You speak your mind. Jump jobs. Drink a pint. Or nothing at all, if you don’t want to. You respect freedom. Because it’s easy for some to say ‘Don’t do that!’

Shilpa Shetty has faced it, even M F Husain.

So it isn’t hard to imagine a universe peopled by dour hangmen, radical Hindutva types, Marxist feminists and joyless conformists, all of whom live by the Cinematography Act of 1952, forever ready to cry, ‘Don’t you dare do that!’

That’s the premise of Butter and Mashed Bananas, a satirical comedy penned and directed by Ajay Krishnan. Its central character is a boy who is born with and has to contend with conflicting ideologies. He becomes a famous author, who invites the wrath of leaders of every faction for everything he does and says.

It’s relevant, it’s irreverent, it’s musical and it’s metaphorical. It’s the perfect 65-minute show to take in with the gang over the weekend — and tear apart over dinner, should you want to.

Because you can.

Butter and Mashed Bananas is on May 19, 7.30 pm, May 20, 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm at Ranga Shankara, 36/2 8th Cross, J P Nagar second phase, Bangalore 560078. Telephone: 9845209716.
Tickets: Rs. 100 at KC Das, Crossword, Alliance Francaise café and Ranga Shankara.

You’ve gushed over Gucci, preened with Prada and flaunted your Fendi. But none of them quite does a bag that makes you feel like an exotic Indian princess. Someone who’s swum in pools of rose-scented milk and lived in a palace dotted with peacocks.

Famed accessories designer Meera Mahadevia manages just that through her Royal Rajwada collection of ornate heirloom handbags. Reminiscent of the royals, this drool-worthy clutch of handcrafted bags is all about elaborate embellishment. But with a twist.

Look out for dazzling anklets fashioned into stylish clasps. Or an assortment of winking faux gemstones, feathers, antique frames, spiritual symbols and even jharokha-inspired carvings. All set on crushed raw silk that’s drenched in opulent colour — passionate red, burnished gold and elegant jade.

You’ll be proud to wear your ethnicity on your sleeve. Literally.

Meera Mahadevia’s studio, 112/113, First Floor, Narayan Udyog Bhavan, Lalbaug Industrial Estate, Lalbaug, Mumbai. Telephone: 24711578/ 24701554. Website: www.meeramahadevia.com.
Prices: Start at Rs. 6,000.

You’re a zealous zodiac purist. You ferret out your daily horoscope from the clutter in every tabloid. You sniff out the correct sun sign of each person you meet. Given a chance, you could almost be the next Linda Goodman.

But you don’t need to check the charts to foresee where you’re going to get your cakes from now on. The Hang Out, a confectionery shop fringing the busy market at Andheri’s Lokhandwala, does some lip-smacking 3-D zodiac cakes.

Celebrate your sting through the saucy, curvaceous chocolate scorpion sprawled on a delectable Dutch truffle. Gift your February-born valentine a sexy, svelte water bearer perfectly wrought in cocoa atop a fresh black forest. Or let your Gemini sibling squeal on discovering impish twins with pug noses, crafted in strawberry, mango or gooey chocolate chip. You can get your shape cake moulded from any of the flavours on offer — our Trendy Taster especially liked the fruity-fresh Hawaiian.

Guess when it comes to astrology, you can have your cake and eat it, too.

Hang Out, Shop 7, Norwood Building, Lokhandwala Market, Andheri (W), Mumbai. Telephone: 26358989/26359999.
Prices: Start at Rs. 400 per kg (minimum order is 2 kg). Order 24 hours in advance.

You’re way past stabbing your chopsticks into maki rolls. You address every last tsukemono in your bento box by its native name. You are the sushi queen.

Take your passion to the next level. DIY, sensei! Discover Delhi’s best-kept secret you never knew: ‘international convenience store’ Yamato-ya which stocks everything you’d need for a slap-up meal.

