Frustrated executives while away time in five-star hotels waiting for deals that never come, and civil servants play video games in their offices – growing signs of the reform limbo and crisis of confidence behind India’s economic malaise.

Policy paralysis, corruption scandals and a government fearful of political backlash to any bold moves have combined with the global slowdown and worsening domestic finances in the last few months to derail Asia’s third-largest economy.

India now faces the worst-case scenario that was touted earlier this year – stubbornly high inflation, slowing growth, a mounting fiscal deficit, a rupee that risks freefall — and both policymakers and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have few levers to fix it.

For years, Indian entrepreneurs have boasted they can do business despite the government – adeptly working around potholed roads, clogged ports and reams of regulatory hurdles.

But government inertia – what many politicians see as “playing safe” – is taking its toll on corporate confidence.

Entrepreneurs once feted in Bollywood movies as national heroes, whose million-dollar homes and jetset lifestyles were a beacon for millions of India’s aspiring middle classes, no longer seem capable of driving the $1.6 trillion economy.

“We may have seen phases of economic growth slower than this in the two post-reform decades, but never has the entrepreneurial mood been so low,” wrote Shekhar Gupta, editor-in-chief of the Indian Express.

It’s echoed across offices of business leaders from Mumbai to Delhi. One foreign executive described increasingly strained telephone conversations over the past year with his U.S.-based CEO as deals became mired in red tape and ministerial inertia.

“They always understood that India was difficult to do business in. But not this difficult,” said the executive, who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak for his company.

The banking sector is now under strain from bad loans.

Economic reforms that may bring in much-needed foreign investment, such as opening up the supermarket sector to the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), have been put on hold as political parties eye important state polls next year.

Even reforms seen as no-brainers politically, such as the introduction of a digitalised national ID card or food subsidies for the poor, have faced delays as opposition parties and coalition partners smell blood ahead of a 2014 general election.

FROM COCKY TO FEARFUL

India used to be full of brash business leaders.

When Tata Steel (TISC.NS) bought an Anglo-Dutch rival in 2007 for $12 billion, the newspaper headline “Empire Strikes Back” epitomised the supreme confidence of India’s aggressive capitalist kingpins then on a global buying spree. Jaguar, Land Rover and other foreign brands soon followed into Indian hands.

The economy may grow at under 7 percent this fiscal year, down from initial forecasts of 9 percent. That’s still a far cry from the around 3.5 percent  rate of growth that plagued the decades after India’s independence from Britain in 1947.

But these last few heady years have changed expectations.

These days, growth below 7 percent is enough for investors to delay projects, for banks to put off loans and for voters to get angry: 7 percent is the new 2-3 percent.

It was corruption scams surfacing over a year ago that may have started it – a potentially $39 billion scam involving selling telecoms licenses at rock-bottom prices effectively saw distracted politicians asleep at the economic wheel.

Suddenly politicians were jailed and billionaires questioned by police. It sent shudders through the political class. The invincibility of the political “untouchables” disappeared.

Inside India’s famously bureaucratic ministries, middle-level civil servants passed the buck to top-level officials who in turn passed the buck to their reluctant political masters.

One defence contractor, who asked to not be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, recounted spending weeks at a top hotel, sipping drinks every evening with fellow frustrated arms dealers waiting for “imminent” defence ministry decisions that never came.

An Indian executive likened the country’s economic malaise and government’s reform limbo to an old village adage – a bullock knows that if it goes to work in the field it could get whipped, while the animal that lazes around far away does not.

“Once the spotlight is on, even minor mistakes become noticeable,” said the vice-president of an infrastructure firm about a slowdown in decision making ever since corruption scandals broke last year. “That’s why nobody wants to take decisions.”

Many civil servants have been seen playing computer games during official hours when parliament sessions are adjourned or their minister goes on trips for G20 or World Bank meetings, according to one government official.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may be reform-minded. But with real power lying with the populist-inclined Sonia Gandhi, he has been unable or unwilling to press for new steps to modernise and open up the economy.

With Gandhi ill, reportedly with cancer, there are signs the family dynasty that has run India for decades has lost its bearings, increasingly unable to keep its coalition partners in line as parties jostle for power before the 2014 election.

