Zoom With Him - Day 26 #AtoZChallenge

Source: Google

Faraway, he continued to blush in my cheeks

Creating ripples under the small of my heart

Holding a match to my desires

He continued to scald my skin with raw passion

I zoomed in further to focus on his eyes

Which had a mesmerizing glint and focus

A minute passed by focusing on his searching face

The frame getting closer and closer meantime

I squealed as I found him next to me

A brush of warm air engulfing

My silly heart started weaving thoughts

To zoom into a fling with him

I showed him the direction pointing my camera

As riding faraway he continued to blush in my cheeks

This post is a part of the #AtoZChallenge held annually in April

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Axis Banks Joins Hands With Apollo Munich Health Insurance

Axis Bank, India’s third largest private sector bank today announced its exclusive partnership with Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company to offer its customers bespoke health insurance products and services. The strategic partnership with the health insurance company, a JV between Asia's largest healthcare group, ‘The Apollo Hospitals Group’ and the world leader in health insurance, ‘Munich Health’ will offer customers unique health insurance plans with value added benefits such as health advisory services and access to wellness portal etc., under their ‘Health Eco System’.

Commenting on the partnership, Rajiv Anand, Group Executive & Head Retail Banking, Axis Bank said, “Over the past couple of years, we have observed the exponential rise in the cost of healthcare and the need for customized and affordable health insurance solutions.With the objective of ensuring the health and well being of our customers, we are delighted to announce our exclusive Bancassurance partnership for health insurance with Apollo Munich,which will help us further expand our existing bouquet of offerings and put forth a compelling proposition.” 

Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company, along with the Bank will design and offer customized health insurance products to the Bank’s customers, as per their requirements. Policy issuance and service will be driven by paperless online processes, ensuring minimum turnaround time. A brief of the unique benefits for customers are:

·         Automatically restoring the basic sum insured in case the policyholder exhausts his/her sum insured in a policy year

·         Wide range of sum insured options ranging from Rs 3 lacs to 50 lacs

·         A health insurance plan with no sub-limits, no copays or room rent limits

·         High Pre and Post hospitalization cover of 60 and 180 days respectively

·         Coverage for all “Daycare Procedures”

·         Health checkup benefits

·         Extensive network of hospitals

·         In-house claim settlement

Speaking about the tie up with Axis Bank, Antony Jacob, CEO, Apollo Munich Health Insurance said, “We are excited to partner with Axis Bank and offer its customers uncomplicated and innovative health insurance solutions. Through bancassurance, health insurance penetration is expected to grow rapidly as there are more than one lakh bank branches in the country, with a majority located in rural and semi urban areas. We at Apollo Munich believe in the potential banks hold as a distribution channel. They can aid us in strengthening our reach in the tier two and three cities overnight.”

He further added “Going forward this partnership will develop more innovative solutions to meet specific needs of different customer segments of the bank. In addition, Axis Bank customers will have access to expert health services that promote healthy living.”

About Axis Bank

Axis Bank is the third largest private sector bank in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture and Retail Businesses.

With its 2,805 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 12,631 ATMs across the country, as on 31^stDecember 2015, the network of Axis Bank spreads across 1,796 cities and towns, enabling the Bank to reach out to a large cross-section of customers with an array of products and services. The Bank also has overseas offices in UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Colombo, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Bank’s website www.axisbank.com offers comprehensive details about its products and services.

About Apollo Munich Health Insurance Company

Apollo Munich offers innovative and award-winning health, personal accident and travel insurance plans, with state-of-the art infrastructure and uncomplicated services, delivered by engaged employees. It is a joint venture between the Apollo Hospitals Group, Asia’s largest healthcare group, and Munich Health, which offers global health insurance and reinsurance excellence. Website: http://www.apollomunichinsurance.com

For Further details, please contact:

