<h2>Slaying it in the heat</h2>
Women protect themselves from the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-weather-colaba-records-26-degrees-celsius-santacruz-23-degrees-clesius-as-aqi-improves-23658920" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">scorching heat</a> walking on the road at Andheri.&nbsp;
<h2>How does Bharat Z buy?</h2>
<img title="Building on its 2024 Make Way for Bharat Z report, the latest edition explores how the Gen Z&rsquo;s buying habits have evolved" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-eight-nov-b_1794088323_s.jpg" alt="Building on its 2024 Make Way for Bharat Z report, the latest edition explores how the Gen Z&rsquo;s buying habits have evolved" width="1280" height="720" />Building on its 2024 Make Way for Bharat Z report, the latest edition explores how the Gen Z&rsquo;s buying habits have evolved
The second edition of its Bharat Z report, titled Bharat Z Vibe Check: What Young Indians in Tier 2, 3, and 4 Cities Binge, Buy, and Believe was launched in the week that was. The report is an &nbsp;collaboration between MSL India, the strategic communications arm of Publicis Groupe and the civic engagement platform Youth Ki Awaaz (YKA). The report examines how young Indians in smaller cities consume content and discover products.
Building on its 2024 Make Way for Bharat Z report, the latest edition explores how the habits of this digitally connected generation have evolved over two years. The findings highlight the growing influence of social media and personal relationships on consumer behaviour. While 55.8 per cent of respondents said they first discover products through Instagram Reels, posts or creators, 73.1 per cent said they rely on family and close friends before making a new purchase.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This study reveals a generation across smaller cities that is digitally connected, increasingly discerning, and deeply rooted in personal trust,&rdquo; said Anshul Tewari, founder and CEO, Youth Ki Awaaz.
<h2>Patil rings in as Brabourne is &lsquo;booked&rsquo; again!</h2>
<img title="Sandeep Patil rings a bell to signal the kick-off of Day Two proceedings in the Mumbai vs Railways Ranji Trophy match at Brabourne Stadium earlier this week while Sachin Bajaj (left) looks on. Pic/Pratik Koli" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-eight-nov-f_1794088356_s.jpg" alt="Sandeep Patil rings a bell to signal the kick-off of Day Two proceedings in the Mumbai vs Railways Ranji Trophy match at Brabourne Stadium earlier this week while Sachin Bajaj (left) looks on. Pic/Pratik Koli" width="1280" height="720" />Sandeep Patil rings a bell to signal the kick-off of Day Two proceedings in the Mumbai vs Railways Ranji Trophy match at Brabourne Stadium earlier this week while Sachin Bajaj (left) looks on. Pic/Pratik Koli
Sandeep Patil was back at his old club, the Cricket Club of India, earlier this week. Not to play a game and turn into vintage mode, but to ring the bell (as done at Lord&rsquo;s and other iconic cricket venues) to signal the start of Day Two in the Mumbai vs Railways Ranji Trophy match at the Brabourne Stadium.
A little birdie tells us that there is a book &mdash; Iconic Moments of Brabourne Stadium &ndash; by Sachin Bajaj &mdash; that is going to hit bookshelves next month, and Patil has written the foreword.
The book traces various heroics at India&rsquo;s second Test venue (1948-49 to 1972-72 and a one-off Test in 2009-10) after the Bombay Gymkhana. The heroes factored in are not only Indian, but overseas stars too. For example, Jonty Rhodes&rsquo;s fielding and catching exploits in South Africa&rsquo;s Hero Cup tie against the West Indies in November 1993 gets written about in detail. The non-Test category in first-class cricket too is included. And that&rsquo;s how Sachin Tendulkar&rsquo;s double hundred for Mumbai against the Australians in 1998 gets in.
Patil is obviously thrilled that a book on a venue that he graced as a child is being &lsquo;booked&rsquo; again and all we can say is, bring them on.
