Life & Style

As per officials, Miller Gardner, a 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, died because of carbon monoxide poisoning. In a statement posted on YouTube, Rándall Zúñiga, the director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, OIJ, stated that tests revealed that the room Gardner stayed in while on vacation in Costa Rica had high levels of carbon monoxide.
“It’s possible that the teenager could have died from “breathing in these gases that are so dangerous,” added the official. The toxic gas could have come from a “specialized machine room” located next to the family’s hotel room.

Carbon monoxide or CO is a lethal gas that reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen, starving the heart, brain and body and causing symptoms like headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. While it can poison anyone, people with lower immunity such as infants, older adults and those with diseases such as anaemia, heart disease or breathing problems can be at higher risk of fatality when inhaled the gas.

Carbon monoxide is produced in the fumes of stoves, portable generators, burning wood or charcoal, furnaces and lanterns, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data from the institution also states that more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning each year, with more than 100,000 visiting the emergency department and more than 14,000 being hospitalized.

Check or replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector every six months, and replace it every five years.
1. Ensure your vents are free and clean to maintain proper ventilation.
2. Have all your heating systems, such as stoves, heaters and any other burning appliances, be reviewed by a technician every year.
3. Avoid using charcoal grills, hibachis, lanterns, or portable camping stoves inside the house.
4. Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.

Vidit Gujrathi and his wife Nidhi Kataria
Photo: Nidhi Kataria/ Instagram

It was in November 2024, when Chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi surprised everyone by announcing his engagement to Nidhi Kataria. Soft-launching Nidhi, Vidit had posted their pictures together on social media with the caption, “Not accepting rishtas anymore, It’s official now ! ♥️ Getting married soon!”
Now, over four months later, Vidit and Nidhi have taken their relationship to the next level by getting married on April 2, 2025. As per reports, their wedding was held at at Oxford Golf Resort in Pune, India and it was attended by the who’s who of the chess world. From D Gukesh–the youngest world champion in chess history, to chess legend Viswanathan Anand and Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, Vidit Gujrathi and Nidhi Kataria’s dreamy wedding was attended by some of the biggest names in the world of chess.
Not just this, what caught people’s attention was chess legend Viswanathan Anand and D Gukesh dancing their hearts out at Vidit and Nidhi’s wedding; videos of which have gone viral on the internet.
Check out the video here:

Who is Vidit Gujrathi’s wife Nidhi Kataria?
While Vidit Gujrathi is a well-known Chess Grandmaster, his now wife Nidhi Kataria is a homeopathic doctor.
Nidhi Kataria shared some beautiful pictures from their dreamy wedding on social media today (April 3). In her post she expressed her love for Vidit, while also being grateful for her family and friends’ blessings on their big day.
“We always dreamt of a moment like this — under soft skies, surrounded by the people we love, with petals falling like blessings from above. ⁣ And in this very frame, we found it — the joy, the stillness, the everything we imagined love would feel like. ⁣ Getting married to the love of your life is special. But having your family and friends fly in from across continents to celebrate it with you? That’s magic.⁣ There’s no way to fully describe what we felt — only that time slowed down, and we’ll keep coming back to this moment, because nothing has ever felt more right,” Nidhi wrote on social media.

Meanwhile, in less than a week, Vidit will be seen in his next tournament. After battling through a tough three-day qualifier last month, he secured a spot in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Paris, starting on Monday, April 7. In an earlier interview, he mentioned that they might even celebrate their honeymoon in Paris!
Here’s wishing Vidit Gujrathi and Nidhi Kataria many years of happiness and togetherness!

Coro

The latest addition to Bengaluru’s kid-centric community is Coro, a members-only family club. Founded by Tena Pick and Tanushree Seth — who met through a Whatsapp support group for mothers during the pandemic — Coro offers parents a space to work, and children to play and connect. “We were aware of the lack of adequate infrastructure for children and families in Bengaluru, and mothers were constantly having to choose between their professional lives and parenting,” says Tena, also the founder of Project Kal, a gender leadership academy in the city. 