Axis Bank	Apollo Munich
Suresh Warrier | Anand Mugad | Sherin Antony +91 22 2425 5601 | +91 22 2425 5614 | +91 222425 5611 suresh.warrier@axisbank.com anand.mugad@axisbank.com sherin.antony@axisbank.com	Komal Kakkar     Corporate Communication +91- 9810609567 komal.kakkar@apollomunichinsurance.com
Ketchum Sampark FaizanAboli| Shruti Muddup +91 9819110224| +91 9820651056 faizan.aboli@ketchumsampark.comshruti.muddup@ketchumsampark.com	PR Pundit Vasudha +91-9820347118 Vasudha.r@prpundit.com Manisha +91-9560966115 Manisha.c@prpundit.com

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Refresh Your Wardrobe With Awesome Collection Only At Jabong.Com

The summers are here and it is time to shed those heavy clothes which are heat magnets and purchase some cool and breezy clothes. But stepping outside in Mumbai weather in the fag end of April where the summer is at its peak is simply an option I would not like. So I had only another option left and that is to go online.

I have been a regular online customer for buying clothes and accessories for almost four years now. I now know the various range and type of products available at my go-to online shopping website. In search of something new and fresh, I went to the Jabong App and I was happily surprised with plenty of new varieties and collection along with different offers.

The Jabong App welcomed me with simple user interface which is easy to browse and good on eyes when browsing from my smartphone. The Jabong app has collections of clothes and accessories for Men, Women and Children. The app is completely free from any glitches, loaded with offers yet doesn't come across as too bulky and also loads the pages instantly. I loved the seamless browsing for the products and did not find even a single product with any information missing. This is commendable as I have experienced many apps listing products with lack of information. Overall, I loved the entire shopping experience using the Jabong app.

In the collection segment which Jabong seems to be focusing on, I had my eyes on two and they are:

1) The Only Spring Summer 2016 Collection and

2) Alia Bhatt for Jabong

The ONLY Spring Summer 2016 collection is fresh, trendy and colorful. From maxi dresses to shorts, from off-shoulder tops to colourful shorts, from shaded jeans to shrugs, the brand has got it all covered in its Spring Summer collection. Here are some of my favourites from the Only Spring Summer Collection.

The summer time is the time where we can experiment with looks and the above off-shoulder top along with denim as well as casual jacket looks beautiful in summers. 

But there are some people who like to wear some light clothes in summers and the above maxi dress, loose top and shorts are the ones to go for. I loved all four especially the colourful shorts which can be worn for an evening stroll.

The above picture has a maxi dress, a sleeveless top, a shrug and a top. I liked all four especially the maxi dress which can be worn at evenings. In fact, I have already placed an order for the maxi dress for my wife and after telling her about it, she is all smiles and eagerly expecting the delivery. 

We all love to dress like stars and when you have the young and peppy Alia Bhatt collection, you simply cannot miss having one for you from the awesome collection. The collection is colourful and targeted at all those who likes to wear classy and trendy clothes. I loved the entire collection but here are some of my favourites and choosing one of them is a real task.

The black top and the two colourful and spunky shirts are very beautiful and will definitely look good.

The no button jackets and the white top will look classy and the beautiful part is that it can be paired with any pair of clothing and will still bring out the class and elegance from your clothing.

And last but not the least, I loved both the dresses which is suitable either for mornings or evenings and for any casual occasion. 

To tell you frankly, this is just the tip of an awesome collection Jabong has for us. With irresistible offers, awesome collection which gets even better by the day and seamless shopping experience, the Jabong app is where the future of shopping belongs.  

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Yours - Day 25 #AtoZChallenge

Source: Pablo

A mismatched beauty

As perfect as it could be,

The pearls surround around curved hips

As I enter the playground

Hidden under the lace and leather,

Inhibitions kept at bay

As we take a ride

To find pleasure's true meaning,

Flames erupt as skin meets skin

Each stroke fanning the desires,

As the moans come out from my breath

Scream 'I am all Yours'

This post is written as a part of #AtoZChallenge held annually in April

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E(X) - Day 24 - #AtoZChallenge

