One Shot

Preeti was in for a complete surprise on her Birthday this year when I and Don threw in a surprise party for her at Don's place braving our laziness. But so was I.
Don introduced me to one of his favorite fiction collections by Lee Child and offered me to read One Shot for a trial.
In my early reading days, I remember, I had loved Wilbur Smith's Time to die and Sheldon's Master of the game. I found One Shot to be as good as those and equally gripping.
A murder mystery, One Shot introduced me to Jack Reacher, an ex-military investigator who is in Indiana after coming across a news that there had been 5 random killings by a sniper - James Barr. Its a decent paced novel wtith multiple chain of events which unfold the mystery behind the killings.
The best thing about the novel was the character of Jack Reacher. He is a confident upright person with his set of failures in life. At certain instances, it seems to me that his understanding of the psychology of the other characters is a little overboard. But will still give Lee the credit of creating a wonderful charater in Reacher.
After reading One Shot whose mystery got me gripped to the novel, I have started thinking that of laying my hand on some of the Conan Doyle's books too for Sherlock is adjujed one of the best detectives. But for sure, I am going to read some more of Reacher of the Lee's collection of 13 novels.
Manish Saini

Kanav's Naughtiness - 6

I was a 5 year old and loved to hear the sound of air being released form the tires and I had this habit of deflating tires of parked vehicles to enjoy the sound.

One day, as a habit I was deflating the tire of an ambassador sitting beneath it when the driver came and started the vehicle. To my luck or to the luck of my parents, someone saw me before the vehicle was driven away and alerted the driver. Knowing of the incident, my parents almost had tears in their eyes.

I remembered the whole incident throughout my life but never remembered those tears because I never bothered about that. I was just thrilled by the experience.
A few days back, when those tears reflected in my eyes, I lived the same experience but in the shoes of my parents this time.

Last Sunday evening, before going to bed, I was playing with Kanav when he picked something and put in his mouth. As a natural reaction, I asked him to spit it out and when I put my fingers in his mouth, to my horror, it was a piece of broken glass from a bowl which I had accidently broken that afternoon (though I had completely scrubbed the area, the piece was a surprise). Instead of scolding the kid, I hugged him tightly and tears started dripping my eyes. Knowing of the incident, Preeti had a similar reaction.

But her reaction was stronger the next day when she suddenly stopped hearing Kanav’s voice while playing in the balcony next to the kitchen. When she ran to the balcony, she found Kanav upside down in a bucked half filled with water. He had been hardly there for a second or two for Preeti is always extra careful but the site of her kid in this state was her worst nightmare in front of her eyes. She cried like a kid continuously apologizing from Kanav and promising to take his better care.

The two incidents back to back were quiet unnerving but have made us better and careful parents now. But more importantly, my love for my kid and my parents has increased manifolds.

Kanav's Naughtiness - 5

5th naughtiness on 5th October. So Kanav had planned something special - His first complaint from neighbors.
Preeti was busy in her kitchen work when as a usual drill Kanav hushed up into the adjoining balcony. With an eye on Kanav, preeti continued. But there was an overlooking of hardly 30 seconds within which Laatsaahab picked up the stone scrubber and threw it from our first floor balcony which just missed our neighbor and her son.
As a natural reaction she shouted.
In the meantime preeti had apologized and realizing that it was a 10 month old kid, our neighbor also quietly whisked the subject away but not before instructing Preeti to take better care.
When Preeti narrated the incident in the evening, I was quiet thrilled to realize that my son has proved to be the real heir.

Love U Kanu.