Walk up straight to the freezers. A rosy sea bream, a school of frozen flying fish, a sashimi platter of squid are neatly arranged. So are ribeye steaks and Viennese roast pork.

But it’s the basement that hides Nippon’s treasures. Otsumami (snacks) to munch with sake or beer: octopus cakes, wasabi peas, tomato pretzels. Noodles — ramen or udon? egg or soba? Sushi rice and rolling mats, sheets of nori — check. Miso for soup — check. Wasabi paste and Kikkoman soya sauce — check. Mugicha (barley tea) or sencha (green tea) — both there.

Invite the gals to sushi and ramen. And wear that crown with a flourish.

Yamato-ya, B-6/9 Safdarjung Enclave (Deer Park market), Delhi. Telephone: 41650164.
Website: www.indo.to/yamato-ya.
Prices: Noodles Rs. 30 onwards; condiments Rs. 65 onwards; ready-to-eats Rs. 128 onwards; cooking sake Rs. 380; seafood Rs. 110 onwards; meats Rs. 110 onwards.

You’ve flaunted the coin-embellished kurti, perfected the Maiya-maiya moves. Now take your obsession with all things Middle-Eastern to your palate.

Not through lacklustre lamb kebabs and commonplace chicken shawarma. But with the fresh flavours of the sun, sand and spices of Israel and Lebanon, combined very differently from how it’s done on the subcontinent.

At Ta’am — ‘taste’ in Hebrew — the all-vegetarian menu includes oven-fresh pita breads, falafel, baba ganoj, as well as a salad bar with unusual regional seasonings and a selection of fresh juices and coffees.

Our Trendy Taster loved the falafels, the dolmah, the fried aubergines and assorted pickled vegetables. For the finale, it was the apple strudel and a strong ristretto, though the dessert of the day is always a traditional fave.

No chaat masala on the hummus, no curry leaves in the tabouleh. The chef actually spent three months in Israel to cultivate his cuisine — and it shows.

The best part of the meal, though comes after the experience. No uneasiness post-pig-out, no extra time on the Treadmaster. The food is almost as light as air — and as satisfying as a deep breath.

Indulge.

Ta’am, #565, 8th Main 1st Block, Koramangala, Bangalore. Telephone: 4146 9595, 4116 9898.
Website: www.taamrestaurants.com.
Meal for two: Rs. 400 (approx).

Medicated oil massages in this weather? You’ve got to be kidding. And no, heavy moisturizers won’t do either. But your skin is parched, and you could do with some gentle face-down time somewhere dim and cool.

Step into the treatment rooms at the Zen Serena Spa, and you are transported. Velvet brown panels, pale cream floors, rose petals and discreet lighting: all is geared towards calmness. The staff works silently, and you hear nothing but soothing piped music, and the tinkle of water.

Get over with the twice-over cold shower-hot steam routine. The sharp jets of spray in the cubicle give you that gorgeous clean all-over feeling. You are led towards cucumber slices on eyes, and a soft rub.

And then you are ready for the coconut wrap. It’s made from the kernel of a tender young coconut, your therapist tells you, and you can feel its goodness envelope you. Your face and hair are slathered with it, too.

Half an hour like this, and you are shining. As bright as the sun outside.

Zen Serena Spa, The Metropolitan Hotel Nikko, Bangla Sahib Road, Delhi. Telephone: 42500200 extn 2973. Spa treatments start at Rs. 1,350.

You like the minimalist look and firmly believe that less is more. So take a solitary break and drop in at Echoes & Whispers, artist Shan Re’s show of paintings and free association drawings, for some soul food.

These fluid lines are a far cry from the stick figures you drew in class. Re draws in pen, then scans, digitally colours and enlarges her work. Curves and arcs whirl across the canvas. Swirls and squiggles evoke a mood. Smooth images jump out at you from stark white or black backgrounds.

Created using ‘free association’, Re’s Eternal Spring collection is as simple or as meaningful as you want it to be. Empty your mind. Let your subconscious react to the images. This is art that needs to be appreciated the way it was created — with instinct.