<h2>Mumbai ka hustler&nbsp;</h2>
<img title="Dadar shops open bright and early for Diwali. File pic/Ashish Raje" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-eight-nov-c_1794088394_s.jpg" alt="Dadar shops open bright and early for Diwali. File pic/Ashish Raje" />Dadar shops open bright and early for Diwali. File pic/Ashish Raje
There is a reason that Mumbai&rsquo;s hustle is goated. After an early morning assignment at <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/diwali-2026-marigold-flower-prices-in-mumbai-may-rise-to-rs-120-per-kg-after-heavy-rains-in-pune-23658526" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Dadar phool market</a> right before Diwali, we had time to kill and also some last-minute shopping to do. While at 9 am not much was open, a Google search of saree blouses brought me to Radhika Stores. The shop owner&rsquo;s spirit screamed entrepreneur, since when we called, he spoke in chaste Marathi, but switched to Bengali and then to other languages with the workers. The shop was right outside the Dadar West bridge and we loved his hustle. When we apologised about coming in at delivery time he says, &ldquo;No madam, which shop keeper will be annoyed to be busy during Diwali?&rdquo; We couldn&rsquo;t help but chuckle at this response. This is why we love the Mumbai hustle.
But always remember a little self-care is a must of this hustle.&nbsp;
<h2>For readers, by readers</h2>
<img title="Bodke and Karle with (middle) Faiz Abdulla of Agira ( his debut novel )" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-eight-nov-e_1794088423_s.jpg" alt="Bodke and Karle with (middle) Faiz Abdulla of Agira ( his debut novel )" />Bodke and Karle with (middle) Faiz Abdulla of Agira ( his debut novel )
Two friends &mdash; Apurva Karle, 27, and Atharv Bodke, 26 &mdash; decided to extend their reading habits to others. With two shelves inside FalToo Cafe, Lumen Bookshop in Parel, operates as an affordable bookstore and free-to-read room.&nbsp;
Karle and Bodke decided to put up a few second hand books for sale on Instagram. &ldquo;Surprisingly, we got a very good response, maybe because we chose the collection,&rdquo; says Karle.
Eventually, they decided to expand to a cafe that wouldn&rsquo;t mind doubling up as their bookstore. The shelves at FalToo became home.&nbsp;
Offering a mix of new and pre-loved books, Lumen &nbsp;has pre-loved titles start at R200-250. Visitors can also relax at the cafe and read from the collection. &ldquo;We decided on a free-to-read model because books should be affordable. Besides, we wanted a space where people can sit and read for free. Most bookshops don&rsquo;t allow that,&rdquo; says Karle.
&ldquo;We plan to host book swaps, open mics, and Dungeons and Dragons sessions. We want to build a community around this, and hopefully expand to more cafes.&rdquo; For now, they also deliver pan-India at the same discounts via their website: lumen-bookshop.myshopify.com So head on out to FalToo CafeKirti Kunj, Deodhar Road, Matunga East &mdash; for some coffee and reading!
<h2>A story through time&nbsp;</h2>
<img title="R Seshasayee" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/dos-eight-nov-d_1794088473_s.jpg" alt="R Seshasayee" width="1280" height="720" />R Seshasayee
If silence is enforced, then silence is no longer beautiful,&rdquo; says R Seshasayee about the titular significance of his recent novel, The Grammar of Silence. &ldquo;Grammar is something which restricts, something that lays down the rules. These are the rules which bind language, expression, and regulate it.&rdquo; This encapsulates the crux of his novel, which is spread over five centuries of Tamil history and its changing regimes. The novel follows three women; Dharma, Vinodhini, and Muthu who have diverse lives and stories that span five centuries.&nbsp;
The book brings to light pertinent issues that have affected women over time such as child marriage, caste-based discrimination, objectification, and the exploitation of devadasis. R Seshasayee dawns many hats but is also the current chairman of Asian Paints.&nbsp;

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