Coro currently offers in-house activities through the week, as well as events and workshops by a curated lineup of facilitators
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Coro currently offers in-house activities through the week, as well as events and workshops by a curated lineup of facilitators and organisations such as the LooRoo Club and Moving Minds. “Our aim is to create a space where children can play, explore, and foster a sense of independence. Our playshapers use a variety of approaches that all fall under methodology of play,” says Tena, “Every week has a different theme, such as ‘the world around us’ or ‘little explorers’, and every day that theme is explored through different modalities, such as music, theatre, arts, and storytelling.”

Storyteller Heidi Faye Pereira at Coro Space. Shot on OnePlus #FramesofIndia
| Photo Credit:
SUDHAKARA JAIN

For the summer, a range of movement, dance, music, arts, crafts, sensory play and children’s theatre activities are being planned. “We also have food pop-ups, events for the adults on the work floor, and networking opportunities for our families. In the months of April and May, we will host our own summer camp for children,” she adds. 

Membership plans start at ₹15,000 a month. For non-members, upwards of ₹500 for an activity.

The LooRoo Club organises playdates themed on books, festivals; workshops for educators; and eco-friendly birthday celebrations
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

LooRooClub 

With play-based learning at the core of  The LooRoo Club, founders Lakshmi Kaushik and Sangeetha Arjun say it represents “everything we cherish — childhood wonder, deep roots in nature, and a love for our city”.

“Sangeetha, a nutritionist and play-based educator, and I have been friends since third grade, growing up in the 90s with unstructured outdoor play. As parents, we wanted our children to experience the same joy of exploring nature and learning through play – making concoctions with mud, leaves and flowers, and making mud cakes,” says Lakshmi. What began as small playdates for their children quickly grew into a larger community.

Sangeetha Arjun and Lakshmi Kaushik
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The name LooRoo, she says, is inspired by their children, Luca (Loo) and Rudra (Roo). “It’s also a perfect short form of our beloved city, Bengaluru!” says the architect and paper-cut artist.

Known for their immersive, nature-inspired play experiences, the duo organise playdates themed on books, festivals; workshops for educators; and eco-friendly birthday celebrations. “We use real materials like leaves, flowers, and mud, and bring books and traditions to life through interactive activities,” she adds. 

A play date by The LooRoo Club
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

At a farm-themed playdate themed on What The Ladybird Heard, for example,  children harvested real potatoes, made pretend food for farm animals using oats, leaves, and grains, and painted farmer boots and ladybugs. “They built tiny worm farms, printed with fruits and veggies, and splashed around in a muddy slush tray, giving farm animals a bath. The day ended with a play-dough garden, filled with colourful flowers,” says Lakshmi.

Playdates start at ₹1,500 . Details on @theloorooclub on Instagram

Children at  Imagine That! Creative Studio
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Imagine That

When Gitanjali Budhrani’s daughter was younger, she found herself driving all over the city for her child’s classes.” I was battling traffic with a cranky child and spending half the day on the road! That’s when I realised there wasn’t a designated space in Central Bengaluru for children’s classes or events,” says the former restaurateur. 

Cut to November 2023, and Gitanjali founded Imagine That! Creative Studio to fill that gap. “While the idea stemmed from my own experience as a parent, I also knew several teachers who had well-crafted curriculums but no space to conduct their sessions. On the other hand, I met parents who were eager for classes but didn’t want to commute long distances every week,” says Gitanjali, who opened her second studio at Koramangala recently.

Imagine That! offers parents-toddler sessions, after school and kindergarten classes, athletics, and art groups
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

What started as a casual search for a suitable space, she says, quickly turned into something bigger. Today, Imagine That! offers parents-toddler sessions, after school and kindergarten classes, athletics, and art groups. “Every Saturday, we host workshops that cover STEM, STEAM, nature play, crafts, baking and storytelling. These are especially popular among working parents who may struggle to fit weekday classes into their schedules,” adds Gitanjali who also offers Nature-based learning. “We’ve hosted workshops where children and parents team up to make crayons using mud and clay, create art with flowers and leaves, dye shirts using natural mud pigments, to name a few.”