Also on display are Memoryscapes, her acrylic paintings on canvas.

Look. Or pick one up for that empty spot just above the book case. It’ll fit right in.

Echoes & Whispers is on at Alliance Francaise de Bangalore from May 11-15, 10:30 am - 7:00 pm, Thimmaiah Road, off Queens Road, Bangalore.
Prices start at Rs. 5,500.

You’re the original rocker chick. You may have hung up your bandanna when you slipped on your first Blahniks, but you’ve still got that edge.

So dust off your ol’ Grateful Dead tee. Our Trendy Spotter’s sure you’re going to love the new Legends of Rock living room accessories front-lining at Mobius Strip.

Every possible home décor trimming imaginable — tea and coffee mugs, clocks, cushion covers, lamps, coasters and trivets — stencilled with some of rock’s most famous faces. Think Mick Jagger’s wide-mouthed smile, Jim Morrison’s trademark pout, Bob Marley’s dreadlocks or John Lennon’s Gandhi glasses.

You’re sure to covet the Morrison bedside clock and the cushion covers in bright pinks, greens and blues. And the Trendylicious stamp of approval goes to the lamps that have the same distinctive rock personalities along their Burma teak frames.

Let’s face it. Even if you don’t dig the music, this stuff rocks.

Mobius Strip, 78 Pali Hill, Shop #3 Maria Apartments, Bandra (W), Mumbai. Telephone:
26051003, 26051009. Price: from Rs. 250 for coasters to Rs. 1,495 for lamps.

Handcuffs, body paint, spa holidays together, his-and-her phones. There’s nothing you haven’t experimented with in your relationship.

If you want to take things to the next level, take a page out of Abhi-Ash’s book and get the accessory of the moment: a 3-D keepsake of his hands entwined with yours, created by entrepreneur Bhavna Jasra

Clasp your oiled digits and immerse in special clay made of non-toxic imported resin, for almost 30 seconds. When it sets, slip out to leave in a fine life-like impression of your locked hands. Slick.

Once your cast is buffed and oven dried, pick a super complexion finish in 24k gold dust, pearly perfection, white metal, or burnished bronze and copper tones.

Flaunt it as a centrepiece on your coffee table. Mount it. Or treasure it quietly (as the Junior Bachchans do).

Go ahead and gift one to yourself. Not everyone has a Subrata Roy to do it.

Contact: Bhavna Jasra at 98210-5115; E-mail: bhavnajasra@hotmail.com. Delivery takes 15 days.
Prices: Start at Rs 15,000.

You’ve grown up on Nirulas’ hot chocolate fudge. OD’d on Kwality’s mango duet. And Mother Dairy’s strawberry. Homegrown classics all.

Now branch out much further afield with New Zealand Naturals, imported all the way from Kiwiland — ice creams, frozen yoghurts, smoothies, sundaes and shakes in 18 delectable flavours. What Trendy Calorie Counters will love most: it’s all natural and many flavours are fat-free and dairy-free.

Fight your way through the crush at the pint-sized parlour tucked away next to Shoppers Stop and ask for a taste. Of everything. Pure Masagascar vanilla in creamy dairy base or luscious-as-sin passionfruit sorbet. Signature Hokey-Pokey with those luscious honey-candy bits. Tangy forest berry frozen yoghurt Exquisite boysenberry ripple. Lemon and lime sorbet. Dutch chocolate so dark it lights up your day.

And don’t forget their trademark Fruit Flo, a waffle cone snowy-topped with your choice of soft sundae: choose low-fat ice cream or yoghurt ice, and your pick of juicy fresh fruit.

Savour the flavour. Minus the guilt. Those abs will still be fab.

New Zealand Natural Ice Creams, AG-01 Ansal Plaza, Khel Gaon Marg, Delhi. Telephone: 46037803. Price: Rs. 39 and up per scoop.