The cabinet’s one sudden announcement of major reform – allowing foreign firms to hold 51 percent stakes in the supermarket sector – may have been partly driven by economic panic as the rupee plummeted, with Asia’s worst-performing currency suffering from capital flight to safe havens like U.S. Treasuries.

But Singh’s about-turn only 10 days later in the face of a political backlash underscored that, even at a time of alarm over the economy, politics and the concern about forthcoming elections took precedence.

FLOWS SLOW, CONFIDENCE EBBS

India’s annual financing requirement of $119 billion is the highest in Asia, according to a Nomura report. The trade gap for the fiscal year to March 2012 is expected to widen sharply to $155-$160 billion from $104.4 billion a year ago.

Foreign funds are net sellers of about $300 million of Indian shares this year in sharp contrast to record investment of more than $29 billion in 2010, and the 30-share BSE Sensex is down more than 23 percent, making it the worst-performing major global market this year.

“Industry is geared up to deliver infrastructure in line with the strong growth pattern and the government’s forecasts,” said Russell Waugh, managing director of Leighton Welspun Contractors, part of Australia’s Leighton Holdings (LEI.AX).

“But the flow (of new projects) at the moment, the real flow, is not aligned with that gearing. So we’re seeing most companies struggling.”

Infrastructure assets, including telecoms, construction and power, which account for about 25 percent of total corporate credit, are now a key concern for banks.

Worries about rising bad loans prompted Moody’s Investors Service earlier this month to cut its outlook on India’s banking sector to “negative” from “stable”, saying monetary tightening and a slowdown in the economy would cut bank loan growth.

The car industry – a symbol of the aspirations of millions of India’s middle classes – is now an example of how slipping growth and high interest rates have hit consumer demand and investment decisions.

Car sales in India, which jumped 30 percent in the last fiscal year, have slumped due to high interest rates and rising input costs. Sales may just break even this fiscal year.

Maruti Suzuki (MRTI.NS), India’s biggest automaker, is deferring an investment of $560-740 million in plants in the western state of Gujarat due to the economic gloom.

“When we will start work in Gujarat will depend on how the market improves in the future… at the moment the general economic situation is too negative to justify it,” Maruti Chairman R. C. Bhargava told Reuters. “There’s no point creating excess capacity if the demand is not there.”

NO QUICK FIX

There is no quick fix for the government, with the fiscal deficit set to beat its target of 4.6 percent of GDP. But there is little sign of efforts to help investment, including speeding up approvals of projects hit by red tape and environmental approvals.

One official, monitoring government infrastructure projects, said that of 558 government projects, 241 were delayed as of end-July, resulting in a cost overrun of some 20 percent, or more than $31 billion.

The projects, which include setting up airports, new railway lines, shipping ports, roads and power plants, have been delayed by more than two years on average due to issues of land acquisition, environmental clearance and rising costs.

Senior government officials, who declined to be named, described a finance ministry dominated by 76-year-old Pranab Mukherjee, who is more adept at bringing together unruly coalition allies than doing anything bold about the economy.

“Mukherjee is a politician first with little time for his own ministry as he is also the chief trouble shooter for the Congress party. Many bureaucrats don’t even get to see him for days and have no access to him,” said one.

“His style is very old world and some say not very responsive to financial markets. It’s not surprising that in a crisis like what’s confronting us currently, lack of imaginative leadership in the treasury department is also reflecting in the economic woes facing the country.”

Mukherjee first became finance minister in 1982, way before India had begun to rethink its post-independence socialist, state-driven economic model.

For many, India will remain in limbo only until a real crisis prompts it to act – similar to the 1991 balance of payments crisis that ushered in the country’s first economic reforms under Singh, who was then finance minister.

“At the end of the day, I feel you need crisis to get going again,” said V Ravichander, who advises multinationals on doing business. “And even though our growth rates have fallen from 8 to 6.9 percent on the last estimate, I guess people feel 6.9 is not still low enough for us to do something about it.”

But that inertia could means India faces some turbulent years ahead, exacerbated by the 2014 election that may just polarise the country further.

“The new Hindu Rate of Growth is 6 percent and on all evidence, from macroeconomic data to the empty billboards of Mumbai, we’re headed there next year,” wrote Gupta.

