I wanted to push myself to the limits; by doing this, I've pushed my limits further

It was Friday late evening. The hectic day at office was already finished and I was all ready to get back home. Was waiting for frens in the office lobby; that was when I came to know about the plan of bungee - Madhav told me. I was excited to hear the word 'bungee' - we(me with some frens from college) wanted to go bungee and had committed to go someday… So, this was the instant reaction "Can't we go as well???" Sujan dai came in n said "why not? we were three, now it'll be four of us!" and ran upstairs and brought a form for me to fill in. The next day's plan was to go n play football at Pulchowk grounds. I was excited the whole week for the sports. I was in two minds, but I signed the form. I came to know the cost, It was 2500 bucks!!!!! That almost changed my mind…

On the way back to home, I talked bout it with Babins; after the talk I completely changed my mind and I was again going for the ball game the next day. Me n Babins parted our way, confirming to be present on the grounds. I had all excuses for Sujan dai webbed up in my head. But, somehow on the local bus, my mind switched state once again; 'I am goin to the last resort tomorrow, don know how, but I will be bungeeing tomorrow. But what am I sayin at home, to mom… I don know, but whatever… I AM DOING IT, THAT'S IT!!! '.

I think this was one of the most quickest of the plans that I made for something like this.

Thought of calling frens, esp JD to join the adventure (He was another most eager guy among the frens to go for the bungee). But u know, I myself was not sure of it, so could not talk to them for it. (Now I regret that, I should have taken chance n called them).

THE DAY

It was 4:30, early Saturday morning. I hate to wake up early n u know things get no better when u have to do it on holidays. But I had no choice, had to be at thamel (Kathmandu guest house) by 6:00. As my home was on the way, I could have joined the team on the way (That way, I get some more time to snooze), and I tried to manage for it the day before. But, since the plan was set up so late, it didn't work out n I had to go to thamel.

4 of us, (others were Ganesh dai, Saurav dai, n Sujan dai; all seniors from the office) set off for the experience of the life time, along with a herd of tourists. (Later I found out there were people from England, States, Israel, Holland, Australia, Denmark, and I don't remember other) All together there were 40+ in the gang. 4 of us were the only Nepalese in the gang. Among them, Sujan dai was only single individual, I was somewhat familiar with, other two dai were talking with me for the first time!! Thought, the journey cud've been different with frens.

But anyway, we set off from thamel on bus at 6:30! My seat partner was Ganesh dai, had lil chitchat with him on the way. When we passed my home, I badly missed my bed…

Saurav dai is a fun man!!!!

He is a great person to be with. Jokes n fun all the way. He doesn't let you feel that u are way junior than him. Turns out that I (seems to me) was the one who knows most bout the way (u know being from Bhaktapur, u are nearer to banepa dhulikhel…)

"hami ka pugyo?"

"jagaati katyo dai, banepa aauna lagyo…"

"yo dolalghat pugna lagya haina?? Dolalghat ta ek ghanta ma pugcha ni Kathmandu bata…."

"ka pugnu dai, banepa nai pugya chaina, dolalghat ta atleast 2:30 3 hrs lagcha dai ktm bata, ke kura garya??"

"ho ra.."

….

……

But I had only been upto dolalghat before n hence knew nothing about further.

Ganesh dai was telling bout his booze up last night n that he only got to sleep for two hrs. and he told me that the journey on vehicle was worsening his situation "kya hang bhairacha, ma ta ek chin sutchu yaar".

So he leaned his head back in the seat.

As I estimated, we reached dolalghat at around 9 9:30.

We stopped for breakfast at a local restaurant. Tourists started chewing their "foreign stuffs" they brought. Some went for coffee, tea, etc. We also had light stuffs and we got time to gaze at those tanned skinned foreign chics.

"ini haru pani kun desh ko nakkali haru hola hai?"

"Uttauli pareka nakkali haru…"

Lol lol lol……..

In no time, Ganesh dai was talking with a bearded guy. Saurav dai said, "now he will take no time to tell everybody that he is from D2 n this n that". "By the time we reach the resort, all of the crew will know that he was boozed up yesterday"….lol lol lol lol …

We approached as well, n this guy was from US, Boston, place where D2 head office is located. Saurav dai started explaining him about the D2 n that it works for this n that, and that guy could be our client n blah blah….