Source: Google

He was my wings

To whom I clinged

Like a magnet

Charming me

With words and emotions

Liked a pied piper

And no sooner

Like me, there were a few

Who were charmed

I questioned his ways

He ignored blatantly

Prompting me to take a decision

Painful yet needed

As I closed the doors

To welcome my future sans him

This post is a part of #AtoZChallenge held annually in April

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Gail- Indian Speed Star- An Initiative To Strengthen The Sport Of Athletics

GAIL (India) Limited has embarked on a grassroots athletics program GAIL-Indian Speedstar which is aimed at unearthing young talent across the length and breadth of India. GAIL (India) Limited and National Yuva Cooperative Society (NYCS), launched a grassroots athletics program GAIL Indian Speedstar on the 22nd of March, 2016 at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.

National Yuva Cooperative Society has tied up with Anglian Medal Hunt Company as its Technical Partner for The GAIL Indian Speedstar project. The persisting, epoch-making attempt before - focused grassroots program aims to create a pool of athletes with knack which will possibly bring honor for India in track events at the highest echelon of sporting events - the Olympics 2020/2024.

The reason to launch this program is to identify, select and nurture the hidden talent in athletes. The targeted age group is 11 - 17 years in 100m, 200m and 800m track events across.

A panel of eminent sports-persons like P.T Usha, Rachita Mistry, AnuradhaBiswal & Kavita Raut have been appointed in the selection committee to support selections and guide coaching camps. As members of the selection committee their role would include creating the selection criteria or the GAIL-Indian Speedstar program, and developing the training plan and module for the selected athletes at the National Level.

‘Legendary athlete P.T. Usha launched the initiative alongside the organizers DrAshutoshKarnatak,

Director (Projects), GAIL (India) Ltd, Rajesh Pande – President, National Yuva Cooperative Society Ltd (NYCS) and Maneesh Bahuguna- CEO, Anglian Medal Hunt Company.

District trials were conducted under the watchful eyes of coaches and selectors, appointed by the selection committee. The selection of the athletes was based on talent identification and selection criteria set by the selection committee.

Initiatory, in its first year, earlier this year with initial trials conducted at 55 districts across 10 states in which more than 25,000 children participated out of which 850 children made it to the State level.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon. Minister of State (I/C) Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dutee Chand, AnuradhaBiswal and Purnima Hembram; selected ambitious young athletes from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. 14 children have qualified for the National level trials while Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji, praised and motivated the selected candidates for National level trials.

Camp and Selection

The first State level camp and trial was organized on 27-28th of February in SawaiMaan Singh Stadium, Jaipur where 60 boys and girls participated out of which 4 have qualified for the next level. The state trials were held in Odisha (14 Selection), Delhi (28 Selection), Kerala (28 Selection) &Jharkhand(4 Selection)followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat in the last week  of April.  The shortlisted children from the State trials will then participate in the National camp and selection which is scheduled to be held in May 2016 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. Shortlisted athletes from state trials will attend an intensive national level camp. 

At the conclusion of the coaching camp, final trials will be held. Winners will be selected based on the qualification criteria and their potential. The winners will be given extensive training throughout the year. The top 9 athletes will then be provided with a world class coaching for over a period of 5 years with an ultimate objective of one of these athletes to represent India at the Olympics.

For more information on Gail-Indian Speedstar please visit http://www.gailindianspeedstar.org

You can also watch a video grab of Treasa sharing her winning moment here.

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Stroke Of Words - Day 23 #AtoZChallenge

Source

Word by word

He punctuated her thoughts

With strong emotions

Snowballing into a rich desire

Unwavering, burning and intense

For light-years to be travelled

But for now

She settled for his

Soothing and enveloping voice

Evoking Love

This post is written as a part of #AtoZChallenge held annually in April

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Velvety Sin - Day 22 #AtoZChallenge

Source: Pablo

I sighed

As a breath escaped

Through the glint of my eye

As I felt his touch

Velvety and sensuous

Is his touch 

A sort of a contagious attack

Leaving my skin ablaze

A caution glance

Indicating more

As eyes meet eyes

To create butterflies

The touching of his lips

As his skin connects with mine

A kiss so velvety

That I would love to sin every time

This post is written as a part of #AtoZChallenge held annually in April

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Uniquely Yours - Day 21 #AtoZChallenge