“Returning to economic stagnation like that is bad enough by itself. But this is not the forgiving India of the past. This India has tasted growth, progress, optimism and aspiration.”

BETWEEN THE LINES

The non-governance of rulers and the lack of cooperation of the Opposition have pushed the country into a mess.

There is not a shred of doubt that the Manmohan Singh government would have fallen last week if it had persisted in going ahead with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail. The opposition came together and the government was reduced to 206 in the 545-member house. A similar fate can confront the government if it does not improve upon the diluted bill to set up the institution of Lokpal to deal with corruption. Once they span their differences, the government can face the same situation as it did on FDI. Behind-the-scenes efforts have not stopped to bring down the government. Permutations and combinations are being worked out and it looks difficult that the government can last the full term up to May, 2014. The threat has already affected the functioning of government. Decisions are taking long and there is a paralysis in the administration. Most political parties, particularly the BJP, have taken advantage of Gandhain Anna Hazare’s movement on the Lokpal bill which brought once again thousands from civil society on the streets. Except the National Congress Party (NCP) of Maharashtra (9), the Trinamool Congress of West Bengal (19) and the DMK of Tamil Nadu (16) almost all political parties from left to right commanding the strength of 201 members joined Hazare on the same platform. The Congress led-government has 248 in tow, missing the half way mark of 272. Therefore, the government cannot take bold decisions which the situation demands. The Congress is justified in alleging that the Hazare’s movement has got politicised. The party also has a point when it says that such pressures tell upon the democratic method of achieving the end. However, I do not accept the charge that Hazare has political gains in view. The more the Congress trumps up such allegations the less will be its credibility. Yet the Congress has itself to blame for the development because the Lokpal bill it has brought before Parliament is neither fish nor foul. It goes against the assurances the Congress gave to Anna Hazare (the prime minister endorsed those through a letter). The ‘sense of the house’ as Pranab Mukherjee spelled out in a resolution to enable Hazare to break his fast was : 1. Citizen’s Charter, including his right to have water and electricity, 2. The lower bureaucracy under Lokpal and 3. Establishment of Lokayuktas in the states. The bill has conceded only one point that is the appointment of Lokayuktas. Now that the bill is being amended, the Congress should introspect why it could not read the mood of political parties and the public. Out of ambit The party has lost its face by first insisting on keeping the lower staff as well as PM out of ambit of Lokpal and then surrendering within 48 hours. It seems that the parliamentary standing committee which gave bones to the bill had provided for keeping the lower staff and the PM under Lokpal. But the last minute intervention by Rahul Gandhi, deleted both the points. Belatedly, the Congress has denied this but only after Hazare’s repeated charge that Rahul had diluted the Lokpal bill. Yet the sticking point is the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This is an instrument which every government has used against opponents at the Centre and in the states. CBI is under the personnel department of the Central government that means the ruling party. Rulers have misused CBI to sustain its majority in the Lok Sabha or the state legislatures.  Even the governments of different colours have been destabilised through CBI. In fact, it is time that all political parties realise that destabilisation of elected governments does not augur well for them or the country. On the other hand, Pranab Mukherjee has warned that without political stability, the economic stability is not possible. One can see that. The country is going down the hill as far as the economy is concerned. The UPA government will have to make many compromises to stay in power. This may entail the economic packages to Trinamool Congress, the DMK or smaller parties. This is not good for the country’s health, economically or politically. The Congress is right when it blames the opposition for stalling Parliament and not letting the key bills to be passed. Indeed, the opposition’s role is negative when the nation faces a difficult hour. But then the opposition is interested in coming to power by hook or by crook, not in pushing the economy. In the process, people are suffering and missing pace and progress in development. On the chessboard of politics, the different parties are busy playing the game in such a way that they sustain their strength and project their own interest even if it means stagnation for the nation. No doubt, they do not want to face election because of uncertainty of the outcome. But there does seem be any other way to get out of the mess, which the non-governance of rulers and non-cooperation of the opposition has brought about. The electorate has no faith in what the government claims and no confidence in what the political parties promise. People want a change. Hazare’s agitation has awakened them to the misdeeds of those in power or those who are outside it. Fresh election may throw up new faces, new parties and new combinations. There may well be a manthan (churning). Some dirt is bound to come out. This is good for the nation. Ultimately things will settle down to usher in a new chapter, new environment and new vigour. There is no alternative to new elections.

