The Last Lecture

Preeti once asked me my opinion on Gays and gay marriages and I told her sincerely that I don’t know for I can’t feel like them. Had I would, I would definitely told her.

The character of Rajesh Khanna in Anand who knew he is not going to survive more than 6 months because of an incurable disease was also a similar problem to me; for I was never able to co-relate with the Anand's character.

Later in the years I read a lot of books and articles to understand the dilemma’s of this character.

But for the first time I have read someone describing it as an engineering problem.

As engineering is not about perfect solutions; it’s about doing the best you can with limited resources.

Randy Pausch is a successful Professor who is suddenly in face with the approaching death. As a college ritual he decides to give a last lecture to his fellows and students but the only difference was that this lecture was not for the ones in the room. It was for his kids to watch when they grow up. On the unprecedented success of his lecture, which touched hundreds of hearts, he poured his complete lecture into his book – The Last Lecture.

The book has been a real revelation to me to understand Anand better. Even the my last article was the reason that the book has touched some cords deep inside me.

The book starts with a very promising introduction and some hard hitting and passionate writing. Randy describes life as a game of cards where “We cannot change the hand which has been dealt just how we play the hand”. He reviews his complete life to understand why he is, what he is. With the help of small fables, he talks about everyone who has touched his life and lessons he had learnt from each one.

Randy acknowledges that his life changing event was the lottery he won – The parent lottery. He was born with the winning ticket and that is what made the real difference.

As we enter the later half of the book, it becomes preachier and I started loosing interest but stopped here and there to enjoy the anecdotes.

Randy says that he was a brilliant salesman and that was the reason to join the field of education. Though the book is heart touching but difficult to read full out due to its preachier nature, I am sure Randy would have done a brilliant job in delivering The Last Lecture in which he packed the full stuff in an hour’s talk. I am currently downloading to check out the lecture.

Overall, I would rate this book as work giving a look for the litterary interest and read it for the passion of the author (at least the first part).

Manish Saini

This one is for You!

I have tried to express this a million times but am always at loss of words. But after reading The Last Lecture by Randy, I know I really need to give it a shot NOW.
The days of our courtship were as lovely as they were thrilling for we have done some tremendous escapades together. It's been as amazing a journey as it has been lovingly eventful.
Now knowing each other for almost 6 years seem to be so less that both of us wish to have had met when we were kids and I am sure, even that would have not sufficed. The more I think of her, smaller the life seems to be. I don't know when the inevitable is going to happen but I really wish that I know it well before it happens (as Randy knew).
We have shared so much together between us; even a child; but still it seems like we have loved each other just a one by millionth of our capacity. We try to find ways and means to express this unknown feeling of ours but its so frustrating that we are mere mortals with unexpandable limits. Being always the practical(better) half she has accepted this and continuously teaches me in her own subtle ways.
People long for space in relationships, and so have I for so many times; but she really taught me that there is no space for space in ours. Had it been in her control, we would have spent every second together (and I really wish that God fulfill this dream of hers).
I am proud to let her bulldoze her way to get things done and arranged in her own way and I love the smile with which she lets me fulfill my long cherished desires.
When you find cheap toffees in our house, they are not for anyone to touch for she gets it especially for me to relish. When she lets me get wet in the rain, she knows how much I have been reprimanded for sailing paper boats in rain water and following them. When I want to watch a German/French/Foreign language movie, she sits next to me and tries her level best to concentrate and let me know that even she is enjoying it.
I don't want to thank her, but I really want to love the way she loves me and cares for me. I really wish this from my heart that let this be just the 1st of the seven births in which we are going to be together and God gives us the power to remember all the seven lives.
Nanu

Kanav's Naughtiness - 4

Laakh pehre lagaa lo....But whatever has to happen will happen.

Kanav had already tasted a cockroah couple of weeks back. Today he tasted his shit too. I am sure his immunity becomes stronger from today onwards.

Kanav's Naughtiness - 3

Mom......I have won!

If balcony's door is open.......its party time for Kanav. And if there is something new in there........phir to preeti ki shaamat hai.
The maid had left the pipe in the balcony after clenaing and when Kanav saw it, his first natural response was to have a taste of this new thing.

When Preeti tried to stop him, his resolve to defeat his mother became stronger.

He dashed towards the balcony and reaching there looked for his mom inside telling her, mom, I reached the balcony first; I have defeated you!

Kiddo.....may God be with you in all your Resolves. Your smile is worth living for.
We love You dear!

Manish Saini

Kanav's Naughtiness - 2

Days are like flying past. Another 2 months and Kanav will cross 1 year mark.
A few days back, he used to lie in my hands just blinking his eyes; and I eagerly awaiting for the day when I will be able to play with him.
Finally, The day for which I waited for 295 days arrived today.
I came back from office at around 8:10pm. Kanav was in Preeeti's arms, a little dull but recognizing that I am back, he closed his eyes, lifted his head at 60 degree and giving a big smile - his signature smile.
Preeti got busy in cooking food while I fed kanav milk and Russ. He slowly ate 2 russ and wanted more and even ate part of my ration. The diet infused in more energy in him and he started dashing towards the kitchen looking for some delicacies fallen on the floor. Exhausted from the long drive, I picked him up a couple of times and brought him back to the room.
This time while crawling towards the kitchen, he sat on the footmat infront of the bathroom and started smiling at me as if saying, dad I dodged you for my favourite place. I laughed with him and he responded quickly. I stood up to bring him back to the room.
Realizing, he picked up (crawling)speed to reach the kitchen; stopping on the way and checking if I was following and resuming at full speed.
I just loved the way he smiled back. Tired but smiling, I picked him and to reduce my effort, I gave him today's newspaper (his fav chewing gum). He tore a part of it, put it in his mouth, went to the door of the room and called me. When I looked at him, he gave me his signature smile showing me the paper. God he is just 9 and a half months. I stood up and ran behind him and the same sequence happened a few times.
I picked him up and played with him all sorts of games - throwing him in air and caching, tickling him, catching him while he crawled on the bed. His responses were amazing.
When Preeti gave him his daily dose of calcium syrup, he was completely unsatitated with 3ml and chased his mom with the feeding cap in one hand and the bottle in other to give him more.
I am amazed as to how the kid's brain is catching and analyzing things so fast. All these things which happened in the past 4 hours used to happen once or twice a day before this.
And as I am ending today's note, his mom is still strugling to make the kid sleep who was so dull at 8:10pm.
We love u Kiddo.