Source

Uniquely gifted

A boon never lifted

Everything is shifted

Yet nothing has changed

Twisting his nose

Was his habit as

He set aside my curls 

With a soft blow of air

His mouth was a perfect O

When my curls flew

Allowing him a perfect vision of me

As she smiled carrying me on his arms

Our eyes met for the moment

Wishing for the time not to elapse

As he let me inside the chamber

For my chemotherapy sessions

Out came me and looked

With a bated breath

As I smiled at him

And in no time

We tasted the salty water of kisses

Mingling with longing and love

As he scooped the unique me off my feet

This post is written as a part of #AtoZChallenge held annually in April

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Matching Machismo with Bling: Your Guide Into The Hottest Jewelry Trends!

Women alone don’t reserve the right to wearing some exclusive trinkets. We’d like the men to wear some shine on their sleeves too! I’m sure it would be rather liberating for men to try their hand at exquisite jewelry pieces, and take a break from the conventional norms of clothing. Bracelets, charms, pendants, ear cuffs, and a whole deal more! There is a whole lot of bling awaiting the enthusiastic, fashion-loving man. Reinvent your routine overalls by throwing in a bracelet or two. In a while, you’ll discover that jewelry and men aren’t two separate entities at all! Read on-

1. One for the finger and one for the wrist

Take coordinated jewelry to the next level and settle for nothing less than subdued sophistication.  Choose gold to match your swagger and this simple, yet priceless trend will make your everyday office suits look pretty exclusive. Single-chained bracelets studded with shimmery stones are your best bet; team these with a single band ring for a chic statement.

2. Holler for the collar!

You can latch on some sweet accessories onto your collar, and completely revolutionize your corporate shirts or party shirts. Whoever married the no-nonsense corporate shirt to a tough-looking hatch ring is a genius! We would ask you to look nowhere else, and get one on the double! Getting ready for the club entails getting your shiny formal shoes out of the closet apart from an interesting part-wear shirt. Top the ends of the collar with expensive and detailed collar accessories. Wear jewelry that speaks of refinement and endless class.

Does this one speak? I think it definitely does.

3. Double up on the watch

Watches are a powerful symbol of masculinity. Men rarely go out anywhere without sporting their signature watches. But have you realized that your watch-hand go do with some add-on jewelry. You can cut a suave figure, by trying on beaded bracelets that will be sure to lend a great finish to that sleek watch. Beads and charms are bound to appeal to your mysterious side, and will impart an air of charm to your persona.

4. The Key

Image Courtesy: Jabong.com

Lockets and pendants are not new to the male jewelry collection. For an absolute grunge or hippie touch, you can opt for some trendy neckpieces designed with trippy keys to look effortlessly cool. These neck pieces are available in various styles; you can wear them layered and match them with your casual, deep-v shirts. The key-trinket is definitely a must-have for your casual wardrobe. 

5. Dudes with brooch

Brooches are the stylish, sleek and are the most effective accessories that you could incorporate in your party-wear shirts and corporate blazers. The Gucci fall 2016 collection indicates a definite nod towards bold brooches. The stylish chained brooch lends a fine balance to the blazer-shirt look. Choose your brooches in unconventional designs to suit your style statement. You could also opt for a chic, angular brooch that can be clipped on easily to your pocket.

Let your masculinity shine through the accessories you sport! 

About the Author

Mallika Chakrawarti is a designer, writer, and travel enthusiast. She is currently working with Jabong.com as a writer and is passionately involved in curating and forecasting fashion trends.

All image courtesy: Pinterest

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Book Review: Color Me Rich by Mohan Deep

Author: Mohan Deep

Published by: Quest Mercury Intermedia Pvt Ltd

Genre: Fiction

ISBN: 978-81-926785-2-8

No. of pages: 185

Price: INR 200

Blurb 

A sensitive love story of a handsome and talented struggling painter Akash Saigal. What happens when he marries an extremely rich and beautiful artist and art investor Zenobia Taraporevala?