Every Saturday, Imagine That! hosts workshops that cover STEM, STEAM, nature play, crafts, baking and storytelling
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

For the coming months, Gitanjali is collaborating with various teachers to host summer camps. “These camps will run for the first half of the day, offering kids a structured yet fun way to spend their mornings. We’re also keeping our regular weekly classes going for those who wish to stick to their usual schedules,” she says.

Upwards of ₹900. For details, call 9916512586

Kavya Chandra (far left) at a Nature walk
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

A Green Venture

For the last decade, Kavya Chandra has been educating school children, and families through curated Nature camps and day trips in the city that are aimed at “helping them disconnect from their digital lives”. “These experiences are held at public parks and private farms, and today A Green Venture offers experiences which range from education-based content to recreation-based content (Nature quizzes, treasure hunts, outdoor art, etc) for families. We also have overnight camps for kids and Nature walks for private and corporate groups,” says Kavya, who was recently certified as a Nature guide by the government-recognised Skill India. 

A practicing urban grower of over 100 species of plants, she says her methodology is curated based on the audience/ group visiting. “We incorporate storytelling, facts and knowledge, insect and bird spotting, sensory activities, Nature facts and a fun quiz/ game with takeaways at the end.” 

A walk and activity in progress
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Kavya also offers “celebration walks”, and has conducted them for anniversaries, birthdays for children, and senior citizens. “We have special customised walks for certain flowering trees in Bengaluru, and all our celebration walks come with several sensory activities where we get children to observe and learn from picking up fallen treasures, and being mindful of small creatures that they encounter. Our walks are conducted in a way where we talk and teach to both children and adults,” she explains, adding that such activities are important given the “Nature-deficit” lives most people lead today.”

Children at a Nature camp
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“There was a time where going outside and playing was a normal thing to do; as children we were outside constantly looking under stones, peeping into hollow trees, trying to spot nests and birds etc, observing insects. Today, children are stressed all the time, whether it’s studying or being at home in front of the screen, says Kavya, who is now planning for their annual Nature Camp for children in the summer which will be scheduled in April/ May.

Nature walks upwards of ₹800 and the Nature Camp is priced starting at ₹8,500 per person. For details, call 9886400312.

Crispy Palak Patta Chaat
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

On a hot and humid afternoon, we found ourselves at Bombay Truffle for lunch. The soothing interiors and cosy seating were inviting so we lingered. We started with their popular crisp palak patta chaat and Bombay-style pani puri, while our refreshing strawberry mojito mocktail arrived in the meantime.

The first brand under Collective Cuisines, this pure vegetarian fine dining restaurant is committed to affordable luxury We began with pumpkin shorba, which had a comforting richness, thanks to coconut milk and olive oil, the chef explains. Next came the crisp palak patta chaat — spinach leaves dipped in a rice flour and besan batter, deep-fried, and drizzled with tangy and sweet chutneys, chopped onions, tomatoes, sev, chaat masala, coriander, and pomegranate seeds.

Biscoff Tres Leches
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The jalapeño cheese kulcha and pani puri arrived together, but it was the kulcha that stole our attention. This gourmet take on the classic Indian bread, infused with jalapeños and oozing melted cheese, delivered a deep, umami-rich flavour. As for the pani puri, in true Mumbai street-food style, it was served with potato, black channa, and ragda fillings, along with a choice of dips. The pomegranate-infused pani with chaat masala and tamarind stood out. At the chef’s recommendation, we tried the Peshawari paneer kebab, presented on a shimmering gold plate. Stuffed with minced nuts and cheese, the paneer was cooked to perfection.

Bombay-style Pani Puri
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

For the mains, we order an assortment of breads — cheese olive naan, lacha paratha, and garlic naan. To accompany them, we chose the Bombay-style dal makhani and paneer tikka masala. The cheese olive naan stole my heart, pairing perfectly with the mildly flavored, buttery dal makhani, which had a rich, smoky depth. The paneer tikka masala, infused with a hint of kasuri methi, was equally indulgent.

