The Waterfall

As part of the #writewithosdotme workshop, I am attempting to write an anecdote from my life. I missed Day 4 and hence I don’t know the full details of the challenge (for those who are aware). For those who don’t know about the challenge, please enjoy this piece of writing as a freestyle write up involving my own stream of consciousness in the following event.

I managed to climb up the falls, it was like a staircase of flowing water, beautiful and pristine. As I sat on one of the steps, the hard rock – clear water gushing over it, I felt the smooth butter like flow of the waterfall. I set my feet firm on the lower step and both my hands on either side of me. This felt sturdy and safe. I wish even I could take a leap into the water from this step, look at these guys, euphoric! Ah, never mind. My knee can not take the upthrust and what if I hit the rock at the bottom. I can’t even swim! This life vest did save me from drowning earlier. But if I jump and go much deeper, who knows if I will bounce back or not. I was able to swim from one corner till the middle though, but if these two were not besides me and I wasn’t holding on to them, maybe I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the pseudo swimming either. That was really thrilling, so grateful to them to have pushed me to try it. I felt I was living and the fear of death had diminished, only because I was able to trust my friends in that moment.

Maybe I should just jump and not think much, out of these 5 guys only one can swim and the others just took the leap of faith! Their life vests are same and even much more worn out than mine. Should I just go stand over there and see once? At the edge of this step and jump like they just did? Oh No No. Not the time to be wild, you have to be cautious. Such are the times, against which your parents have always warned you. That, in the adrenaline rush, kids take uncalculated risks! But this is the conditioning, their overprotectiveness that has shaped my mind now. I am letting the fear win. Aur Darr ke aage toh jeet hai?! There, the ranger is also standing here, he will come rescue me if I am drowning. But don’t you forget last year’s incident when a young boy died while swimming in the deep waters beyond the allowed limit in the lake. Ahh, why do you have to be the obedient, always listening to what elders have to say and follow all the rules in the world kinda person?

But, this is actually risky. Your knee is injured too, hmm. There’s rock in the bottom and water beyond that is deep. This is overwhelming, let me enjoy this moment. Did I ever climb up a waterfall and sit in the middle of the steps before? No, this is just as beautiful, isn’t it? Savour this moment, they are happy there and this is serene. Let me just lie down on this rock, let the water change its course and make way for me.

Ah, I can see the waterfall upside down now! Just tilt your head a little more, you are fine, you won’t slip from this rock and if you do guess where will you land? In the pond! Win win! Oh this view is breathtaking, I want to capture this moment in my head so clear that everytime I think of it I travel back to this moment. The clear blue sky is magnificent with the cotton like clouds shaped perfectly as if painted by an artist. This waterfall, it is just perfect. I am so glad most of the people have left and there’s nobody in my view. It is actually just me lying on this rock watching the waterfall, my head pulled backwards so that I can see the full scenery behind me. What a perfect moment, let go of all the thoughts. This is a pure moment, as close to nature as you can get. No need to take pictures or videos anymore, it is alive in you and you can remember this moment vividly. Take a few breaths lying here and just be. Pure happiness is in this moment. 

#osdotme

Picture: Taken by me, I went hiking to this waterfall with my friends a week ago. The anecdote is from the same day at this very waterfall.