcy boring and loves freedom. She likes intelligence, is obsessed with figuring people out (terrible to be attached to a scorpio) and she doesn't see her unwillingness to compromise as selfishness. In fact she's clever, very clever and can make solid friends. And she hates it if someone tells her that she's wrong.

Pisces ♓️ Aman Mathur

Aman, my man, is Pisces only because he's amazing. I have no idea who he is. He's just there'. lol.

Navigate the blog

Tagging: @butaneandthebeast @shiyaravi @shaonsim @thenainitaldisaster @maansiloves @muttonthings @sapnokiduniyaisalwaysbetter @bengudill @myloveforstuff @laad-governess @laadgovernorandsankadevi @leila1 @lostafpanda @magicfeltmybloop @honeybellexox @featheredclover @goals1024 @bigfatreader @simplycurlz @persephone-with-a-cat @sankititaliya @ijustchangedmyname @noor1025 @bitchy-bi-trash @thecharlesboyle @minpdnim @starzin8s @zaphbeeblebrox @white-thebeauty @bunnypassionsworld @scorpio-smiles @exosexosekai @whateverworks91

(I might be missing a lot of names so just comment below so I know!)

[legalupanishad]

Exposed: Human Rights Violations in the Adult Film Industry

This article on 'Human Rights Violations in the Adult Film Industry' was written by Payal Sharma, an intern at Legal Upanishad.

Introduction

The adult film industry, sometimes known as the "porn industry," has a significant number of viewers all over the world, and with the internet and social media platforms, it only takes a few seconds to get hooked on a porn video. For the sake of business, the industry portrays brutal, violent, harmful, and misleading information as normal and fascinating. Various human rights organisations have viewed fundamental rights as an inalienable element of a person's life, but in this industry, children and women are the most vulnerable groups that are exploited; they have no rights and are denied their dignity. Human rights are violated in a variety of ways, including human trafficking, child abuse, and non-consensual sex. Article 23 of the Indian Constitution bans all forms of trafficking. The National Human Rights Commission of India was established by an Act of Parliament in 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act to protect and promote human rights. This article analyses the human rights violations committed in the adult film industry.

Human Rights: Meaning and Concept

Human rights are those that are granted to every individual regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or any other basis. It contains all of the basic rights that a human needs to live in a society with dignity, peace, love,  without fear and with all sorts of equality. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an internationally recognised document that was created by persons from various legal and cultural backgrounds. It asserted that human rights should be protected worldwide. Human Rights are defined in Section 2(1)(d) of the Protection of Human Rights Act as "individual rights to life, liberty, equality, and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in International Covenants and enforceable by Indian courts." Every country in the world, including India, has government bodies that protect human rights. Human rights violations occur when people are denied the freedom to which they are entitled. Whenever human rights are violated, it creates a chaotic situation that leads to exploitation and oppression.

What constitutes an adult film industry?

The production of any video, film, multimedia, or other recorded representation of sexual intercourse in which performers are actually engaged in oral, vaginal, and anal penetration is referred to as adult film, and the industry that produces such films is referred to as the adult film industry.

Human Rights Violations in the Adult Film Industry

How are human rights effected in the adult film industry?

Promotes rape culture and sexual exploitation: This industry through its abusive videos promotes violence and crime against women and children as it normalizes all these acts. It instills in the minds of the viewers that ladies are sex object and that their feelings and emotions are worthless. A man who is addicted to porn movies is filled with negative thoughts and is more likely to harass women or become verbally and sexually aggressive. A man addicted to porn is unlikely to have empathy for women; this type of individual sees women as just sex dolls whose consent and pain are irrelevant. Pornography increases violence against women: Mia Khalifa once the most popular porn star in the world has herself told in an interview about the pitiable condition of women in this industry as well as other women who have to bear the consequences of their partners watching porn. Even porn actresses have to go through such a tough situation where they themselves have blackouts as this industry is inhumane and immoral it only needs revenue which can be earned only by including more offensive content. Affects dignity of women: Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees every human the right to life, liberty, and security, however, this is not the case in the adult film industry, where porn stars are compelled to perform sexual sequences against their will, making them feel embarrassed and insulted. A person does not want to become a porn star; it is her situation that forces her to enter this horrible world, and the adult film industry takes advantage of their situation and forces them to do things that are brutal and unethical. Sexual coercion: It refers to the use of coercion, alcohol or drugs, or force to have sexual intercourse with someone against their consent. It also includes making repeated sexual advances on someone who has previously declined. It constitutes emotional, sexual, and mental abuse, and hence constitutes a violation of human rights. Objectifies women: In porn movies, it is commonly depicted that women are subordinate to males, with little control over their bodies. Even this industry makes their content consumers believe that spouses are sex props and that because the man has a dominant position over her, he has the right to do anything he wants with her.

