ACROSS
1 Silent guru’s latest Tantric exercises (8) TACITURN {gurU+TANTRIC}*
12 Skills shown by couple in arranging alibis (9) ABILITIES {ABILI{TIE}S*}
13 Press pimple artfully, expressing a little pus (5) IMPEL pIMPLE*
14 Clear loss of balance finally — relative’s knocked back spirit (6) UNCLOG {UNCLe}{GO<=}
15 Heir’s guffawing heartily, enthralled by couple of pegs (7) LEGATEE {LEG}{g..fAw..g}{TEE}
18 Prosecute adult essentially peering at girl in shower (7) ARRAIGN {A}{peeRing}{RAI{G}N}
20 Avoiding associate, wary about love, turning emotionally dependent (6) CLINGY {Ca{NIL<=}GY}
22 Professor collecting one grand is swindling (5) DOING {DO{1}N}{G}
24 Rode out to tie the knot, garlanding girl after lunch (9) WEATHERED {W{EAT}{HER}ED}
28 Wavy hairstyle, one adopted by star as character with extraordinary powers (8) SUPERMAN {SU{PERM}{A}N}
DOWN
1 Couple of rugs around gong used in orchestra (3-3) TAM-TAM<=
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2 Criminals on rig shot person sending shipment (9) CONSIGNOR {CONS}{ON+RIG}*
3 What bedridden patient might do with medicine — endure without protest (4,2,5,4) TAKE IT LYING DOWN [DD]
6 Taking a risk of putting woman in depression, fellow breaks engagement (7,4,4) PLAYING WITH FIRE {P{LAYING}{W}IT}{H{F}IRE}
7 Cold cut containing slice of salami is fresh (5) CRISP {C}{RI{Sa...i}P}
8 Special line to catch fish is stronger (8) STEELIER {S}{T{EEL}IER}
9 Maiden’s turning wild, knocking back drinks after removing top (6) DAMSEL {MAD<=}{aLES<=}
23 Female overwhelmed by wine, leaving quietly otherwise (2,3) IF NOT {pI{F}NOT}
Reference List
Steamer = SS, Son = S, Adult = A, Girl = G, Grand = G
Criminals = CONS, Wife = W, Woman = W, Fellow = F, Cold = C, Special = S, Posh = U, Female = F, Quietly = P
Colour/Font Scheme
Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word, Reference list word, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Opposite indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous
puzzle 17a , After a long years we could re call the instrument mandolin used by Late carnatic legend Srinvas.
ReplyDeleteAnother enthralling session with Dr.X. Appreciating the versatility of both the English language and Doc.'s puzzle making abilities.
ReplyDelete15A- had a smile when I found 2 different pegs,none of which Doc.usulally prefers!
Thanks Paddy!👍
DeleteHad my doubts filling in Tiger team- Col.'s link cleared it. Thank you Col.
ReplyDeleteLovely grid today too. Learnt many new words.
ReplyDeleteYesterday's tale continued:
ReplyDeleteAfter experiencing TIGER TEAM safari earlier, David thought of DOING something STEELIER in this trip. Not one to TAKE IT LYING DOWN he at the Kenyan safari ventured into unknown areas. He sighted some rare animals in live action and captured some CRISP shots in his camera. One of a LANGOUSTE NATANT (both new words for me!) stood out. This greatly impressed Sheila a DAMSEL at the camp. Having got out of a relationship at REDDING TACITURN David wondered "should I go on this NEWEST date?" He learnt that she was a rich LEGATEE fyom MINSK and said to himself "what the hell? IF NOT now then when...". Thus IMPELled he proceeded to enamour the maiden. By the camp fire that evening he took the opportunity to DRAMATISE and show his other ABILITIES too. Stylishly donning a CHAPEAU (another new word!) he played a sweet lilting beat on the MANDOLIN accompanied by the TAM TAM orchestra. She fell hook line and sinker. CLINGY she was after a long drawn ARRAIGNMENT of her ex an ODD MAN with whom she had broken off. Sheila saw in David a SUPERMAN with UNCLOGged vision. Their individual holiday ended togrthet on a romantic note.
Wow! Fantastic story. Thanks Ramesh 😀
DeleteMost wonderful surfaces..loved legatee and dramatise...
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Mona! 😀👍
DeleteLovely weekend fare! My favs are SUPERMAN, WEATHERED, MANDOLIN, LEGATEE and DRAMATISE.
