Solution to 14A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.
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| Rangoli by Gowri |
ACROSS
1 Mobile, mostly busy, creates state of uncertainity (5) LIMBO MOBILe*
4 Go around in t-shirt like a working girl (7) TROLLOP {T{ROLL}OP}
10 Alter seat plan (9) REARRANGE {REAR}{RANGE}
11 Colour adopted by far-right in general (5) TINGE [T]
12 If nothing else, her heart opens up finally (2,5) AT LEAST {hEr} in {AT LAST}
13 Each part in soap or distinctive event primarily (7) EPISODE Acrostic &lit
15 Tense, almost sad lines ushering God’s message (8) TELEGRAM {T}{ELEGy}{RAM}
17 Returns from hustling coke bags (4,4) GOES BACK*
19 Over a time, men basically ditch (4) MOAT {O}{A}{T}<=>{M}
23 Intent of almost any Chinese leader — erode our border with minimum of strife (7) ANXIOUS {ANy}{XI}{OUr}{St...e} Definition okay?
24 Forested land finally cleared and cultivated (5) WOOED WOOdED
25 0 under 18 for someone like Leonardo Da Vinci? (4,5) LOVE CHILD {LOVE}{CHILD}
26 They gnaw around or burrow tunnels outside (7) RODENTS {OR<=}{DEN}{Tu...lS}
27 Catches small bugs (5) SNAGS {S}{NAGS}
DOWN
2 Probably a no-good ill-looking Delhi crook (2,3,10) IN ALL LIKELIHOOD {A+ILL+LOOKINg+DELHI}*
3 Runs into Obama house (7) BARRACK {BAR{R}ACK}
4 Youngster almost cleared out the wine and wobbled (8) TEETERED {TEEn}{ThE}{RED}
5 Survive without liver to some extent (7) OUTLIVE [T]
6 In life, anger soon corrupts logical thought process (4,2,9) LINE OF REASONING*
7 Better looking men oddly trip out too soon (7) PRETERM {PRETtiER}{M}
9 One fool breaks-in, usually at the banks (5) UNITY {NIT} in {Us...lY}
16 Hill-tops outside Paris halted him (8) ACHILLES {AC{HILL}ES}
17 Upright spies bug to check good old mafia fight (4,3) GANG WAR {RAW}{NAG}<= over {G}
18 Served up one drab spread (7) BROADEN*
19 Erotic guy for Spooner’s a Mayan perhaps (7) MEXICAN (sexy man to mexi can)
20 Innocent naked deviant lying around (5) NAIVE dEVIANt<=
21 Out of the way, starts to address spectators in deadly earnest (5) ASIDE Acrostic
Reference List
Tense = T, Over = O, Time = T, Men = M, Small = S, Good = G, Runs = R
HAIR RAISING ROMANCE
ReplyDeleteArchibald Jenkins was a qualified Engineer working for a LONDON based refrigerant Company. Originally hailing from Arnol, a small HAMLET in the outer HEBRIDES, he was endowed with a good physique & natural Gaelic good looks.
However, right from his school days, he was constantly teased because of his name. Baldy became his constant nick name. To add to his woes, premature baldness ran in his family & by the time, he was 30, he was completely bald.
He developed a severe inferiority complex. From his ALLIES to his acquaintances, everyone was prone to give him FREE IDEAS for hair growth. The bizarre treatments tried out by him ranged from a serum developed from the OVULES of Hibiscus flowers to a shampoo containing the powdered horns of a NYALA. He once paid through his nose for a bottle of SNAKE OIL, supposedly imported from PERSIA. When the bottle was finished, his shiny scalp became so itchy, that he had to visit a dermatologist.
To his dismay, the Doctor told him to thank God that no permanent DAMAGE had been done & to FORSAKE all his quack attempts to grow hair. He gave him the irrefutable life lesson that baldness is neither reversible nor CURABLE.
It was at this juncture that his company asked him to go to SHANGHAI, to attend an International Expo there on Air conditioning & Refrigeration. As luck would have it, his secretary messed up his tickets & he got booked one week in advance. With the price of AIR FARES being what they are, his Company refused to reschedule.
So he arrived at SHANGHAI with one week to spare & entertain himself. Oh! & to boost his confidence & HIDE his baldness, his boss had suggested purchasing a blonde TOUPEE. Though he DETESTED the IDEA in the beginning, when he looked at his visage in the mirror, he was filled with a quiet GLEE.
