We all were apprehensive about this trip. We had recently joined a global company and an adventure tour was part of our training. Some of us did not want to miss TV, some did not want to miss talking to their girlfriends or boyfriends (as network was not available at adv tour site), one of us did not want to miss FIFA World Cup. But we had to go, how can we say ‘no’?
We were in sleeper class of “Utkal” train and was travelling to “Haridwar”. One small kid in same bogey asked “what you all do?” “We are software engineers” replied one of my friends. “Where are you going?” the boy asked quickly. “To climb mountains” said another friend of mine. “But why does a software engineer require to climb mountains?” the boy questioned innocently. We smiled as even we were thinking the same.
The journey started…
I opened my eyes after the most deep sleep I ever had. It was 5 a.m, and this was the first time I woke up this early without any considerable effort. I came out of my tent and what I saw was something that I had seen in movies only, there were mountains on one side and a river on the other side, many birds singing their morning song and a cool breeze making me believe that I am alive. I really forget this in my 9 to 6 job and amongst many tensions. I was out on an adventure tour in uttarkashi and this was first morning of my 10-day long tour.
I take my glass and go out to take tea from kitchen. My guide informs me that in fifteen minutes, group will leave for exercise and yoga. We were divided in three groups and were made to do basic exercises, deep breathing and yoga at 6 am in the morning. We all knew that it was a good thing and gonna help us in coming days, but our lazy attitude always kept complaining in our mind. But I knew that it was a new starting, for the first time I was doing something that I wanted to do but was unable always.
Everything was moving so quickly that after an hour I find myself in front of a 100 ft mountain with a safety rope hanging and my teammates trying to reach on the top. My mind said “Boss, this is impossible, with this much weight, you won’t be able to do it”. But deep inside my heart said, “You are gonna do it. If anyone can do it, it’s you and only you. You are meant for conquering all challenges”. I started slowly, there was no place to keep your feet, almost impossible to climb, but like it is said that don’t think about challenges and tough situations, when time will come all resources will be with you to make you overcome all challenges, felt a different energy level, some strength came from nowhere and I was able to pull myself up. I was at the top and it made me smile that I overcame my fear.
First day passed so quickly and we were among the mountains to do another task. we had to climb to a 80 feet cliff and then come down with the help of ropes. We had to come down in two ways, first by sliding on a slanted rope and second by a vertical rope. I reached at the top and being a vertigo, strange things started happening, I was thirsty with no water around and my legs were shivering. I had no control over myself and I did know how I will be doing this task. My turn came and now I was at the edge of cliff, trying to hold my trainer out of fear, suddenly he asks me to start falling, there was a safety rope attached, but I was scared of that height, somehow tries to keep myself afloat in air ,and uncontrollably slides down to a lower level, my trainer yells and instructs me to be slow, but out of fear I almost have forgotten all his instructions, I somehow regain my composure and chants “gayatri mantra” and slowly starts again and to my surprise reaches down smoothly.
Days passed so quickly and tasks kept getting tougher, whether it was crossing the river with the help of a rope or surviving on all your own in a village among heavy rain. We were asked to reach a village at 5000 ft by walking through hilly areas and set up our camp, cook our food and survive all night without any help from trainers. As soon as we reached at the top, heavy rain came down and our tents were blown away by heavy rain and storm. We were shivering in cold and do not know how we gonna survive. We kept praying to God. Rain stopped after 3 hours and we were able to set up tents again. We set up fire with the help of some dry woods which we managed to save. 9 of us in our group divided all the work and started cooking “khichdi” and “chokha”. It was difficult to maintain a steady fire amongst heavy breeze , somehow we managed to cook our food. We ate like we were hungry from ages. Rain had stopped and we were sitting around bonfire. We kept humming songs till 3 am and that survival night became a night which we cannot forget ever.
To be Continued………….
Link of Part 2:
A New Horizon:Part 2
https://www.pagalguy.com/channels/writer/news/new-horizon-part-2-a-19077195/