He said "tu, tu toh Apna hai. Jao". Some moments in life, I still cannot find any words to explain this one.
Reaching Chougan around 4 pm, I called Yudhvir Singh, he said we could fly the same day. He took me in a taxi to billing for my first flight after an 18-kilometre drive through the winding roads of the Himalayan Mountains. He strapped me and himself into the Harnesses and all I had to do was take a few steps to be airborne. I don't know why, tears started rolling in down my eyes. It felt so beautiful. I thanked him for the ride and decided to spend that night there. Found Amar guest house run by Sanjay Dutt, no not the actor, who offered a room at 400 and I stayed.
That flight, Opened me up to a very different dimension, a new feeling, a feeling of self-love, a feeling of being alive, I felt a change in me forever. My mind was so full, I couldn't think about anything beyond that flight. Some things just cannot be explained and I decided that I must learn the sport though didn't have the money. I thought if it costed less, I'll do it else it wasn't my cup of tea. Yudvir Sir had given me an estimate of 60,000 rupees to be able to fly alone.
I called him first thing in the morning and asked what could be the best price considering my interest and situation. He checked and called me back after 10 minutes saying it would cost 35000 at least and that's the best he could do. I asked him to give me some time. It was New Year and the homestay business went well. I checked my account to have about 10000 rupees. For once I tried to ask dad since he was eager about me getting back home. He didn't sound cheerful but agreed to give me 20,000. Luckily I had my own bookings paid out so I sent back the money that dad had sent me to mom and stayed to fly.
I called Yudvir Sir and said I will do it. He asked me when I could start and I was ready enough. I checked out, left the luggage there and went to the landing site.
Yudvir Sir introduced me to Subhash Thakur Sir aka TT Bhai, my Guru. We greeted each other and my training started right away. With just enough money to pay my fees, I hadn't yet thought about a place to stay or what to eat. At the end of the day, when they asked me about my plans to stay? I said there was so much nature around that I would camp anywhere. Subhash Sir suggested that I could stay at their team campsite and they took me in. That moment! Even now while I'm writing, my eyes are filled. , TT sir, Yudvir Sir, and An old man with a long pony stood there, in front of me, time was around 5 in the evening when everybody was packing and going home. You don't know how it feels. For someone who wanted to live life to its fullest and everywhere people trying to pull me down, these strangers were like a blessing. I became a stone the day I had to beg for my passion and these experiences were carving a new structure out of me.
I took my luggage from the hotel and shifted to the campsite. TT Sir showed me a place just perfect for me and my tent, even Gave me a mattress and sufficient blankets, that I rarely had to use the sleeping bag. I was home once again. There was a kitchen too and I was told to use it if needed. The place was owned by Kush Til, aka Tillu Bhai, both he and TT Sir were friends and were in this together. Living with them, their team, and the risky sport, money did not matter much. I'm sure they all had to make a living for themselves and their families too.
For the first three days, I was running like a mad dog trying to perfect my take-off, learning to get a feel of the glider, eager to fly alone. TT Sir was such a great human being, for in my life I have very few people who guide me and I have always respected them as my Guru. Subhash Sir is My Guru. The beautiful part was anyone who passed by, corrected and guided me. It was a risky sport that made life look easy, not letting money stand above. At the end of the day, we all helped each other in packing and it felt nice to be with all the boys. Even Men were living like boys, you needed that mindset, to always be ready to fly because each flight was a risk on life. I was in love with the passion, the people and the sport. Life felt like a dream. All I wanted, was to be in the air. Forever. Which was pretty impossible.
I met Amit and Avinash, adventure lovers from Lucknow who joined in for their course. Amit was working at a mountaineering institute and Avinash a Bcom grad, both looking for a way out of the crowded city to settle somewhere in the mountains. The weather turned bad and we were forced to stay inside our tents for a week, even cooking and eating was a challenge, it rained Ice one day while it was snowing in the higher regions. I cooked dinner with Kaala, another passionate humane with a desire to fly, cheated for being born poor, he managed the camp and we took care of dinner mostly. Bugger had an attitude, but a good soul. Sandeep Thakur, Vishal Kumar, Krishna Thakur and Chaman, they took care of training and commercial flies. Krishna aka zeher suggested I try the cloud door cafe and did try the pork salami Pizza on a hungry afternoon. Feast.