From their continental menu, I opt for the penne in creamy basil pesto. While the subji dum biryani was decent, it didn’t leave a lasting impression. The basil pesto pasta, however, was a different story.

basil pesto pasta,
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Having decided on dessert even before our soup, we wasted no time. The biscoff tres leches and gur (jaggery) ice cream arrived soon after. While the ice cream was a bit underwhelming, the tres leches more than made up for it. This fusion of caramelised biscoff flavours with the classic Latin American three-milk cake was pure indulgence — soft, spongy, and soaked in a luscious biscoff-infused milk mixture, topped with whipped cream and crushed nuts.

Bombay Truffle, Anna Nagar East. Cost for two ₹2,800. For reservations, call 8925996602.

Bioluminescence or sea sparkle, locally called ‘Kavaru’, at Chellanam
| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

It is that time of the year in Kochi, when the shrimp farms along the backwaters are sparkling in blue shimmer. ‘Kavaru’ or bioluminescence, the environmental phenomenon that gives the waters an electric blue backlight, is now a looked-forward to event on the tourist’s calendar. People from various parts of Kochi and outside visit the fishing villages of Kumbalangi and Chellanam where it is most visible. 

Travel and adventure sports companies have curated packages around the phenomenon that usually occurs during the March-April months in these regions.

Kayakify, a canoe and kayak tour agency based in Kumbalangi in Kochi, has been offering tours that let tourists enjoy bioluminescent waters at night. These one-hour sessions take tourists into the shrimp farms in Chellanam on kayaks and canoes.

Bioluminescence at Chellanam captured on a kayak
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Edwin Joseph, the founder of Kayakify, says kayaking is a relatively sustainable and safe way to enjoy the beauty of the phenomenon. “Bioluminescence occurs only when there is movement on the water’s surface, so visitors tend to throw stones and sticks into the water or sometimes even jump into it to see bioluminescence, which could adversely affect the fish ecosystem. With kayaking, the paddles trigger luminescent ripples, which don’t harm the delicate ecosystem,” says Edwin.

‘Kavaru’ at Chellanam
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT

The Kumbalangi-based company had organised bioluminescent kayaking tours last year too on a small scale. The kayaks are two-seaters, there are single seaters as well. Country boats are used as canoes. The tourists would be accompanied by trained instructors and they would be made to wear safety jackets as well. “Since we are doing this on a farm, the waters are not deep. It is safe even for very young children,” says Edwin.

The phenomenon is only visible at night, so the tours typically start from 8pm and go on till 1am.

Arthi Dharmaraj’s travel company Out in Dreams, based in Coimbatore, has already organised two group trips to Kumbalangi in March. “A large part of the popularity of bioluminesence in Kochi can be attributed to Instagram. We usually get a mixed crowd for these group tours and we get questions about the phenomenon, too,” says Arthi. “Bioluminescence is usually more common in oceans and people are curious to understand how it happens in the backwaters,” says Arthi.

Bioluminescence
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Out in Dreams offers a comprehensive package, which includes other activities around Kumbalangi too, other than bioluminescence kayaking. “We include a tour of the fishing village, including activities such as casting the net. It is a great way to experience the local culture and food,” says Arthi. The company has slotted two more tours in April. 

Bioluminescence is caused by dinoflagellate algae, which have luminescent properties. Any movement on the surface of the water — waves, fishing, or swimming can trigger luminescence.  Since the phenomenon is caused by a combination of environmental factors  — nutrient rich water, favourable temperature and salinity — it usually disappears when it begins to rain.

So keeping the unpredictability factor in mind, these kayaking tours also cash in on Kumbalangi’s village tourism potential. One of India’s first eco-tourism villages, the scenic village has a wealth of shrimp farms and Chinese fishing nets. Tourists also look forward to experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

For information, contact @kayakify.kochi and @out_indreams on Instagram.

“Who would have thought that I would go on solo trips at this age? I feel 16, not 60,” a child-like happiness is palpable in Jessy Joseph’s voice. This retired teacher from Thiruvananthapuram is referring to the budget tourism trips of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

The KSRTC buses, or aanavandi, as they are fondly called, the name derived from the two elephants that are part of its emblem, have been plying passengers to tourist destinations, temples, historical places, monuments etc across the State. The initiative, run by the Budget Tourism Cell (BTC), a vertical under the KSRTC, was launched in 2021.

