​Balika Vadhu actor Neha Marda recently shared that, before her 2012 wedding to Patna-based businessman Ayushman Agrawal, she took a “secret” trip with him during their 9-month courtship. “So the engagement happened, and we had the entire nine months of courtship time. Hope my parents don’t watch this! Actually, they don’t even know what I am actually going to tell you. During the courtship, Ayush gave me a surprise that I was not expecting. So, we went to Goa. It’s not what you are thinking,” she told Hauterrfly.. She continued, “We went to Goa, and we had a great time there. We went with my friends there…Smita Bansal and her husband. I didn’t even tell my mom. That one lie I told my mom, and that too at the cost of getting married to this guy… that was when I got to know how caring Ayush is. Especially, arranged marriages during the courtship…those moments are very beautiful…most precious moments of your life.”. Neha Marda went with Smita Bansal (Photo: Balika Vadhu). Taking a cue from the actor-turned-entrepreneur’s candid admission, we have insight into how courtship matters.. In arranged marriages, the courtship period is often the only structured window where two near-strangers are expected to assess compatibility for a lifetime commitment. Families have agreed. The match seems suitable. The wedding is likely. Yet emotionally, the two individuals are still building their own narrative. “That space is fragile and powerful. In many traditional setups, engagement creates legitimacy but not complete freedom. There is permission to talk, meet, and explore. But there are also invisible boundaries. Social expectations. Family honour. The subtle pressure to behave ‘appropriately’,” expressed Delnna Rrajesh, psychotherapist and life coach.. Which is why moments of spontaneous, unscripted interaction during courtship become priceless. “Psychologically, relationships are not tested in formal meetings. They are revealed in informal spaces,” shared Delnna.. How does the person behave when plans change?. How do they treat waiters, strangers, and friends?. Are they attentive, dismissive, relaxed, or controlling?. Do they care about your comfort?. A short trip, even with friends present, often becomes a microcosm of married life. Travel exposes temperament. It shows patience levels, adaptability, and emotional maturity. It allows one to see the partner beyond curated conversations, noted Delnna.. Story continues below this ad. Also Read | Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan admit to writing letters to each other on every birthday: ‘And now, I have a box full’. That is why such memories feel precious. “They represent the first time the relationship felt like “ours,” not “family-approved.” There is also a psychological layer around secrecy. When a woman says she did not tell her parents, it reflects the tension between autonomy and obedience. In many Indian families, daughters are protected intensely before mar  

 ​Occasional cravings are common, but wanting something sweet after every meal usually points to a pattern rather than just a liking for desserts, experts suggest. “Often, it reflects how the body processes blood sugar, insulin, or the meal itself. It’s a signal to pay attention to, especially if the craving feels automatic or hard to resist,” said Dr Vijay Negalur, HoD Diabetology, KIMS Hospitals, Thane.. After a meal high in refined carbohydrates, blood sugar can rise quickly and then fall just as fast. “This drop triggers hunger signals, which the brain often interprets as a need for sugar. People with insulin resistance or early diabetes are more likely to experience these swings, leading to frequent and intense sweet cravings,” said Dr Negalur.. Can meal balance influence these cravings?. Meals that lack enough protein, fibre, or healthy fats digest quickly and don’t provide lasting fullness. “When this happens, the brain seeks a quick energy source, usually sugar. Adding protein, vegetables, and whole grains helps stabilise blood sugar and reduces the urge to finish every meal with something sweet,” elucidated Dr Negalur.. Stress hormones like cortisol also increase sugar cravings by prompting the body to seek quick energy. “Poor sleep can also disrupt hormones that regulate appetite, making sweet foods more appealing. That’s why people under chronic stress or sleep deprivation often feel stronger post-meal sugar cravings,” said Dr Negalur.. Could this habit indicate an increased diabetes risk?. Not always, but persistent cravings can be an early warning sign, especially when combined with weight gain, fatigue, or a family history of diabetes, said Dr Negalur. “It doesn’t mean diabetes is present, but it suggests the body may struggle with glucose regulation and should be assessed.”. It’s essential to take care of your health (Photo: Freepik). Should people completely avoid sweets?. Total restriction often backfires, increasing cravings. “The goal is mindful consumption. Choosing naturally sweet foods like fruit, reducing portion sizes, and avoiding sugary drinks after meals can satisfy cravings without stressing blood sugar levels.”. When should someone seek medical advice?. Story continues below this ad. If sweet cravings are frequent, intense, and come with symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination, or unexplained fatigue, it’s wise to have blood sugar levels checked, advised Dr Negalur.. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.  