Report sheds light on how women suffered in militancy-hit Pak

Pakistani Taliban fighters cut the breasts of a woman who was breastfeeding her child and asked other women to eat the pieces, in a gory incident highlighted in a new report that details the abuse of women in the militancy-hit tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.

The incident occurred when five militants walked into a house and saw the woman breastfeeding her child, The Express Tribune quoted the report titled ‘Impact of crisis on women and girls in FATA’ as saying. The report, released by the human rights organisation “Khwendo Kor” (Sisters’ Home in Pashto) with financial support from the UN, is based on case studies of women from the tribal belt living in camps set up in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for people displaced by militancy and military operations. Women in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas are more susceptible to violence and abuse in a post-conflict scenario, whether or not they are part of the conflict, the report says. Another revelation is that women in relief camps were forced to have sex in exchange for food and non-food items. Girls and widows were at greater risk of such abuse, it said. “A security officer forced me to have sex in exchange for cooking oil and pulses when I was collecting food at the main entrance of the camp,” a 22-year-old woman in Jalozai camp is quoted as saying. The surveys conducted at relief camps at Nahqai and Jalozai showed that women were uncomfortable going to toilets because there was little privacy as men constantly lurked around. The report said there was an increase in “honour killings” in which women who were raped were murdered because and rape was considered a disgrace to the family. Forced marriages, honour killings, exchange of women between tribes and marriages with first cousins resulting in disabilities among the offspring have made women in the tribal areas increasingly dependent. The role of women in society too has decreased from 39 per cent to 19 per cent, according to the report. Akhunzada Chattan, a parliamentarian from Bajaur tribal region, said certain rituals practiced with the veneration of religion have deprived women of their rights. “In Bajaur… usury is not something against which the cleric will stand up, but if a woman demands her share of property she is stigmatised as culturally blasphemous,” he said. Changes to the controversial Frontier Crimes Regulation have not significantly helped in improving the situation. Women still have to go to a jirga or tribal council to seek justice. “Women in FATA cannot directly appeal to any court of law,” Chattan said. Maryam Bibi, the woman behind the report, said the findings are based on ground realities. “Although it is hard to digest the facts, this is what the women have to go through. Someone has to speak for change,” she said.

Shyness is uncomfortable and if you find yourself tongue-tied in social occasions, it could take a toll on your overall self-esteem. But there’s no need to lose all hope. It’s perfectly natural to be nervous when meeting a good looking man or woman. Since first impressions matter, if you keep away from the person completely out of shyness it may be misinterpreted as arrogance or plain bad manners.
Learning to overcome shyness isn’t difficult. Just be natural and stay away from cheesy one-liners. The rest will be easy.  
Comprehending body language
Reading body language may often seem like voodoo, but it is anything but difficult. What you should know is that your mind interprets body language sub-consciously and uses it to form impressions about anyone. Once you start paying attention to this, the signals are easy to read. It’s a language that we speak everyday and it is extremely intuitive. You just need to become consciously receptive to it.

Understanding your shyness
You need to understand your brand of shyness and how it manifests your life. Try to comprehend what situation triggers this feeling and what it is that immediately puts you back in your shell.

Find your strengths
To prevent this from happening, you need to look for your strengths. We all have unique qualities and various ways to expressing ourselves. Focus on something you are good at. Though this might be a short term fix, it will give you immense confidence and help you break your self-imposed barrier of fear.

What not to do
>  Be careful not to go overboard with your chatter; watch what you say.
>  Do not indulge in personal conversations when meeting someone for the first time.
>  Don’t be aggressive, rude.
>  Refrain from using abusive language.
>  Try to respect the other person’s opinions even if you do not agree with it.
>  If somebody is avoiding you, do not pile on.
>  Relationship expert Dr Seema Hingorrany says, “Never choose a seat which is isolated. Ask the host to introduce you to people and start with neutral topics of conversation.

