43 posts tagged with "people"

College friends​

My uncle, Ashutosh Pathak and my father Abhay Parashar are junior and senior from Govind Ballabh Pant University.

At my cousin's wedding yesterday, many old friends of my uncle and father met after a long time. There's something magical about reconnecting with old friends, especially those from our formative years. After almost four decades, the opportunity to meet and reminisce with friends from engineering college is a truly remarkable experience.

Journey Down Memory Lane​

Reuniting with college friends transports them back to a time when they were young, full of dreams, and eager to conquer the world. As conversations unfold, anecdotes and shared experiences resurface, breathing life into forgotten tales. Laughter ensues as they relive the pranks, late-night study sessions, and adventures that once defined the college years.

The friends you make in college are friends you’ll have for life, even if you don’t talk for years at a time.​

Reflecting on Life's Twists and Turns​

As they engaged in heartfelt conversations, they discover the various paths friends have traversed. Some may have pursued illustrious careers, while others may have embraced different passions and pursuits. Each story is a testament to the diversity of life's choices and the resilience of the human spirit.

Meeting old friends from engineering college after nearly four decades is a rare and precious occasion. It offered them a chance to relive cherished memories, reconnect with kindred spirits, and appreciate the twists and turns that life has taken.

Celebrating Love and Togetherness​

Today, we gather to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Anagh Pathak and Sakshi as they embark on this incredible chapter of their lives. Their wedding, held at the elegant ITC Sheraton Saket, marks a joyous occasion filled with love, happiness, and cherished memories.

The ITC Sheraton Saket served as a stunning backdrop for your wedding festivities. Its exquisite ambiance and attention to detail created an atmosphere of elegance and enchantment. From the grand entrance to the meticulously decorated spaces, every aspect of the venue accentuated the beauty of your special day.

Embracing Freedom​

Retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter in life, a time to pursue passions, relax, and explore the world. For many individuals, including my aunt, Preeti Gautam, retirement has become a gateway to embark on exciting travel adventures.

As all our family gathered for my cousin's wedding, we had a quick relaxing dinner with my aunt and my parents at my house. Impromptu, with no agenda - just conversations and breaking bread.

Unexpected challenges​

Life often throws unexpected challenges our way, testing our resilience and determination. Apoorva Pathak, my cousin, faced an unimaginable struggle when she met with a road accident in 2018, resulting in a spinal injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She endured innumerable hardships and struggles on her path to recovery, and I would like to focus on her remarkable transformation from a devastated medical student to a resilient and accomplished individual.

Brutal accident​

1. Devastating Setback​

The accident not only left Apoorva physically impaired but also shattered her dreams of becoming a doctor. As an aspiring MBBS student, she was full of enthusiasm and hope for the future. The sudden loss of mobility and independence brought her world crashing down. The transition from an able-bodied individual to someone with paraplegia was undoubtedly one of the most difficult phases of her life.

2. Physical and Emotional Challenges​

Apoorva's spinal injury required intensive medical care and prolonged rehabilitation. She had to undergo multiple surgeries and endure grueling physiotherapy sessions to regain some functionality. Beyond the physical pain, she also grappled with emotional turmoil, experiencing feelings of frustration, helplessness, and even depression. The loss of her dreams added to her emotional burden, leaving her feeling lost and uncertain about her future.

3. Adapting to a New Reality​

Despite the immense challenges, Apoorva showed remarkable resilience and determination. With the support of family, she gradually learned to adapt to her new reality. She embraced assistive devices and technologies that helped her regain some independence, such as a wheelchair and specialized equipment for mobility. Through sheer determination, she began to build a new life, accepting her circumstances while refusing to let them define her.

4. Pursuing a New Path​

Rather than succumbing to despair, Apoorva decided to redirect her focus towards a different academic pursuit. She made the courageous choice to switch from medicine to pursue a degree in the humanities. This shift allowed her to explore new areas of interest and provided her with a fresh perspective on life. Apoorva's decision to study BA in Rampur marked the beginning of a transformative journey that showcased her indomitable spirit.

Triumph and Recognition​

In 2023, Apoorva's unwavering dedication and perseverance bore fruit. She not only completed her BA with distinction but was also recognized as the college topper in her new course. This achievement not only symbolizes her academic excellence but also highlights her extraordinary determination to overcome obstacles. Apoorva's journey from the depths of despair to academic success serves as a testament to her resilience and unwavering commitment to self-improvement.

