The Next Best Thing

Let's face it, you can't be socially accepted and your friends will disown you if you've not posted a selfie of yours on social media in two day's time. Have you stopped believing in how amazing your close-ups are? What has stolen you away from your photography sessions? Is it your stock camera app? Or, have you forgotten the "art" of capturing selfies itself?

Whatever's the cause, these five tips ought to help you out in your selfie-taking adventure.


1. Discover Your Best Facial Pose.

That's right. And then flaunt it. This one is tricky, however, it's the first step of either learning to take perfect selfies or getting rid of that rustiness. It depends on your case. Repeat the following mantra like twenty times before standing in front of a mirror for an investigation.

Facing the mirror, he runs a finger down his cheek. The dark thorns encrusting it crackle then fall, leaving pure skin. But, very soon, the pale cleared by his doing is undone, and his skin is covered in those thorns again.

Covered with those hideous thorns again. 

He digs his nails into both his cheeks, peeling away the crisp. The pale he gets to see mesmerizes him. It is covered, again — quickly — with the thorns.

It recovers so frustratingly fast! But he doesn't give up.

A scream escapes him, and his fingers claw away flesh from his forehead, following down his cheeks and chin. The sight of blood unsettles him, but it is short lived; the thorns populate, fast, yet again.

He stares into his eyes staring back at him. What he sees is a helpless creature, incapable of happiness and doomed to ceaseless misery.

He begins to cry.

Dark liquid falls from his eyes.

Overcome with anger, he slams a fist into the mirror, shattering it immediately into pieces. Then, he stares at his hand: thick with those dark thorns.

He howls at the sight.

More thorns begin to protrude from his back, tearing away his clothing. Thorns begin to grow on his arms, and his thighs, and his legs, and his feet.

He stares at them, heartbroken.

In a corner, he places his knees into his chest, hugging himself. And cries away.

He cries away.

The murder of renowned sufi sensation, Amjad Sabri, has settled over the nation an air of remorse and grief. Classified as targeted killing, this assassination is a gruesome reminder of how fragile the system of protection is in Pakistan. The abduction alone of Awais Ali Shah, son of the Chief Justice, had left the country shaken. For one shocking occurrence to be followed by another — undoubtedly — has scared the people.

There are questions that need to be answered, however. Is the murder related to the abduction in any way? Are the same people responsible for Amjad Sabri's unjust demise? Are these "masked men" part of organized crime or are they just a ragtag group of assailants?

If not, then who do they work for?

It angers people of unrestricted thought how such terrorists are always capable of getting away scot-free. Of how expertly they evade the reach of the authorities and then formulate their next move.

There is too much of political greed among the responsible for there to be any immediate effect on the inept condition of security of the country. Their minds are devoted to their search of power and more, and not on what requires their absolute attention. This always results in crimes such as the murder and whatnot.

This is a dangerous city; not one of us is safe.

Who's next on the kill-list?

Set in a declining, deteriorating world of superstition and tradition, The Ghost Bride is Yangsze Choo's debut novel. It centers around Li Lan, the only child of a bankrupt household who is pressed indirectly by a wealthy family to marry the spirit of their dead son in a ghost marriage. Later haunted by Lim Tian Ching, Li Lan is whisked away into the world of spirits when her own is pulled out of her body by an opium overdose. She then ventures further into the spirit realm, learning more of how it works, forming alliances and discovering answers to questions previously ignored.

It is an engaging and riveting read, and here's why you should be reading it right now:

The Vocabulary.

That's right. You'll find, as you advance, words new and interesting. The precision with which they've been used will benefit newbie English learners and the run-of-the-mill vocabulary addicts.

The Plot.

This book is perfect for Hayao Miyazaki fans and everyone else out there who has grown up watching Studio Ghibli features like Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke; with twists and turns at every corner and each chapter more thrilling than the last.

Role-Model Material.

Li Lan's struggles, and how she overcomes them with undying determination, is a perfect role-model example for young girls, even boys, out there who look up to literary characters.

It's Like Watching A Movie.

If you have a good imagination, and have the sense to determine a cast of your own of the characters before indulging in the book, you'll find that you won't be disappointed by the intrigue this book has to offer. It'll be like television in your head! A healthy imagination is a must, however.

It Is Something New.

The Ghost Bride is a tremendous relief from your everyday vampire romance and the other mainstream genres. You'll find the characters quite relatable and the romance that ensues original and inexplicit.

Everyone's Reading It.

This book has been featured in lists on Goodreads. You might end up making new friends, and becoming popular, too, if seen busily reading The Ghost Bride.


Buy your copy now and set sail to an adventure of spirits, romance, comedy, and much more.

I'm sure you all must have heard of SMASH; one of the only cool teen magazines out there in Pakistan. It covers a specific area of topics, including celebrity gossip and lifestyle, poetry and cookery, lyrics, quotes, astrology, movie and book reviews, and literature.

We're already aware of the severe lack of direction our government has succumbed to. The PM's venture to a different country for a heart surgery accentuates the ineptness of our own medical facilities. Why would he otherwise proceed abroad, undermining Pakistani surgeons and their practices in the process? Because all of Pakistan's politicos have deemed the doctors here and their surgical capabilities untrustworthy, by opting for medical examinations outside of the folds of the country.

When it was first announced that Saba Imtiaz's book will be turned into a movie, the idea was met with skepticism. But all that is in the past, because the book will be adapted into a movie by Bollywood directors!

Saba Imtiaz is a freelance journalist and author, currently based in Pakistan. Karachi, You're Killing Me is her debut novel. It has a rating of 2.9/5 on Goodreads and has been published by Random House. Even with this underwhelming rating, the book turned out to be a best seller in Pakistan. The people responsible for this incomplete rating don't know what they've missed. The expected Bollywood adaptation has sent tongues wagging and critics are excited.

Sonakshi Sinha will play the role of the book's protagonist, Ayesha.

Kudos, to the designer of the book cover.

Many believe it unfair for the screenplay to not be identical to the original text. The directors that have taken the task of making the movie have added major changes to the plot. The story will be based in Mumbai, instead of Karachi. And the reporter named Ayesha, will be Noor Roy Chaudhary. The author hasn't protested and seems "satisfied" with the actress and the changes. Her novel is being turned into a movie, after all. The changes are a small price for the experience and the confidence boost Saba, undoubtedly, must have encountered.

There are other unmentioned changes as well.

It is sad how the Pakistani film industry hasn't considered an adaptation of its own.

It is her right to condemn this act — the changes that have been announced. But she hasn't and the prospect seems very unlikely.

The movie, however, will surprise all. An initial release is expected after the month of August.

The author is an inspiration to many more who will follow her example and write best sellers of their own. Imtiaz and her prodigious work of fiction must be applauded and recognized.