A whopping 1,500 tour packages are in force now, operated by 90 out of the total 93 KSRTC depots in Kerala, while bringing relief to the cash-strapped KSRTC. “The stipulated target is ₹10 crore a month, which is not easily attainable. But we could collect half of it in December-January. Last month’s revenue was ₹3 crore, while it was ₹80 lakh the same time last year,” says R Udayakumar, Chief Traffic Manager, KSRTC.

Passengers during a budget tourism trip to Kollur Mookambika Temple
| Photo Credit:
Muraleekrishnan TV

An idea mooted by Biju Prabhakar, the former managing director of the KSRTC, the BTC trips have covered many unexplored scenic spots in the State. “No other State has such an elaborate scheme. Karnataka is doing it on a small scale, that too through contract carriages,” Udayakumar adds.

The first BTC package, before the official launch of the Cell, was from Chalakkudy depot to Malakkappara on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in Thrissur district, in September 2021. “I was a passenger then and it turned out to be so memorable that I have been part of almost all trips from Chalakkudy depot. A favourite of the lot has been to Mamalakkandam [in Ernakulam district]. The picturesque trail was adventurous as well as refreshing. I am now waiting for new packages,” says Bindu KU, a government employee, who has been on over 20 package tours.

Currently there are BTC services to Malakkappara from all KSRTC depots, the highlight of the package being a journey cutting through a forest area, with viewpoints at Athirappilly, Charpa, Vazhachal, Peringalkoothu dam, Anakkayam bridge, Sholayar dam, tea estates etc.

A Travel to Technology trip organised by the Budget Tourism Cell for school students from Sulthan Bathery depot in Wayanad
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The packages are priced from ₹200 onwards, as in the case of Nagarakazhchakal, a two-hour ride on an open-top electric double-decker within Thiruvananthapuram city. It goes up to ₹6,500, for a two-day package from Kasaragod depot to Gavi in Pathanamthitta district. Except for short trips, the rates cover food and accommodation. Passengers are put up in dormitories with neat restrooms, an official says.

At present, the most number of BTC trips are operated to Munnar in Idukki followed by Gavi. Over 3120 tours were conducted to Munnar in the last four years, Udayakumar adds. The latest attraction in Munnar is the Royal View double-decker bus that operates three services daily offering a panoramic view of the tea town in three hours, passing through the scenic Munnar GAP road with a stunning view of the Western Ghats, tea plantations, misty hills etc. “We also have stay-in sleeper buses at the depot with a total of 150 seats, priced ₹220 per head,” says Anish R, coordinator, BTC (Central zone).

A trip to Gavi that has a pristine forest cover teeming with wildlife and birds is often clubbed with a visit to Adavi, famous for its coracle ride across Kallar river, and a trek to Parunthumpara in nearby Idukki district.

The BTC has also tied up with Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) for a tour on its luxury liner, Nefertiti, in Kochi. A ride through the Arabian Sea in the three-decker ship, enjoying music, good food, games and more is a huge hit. Tour packages are also being organised to other KSINC vessels, Sagararani and Suryamshu in Kochi.

Passengers near Nefertiti, the luxury liner in Kochi
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Mango Meadows, the agricultural theme park at Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam district, also figures on the list of all depots.

For the devotees

Pilgrimage tourism is a big draw with buses plying to all the famous temples across Kerala. Included in this are seasonal packages to Thiruvairanikkulam in Ernakulam, Naalambalayathra, covering temples dedicated to Lord Ram and his brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughna, in Kottayam and Thrissur districts, and the Panchapandava temples spread over Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts among others. We operated 250 services to Thiruvairanikkulam this season, says Anish.

During this year’s Attukal Pongala in Thiruvananthapuram, 103 trips were arranged from across Kerala. “Now temples are approaching us for tour packages,” says Udayakumar. He adds that BTC has special packages for educational institutions as well, called Travel to Technology.

Now that summer is at its peak, trips are being scheduled to destinations with cooler temperatures. The BTC has a coordinator in each district and they are assigned to come up with new packages. “In Thiruvananthapuram we have the Theeradesayathra or a trip through the coastal stretch, covering Poovar, Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Shanghumugham, Veli, Muthalappozhi, Anchuthengu and Varkala,” says VA Jayakumar, district coordinator, BTC, Thiruvananthapuram (North). Over 240 packages are scheduled for destinations across Kerala this month from various depots in the district.

