Breath, Water, and Rafting
It started today, June 13 at 6 am. Woke up, bags packed and all set to finally catch the destination we have been planning for months. After three hours of drive, unlimited talks, and a whole lot of excitement I along with my people we reached Dolalghat and then Bhotekoshi to finally Rafting.
We reached the resort around at nine. We spend around one hour doing the extras, filling contract forms, preparing, and posing for pictures a lot. Then we went to the rafting spot. It was surreal that I was all set. It mostly was the feeling that can’t be explained but only felt. So yes, we were already after listening to all the safety measures and the instructions. We got on the Raft boat with a life jacket on, helmet, and the pedal. The legs locked and the mind free.
So now we start our adventure, the first five minutes were okay, then there comes the big waves called rapids and we went along. Catching the pedal with one hand, and the rope with the other, one leg at one corner and the other at another. It was pretty messed up but fun indeed.
As we continue to raft, and we pass by the rapids, small ones, and big ones. By the time it was no more than 10 minutes we were all wet and already consumed a lot of water. Through mouth, nose, ears, and eyes. We were all pani pani, not laaj le but literally.
Now after some time has passed, I approached my fellow Krisee to change seats and the positions. I was at the back of the boat then and now at the front. I was leading. Pedal front, pedal back, stop, down, back, 1, 2, 1, 2, it was awesome.
We posed for pictures, we laughed, we screamed and we were thrilled. But no sooner there was this huge rapid ahead of us, all excited but we happen to not see a big rock we were reaching there. I was still at the front, right hand at the pedal, left one at the rope, legs still locked and the boat got crashed to the rock.
I collapsed, couldn’t see a thing, feel a thing neither knew what happened. I only got back my sense when the water flow through my nose to my throat and reached my stomach. My left hand still catching the rope, right-hand pedal, legs free and I was all inside the water. For a second I happen to think why am I still inside the water I am wearing a jacket, I am supposed to float. But the thought only holds for a second and I freed my right hand which was still holding the pedal and hold the rope, the same one I was holding with my other hand and got my head out of the water. Now the guys up in the boat, not inside the water struggled to pull me out and they succeed. I was finally out of the water, alive and healthy.
You did good, they said. As per the instructions provided before, there can be chances that one or all can fall out of the boat, but don’t panic, they said, just catch the rope and don’t leave it and wait for the rescue. In case you happen to fail to keep holding the rope, just lie upwards to the water and don’t panic, hold there go with the flow and hope for the best unless you get rescued. Luckily the second one didn’t happen to me and I got rescued in a moment. Although it feels a lifetime all this happened in a moment.
It felt great to be not dead, and wonderful to be healthy. It was a tragic moment almost alike to Titanic, only this time it was not in the Ocean but Bhotekoshi. Titanic wasn’t crashed, neither the engine went off, Jack got out of the water alive and Rose didn’t narrate the story 80 years later but Jack did in 8 hours. So the ending was well as well.
After I got rescued, we moved ahead. Again passing the waves, flowing through the tides, all others terrifyingly excited and things got back to normal again. We posed for pictures a lot of them, celebrate our friendship in the water and I was grateful. By now we completed our rafting and got back to the resort. Jumped into the swimming pool, tried to pretend to swim, took a bath, ate food, and drove back.
We got in the vehicle and this time again I proposed to seat in the front, they agreed and I slept through the whole way till we reached Koteshowr. Then Gwarko and finally home. HOME.
By now, today on June 13, 8 pm, I started to write this and I remember every incident, the lame joke we laughed at, the way we made fun of each other clearly and I am glad that I did it. But most of all I made it all fine and alive.
From the moment I stepped out of my house this morning till now when I am recalling all these incidents, whatever happened, however, happened, I am grateful that I did it. An adventure, a true one, and for those who did it for the first time. It felt pretty remarkable and proud. It felt like I achieved something. I break my limitations, physical and mental ones.
I am just so grateful today of all the things I did and have. Of all the moments fortunate and unfortunate ones, of all the joy and happiness, of struggles and conquer.
I am just grateful that I again have people to share ❤
