The Best Day Of My Life

Few months into the lockdown during covid period in 2020, I was going through a blackout depressing period. It was then my brother asked me to come down to Dubai for a few days. I instantly said ‘Yes’. There was no second thought to it. Immediately he asked if I am interested in sky diving. Again a ‘Yes’.

The trip was scheduled in few days and I left for Dubai in December2020. Passing through several covid protocols and formalities, I landed in Dubai. I was not excited nor scared nor had any emotions about skydiving. I was in a different mental frame.

Disparate my brother was excited from the day I said ‘Yes’ to skydiving.

The ‘D’ day- 4th Jan 2021 arrived.

I was numb without emotions or sentiments. What we did was planning what to wear and which colour will look good on sky etc. Maybe migrating to a different environment, I was excited about how the photo should look. Imagining myself how I can pose from the sky…

We reached the Sky Dive Dubai for the tandem skydive. My brother was very excited. Multiple times more than me. It was coming out as anxiety But he made sure his bowels are empty before the jump. I was still cool and did not care about that as I thought he is doing it because he is anxious.

We were taken to a Instruction room for explaining the process and rules. I was cool here too. Then we were given suits to wear. Packed in the diving harness, ready to onboard, the photographer was asking some questions. I don’t remember what he asked. I don’t remember what I was blabbering.

We got boarded on the flight. The flight was taking off slowly…. I was getting anxious.. I was feeling terrified…I was excited. I was scared….. I wanted to go to washroom. I could do nothing other than to sit and wait. I started chanting Gayatri Mantra. The only solution I could come up with at the peak of anxiety. I was trying to calm myself down. I can see other people jumping out of the plane shouting. I was chanting. I was the last one to jump. The more time I got, the more anxious I became.

And finally it was my time to jump. I felt like peeing. I know I should never say ‘No’ now. I prepared myself to go with the flow.

I am standing with my partner/instructor on the edge of the plane door. The photographer jumped with a smile with a twist. Immediately I saw my partner counting 1, 2, 3 with his fingers in front of my eyes. Then he jumped taking me along with him. That second I felt I died. I felt my heart is leaving my body. I was shouting with full mouth open. But no sound came. I have jumped. I can’t do anything

now. Just 3-5 seconds of this thought- I saw the photographer come to me. This is the second I decided that it is now time to look good on photos at least. I have taken a toll on myself already by jumping from the plane. Then I started posing for the camera trying to smile in between a fully opened mouth. I remembered few skydiving photos I have seen in last few days where they have posed well. But I couldn’t do anything other than opening my arms against the wind. Maybe few thumps up was the maximum I could do. I am happy that I had the presence of mind to realize that camera is going to picture me. Finally I got some great photos to treasure. After more than a minute of free fall. My partner suddenly

pulled the parachute. My whole body bend from the waist went Up with force. And then - it was time to watch the beauty of the Sea, the palm Jumeirah, Dubai as a whole. The beautiful view of the palm and Dubai makes it the most beautiful skydive.

I was shivering in cold by now. But felt a bit more calmer. I was reminiscing the free fall experience in my head. Slowly I realized the experience is going to end. We landed on the ground. I was still on cloud9. I was not able to come out of that experience. I felt I met with death for a second when I jumped. I cannot forget that moment. I would consider this as my second life or a second chance. Now I live my life the way I want without any regrets.

Until that day I used to be just an adventurous person who is into riding fastest and longest roller coasters. But never realized there is more experiences to cherish in life.

If you ask me then -whether I will do again???? I may say NO.

But if you ask me now- I would definitely want to re live the experience.

I consider this experience as turning point of my life. The best Moment of my life