 ​Veteran actor Sushma Seth, who will turn 90 this year, recently detailed her morning routine, which she credits for her remarkable energy, mental sharpness, and overall well-being. “I have the energy to do everything. I wake up at 4 am and meditate. Then I do yoga asanas. Then I do some walking. Main sab khud karti hun (I do everything on my own). I do pranayam. If you do all these things daily, then illnesses stay away. You don’t feel tired,” Seth told Usha Kakde Productions on YouTube.. So, we asked an expert how effective such a routine is to follow.. Embracing the quiet pre-dawn hours to cultivate both inner calm and physical vitality is always a good way to start your day, said consultant dietitian and fitness expert Garima Goyal.. “Her ritual typically starts with meditation, which helps reduce stress hormones and centers the mind before the day’s activities, followed by gentle but consistent physical practices such as yoga asanas and pranayama (breathwork) that enhance flexibility, strengthen muscles, support balance, and improve oxygen delivery throughout the body,” shared Goyal.. Such factors are especially beneficial in preserving functional longevity and slowing age-related decline. Going for a walk and engaging in her regular daily responsibilities underscores the importance of self-reliance.. “This blend of early rising, mindful stillness, disciplined movement, and active engagement with everyday tasks keeps her energy levels high, helps ward off fatigue and disease, and supports both physical and mental resilience,” said Goyal.. View this post on Instagram. Goyal asserted that such habits improve circulation, reduce inflammation, maintain insulin sensitivity, and protect cognitive health, all of which contribute to a vibrant life even in advanced age.. Story continues below this ad. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.  

 ​Duriong the experiment, beetles were tagged with ultraviolet dyes to track their movements between male and female cycad plants (photo credit: Michael Calonje). The plant kingdom is utterly fascinating and still has a lot to be discovered. From plants that can attack animals to those that give electric shocks, these botanicals are far from fully understood. One such plant species that has created waves in the botanical community is cycads.. These ancient plants can raise their own temperature, like a microwave oven. How cool is that! While the reason for this strange behaviour was previously unknown, it has now been uncovered that they do so to attract insects for pollination. As these plants heat themselves up, an invisible signal is released that helps insects find them in the dark.. Interestingly, cycads have existed on Earth since the time of dinosaurs and are often described as “living fossils.” Unlike modern flowering plants that depend on bees or butterflies, cycads are mainly pollinated by beetles. Since beetles are small, nocturnal, and live in dense rainforests, where spotting plants is not easy, this unique heating mechanism comes in handy.. Long before insects evolved, cycads used to heat up to attract beetles for pollination (Image Credit: Michael Calonje). But why do they heat up?. The latest research published in the Science journal has revealed that when cycad plants are ready for pollination, their cone-like reproductive structures warm up — sometimes as much as 27 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the surrounding air. As the cones heat up, they emit infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye. Beetles, however, can easily sense it. This infrared glow acts like a beacon at night. Male cycad cones heat up first and release pollen. A few hours later, female cones warm up, guiding the beetles from one plant to the other in a timed sequence. This movement allows pollen to be transferred efficiently, helping the plants reproduce.. Also Read | 21-million-year-old sea cow species discovered in Qatar’s ‘Dugong Cemetery’. The study is based on elaborate lab experiments and field observations. Under the research team’s monitoring, beetles were consistently drawn to the warmest parts of the cones. When researchers created artificial cycad models and heated them, beetles still showed a strong preference for the warmer ones — even when scent and colour cues were removed. This proved that heat and infrared light were the key signals.. At a deeper level, researchers discovered that beetles have special sensory genes in their antennae that allow them to detect infrared radiation. Interestingly, similar genes are found in snakes that use infrared sensing to hunt prey. This suggests that nature has reused the same biological tools across very different species over hundreds of millions of years.. 📣 For more lifestyle news, click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and also follow us on Instagram. © IE Online Media Services  

 ​Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday support flexible work hours for new mothers amid the Deepika Padukone debate. (Source: Instagram/Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday). Balancing work and parenthood is a challenge many working parents face, especially during the early years of raising a child. During a recent interaction with The Hollywood Reporter, actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday spoke about the debate surrounding Deepika Padukone and her stance on working eight-hour shifts after becoming a mother.. While discussing the pressures that new mothers face while managing demanding careers, both actors shared their views on why flexibility and support can make a significant difference. Kareena reflected on her own experience of balancing film projects while raising her two sons. Recalling the schedule during the shooting of The Buckingham Murders, she said, “For that, I had to be in London for 35 days. So I decided to shoot where I would go and come back because we had Diwali in between, so we planned it in such a way. I just feel everything needs to be really well planned and you have to be very clear right from the beginning.”. She further explained how coordination with her family and the production team helped her manage both responsibilities. “This is because I have two children, so I need to come back. They need to shoot other portions while I come back to visit my kids, and then I go back and finish the rest of the film. The makers were kind enough to understand that, and I am also lucky that when I am doing the film, Saif is with the children. When you are in a marriage, you need to have a partner and an understanding with him/her because we both can’t be working and leave the children alone. It is an understanding (sic).”. Ananya also spoke in support of Deepika’s position, highlighting how life circumstances can change work priorities. She pointed out that Deepika had previously worked long hours without raising concerns about schedules. “It’s actually the phase in your life when you are just a new mother, then of course, you want to still work. People used to say ‘women can’t work after marriage or after giving birth to children’, it is because you need an environment to support that.”. She added that the situation is different now because Deepika is raising a young child. “If Deepika is the topic of conversation… I have worked with her before she became a mother. There was no such thing as an 8-hour shift. She was working, coming for workshops, no complaints, no asking for anything in that sort of way, and now she is a mother, and this is what she needs, to be present with her child during the first two years.”. But why do the early years of motherhood often require different work arrangements?. Psychologist Rasshi Gurnani tells indianexpress.com, “The early years of motherhood involve significant psychological, emotional, and biological adjustments. After childbirth, women experience horm