Prologue

J J School of Art, Mumbai.

Taking a charcoal pencil, Akash Saigal started drawing the wood-and-stone structure, popularly known as ‘Kipling Bungalow’. He was sketching sitting on a bench on which, in another era, K K Hebbar, M F Husain, Syed Haider Raza, Sadanand Bakre, V S Gaitonde, even Dadasaheb Phalke had sat with their sketchbooks, sketching the house where the author of The Jungle Book was born.

Ganpat Gupte appeared along with two of his gang. Gupte was the nephew of a minister, or so he claimed, and had the arrogance that comes with power.

“Ae Akash, kae karto?”

Akash looked up at the trio and said, “Nothing much. Just a drawing.”

“Okay. What is the day today?”

“Monday.”

“I should have known.Tere ko blue shirt hai na?”

Akash didn’t get the connection, but Gupte’s chamchas laughed knowingly.

“Didn’t you get it?”

“What?”

The three boys sang in unison, “Monday, blue shirt. Tuesday, black shirt. Wednesday, blue shirt. Thursday black shirt. Friday, blue shirt. Saturday, black shirt. Sunday…laundry!”

If Akash was hurt, he didn’t show it. He laughed sheepishly and continued sketching the bungalow.

But he would never forget this.

Today 

The elevator zoomed up, taking Akash directly to the penthouse on the 60th floor of Apollo Towers, and stopped with stomach-curdling smoothness. The door slid open to reveal his luxuriously done-up lounge.

He came out of the lift, turned down the passage, and walked over the deep-pile rug to the lounge.

He had returned from the salon.

He felt cleaner and fresher after his bimonthly facial – only Tanveer could give him a satisfactory shave - and pedicure. He liked to have his moustaches- like John Lennon's - done like in the Sixties, and he liked sideburns.

His head was still heavy from drinking until the late hours, but he looked much better than he felt. His studio was to the right, almost hidden behind the lavish bar facing him as he entered.

Perched 550 feet above the city of Mumbai, he could see the Queen’s Necklace and the World Trade Centre. From Zenobia’s bedroom, the Gateway of India and the high dome of the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Pran smiled at him.

Akash returned the smile, picked up the bottle of Blue Label and poured himself a stiff drink.

“Isn't it a little early for a drink?”

Without saying anything, Akash smiled, and switched on the TV.

The TV screen flashed a story over a video shot of Zenobia with him in happier times, followed by a shot of the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s heritage Gothic-style building and a subtitle: 'Mumbai Police give clean chit to Akash Saigal.'

The newsreader said:

“Based on the findings of the forensic department and investigation, the Mumbai Police has declared the death of noted artist and socialite Zenobia Taraporevala suicide. It may be recalled that a year ago, Zenobia died from a fall from her 60th-floor penthouse. There were questions about her death. Was it a suicide, or an accident, or was she pushed to her death? Her husband, the famous artist Akash Saigal, was under a cloud all these months. It has now been established that tired of being confined to a wheel chair after a car accident, a depressed Zenobia committed suicide.”

Pran jumped out of his seat, still listening to the newsreader with open-mouthed amazement. He shouted: “Wow!”

Both the men hugged.

A shot of Prime Minister Narendra Modi now flashed on the screen, as the newsreader continued, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Singapore….”

Akash smiled tiredly at Pran.

“You already knew about it?”

Akash nodded and absent-mindedly picked up an envelope. He took out the card, glanced at it, and pushed it back. It was an invitation to his own function.

“Boss, when do we leave?” Pran asked.

“We have lots of time. The inauguration is after three hours, and the ministers never come on time. Agar aa bhi gaya toh hamari woh Fareeda baithi hai. Sambhal legi. Dad will take care of it. Chal baith, tu bhi le.”

“No, not me. I’m driving,” Pran said solemnly.

Akash knew that this was not the time to drink. He shouldn’t appear sloshed in front of the entire world and the prying media. He took another sip, and changed the news channel. 

