Bungee Jumping!

                     I looked at my feet. Half of them were on the platform and the other half were hanging in the air.The drop was 83 metres.My heart was throbbing and my breathing became shallow.

                       I was standing at the edge of India's highest bungee jump platform. I felt the harness around me as it clung to me. Till the time the crew was giving me the initial demonstration of the exact way of jumping I was fine but as soon as I made my way to the edge I became painfully aware of the true extent of this extreme adventure activity. As I had my first glance at the drop, my breath was sucked away. My first reaction was to back away from the jump. Beads of perspiration formed on my forehead. Slowly as they glided over my skin the whole world around me came to a standstill. I was terrified. There was no denying that. I asked the crew to give me a moment’s time so I could steel myself.

                     My mind went back to the day I had actually decided to someday do this bungee jump. Me and my friends were sitting in a roadside dhaba and on television we saw a guy do the bungee jump. I remarked that someday I would do it. I was met with laughs. Someone asked why would anyone do this. For the answer I thought of George Mallory. When a reporter asked him about why he wanted to climb the Everest. He replied simply with 'because it is there' I said the same for the jump because it is there and also because I can.

                    So finally in my recent Uttarakhand Adventure Trip, Bungee jumping was the last and the most thrilling activity planned. After a week of trekking and rafting the time to do the ultimate adventure activity came upon me. All of that conversation played in my mind and with Mallory’s words ran inside me I was ready. Ready to jump off. I told my instructor that I was ready and he started the countdown. Three. My breath started heaving. My muscles clenched. Two. I bent my knees to take the proper position. My hands were now tightly holding the harness near my shoulder. One. I propelled myself and jumped. My hand dug into the harness and into my own skin. I fell. I fell with the acceleration of gravity. What was happening I knew not. The ground was rushing towards me with alarming speed. My mind all the time was in a trance. This trance was broken suddenly by a jerk as the bungee expanded. Whatever fear was left was gone now. Fear turned into exultation. I unwrapped my hands from the shoulder harness and shouted at the top of my voice 'Yes'! My voice echoed in the surroundings as I made a gentle arch in the air. I spread my hands outwards and shouted again 'Yes'! I had done it. I conquered the initial fear and made the jump. That moment of joy was the purest joy I ever felt. Slowly the bungee settled down and I hung there rocking to and fro gently. As I let down my hands and was hanging upside down I felt a sense of calm and serenity overcome me. Soon I was received at the bottom and a badge was given to me certifying that I had guts. The feeling of ecstasy that I felt during the jump is exactly why I travel and do these adventurous stuff