How this industry impacts common people?

- Pornography is like mud water; a person who falls into it sinks without realising he is entering a deep dark chamber. - Pornography captures the brain wave of those who see it, and especially when the viewers are largely young adolescent boys, the adolescents of today will undoubtedly grow up to be violent, rude, and unsympathetic men. - When asked, the majority of rape prisoners say they were provoked by porn videos, making them dangerous to society.

Suggestions and Conclusion

In my opinion, this type of industry should not exist and there must be harsher punishments against those who produce these kinds of movies. With the growth of technology, everyone has easy access to social media, and porn films are like a spider web in which a person becomes so engrossed that it affects his behaviours towards female members. A child does not grasp what is good and terrible, but as he grows older, he becomes attracted to these things. The effect of aggressive porn videos is increased anger and enmity towards women. This industry exists solely to make a profit, at the expense of performers' and even women's safety around the world. Stricter legislation should be enacted and strictly enforced in both language and practice.

List of references:

- Elisabet Le Roux, Pornography: Human right or human rights violation?, 66(2) Theological Studies (2009) - Jasmine Siddiqui, Adult Film Industry and Human Rights Violations, Lawctopus, 12 April 2022, available at: https://www.lawctopus.com/academike/adult-film-industry-and-human-rights-violations/ - Pornography and Human Rights, European Centre for Law and Justice, available at: media.aclj.org/pdf/Pornography-and-Human-Rights,-European-Centre-for-Law-and-Justice,-October-2019.pdf Read the full article

[maddalenafragnito]

DIGITAL CARE CHAINS. CLEANING DATA IN THE PLATFORM ECONOMY Working paper at Global perspectives on Platforms, Labour and Social Reproduction

Global Perspectives on Platforms, Labor & Social Reproduction. A hybrid international conference convened at the University of Amsterdam, co-organized by the Platform Labor project & the Global Digital Cultures initiative.

Conference Dates: 27 & 28 June, 2023

Keynote Conversations Julie Chen, Rahul Mukherjee, Dalia Gebrial, Julian Posada, Cheryll Soriano, Andrea Pollio, Payal Arora, Rafael Grohmann, Ngai Pun

Organizing Committee Niels van Doorn, Thomas Poell, Aleksandra Piletić, Jelke Bosma, Eva Mos, Rivke Jaffe, Natalie Kerby, Anunaya Rajhans, Oriana Hine

Concept Note Much of the published scholarship on platforms and their impacts on labor and social reproduction is confined to the North American and European contexts. While this literature is rich and diverse, research in and on other parts of the world does not always get the attention it deserves. In an effort to counter this dynamic, this conference aims to epistemically and geographically recalibrate platform (labor) research. We seek to accomplish this by spotlighting scholars whose work examines communities, practices, and locales that are too often overlooked or considered “peripheral” in contemporary debates on the platformization of labor and social reproduction. Moreover, researchers working in North American and European contexts are encouraged to reflect on how forms of differentiation such as race, gender, and citizenship inform their work, particularly in light of how these have been shaped by global hierarchies and colonial histories. The conference thus provides a space for questioning the theories, methodologies and cartographies that currently dominate the field, while supporting the exchange of intersectional and geographically variegated perspectives on platforms, labor and social reproduction.

We aim to stimulate critical discussions on the complex ways in which processes of (de)valuation, (mis)classification, (de)monetization, and extraction unfold across geographies of platform labor. Pursuing this objective, we ask:

How do specific trajectories of platformization reflect, reproduce and transform the social orders, hierarchies and inequalities that characterize different localities?