My sister's story is a powerful testament to the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The road accident that left her paralyzed brought her dreams to a halt, but it could not dampen her indomitable spirit. Through her unwavering determination and resilience, Apoorva has not only overcome physical and emotional hardships but has also excelled academically. Her remarkable transformation from a devastated medical student to the college topper in her new course is a true inspiration for me. Apoorva teaches me that with perseverance, hard work, and a positive mindset, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges that life presents us.

Bringing in Birthday 2023​

Today evening was made special with friends and I had a nice evening with friends. Thanks to Ishaan Puri and Nikita Garg for hosting a great dinner.

28 April 2023, Gurgaon

Roads accidents in Uttar Pradesh​

Today, I got to know about the accident of my cousin's car around Gajraula. Thank god, he was safe and unharmed after the accident. This is the third accident in my extended family around the same area within Uttar Pradesh. In all the three incidents, the airbags were deployed and the car was noticeably damaged.

Typically, a front airbag will deploy for unbelted occupants when the crash is the equivalent of an impact into a rigid wall at 10-12 mph. Most airbags will deploy at a higher threshold — about 16 mph (~25 kmh) — for belted occupants because the belts alone are likely to provide adequate protection up to these moderate speeds.

Expressways and safety​

Road safety has been poor in India since I have been driving. Blatant disregard of traffic rules and poor driving etiquettes are common in cities. The new expressways are a lot better to drive upon with clearly marked speed limits, modular flow of traffic, appropriate exits and better lighting. All said, in India, it is your responsibility to anticipate the other person's fault while driving.

Road Accident - Pradeep Parashar - April 2023

Turning a space into a home​

Today, I met Parth and Divya - a lovely warm couple. Parth is my friend from school and a terrific salesperson. We regularly catchup in Gurgaon over chai and today we met over dinner at his newly setup home - an apartment on the 10th floor, overlooking a water fountain. Creating a home that reflects your personality, lifestyle, and values. Like themselves, they have also setup the home tastefully and kudos to Divya & Parth for the work over the last few months.

A house is made of bricks and beams. A home is made of hopes and dreams.​

Pizza, Music and Pan​

We enjoyed pizzas for dinner, listened to a variety of music genres - Punjabi pop, Punjabi deep house, electronic music from UK. We discussed the recommendation algorithms of Youtube vs Spotify. We ended the evening with a drive nearby and saada pan. A perfect end to a lazy Sunday.

18 month old​

Idika Parashar, nicknamed Oshee, is my niece and is exactly 1.5 years old today. We stepped out for a family dinner to Fort Jaipur.

The anticipation and excitement of planning a birthday party, selecting a theme, and choosing gifts for the little one is palpable for the family. While she is too young right now to eat most foods at an Indian restaurant, we enjoyed a lot of greasy food and cake while she enjoyed a bowl of jeera rice. Awaiting the upcoming years to visit her favorite restaurants in the coming years as she builds her taste buds. Happy 18 month birthday Oshee!

Story updates​

In this visit to Jaipur, I got connected to several friends and acquaintances due to the habit of posting swimming or exercise stories on Instagram and Whatsapp.

I have not been active on Social Media for year, possibly because of the need of perfection. Since February 2023, I consistently post about my swim in the morning. It is a part of my goal to swim 500 km in 2023 and posting has helped me connect with like-minded friends.

Consistency​

As with most things in life, consistency is key. And I have been consistent in posting the story updates for the last 60 days.

Today, I met two of my acquaintances due to the stories updates. The initial conversation was almost identical - you are already in Jaipur and you did not make a plan to catch up in advance. I saw your story, let's catchup.

Stories were introduced by Instagram in August 2016. They are powerful and consumed by a lot of people. Most people end up consuming content on Social Media, it is quite powerful when you share life updates via Stories. It is a great way to connect with like minded people.

We can learn a lot from kids​

Idika Parashar, nicknamed Oshee, is my niece and is around 1.5 years old now. She lives in Dubai and is a happy kid. It is always a delight when she comes and kids in general are brilliant. Spending even as little as 10 minutes with a kid improves your mood, happiness and reduces stress.