And found himself staring at a picture of Zenobia on the screen. The still picture changed to a video shot of Zenobia and he at a party.

The newsreader was ranting:

“In India, the law mandates that the husband be questioned for cases involving the death of a woman within seven years of marriage. Akash and Zenobia had been married for barely two-and-a-half years. And Zenobia had died under mysterious circumstances, falling from the French window of her penthouse! The police always look for ‘the other woman’ in a case like this.”

The TV showed a shot of Suma, followed by a video shot of Suma and Akash emerging from the JW Marriott in Juhu. The newsreader went on: “And they found her in Suma. Suma Malkani, the beautiful ghazal singer.”

The State Minister for Cultural Affairs, Nanasaheb Palekar, was to launch the art school, named after Zenobia Taraporevala-Saigal, that evening at Powai. There had been several protests because of the controversy over her death, but the minister ignored them all.

A protest was planned for the same day by Kapila Khandelval's NGO. It was unclear whether the NGO would go ahead with the protest or cancel it in view of the clean chit given to Akash by the police.

This project had been his baby and Zenobia's dream. The government had given the land and the Taraporevalas had put in the money. Fareeda had inserted a business angle even in this dream project of Zenobia's. The Zenobia-Akash Saigal School of Art had become the Zenobia-Akash Saigal School of Art and Business Management. She also had plans for a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in an annex. The minister had given the nod for that, too.

Akash’s mobile rang.

He looked at the screen and let it ring.

Taking a sip of his drink, he moved towards his den. He stepped into his room, and before he could shut the door, the phone near the bar table rang.

“Boss?” Pran said. “Fareeda is on the line.”

Fareeda would be having kittens without him. Akash’s association with the project had given it respectability and even a cultural cause, and got the plot at one-eighth its market value, and all the permissions.

"Fuck her!" Akash said, but he answered the phone anyway. 

Fareeda seemed frantic.

"The media will be here in three hours. And the minister, too."

Akash said, “Fuck the media!" and hung up.

The TV newsreader went on:

“Before Akash Saigal hit the big time, he lived in a small apartment in Adarsh Nagar, in the western suburbs. His paintings didn't earn him enough to buy a decent vehicle. He travelled by buses and cabs. While Zenobia almost took a sabbatical, Akash shot to fame with his mixed media and three-dimensional installations after marrying her.”

Leaning against the soft, cool leather of a luxurious sofa, Akash said, "Cigarettes?"

Pran was already sliding open the glass door of a cabinet. A carton of Marlboros had just one packet left. He gave the packet to Akash, grinned, and threw the carton in the trash box.

They might have been sharing the same flashback, the same past.

Review: Color Me Rich is a rags to riches story of Akash Saigal which shows how an artist, a painter, attracts fame but soon gets entangled into a murder. 

After pursuing a course from J.J.School of Arts and barely making his ends meet, he meets a struggling actor, Pran and together they start making their ends meet. Suma, an aspiring Ghazal singer, who lives nearby, is madly in love with him although he is unaware about it. No sooner Akash meets Zenobia Taraporevala, an artist and a socialite and they both fall in love. What starts is a story of love, betrayal, insecurities, struggles, triumphs and murder.

Color Me Rich is a book that showcases and gives a glimpse about struggles, of turning dreams into realities but more importantly it is a book which gives a peek-a-boo into the lives of creative and rich people. In this case, it is the lives of Akash Siagal and Zenobia Taraporevala. Also, the author through this story asks some pertinent questions like does creative juices flow freely when not burdened by making ends meet? Does marriage between financially unequal can sustain?

The story got me hooked right from the word go. With strong narration, beautifully etched characters, be it the main protagonists or other characters and a climax that I had least expected, Color Me Rich is a book that I finished in one go.  

The story has been written as a perfect thriller. At one point it will make you think that person X might be the murderer but then, you will also feel that it can be Y too. Thus with a well thought flow for the story, Color Me Rich is a book that I would recommend to others. A must read for some good thriller and entertainment.

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