An ambitious package coming up is night trekking at Chingeri Hills in Wayanad, in association with District Tourism Promotion Council. Trips will be operated from Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta depots. “Wayanad already has a night jungle safari from Mananthavady and Sulthan Bathery depots. We have conducted over 300 such trips. Like Munnar, there is stay-in sleeper bus facility at Sulthan Bathery depot, with 61 bed spaces arranged in five buses,” says Varghese CD, zonal coordinator, BTC (North).

One of the passengers, KG Vijayakumar from Ramapuram in Kottayam, says, “I enjoyed staying in those sleeper buses. Even though I have relatives there, I preferred to be in the bus because it was something new.”

A popular package in this zone is the Nilambur circuit covering Conolly’s Plot that has world’s oldest teak plantations, Teak Museum and Kakkadampoyil waterfall.

Passengers having a coracle ride at Adavi in Pathanamthitta district
| Photo Credit:
Revathi Raveendran

Muraleekrishnan TV, junior superintendent at District Collectorate, Kannur, and a regular of the budget trips, says he looks forward to packages during the rainy season. “Paithalmala trek [in Kannur] was one of them. I have been there three times and it was a different experience each time. The Kasaragod trip has been memorable with visits to Ranipuram, Madhur Ganapathy temple, Bekal Fort, and Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple famous for its crocodile; in Wayanad, we went to En Ooru, the tribal settlement, Honey museum etc; the Kozhikode package was special with visits to Janakikaadu, Thonnikkadavu, Peruvannamuzhi dam… There is so much to see in our State.”

Meanwhile talks are on to start regular inter-state trips, especially to destinations in Tamil Nadu.

From Ponmudi trip in Thiruvananthapuram
| Photo Credit:
Muraleekrishnan TV

While senior citizens make up a majority on the list of passengers who turn up for the trips there are exceptions like 27-year-old Ajmal CP from Malappuram who travels with his friends. “Initially we were sceptical about how it would turn out. But we enjoyed our first trip to Munnar so much that we haven’t missed any package from the depot and have gone for over 10 trips in the last one year,” says Ajmal.

Jessy adds that most of the passengers on these trips have their own vehicles yet they chose to travel with a group. “By choosing a public transport these people are doing a great service for the environment. Lesser the vehicles, lesser the pollution,” points out Sumesh Kumar, Zonal Coordinator (South), BTC.

The passengers are appreciative of the conduct of KSRTC staff contrary to the perception that they are rude. Some passengers point out that the staff go out of the way to ensure an enjoyable experience for the group.

“The best part of these trips is forging friendship. We start the journey as strangers but by the end we become close friends. The KSRTC personnel in charge ensure that we bond with each other with dance, music etc,” say Jessy and Vijayakumar. Bindu adds, “Our safety is always taken care of.”

When a package is announced, the registered passengers are added to a WhatsApp group. That group is kept active and the members keep in touch. The depots announce the full schedule for a month on their social media pages and in WhatsApp groups.

At Bungalvu Kunnu in Nilambur
| Photo Credit:
Muraleekrishnan TV

There is no dearth of challenges as well. The condition of the buses has often come under scrutiny. “We work with several limitations. Sometimes we have to pay from our pockets in case of an emergency. At the end of the day, we want our passengers to return home happy,” says a KSRTC conductor on conditions of anonymity.

Contact the district coordinators for updates on the trips: Thiruvananthapuram: 9447479789; Kollam: 9747969768; Pathanamthitta: 9744348037; Alappuzha: 9846475874; Kottayam: 9447223212; Idukki and Ernakulam: 9446525773; Thrissur: 9074503720; Palakkad: 8304859018; Malappuram: 8547109115; Kozhikode: 9544477954; Wayanad: 7907305828; Kannur: 8089463675; Kasaragod: 9895937213