On his first day, after a breakfast of EDDO noodles & POTATO fries, he booked himself for a city tour, over the next 3 days. On boarding the bus, he set eyes on her, for the first time. Mei Lin was their tourist guide, a typical petite Chinese beauty with chinky eyes & flawless skin. Her head was covered with a beautiful Chinese scarf.
At the end of the first day, after visiting the city's promenade, Longhua Pagoda & the Jade Buddha temple, he felt emboldened to ask her out. They had dinner & went to see an Opera called 'RASPUTIN & the TSARINA'. Afterwards, strolling on the streets, Archibald was constantly flicking his new found locks. Mei Lin asked him, if he owed his magnificent blonde mane to genetics. Not wanting to lie to her, he simply ignored the question.
Next day, they visited the Shanghai Museum, where he saw the original Chinese pottery PITCHERS & exquisite hand painted TATAMI mats apart from paintings, coins, seals etc. They also visited the ancient YU Garden, China' s version of the original one at EDEN. Again he asked Mei Lin out & after dinner they visited a disco. Inspite of the difference in their heights & physique, their DANCE steps matched perfectly & he found himself falling in love.
Back home, he always stayed away from befriending women, in his REALM, DREADING their reaction to his baldness, but here in a new city, with a new wig, he found his complexes melting away & really enjoyed himself. Mei seemed to like him equally & was talking non stop in her accented English. She looked lovely with her colourful scarves. It was only her frequent references to his silky blonde hair, that acted as a spoke in his wheel of happiness.
ReplyDeleteOn the 3rd day afternoon, they visited an amusement park. Archibald suffered from vertigo & was scared of rides. But Mei Lin challenged all the tourists to ride on the biggest Giant wheel there without screaming even once. ADMIRAL Nair from India quickly accepted her challenge. Thus Archibald was forced to take a seat in the wheel. His face looked so woebegone that at the last minute, Mei Lin stepped into his adjacent seat & smilingly snapped his seat buckle in place.
As the wheel gained speed & started moving upwards, it was truly a hair raising experience. Archibald had to exercise extreme will power to keep from screaming. He concentrated on Mei & avoided looking down. As they started descending, holding onto Mei's hand he started pretending to CATNAP & dreaming of a future with her.
Then it happened. Caught by a gust of wind, his TOUPEE came off, flew out & with a wild DANCE disappeared over the horizon. Out of sheer shock, Jenkins was dumb struck & the only silent passenger in the whole ride. Almost everybody else was screaming & the ADMIRAL was the loudest.
As the ride came to a stop, Archibald was so mortified, he quickly got off & turned his face away from Mei. But much to his surprise, she literally jumped up & holding on to him, kissed him on his cheek. 'Is that for winning the challenge?' he asked.
She simply removed her head scarf. He was shocked to see her bald pate!!!
Well! This is temporary! she smiled. I am just cured from cancer & this is the dreaded side effect. Is this what they call 'Made for each Other' he wondered!
Mei's only condition while accepting his proposal was - the wedding should be only after her hair grew back. Becos while a bald groom was ok, a bald bride might well look like an alien from the movie ARGO. Jenkins thought she had a point there!!!
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Loved the lovely love story
DeleteWhat a denouement!
DeleteLike poles attract each other- though not in reality,at least in this Tale piece!
DeleteWhat a delightful title!!
Delete14 A Answer PINK
ReplyDeleteGay groom = PINK
Runs away =Pink
Compact clue.
Delete"Appears tricky! Find ones skill!" in seconds
Not quite.
ReplyDeleteThe word groom has to be used correctly
DeleteGroom = PRINK, Runs away, = PINK
DeleteSo the answer is PINK
GAY = PINK
Good solve. i did not know Prink. Thinking in terms of bride and not getting anywhere.
ReplyDelete🙏🙏
ReplyDelete16DN &LIT too?
ReplyDeleteI think the def is "Paris halted(killed) him"
DeleteWP is hill, tops outside
16D a masterly clue!
ReplyDeleteANXIOUS Vladimir was in a LIMBO
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing a PINK frock bimbo
Who GOES BACK ASIDE
With a quick stride
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD staring akimbo!