How are platforms nevertheless also generating new spaces for the cultivation of livelihoods, resistance, and solidarity?

Along with complicating the dis/empowerment binary, the conference seeks to problematize other analytical dichotomies, such as ‘developed-developing’, ‘core-periphery’, ‘North-South’, and ‘global-local’, to foster a more nuanced and multifaceted understanding of the relation between platforms, labor, and social reproduction. We welcome contributions that think the ‘South’ in the ‘North’ (and vice versa), map the overlaps between ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ work, question the distinctions between public and private interests, and trace the transversal lines connecting the so-called ‘centers’ and ‘margins’ of unevenly developing platform economies.

In the context of the abovementioned aims, we are especially interested in papers that shed new light on one or more of the following themes and topics, which will be organized along six session tracks, I am part of the 4th one:

Track 1: Researching Platform Labor

Track 2: Dynamics of (In)Formalization and Professionalization

Track 3: Platform Governance/Governing Platforms

Track 4: Platforms and Social Reproduction: 

This track features research on the manifold ways in which platforms intersect with the efforts of households, communities, and institutions to sustain themselves over time. We welcome contributions on the relation between platforms/platformization and the unevenly manifesting ‘crisis of care’, including the role of platforms in restructuring ‘global care chains’ and volunteer-based social services. We are especially interested in papers that highlight hitherto under-researched areas, practices and dynamics of platform-mediated social reproduction. Moreover, we wonder how ‘new’ ideas about the social value or potential of platforms complement or reconfigure ‘established’ notions of community, care, and sustainability?

Track 5: Platformization and Capital Accumulation

Track 6: New Conflicts and Coalitions

[thebobby1432world]

Kajal Jha Wiki, Biography, Age, Height, Weight, Family, Net Worth

Kajal Jha Wiki: Kajal Jha is a talented actress known for portraying Riya in Ullu's popular erotic web series, Charamsukh - Tapan. Her character in the series was that of a single woman who sought to fulfil her desires through her brother-in-law, Vaibhav, who had his eye on her friend, Payal. To achieve her goals, she made a deal with Vaibhav to help him satisfy his desires for Payal if he helped her in return. Born and raised in Patna, Bihar, Kajal Jha received her early education at a senior secondary school in her hometown before graduating from Patna University. She currently resides with her mother and younger sister, Khushi Jha, although no information about her father is available. Kajal Jha Wiki Body Measurements While Kajal Jha has not discussed her personal life, including her relationships or affairs, her professional journey is remarkable. She began her career as a model, initially shooting catalogues for various clothing brands. She subsequently auditioned for various projects, and in 2016, she received her first break in the Bhojpuri film Tahalka More Nav Ke. In the movie, Kajal Jha played the role of a widow who had to care for her daughter after the death of her husband, providing a mix of drama, comedy, and entertainment. In 2020, Kajal Jha appeared in a C-19 Hair Pin advertisement alongside Ankita Solanki. A few years later, she starred in the Ullu web series Charamsukh - Tapan, which resonated with audiences, propelling her into the limelight. The already-popular Charamsukh series proved to be a turning point in her career.

Kajal Jha Wiki

Kajal Jha Wiki

Real NameKajal JhaNick NameKajal JhaProfessionActressDate of Birth2000Age22 Years (Age as of 2023)Place of BirthPatna, BiharNationalityIndianHair ColorBlackEye ColorBlackSexual OrientationStraightZodiac SignCapricornReligionHinduismHometownPatna, BiharCurrent LocationMumbai, MaharashtraLanguages KnownHindi, EnglishSchoolSchools in PatnaCollegePatna University, BiharEducational QualificationGraduateTheatreNoneHobbies and Favorites StuffTravelling, ActingFavourite ActorUnknownFavourite ActressUnknownFavourite MoviesUnknownFood PreferenceVegetarian

Body Measurements

InformationDescriptionHeight5 feet 2 inches (157.48 cm)Weight52 kgsEye colourBlackComplexionWheatishBreast size34 inchesWaist size28 inchesHip size34 inchesGym partner's nameNoor MalabikaGym partner's careerA popular actress on the Ullu platform Read the full article