My Experiments with Rapids

It was Sunday and a cold, rainy day...

We headed for 'River Rafting' in Ganges. The moment we reached there, no one could miss noticing the green waters of Ganga, its hugeness, its rapid flow and, of course, the rafts! It was drizzling and we were informed by the life-guard that the water-level and flow had increased since the last three days due to heavy rains, but it could not deter our spirit and enthusiasm. I suddenly remembered the golden words of my colleagues "It's a very thrilling and enjoyable experience, and you'll really enjoy that". I wore the life-jacket fast, eagerly awaiting for the wonderful experience, I was looking forward to.

We started our 28km journey towards Hrishikesh by rafting with much vigour and zest, enjoying every moment, taking instructions from the life-guard with attention and learning professional rafting and of course, daring other colleagues for a competition. The water was too cold. Then came our first milestone... the first rapid (grade 1). We enjoyed every wave of it, rafting at the same time. We crossed it comfortably and our confidence-level had definitely no leaps and bounds.I thanked my friend for insisting me to join him for such a beautiful journey and experience. I just wondered what was the big deal in rafting !

Then came the instructions from our guide to hold our grip tight and to strictly follow his instructions. A rapid named 'three blind mice' (grade 3+) was about to approach. We were ready and started rafting 'forward'. As we approached near the rapid, we could notice its magnificence. No sooner did we enter the rapid, the waves started approaching our boat successively with increasing heights. We were rafting hard, however, before I could think of anything else, the boat turned vertical and five of us were in the water. I was confident enough of my swimming and thought I could rescue my colleague who was nearby and she couldn't swim (as told by her before getting in the raft). Suddenly, I realized that I could not even breathe properly, as water was approaching us from all sides, we were being thrown to and fro. Then I realized that my colleague had caught hold of my neck! I tried shouting at her and asked her to catch hold of my hand or jacket, but not my neck, but alas! The grip was too tight to remove the hand. I could visualize the climax of Titanic! But, told myself "No Titanic any more!". I could not imagine appearing for UPSC Civil Services again... (of course, in my rebirth). I could visualize my family members cursing me for opting for river rafting, my mom's face full of sorrow, with
unfulfilled expectations from me... I could not bear it... Oh God, what was happening? "Shall I live or shall I not?" was the question humming in my curious and anxious mind. How could I know that until and unless I live? This life is too precious to lose in such an undignified manner. I decided to LIVE! And that was the defining moment, I suppose.

Suddenly, I noticed the grip from my neck was lost and I heaved a sigh of relief, at least I could try to breathe now. Titanic was over, though there was no Baywatch either! I was looking for help, but to no avail. So, decided to help myself and tried swimming in any possible safe direction as I could. I noticed myself middle of the rapid, every member of our boat possibly rescued, except me. I thought of approaching the right bank, but the current was so fast that as soon as I swam for a couple of seconds, the left bank appeared a bit closer. So, I changed my direction, but destiny was playing 'ping-pong' with me. I even tried touching the bottom, but it seemed abysmal. Then, the waves started receding as the rapid was about to end. My anxious mind felt a bit confident of my being alive. I approached a nearby raft and my colleagues in that raft lifted me up. God bless them! Thank God, I did not miss my Islamabad posting in this life!

I sat for a while, relaxed a bit, though could still feel the coldness of the water. Then started enjoying and sharing my experience with all the saviours, in high spirits, as am always in. We, then, had a break for 'garam bhajias' and tea, wow!

When I asked the guide about the forthcoming rapids, after we got back into the rafts, I was told two major rapids (grade 4), one grade 3 and a few small ones were awaiting us. Oh God, two more rapids of grade 4 and one grade 3! I was not in a condition to save myself, if I had a second fall. I took a firm grip in the raft and decided not to repeat the mistakes of my first fall. Then, came the rapid 'Roller-coaster'(grade 4). My heart started pumping blood slightly faster. But, this time we rafted really fast, with proper co-ordination that we could cross it comfortably. I wondered if it was really a grade 4 rapid, but probably realized the power of relativity. The 'three blind mice' experience was longer than whole life and 'roller-coaster' was even shorter than a minute, I felt. I also realized the importance of team-work. Good, we did it!

We cherished our victory and headed towards the next grade 4 rapid 'the golf course'. This time more confident to cross it, we started to raft forward. I instructed myself to catch hold of the rope tied to the raft, in case I fell down. Again, the waves started approaching our boat successively with increasing heights. We were rafting hard, however, before I could think of catching hold of the rope, I noticed my self inside the water. I was a bit relaxed this time as had decided to keep my cool and was feeling confident about my life-jacket to save me and bring me above the waterlevel. I waited for a moment, but I was still inside the water, could not understand what was wrong. I started moving my hands and limbs. No sooner could I reach above the water-level, my hands and head banged with someone just above me. I was again pulled down by the strong under water currents. Again, I tried to rise above, but the person above me seemed to be so adamant, that he was not ready to budge. The exercise was repeated the third time and this time I pushed him hard in some direction in order to make some space for me to get out desperately, but alas. I understood the concept of inertia so well, that I cannot forget it throughout my life. My heart sank! What a pity on me that inspite of having the life jacket, I could not rise above! Those 15-20 seconds of my life acted as a time machine and took me somewhere near my death. I could not control my breath any more. What to do?

Again 'To Be or Not to Be' was the question... and I decided to LIVE! I decided to struggle very hard and said to myself that the stakes are very high! This time, pushed the person above me very hard and managed to see the atmosphere. Huh! The currents were stronger this time, was looking for help from the rafts, but none stopped to pick me up, after all they had to save their lives first! The water was pulling my jacket up and it covered my mouth so that I could not breath and my glasses were about to ditch me, but I really liked them. How could I leave them? I caught hold of the glasses in my one hand and lowered the jacket with other hand. I swimmed hard to reach to the left bank and this time I was lucky to reach there. Yes... it was my second rebirth, I suppose!

I rested for a minute, enjoying my existence. Then I noticed the other raft was waiting for me and I started moving in that direction with my full consciousness. I was stunned while staring the serious face of one of my colleague and just confirmed if I was alive and that really made me and my colleagues in the raft laugh.

My tummy started paining a bit, I guess, I drank a lot of Gangajal. The instructor asked me not to raft and just sit and relax in the new raft. Then, again we approached a grade 3 rapid, but this time the co-ordination in the group was excellent along with the guide and I felt somewhat relieved.

Reaching the destination was just a matter of time now.

My mind was just noticing and recollecting the reactions of others. Some colleagues empathizing, some sharing their experiences, some eagerly listening to my experiences, while for some, it was a matter of sheer fun. I could not understand how tragedy could lead to humour for some 'inhuman' creatures. Probably, I need to delve deeper into the human nature to understand this.

We also shared some light humour 'shayad Gange mein sab paap dhul gaye'.
Thankfully, there won't be any 'XXXXXX XXXXXX Memorial River Rafting Competition' in LBSNAA.

Whatever it may be, I knew destiny had saved me for some reason, which I need to explore in my life. This incident let my mind in motion and I realized a few things: be in present, make the most of your life, leave everything to God who is the giver n saviour...
Next time I drown, let me have no thoughts in my mind which may disallow me a peaceful demise, let every day of mine be so productive and fruitful and let me give my best to every moment. Let there be no regrets in life.
Also, watching the thread of life and death so closely has made me experience something which no academy, no self-help book can ever teach.

Let me explore what destiny has in store for me.

Thank God, I SURVIVED!