Prize Special, Sun 20 Oct 2013, Director

SUNDAY PRIZE SPECIAL

Today's special is a prize crossword set and contributed by Director.

Please do not post any answers in the Comments section today.

Answers need to be sent to chaturvasi@yahoo.com before 10 PM IST Monday 21 Oct 2013. Real name, e-mail ID and complete postal address to be included in the mail.

Solve the puzzle completely and send your answers in text form thus:

Across:  1..., 4 ..., 8 ... etc.
Down: 1 ..., 2 ..., 3... etc.

Or, if you can, as a filled-in grid form. Either method is OK.

The winner of the single prize (a slim book of Tamil stories by Narasiah translated in English by C. G. Rishikesh) will be chosen by draw from all all-correct entries received any time till the closure of the competition. Entries received after the closure will not be considered. Nor incomplete or mutilated entries.

The competition is open to anyone living anywhere in the world but the prize can be sent only if the winner is resident in India. The names of all all-correct entrants will be notified on this blog.

The decision of Director and of the blog-owner is final.

ACROSS

1   See doctor's operation on outskirts of Bellary (4,2)

4   Makes fast sale by using a devious method (6)

8   A good shrew not starting attack (7)

9   Bathroom fixture manufacturer using voice booster for dish (7)

11 Instils awe into concerns of dieters (10)

12 Sharpness of knife cutting sides of account book (4)

13 Mother's working to be a novel lawyer (5)

14 Delicacies for attractive women in the U.S.? (8)

16 Shoe for spymaster losing tip of Oxford in big event (8)

18 Agreements with Comrade may get cars, perhaps (5)

20 Requests for jobs taking no time (4)

21 Disregarding a group working in Gujarat's capital (10)

23 Office aids turning out the same again and again (7)

24 News is this is the time when everything is a problem (7)

25 Lacking refinement, but could be hearty (6)

26 Tell it's creative work by rascals (6)

DOWN

1   Follow mother's principle (5)

2   Roots of cars from which money is thrown out (7)

3   Extremes in Wimbledon producing mean verses (9)

5   They are against all odds (5)

6   In the manner of dame relaxing in Californian city (7)

7   Such bees have no bite in them, obviously (9)

10 These snakes disturb Nana's coda (9)

13 Doctor on saint -  one in a Wilkie Collins classic (9)

15 A hope that my go up in smoke - or down the drain (4,5)

17 Dismiss bank employee (7)

19 Card game in which players hold a new ace (7)

21 Expression of dismay as raga's stretched to ultimate stretch (5)

22 Time to be near pet at last (5)

To attempt the Crossword on a separate page follow the link THCC PRIZE SPECIAL

All the best, may the luckiest person win.