"Here we go... on my count 1.....2.....3" "SPLAAASHHHHHHHHH".......... I jumped into water, and the boat rolled and pitched in the ripples. The one second jump seemed like a one hour movie. I could feel my brain pausing for a moment. I could see the clear water, then the yellow colour, then green, and my sight went off in the muddy water of river periyar, as i went further down. I could feel the water rushing to my mouth, and it was the wake up call. I kicked and moved my hand to surface. When i reached the surface, the first thing i saw was my father's terror struck face, and he gave me a numbed look holding the helm. "You scared the hell out of me. Why did you take so long to surface?".. I couldn't speak anything, and was gasping and tried to get a hold of the bilge. I could see the sun bidding gud bye to the day, and the last ray of hope seemed to set along with the sun...
300 kms from here lies the olympic sized swimming pool of the academy, where i had the most toughest, challenging, disappointing days of my life. The same pool links me and Donnie to brotherhood. I joined for swimming classes one month prior to joining the academy. That was the first time i dipped myself in water for the purpose of swimming. I gained some proficiency, which helped me in my academy life. During the initial stages, i was much better than many of the chaps. But as time passed by, i saw myself struck in the shallow end of the pool, while most of them, except 3 progressed and passed the test. During the end term classes, the pool was deserted and the instructor trainee ratio was 2 to 1. There was no consistency in my swimming. One day i would complete the length in one stretch, and on the other day, i would give up half way. I know my faults, but my brain doesn't work under water. I think about home, i feel lonely, i feel like loosing hope, and then its all over. Instructors were always there to guide us. When all the means fail, they let us drink water. I remember, one day, i was exhausted after swimming for a few laps. One instructor asked me to cantinue floating. I said i can't and tried to catch the wall. I saw him taking my hand and throwing me to the middle of the pool. He jumped along with me, and when my head came up, he immersed my head in water, many times, then sitting on my shoulder, and finally leaving me to go by myself. And after the so called "water treatment", no one will have the energy to get out of the pool, but to rest their head on the sides to get some air. I have cried in pool- like a child, i have wept in my cabin- alone in the darkness, and for a few days i didn't speak to any one. My dad n mom used to pray for me. Dad always gave me advice to improve swimming. But my brain didn't work inside the pool. I was last but one to pass the test, along with donnie. We promised that we will pass the test on the same day. Else the other one's morale will go down. We did pass together, and had a good POP.
My father's house is near to a river. With breadth over 100 m, it was the perfect location for my drills. My dad's childhood belongs to the generation in which labour cost was 4 rupees, while its now 400 rupees. All the neighboring friends used to play and swim in water together, and they learnt and grew up the same way. I could still see the bond between them when my dad went to borrow a boat. A few of them were ready to come along with my dad, and one of them was a crippled man, who claims himself to be the best swimmer among the peer group, and dad agree with him. He came with me, to teach swimming. After observing me for a while, he burst into laughter, and made fun of me. For a moment i thought that i deserved it. I told my problems to dad, about my fear. He asked me to jump from the boat, and swim as much as i can. There is always a good point in learning with dad. He will never let you drown. He took me to the middle, and asked me to jump. I hesitated, and before i could speak anything, he jumped into the river. I was really surprised by the way in which that 60 year old veteran was swimming.
During the initial stages, i used to get tired soon. I remembered my Divisional officer's comment about me. "Deepak, you give up very quickly". Now each of my strokes were a sincere effort ot prove him wrong. I had to befriend the river, and for that i need to enjoy the river. I discovered the thermal gradation in water, the currents in morning and evening, variation in sound as the style of pulling varied, etc... I enjoyed the beauty of jumping, the weightlessness,. My dad darted the paddle into river, and it bounced back after a short while. He said that the river gives back whatever you give her. It even supports you. That sounded more lovely, like a mom. I could see my dad hugging the river, like a child on mother's lap. And when practice is the only way left for perfection, you have no choice, but to work hard. Gradually my fears were washed off in the streams of the river. When i ended today's practice, i swam across the river more than three times. I learnt how to be calm in water, which is very essential for a swimmer; every swimmer will agree with me. Earlier when i saw rivers or big pools i used to wonder, and my heart beated like the Base piece of jazz drum. But now, i l be happy if you ask me to jump into the water.
I will say that i am the most luckiest person in this world, just because i have an awesome dad. Fearless, adventurous, supportive father. The numbed face i described in the beginning is now etched in my heart. I will never feel lonely, for there will be a boat behind me always, with my dad holding the helm. He taught me everything since childhood- how to brush, groom, shave, draw, pray,and what not. I am happy that the right job ended up in the right hands. It was with dad that i had many fights while i was sitting jobless at home after my PG. I had inherited many traits of his traits. He is quick tempered, to an extend, and near to perfectionist. I ve always tried not to be like him in these two aspects. But while trying for the same, i was not even inheriting many of his good qualities. All those frustration i have shared with you in my blog came out not just because of jobless sitting, but my mentality that what ever my dad did was wrong.Eventhough i love my dad, the compassionate look sitting in the boat, the grin when i swim properly, the empathy, that just swept me off my feet. I just feel sorry about the moments i have hurt him, the times i didn't behave like a son,...and i love him more than anything in this world not because he taught me swimming, but i am lucky enough to have him as my dad, as a good friend who has more youth than me, and as a good teacher. ..Salute to the man holding the helm...