Women

If a guy comes up to you…
When you are approached by a suave guy at a party, more often than not, you don’t know how to start a conversation. All that you are left with is fumbles. Be confident and don’t walk away. Do not ramble something that you have no knowledge about.
Be approachable
You don’t have to be a chatterbox to attract people. With just a slight smile or a nod, you can get people talking to you at the party. Be nice and friendly to others and do not give curt responses. Do nice things for people, for example, accompany someone for a drink.  Do not be extreme and go the extra mile but surely take an extra step.
Wear something you love
Be confident in the way you look. Spend some time choosing your outfit and make sure you are wearing something comfortable. The idea of being shy-free is to be comfy rather than trendy. When you look good, you feel good about yourself and this helps overcome the shyness.
Find your kitty circle
Women love to bond over topics like men, shopping, children etc. Find your group. The best way to spend the evening is chatting about things you love to do.
Practice small talk
This may sound really dorky, but practising some small talk will help you stand face-to-face with someone you haven’t met before. If someone is smiling at you, return the favour. Do not turn your face and walk off. When you are approached by someone, start with basic things like — how are you, where do you work etc.

Men
If you are approached by a woman…
If a woman comes up and talks to you, do not answer in a single sentence. This might put her off and she may label you as an arrogant person. Start with a small conversation and get to know her better.
Interact over business matters
If you find people who are from the same work field, discussing business can help build your friend circle and also get you business contacts.

Join like-minded people

Look for people who share the same interests as you. Ask the host to get you introduced to a couple of friends and connect over a glass of beer or whiskey.

Start with a joke
If a decent joke pops into your head, just come out and say it. If someone laughs, that’s the perfect conversation starter. It is also a great dialogue opener with attractive women.

Bond over a common sport

Use sports to bond with others, especially those you play or watch regularly. Invite them over the weekend to the golf championship at the local club.

 

We’re getting closer to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and you’re anxious because you’re still single.
In fact, you feel like Cinderella without Prince Charming. But snap out of your fairytale-style tragedy and be your own fairy godmother.
After all, whoever said you have to get a date the traditional way? We show you how to bag the cutie you’ve been eyeing, and have some fun along the way.

Coffee does the trick
Gather up your work files – if you don’t have any, borrow some! Then, dress up like you’re a high-powered businesswoman (don’t forget the glasses). Next walk into his favourite coffee shop, jabbering away into your phone in very official sounding lingo, and as you pass by his table, bump the files in his lap and ask him to follow you acting like you didn’t give him a second glance.

The poor confused guy will hopefully do what he’s told, and when you reach and empty table, end your ‘call’ and looking at him quizzically ask who he is. Just when he starts thinking you’re crazy, apologise saying he looked like a colleague from work, and invite him to have a cup of coffee. Got it?

Dance off
Join a dance class, even if you already know how to dance (or think you do). There’s sure to be at least one guy who’ll catch your eye. Get the moves wrong, do your own steps and drive your instructor crazy but make sure to pair up with your target. When you’re with him, get every step right. When your astonished instructor tells you to do those moves again, do it all wrong (there is a point here, read on!) and only do it right when you’re partnered with your to-be-date.

It’s a move that’s sure to grab his attention. It also makes it easier to ask him to dance with you at the Christmas/New Year’s Eve bash.

Fortune cookies
This works if you already know the guy. Call him up and ask him if he would like some cookies because you baked extra and everyone else is on a diet. Bake some fortune cookies and include your invitation in one of them. A simple straightforward, ‘Me, you, New Year’s party’ will do the trick. Keep it short and sweet.

Send him on a treasure hunt
Do a bit of research and find out his likes, and say he’s into videogames, let the prize be the latest videogame and base the clues on said videogame.

What’s the next step? Have a treasure hunt! Invite him and a couple of friends to participate. Team up with him (no one has to know that you hid the main prize), and when you two win the prize after solving all the clues, he’ll be pretty impressed that you’re one of the smart ones.

And he’ll be very flattered to see the card on the grand prize, asking him to go with you to the party. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on his face.

Send him a funny video
Guys happen to like girls with a sense of humour, girls who can laugh at themselves. So find a way for him to watch an old, funny video of you goofing up (but only slightly) at your Bharatnatyam arangetram, or singing just a little off key while dancing like Madhuri Dixit – basically anything that will get a few laughs out of him. Then give him the “Okay, you had a gala time laughing over my embarrassing video so you owe me a date, pick me up at 8!” spiel, or something along those lines.