ReplyDeleteThank you Doc. 🙂
You are most welcome MB. Good to know what you liked most 😀👍
DeleteA MODERN SWAYAMVAR
ReplyDeleteMartha was the hostess of an International Cookery show on Primetime. A middle aged independent woman, she was a style icon. As she jet settled from CAPRI to NAIROBI, covering MOUTH WATERING dishes week after week, people often wondered at her still single status.
Martha was not averse to men. Just that Cupid seemed to have waited till now to strike her. The first inkling of romance in her life started, when the programme covered a food festival in NORILSK last month. Vladimir was the local POLITICIAN & the chief guest. Sparks flew & now they were talking daily.
Martha knew, she was too old to be THUNDER STRUCK & relationships could not survive on PIPE DREAMS. The logistics of a future with Vladimir needed a lot of working out & she had to be SHARP EYED to identify potential problems.
This month, the show was covering IBERIAN food & there was a contest whose theme was CAPS & BELLS. This is where she met Miguel, a Michelin star chef who was the judge of the contest. He was tall, suave & handsome & surprised all with his own SPIN on the theme. He cooked a special vegetarian dish with CAPsicums & BELLpeppers & dedicated it to Martha.
After the finale, there was a party & Martha danced with Miguel. She knew well, the DOS & DONTS of being a programme host, included never getting personally involved with your guests. But the wine & the special LOLL baked by Miguel for her UNLEASHED her reserve & and there was RIFF in the air & joy in her feet as she matched Miguel step for step. Promising to keep in touch, the evening ended with a passionate kiss, that at least ON PAPER, looked to be the beginning of a romance.
Martha's next stop was in India, on the banks of INDUS, where a flowing food show was planned along the course of the river. As she & her crew did the pre shoot work & fixed the exact locations, her chief camera man Gokul asked her to cook for him & his daughter Krishna, who had accompanied her father. Gokul was a single parent & Krishna was in a boarding school studying in her THIRD CLASS. An attractive girl with large eyes, Martha was surprised at their instant bonding.
She decided on a simple meal, cooked outdoors & asked to use the gadgets from one of the food stalls being put up. As she was STIR FRYING the vegetables, the accident happened. A sudden gust of wind overturned the wok & smoke billowed out with hot oil splashing on her fore arms. Her knees buckling in fear, she collapsed.
Without WASTING a minute, Gokul rushed in & picked her up. She knew he had SCIATIC pain, still he carried her all the way to his car, some 300m away & drove her, himself, to the nearest hospital. The immediate action, without LOSS of time, helped to minimise her burns & a week later, she was discharged with no more than a few scars & a BRUISED self confidence, as she had attempted to cook after ages, resulting in this fiasco.
On hearing the news, her mother, best friend & WELL WISHER Evelyn rushed, all the way from England. As Martha checked into her hotel room, Gokul said Bye & left. Opening her WhatsApp, Martha saw dozens of messages from both Vladimir & Miguel. She confessed to her mother, for the first time, about her 2 suitors & the dilemma if whom to choose.
Her mother's reply stunned her. Evelyn said "Not 2 my dear, you have a TRIUMVERI of suitors. Don't tell me, you are blind to Gokul's feelings for you. You don't have to be particularly SHARP EYED. Even an old maid like me can spot his genuine feelings for you, a mile away."
ReplyDeleteShe further clarified - "Vladimir & Miguel have met you in particularly charming circumstances where romance was in the air. Gokul has known you for 4 years, through thick & thin, through rain & sun & now through thick billowing black smoke. Your instincts for romance are ILL USED. I would HATE to see you confuse between infatuation & love."
Well, as they say, when it rains, it pours & Cupid decided to strike Martha thrice in a span of 2 months. But taking her time, she chose wisely & is looking forward to living happily ever after with Gokul & Krishna.
Nice story Gowri 😀
DeleteMy tale on yesterdays words
ReplyDeleteSeveral Reversal and Sandwich clues.
ReplyDeleteBeginning to get the hang of it.
Thoroughly liked. Thanks Doc!
Glad you enjoyed Ramesh 👍
DeleteCould finish in reasonable time compared to yesterday and the day before. New words for me - Natant, Chapeau. Thanks Dr X for the entertainment.
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome Mr Prasad! 👍
DeleteThanks Mr Sathia 👍
ReplyDelete