After training for 3 days on the ground, I was set for my first takeoff. I sat there all day on the snow waiting for the mist to clear, But ended up disappointed and walked back with Diru Bhai aka Vishal, I even took a fall, trying to help the last commercial take-off and we walked in the snow, hitchhiking back to the camp. That day I realised the importance of patience and weather knowledge, the sport required. I was eager on my toes but I kept my calm. I Told myself, Apna Time Aayega. It came the next day and I flew like an eagle leaving a part of me back in the air, forever.
Every morning I went to Sanjay Dutt for breakfast. Normally two aloo parathas, a double egg omelette and tea or coffee. This was the standard routine. I needed food to beat the cold, and life here needed strength to carry around a 15-kilo glider on the back. We drive up, fly down, walk back, eat and relax. I'm thankful to Sanjay too for treating me like one of their own, money or no money khana toh milta tha. Ashique, my smoking partner there, was supporting Sanjay in the smooth running and He introduced me to many pilots he knew of. Knowledge was all around the town and it was rare to find someone to be rude. They owned the Town.
The day I was done with my course, I simply couldn't leave the place and requested Tillu Bhai to stay for another day before I left, he said stay as long as you want. It reminded me of Shaju Lal Ettan from Kodaikanal. I called our team for a dinner and cooked rice, dhal, and chicken fry. Subhash Sir complimented me saying not even his wife had served him that well in years. I was never so happy in my whole life, and the people responsible had to be given a treat. The taste in fact came from the ingredients and vegetables grown in the godly soil. The cauliflower tasted sweet, could be eaten like a fruit, the same goes for radish, even the core of the cabbage tasted sweet, The flavour of dhal, wow smells amazing. Anything from coriander to ginger or garlic and the Fruits tasted simply godly.
After paying my fees, I had just enough money to leave the place but there were more expenses to be paid for. The transport cost for driving 18km up every day, and for the camping which had comfortable bath and kitchen. I went up to TT Sir, asked what amount was pending for me to pay. He said "tu, tu toh Apna hai. Jao". Some moments in life, I still cannot find any words to explain this one. Nobody or no disaster can take away these precious priceless memories. It's all mine!
On my last day, while I was at brother Sanjay's Amar guest house for breakfast, someone told me about this sadhu, aged more than 110 years, who still met people and served Prasad by himself. On my last day there, I visited him and found happiness, a very different one. Swami Shri Shri 1008 Vishudhanand Saraswati G.. Of Dakshina Kali ashram, a man so old he was shaking all over but had bliss on his face. Now though he could meet people for just a couple hours in a day, he greeted and responded well. I sat there in front of him, silently with a question? And he filled me up with enough positive vibes to leave that place with a smile. I came back to our campsite, loaded my luggage and it was time to bid bye to not just the place but to the best days of my life.
How could I leave without telling Subhash Sir? I called him and he said he was at the landing site. I went there and waited while he was having his lunch. Thanked him and Tillu Bhai for everything, even they wouldn't know how much it means to me. I started the bike and continued to ride towards Dharamshala.
Like the blog? Then support the blogger
You can contribute through Phonepe @ 7259496378 ( Akarshan Devanand )
Or
Bank transfers can be made to
Federal Bank
Akarshan Devanand Bhagwan
Account number - 19310100012360
IFSC - FDRL0001931
Kushalnagar branch
---
@Akarshandevanand
https://instagram.com/akarshandevanand?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
YouTube
https://youtube.com/user/TheAkarshan17
Thankful to them all, Thankful to the One! Much metta
Comments
Post a Comment