So get creative while trying to get his attention and remember to have fun. Not only will you tickle his funny bone, he’ll appreciate the effort you’ve put in and won’t be able to say no.

We love our friends. Why? Maybe because they love us back no matter what stupid things we say or do. In turn, we love them for their quirks, mistakes, and funny personalities, too. Often, friends fall into categories. Your group might not exactly fit like the threesome in “Charlie’s Angels” or the famous “Golden Girls,” but there are striking, and often hilarious, differences in every crew. After the jump, check out some characteristics of the friends you probably already have. Do your friends fit the bill? Which friend are you?

1. The Responsible One: Enter the friend who is always the voice of reason. She’s put-together and logical. She’s kind of like the good angel on your shoulder, who says, “That’s not very practical.” She might not be your first pick for a concert or a night on the town, but she’s the first one you call when you need to make the bigger decisions in life. When it comes to relationships, jobs and the things that really matter, there’s no one who gives better advice than she does.
2. The (Not So) Secret Seductress: You have to love this one. Cute and friendly by day but seductress by night, this friend gets most (or maybe all) of the action in your group of friends. She owns her sexuality and has dated or fooled around with almost everyone you know. Admire her sexual adventures from afar, but beware: No one is off-limits to this friend, including your latest crush. Spare yourself the strife and keep your personal life out of this friendship.
3. The Sketchball: This is a true blue friend, but after the clock strikes 12, she is nowhere to be found. Call her, text her, or send out a search party … all attempts are futile. Always start your night out with this fun, spontaneous buddy, but don’t go out with her alone or you will end the evening getting a cab home by yourself.
4. Little Miss Opinion: This friend always has something to say. Headstrong and full of ideas, she likes to run her mouth about how, if it were her, she would never do that. She can be slightly judgmental, but you love her for standing up for what she believes in. You might not agree with her political views, but one thing is certain: this friend will be fiercely loyal to you no matter what.
5. The Comedian: When you’re feeling pessimistic and need to distract yourself from a long day at work or personal problem, this is your go-to gal. She has the positive attitude and sense of humor that we all wish we had a little more of — she doesn’t take anything too seriously. When you need belly-aching laughter and don’t feel like hashing out your emotions, hang out with this lady.
6. The Boyfriender: Don’t we all wish we could be like this friend sometimes? She almost always has a boyfriend, and on the off chance that she’s in between relationships, she attracts guys faster than you can even tie your shoelaces. Aside from her relationship status, one thing is for sure: this friend knows the right way to be treated and never settles for anything less than she deserves. Go to her for the best empowerment pep talks and follow her example. Confidence is key!
7. The Party Girl: When everyone else says no, this friend says yes. She’s always down for an impromptu road trip or party, pleasant to be around, and has the most active social life. She knows everyone and is willing to help you network or make a new friend. She doesn’t always know her limits, though, so know when it’s time for you to slow down on the partying scene.
8. The Debbie Downer: It’s hard to see the bright side sometimes, but this friend doesn’t even know that there is a bright side. She whines, complains, and never has anything positive to add to the conversation. However, her redeeming quality is that she will always listen to you when you need to vent. Spending time with the Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy with an occasional lunch date or random phone call is best — no one wants to be brought down on a daily basis.
9. The Shopaholic: This friend sets the trends before they’re even on the runways. She’s got style, an artistic flair, and the best taste in birthday presents. If you didn’t have an all-access pass to her closet, you would be twitching with envy. You never go on a date without her approval of your outfit first, and the two of you have a regular date called the Bloomingdale’s Semi-Annual Sale.
10. The Geeky One: She might not be as wild and crazy as the Party Girl, but she’s a great sidekick. The geeky one will never leave you at an awkward social gathering. She tweets, she blogs, and she knows all the best websites to go to for online shopping. You forward your funny emails to her, and she sends you the interesting and thought-provoking articles from today’s New York Times. You can share all of your secrets, fetishes, and weird habits with her, because chances are, she’s weirder.

It’s not good to generalize but females   do it every time when they  exclaim ‘Men!’ You pigeonhole him just because he’s always late to pick you up or switches on the TV when you’re trying to talk to him. So, we go a step further with that train of thought: we line them up, label them and break it down for you before you decide to sleep with them.

