Last weekend, I flew.
With a huge nylon wing tied to a cushioned bucket I sat in.
I did not have to do much.
My seat was attached to a pilot’s belly.
I told him I felt like a baby kangaroo.
I knew I was going to fly when I got to the base camp.
But I wasn’t really thinking about it much.
I was with a friend and his friends
And I was looking forward to spending time with them.
Strangely, I had for company
two business journalists, a market researcher and an
entrepreneur.
My phone; switched off, was in my bag. My bag with its mouth
open was in Sheesh Mahal.
A hurried lunch later, we left for the flying zone
and waited in the sun for the angry winds to simmer down,
armed with nothing else but bottles of water and some senses
of humour.
Even birds don’t fly in winds like that.
They just sit and chillax somewhere.
Except for the vultures there. With huge wings,
those guys can do whatever they want.
I’m just glad they didn’t vomit acid on or around anyone
that day.
Guess they are used to flying humans by now.
So anyway, when we were ready to fly,
the instructor asked who’ll be the first one to fly.
Now, I’m learning to raise hands at every given opportunity,
especially for when someone says ‘Hands up!’
So the instructor, Yogi shook confident hands with me.
Then he told me that we’ll have to run a bit before the wind
can meet us.
Meanwhile, the assistants buckled and strapped me
everywhere.
Yogi said, ‘Right after we take off, sit into the cushioned
bucket.’
We took off and I sat back and relaxed.
What I saw next, blew my mind.
I would be a loser if I mentioned Farmville here.
But I saw tiny matchbox-sized farms and G.I.Joe-sized people
and trees that look like dummies from an architect’s model
building.
I couldn’t believe I was flying.
It’s like being in an open aeroplane. You are flying but
with the wind in your face.
If I didn’t wear the helmet, my hair would be in my mouth.
But what the instructor said next put my balls in my mouth. He
asked if I would like some acrobatics.
I thought I was brave and said yes. After all, I must try
new things, right?
I suddenly remembered why I hated that particular ride in
Esselworld.
My stomach felt that familiar premonition you feel before
you dispense a projectile vomit.
I don’t remember screaming but those down apparently heard
me.
With eyes shut tight, I told Yogi that I had had enough of
the sommersaults.
Just flying was enough of an accomplishment for me.
We hummed some songs and tried to whistle.
It’s difficult to whistle with wind trying to force its way
into your mouth
(try doing that at the train door sometime).
Soon enough, Yogi says,
‘Right before we land, try to stand up on your feet.’
And I did just that and landed on the ground like a falling
cat.
This smile on my face on a photo someone clicked of me when
I landed, I want to see more of those.
I clicked some of the others flying higher, faster,
sommersaulting and playing with the wind.
Friend is going to take a flying course. Not me though.
I like the view from the road better, from my cycle.
One thing I do want to learn is how to swim.
What do I tell you about the sexy Indrayani River?
She takes you in and keeps you in.
Talk to her, talk to yourself or talk to the tiny biting
fish.
Talk to your companions or talk to the humming water
purifier.
Talk to the birds or that crow as big as a cat.
The river won’t talk back. She’ll write to you instead.
In waves. In a language you will not understand as a
city-slicker.
Make time for her and maybe she’ll teach you to read her
mind.
But tell her what you are thinking and she will listen to
you with calm.
You can hear her even more clearly if you put your head
underwater.
The water tickles and enters your ears like jelly earphones
And then she giggles and gurgles inside your ear.
Come here if you want to fly.
Come here if you want to swim.
Come here if all you want to do is lie in the water all day.
Come here if you are a boy who wants to bajao the scenes,
baba.
I don’t know what my reason is but I am definitely going
back there
Because as someone famously said on the Whatsapp Group after
the trip,
‘Ýou can check out any time you like but you can never
leave.’
