As summer approaches, things are heating up at Khaas Baat � THE ONE AND ONLY PUBLICATION that offers comprehensive coverage of happenings in your Florida Indian community.

We are thrilled that Jacksonville-based Sohrab H. Fracis, winner of the Iowa Short Fiction Award for �Ticket to Minto: Stories of India and America,� has contributed an article for us (page 6). We want to welcome back our fashion columnist Kiran Bahl of Gro Styles into the fold (page 11). And check out our new column �Out & About in Florida� about business openings, relocations, honors, mentions, etc. (page 10)

Thank you, Steven J. Belmonte, president and CEO of Hospitality Solutions, for a hospitality column (page 14). I am sure several Indian American hotel/motel owners in Florida would cherish words of wisdom from this former president of the Ramada chain of hotels.

Our Bollywood columnist has interviewed the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai exclusively for Khaas Baat (page 17) on the eve of the former Miss World�s new film �Mistress of Spices.� Also, read all about Pandit Jasraj�s plans to start a three-credit course on Indian music at the University of South Florida in Tampa in fall (page 20).

Once again, we extend our warm thanks to our advertisers for their generous support. Do e-mail us at [email protected] about any upcoming event in your community.

Please e-mail your suggestions and comments to [email protected]. And letters to the editor are more than welcome!