Mr. Social
He came, he saw, he conquered…you. He is a classic case of ‘Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am!’ Make sure you don’t get emotionally attached to Mr. Social since he’s only looking for a one-night stand or a short fling. Feelings for him will only leave you heartbroken.

Mr. Romance
He is a treat of a guy. The chocolates, the flowers and the never-ending compliments will have you hooked. This chap is likely to be as head-over-heels in love with you as you are with him. Make sure it’s not all sweet nothings keeping you together. You don’t want to be stuck with a dud once the passion fizzles out.

Mr. Sugar Daddy
Older guys are dignified, well-settled (and we don’t mean married!) and more mature than guys your age. Plus, these guys really know how to treat a gal. If you’re getting diamonds instead of imitation jewellery, make the most of it!

Mr. Baggage
He’s needy, overly emotional and moody. Mr Baggage could be shattered from a relationship with an ex-girlfriend, a friend or even a parent and he wants you to pick up the pieces. He needs time to trust, which can be tiring. If you don’t mind getting dirty, get your broom, dustpan and emotional glue, and start fixing him

Mr. Momma’s Boy
This guy will expect you to clean, cook and baby him. And you still won’t match up to his favourite gal—his mom. Don’t expect any emotional support from him. He’s been spoilt so bad that he thinks the only person worth caring for is himself.

I don’t mention Mr Two-Face on the list because frankly, he’s not worth our time and shouldn’t be worth yours either. So, the next time the likelihood of a good time  in  a potential relationship  emerges, choose wisely and know what you’re getting into.

When you meet someone, at first it’s hard to tell if they are the one for you. How do you decide if there is something more to a casual friendship? We help you decode the signs.

1) Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. You love them despite their weak points and appreciate their strong ones. It is the uniqueness of the person that attracts you.

2) You want them to be acquainted with every aspect of your life be it your family or close friends. You want them to know the minutest of details about your life even if it’s embarrassing in the first place.

3) You want to satisfy all the needs and not pay much heed to your own. You are interested in them as people, interested in their worries, happiness etc. You want to be with them always.

4) When you see the future, you see it only with them. You have made plans with them about having a family and growing old together, moving to another city or buying a house together. Your lover is prominent in whatever plans you make for your future.

5) Both of you seem to share similar life goals both professionally or personally.

6) You can very confidently say that you have never felt the same way for anyone else or have never wanted to do so much for anyone till date.

7) You seem to lose all sense of logic and reason when you are around this person. You always crave to be together or start thinking about marriage even before you’re actually in a relationship with them.

8) Getting bored with that person is never on the cards. Even though you may have nothing to do or nothing to say, spending time doing nothing with the person concerned seems to be exciting too! You can go on without talking for hours; this shows the comfort level you have in your relationship.

9) Talking about the future and lifelong compatibility seems to be your favourite topic.

10) The date  feels incredible. You do not lust for your partner but have a deep connection.

A body language expert has revealed four most common ways to detect if someone is lying, with some slightly obvious answers.

Men’s Health non-verbal behaviour expert Marc Salem asks: Is your boyfriend staring a bit too hard into your eyes as you ask him about a lipstick stain on his shirt? Or does your fidgety co-worker sit still at night when you inquire what happened to his soda kept in the fridge?

Both of these unusual reactions could be more telling than either of their answers, the Daily Mail reported quoted Salem as saying, adding that in addition to a steady gaze or displays of inconsistent behaviour, the other two give-aways get reflected through your smile or the lack of one.

  It is further said that covering your mouth while talking or coughing an inordinate amount for a healthy person — both could be ways to cover more than just one’s smile.

If someone tries to hide his or her mouth, it may be an inadvertent tell that he or she is hiding the truth. On the other side, if someone smiles too quickly or does so under unusual circumstances, they may be trying to cover up a bad behaviour.

“A genuine smile changes a person’s whole face,” Salem said in his article. “Their eyes light up, and their cheeks and eyebrows rise along with the corners of their mouth.”

“A fake smile appears in an instant, and disappears just as quickly.”

Salem says that a common symptom throughout is that any changes in someone’s typical behaviour should serve as a warning that something is up.