Crossword for Thursday 10 September 2026

Across

1. 1. OK if shah, not so much if naam
2. 4. Identifiers, or at a mall, reality checks
3. 8. A consultant may be paid by the ____
4. 9. 8A is one, for time
5. 10. (Hindi) With 4D, a meditator's fidget spinner, say
6. 11. A milder or simplified version, say
7. 12. You can plan it, or fall because of it
8. 13. A "Grand" tennis tournament
9. 14. abbr. Scheduled payments, with a misleadingly marketed first word
10. 16. Empire preceding the Mauryas
11. 19. Lucky of "Ek Pal Ka Jeena"
12. 22. The "effect" popular in turn-of-the-century armpits
13. 23. Fastener, sometimes made of 20D
14. 25. ____ pick, to complain
15. 26. Record-keeping fizzy drink
16. 27. abbr. Collaboration in orbit
17. 28. (slang) What someone needs to get off, to get work done

Down

1. 1. Obelix's distraction
2. 2. Garhwal slope India learned to ski on
3. 3. A shawl can be, so can a napkin
4. 4. (Hindi) Indian Basil, found in many a courtyard
5. 5. The actor behind the red glass
6. 6. The Hindu "manual" for spiritual liberation
7. 7. The start of something, or to stop something
8. 8. Tractor and watch maker
9. 15. (Hindi/Urdu) Matter
10. 16. (Hindi) Nuskhe giver, achaar maker on the mother's side
11. 17. Germany, Italy and Japan, in the 40s
12. 18. When inside, no matter how big the hits, fours and sixes get denied
13. 19. Word preceding dealer or race
14. 20. Dupatta border, or a shoe's tie
15. 21. British beer, initially made for long shelf life
16. 24. abbr. Science behind optical fibres and mirages