LEGO, a Danish construction toy production company based in Denmark, is known for its interlocking toys. The company has collaborated with some of the biggest brands in the industry, from Star Wars to Harry Potter. However, did you know that in 2003, LEGO was once in debt to the tune of $800 million, losing $1 million each day and just weeks away from collapse? How did the company maintain its life and, at the same time, succeed to unimaginable levels? Let’s find out!
Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen, LEGO was the ‘IT’ toy in the 90s, with every kid wanting a LEGO set and being obsessed with creating something with the renowned bricks. Thus, just like every other brand, LEGO expanded its territory to clothes, watches, TV shows, theme parks and whatnot.
But with so much to do, the company was not excelling at any one task. The toy sales were decreasing, and behind the scenes, the company was struggling with finances. The company was facing a debt of $800M and was on the verge of collapse.
Then came the knight in shining armour, the new CEO, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, a Danish businessman who succeeded Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen as president and CEO of the company in October 2004. He presented a unique question: “What if the problem…is LEGO itself?
One of his first moves was to slash the product lines by 30% and to lay off about 1,000 people. Then, deeper research revealed to him that the company was making 7,000+ unique parts, which made the production process slower and expensive. Thus, he and his team simplified certain brick types and focused on sets that were popular in the market.
Additionally, LEGO started focusing on what the fans and buyers actually wanted. They partnered with big brands such as Star Wars and Harry Potter to develop sets with storylines. The result was instant and quite visible, with the Star Wars set alone boosting the company revenue by 35%. Their lesson from this sale was that every creation has a story and to create, people need bricks!
By 2015, LEGO passed Mattel to become the world’s greatest toy company with $2.03B sales in the first half of 2014.

Shikhar Dhawan with Sophie Shine

After going through a difficult divorce in 2023 from Aesha Mukherji, looks like Shikhar Dhawan has now found love again! Earlier this year, the former Indian cricketer was spotted with a mystery woman at the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Bangladesh in Dubai. Netizens were quick to figure out that the mystery woman with Shikha Dhawan was Sophie Shine; the duo were also spotted together in November 2024 which fuelled their dating rumours. And now, in a recent media interaction, Shikhar Dhawan confirmed that he has indeed moved on from his divorce and found love again.
Talking at the Times Summit 2025 when Shikhar Dhawan was asked about his love life and if he is dating someone, the cricketer confirmed the speculations. He shared how his past relationship and divorce has changed him as a person, and those experiences might help him have a better relationship. “Yes, I have moved on. I wouldn’t say I was unlucky in love— rather, my choices came from inexperience. But now, I have experience, and that will come in handy. It was a learning curve for me,” Dhawan said.
On being asked if he is ready to love again, he replied, “I am always in love!”
However, on being probed further, the cricketer gave a witty response and refrained from naming his current girlfriend. He playfully answered, “See, I know how to dodge bouncers in cricket, and I know you’re throwing one at me now. But I won’t get caught. I will not take any name. But the most beautiful girl in the room is my girlfriend. Now you can figure it out.”
A video of this fun interaction is doing the rounds on social media. Netizens noted that the camera then focused on a woman in the room and she was Sophie Shine, again!
Who is Sophie Shine?
As per reports, Sophie Shine is a a Product Consultant and she is based in Ireland. While rumours of Shikhar Dhawan and Sophie Shine dating each other are rife, but the duo have neither confirmed nor denied their relationship.
Shikhar Dhawan and Aesha Mukherji: What went wrong between them
Shikhar Dhawan was introduced to Melbourne-based kickboxer Aesha Mukherji through fellow cricketer Harbhajan Singh, as per reports. Aesha was 12 years elder to Shikha and alreadt a single-parent to her two daughters from a previous relationship. After dating for a while, Shikhar and Aesha got engaged in 2008 and tied the knot in 2012.
In 2014, they welcomed their son, Zoravar, and Shikhar also adopted Aesha’s daughters. However, trouble started brewing in their marriage soon after, and they separated in September 2021. Their divorce was finalised on October 5, 2023, with the court ruling in Shikhar’s favour on the grounds of ‘mental cruelty’ by Aesha.
The couple had a long custody battle for their son, Zoravar, which Shikhar lost. He was granted occasional video call interactions with Zoravar, but Shikhar says he has been blocked by Aesha and has had no contact with his son for many years now.