300 kms from here lies the olympic sized swimming pool of the academy, where i had the most toughest, challenging, disappointing days of my life. The same pool links me and Donnie to brotherhood. I joined for swimming classes one month prior to joining the academy. That was the first time i dipped myself in water for the purpose of swimming. I gained some proficiency, which helped me in my academy life. During the initial stages, i was much better than many of the chaps. But as time passed by, i saw myself struck in the shallow end of the pool, while most of them, except 3 progressed and passed the test. During the end term classes, the pool was deserted and the instructor trainee ratio was 2 to 1. There was no consistency in my swimming. One day i would complete the length in one stretch, and on the other day, i would give up half way. I know my faults, but my brain doesn't work under water. I think about home, i feel lonely, i feel like loosing hope, and then its all over. Instructors were always there to guide us. When all the means fail, they let us drink water. I remember, one day, i was exhausted after swimming for a few laps. One instructor asked me to cantinue floating. I said i can't and tried to catch the wall. I saw him taking my hand and throwing me to the middle of the pool. He jumped along with me, and when my head came up, he immersed my head in water, many times, then sitting on my shoulder, and finally leaving me to go by myself. And after the so called "water treatment", no one will have the energy to get out of the pool, but to rest their head on the sides to get some air. I have cried in pool- like a child, i have wept in my cabin- alone in the darkness, and for a few days i didn't speak to any one. My dad n mom used to pray for me. Dad always gave me advice to improve swimming. But my brain didn't work inside the pool. I was last but one to pass the test, along with donnie. We promised that we will pass the test on the same day. Else the other one's morale will go down. We did pass together, and had a good POP.
My father's house is near to a river. With breadth over 100 m, it was the perfect location for my drills. My dad's childhood belongs to the generation in which labour cost was 4 rupees, while its now 400 rupees. All the neighboring friends used to play and swim in water together, and they learnt and grew up the same way. I could still see the bond between them when my dad went to borrow a boat. A few of them were ready to come along with my dad, and one of them was a crippled man, who claims himself to be the best swimmer among the peer group, and dad agree with him. He came with me, to teach swimming. After observing me for a while, he burst into laughter, and made fun of me. For a moment i thought that i deserved it. I told my problems to dad, about my fear. He asked me to jump from the boat, and swim as much as i can. There is always a good point in learning with dad. He will never let you drown. He took me to the middle, and asked me to jump. I hesitated, and before i could speak anything, he jumped into the river. I was really surprised by the way in which that 60 year old veteran was swimming.
During the initial stages, i used to get tired soon. I remembered my Divisional officer's comment about me. "Deepak, you give up very quickly". Now each of my strokes were a sincere effort ot prove him wrong. I had to befriend the river, and for that i need to enjoy the river. I discovered the thermal gradation in water, the currents in morning and evening, variation in sound as the style of pulling varied, etc... I enjoyed the beauty of jumping, the weightlessness,. My dad darted the paddle into river, and it bounced back after a short while. He said that the river gives back whatever you give her. It even supports you. That sounded more lovely, like a mom. I could see my dad hugging the river, like a child on mother's lap. And when practice is the only way left for perfection, you have no choice, but to work hard. Gradually my fears were washed off in the streams of the river. When i ended today's practice, i swam across the river more than three times. I learnt how to be calm in water, which is very essential for a swimmer; every swimmer will agree with me. Earlier when i saw rivers or big pools i used to wonder, and my heart beated like the Base piece of jazz drum. But now, i l be happy if you ask me to jump into the water.
I will say that i am the most luckiest person in this world, just because i have an awesome dad. Fearless, adventurous, supportive father. The numbed face i described in the beginning is now etched in my heart. I will never feel lonely, for there will be a boat behind me always, with my dad holding the helm. He taught me everything since childhood- how to brush, groom, shave, draw, pray,and what not. I am happy that the right job ended up in the right hands. It was with dad that i had many fights while i was sitting jobless at home after my PG. I had inherited many traits of his traits. He is quick tempered, to an extend, and near to perfectionist. I ve always tried not to be like him in these two aspects. But while trying for the same, i was not even inheriting many of his good qualities. All those frustration i have shared with you in my blog came out not just because of jobless sitting, but my mentality that what ever my dad did was wrong.Eventhough i love my dad, the compassionate look sitting in the boat, the grin when i swim properly, the empathy, that just swept me off my feet. I just feel sorry about the moments i have hurt him, the times i didn't behave like a son,...and i love him more than anything in this world not because he taught me swimming, but i am lucky enough to have him as my dad, as a good friend who has more youth than me, and as a good teacher. ..Salute to the man holding the helm...