We traveled along the side of bhotekoshi river. Bungee is over this river. While on the bus, I was observing the wild Bhotekoshi flowing opposite to our direction, cruel hills on either side. Truly, Nepal is heavily gifted by nature!!!

After about an hour or two (I don't exactly remember…) we were at the last resort, the tirthasthal of extreme sports. The resort was on the other side of the bridge. The bridge was very long.

My first words after we got on the bridge: "oi!!!! Yo ta TV ma dekha bhanda nikkkai gahiro po cha ta dai…". Really the depth was chilling. The freak of nature Bhotekoshi was jus like the lane separator on New Baneshwor road…. It took me about 30 sec to be assured that it WAS a human being lying on a huge rock (appeared no bigger than a pebble) in the bank down there!!!!.

My first question after this: dai, how many people have changed their minds after being here?? "thuprai hunchan ni.. yesto height dekhe pachi ta…"

"dai , do we get our money back if we don't jump?" "tyo ta paindaina bhai…"

Now what would u do?? Jump that bone chilling 3x dharahara height or lose 2500 bucks for nothing. Really, I won't call him/her a chicken shit, if somebody gives up 2500 bucks.

Trust me, 'darcheruwa, darpok, namard, gutless, coward,…' these are words to define somebody else, not to those who pull oneself back from THIS jump….

The resort was nice.

Had lil briefing by the bungy master. Weight. 60 kgs hurray!!

Two groups by weight category, In the second group.

First lady jumped. OH MY GOD Thought somebody fell down.

Saurav dai swung. Him Already tensed. Didn't wait for the last minute brief.hurried to finish things up.. "jay parla parla, sala kud gaye pyaar ke khateer!!" Sujan dai n me concluded swing was more dangerous than jump.

One guy was like superman. Other jumped from back. Diff people diff jump. Some scared, some classic, some stylish. Ganesh dai couldn't jump, sadly. My respect for him increased, for he did what his mind said. A normal and sane mind would never permit you to cross even the bridge bars!! He crossed the danger line and stood on the edge.

Talked with chics n lads. One was from UK from Bristol city. Talked bout football, how could I not mention Liverpool. Had some chat bout Bristol city rovers and 2nd league n premier league. The FA cup, the Barnsley.. (hah Chelsea n Liverpool!!)

Time for our jump.

My turn. All pumped up. My mind free. Nothing in my head. You can no way jump, if you started thinking logically about the consequences. That's why my mind was empty. Video shows me lil cocky tryin to suppress my nerves. Master did the final check. AOK.

Crossed the bridge bar. You need balls and u have to be insane at the same time to cross that red line and stand on the edge!!

I don't remember how fast or slow was my heart beating, or was it beating at all. As the master told in the last minute briefing, go further to the edge, arms wide spread, wave to your frens, chics were cheering, wave at camera, 1 2 3 go……whhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooooooooooo

(The hardest thing to do was to cross the red line and leap your feet off the railing edge, anyhow I did that)

"go ta go mula le dori po ramrari bandhyo ki bandhena ganthey" I thought. But my mind diverted in no time. I was free falling. Never felt free like this before. Those few seconds I was…can't describe I was….. I was in the air literally!! Whoa that is some experience of life!!! I didn't feel like a bird for I couldn't control my flight. But I realized gravity and strongly felt the air resistance. That was lil science practical for me hehe.

The rope was elastic and when it snapped back, gave me a heavy jerk, I thought "lha muji, chudyo ki kya ho??", but it wasn't and then I was swinging up n down.

Eager to grab the bamboo, I couldn't rely on the rope n I was feelin like my feet were ripping off my leg.

And this was it. The great experience.

Waited for sujan dai. Cheered for him. He jumped great as well. Return to the journey was another adventure, about 45 min hike up difficult steep jungalee bheer.

Another shocking news, to get the video dvd, we had to pay 1000 bucks more n u get a bungee tshirt for free.!!

We all knew that it was sarasar loot but no one would argue much you know, after all, it is something to cherish for your whole life n the video is the proofing memento of it.

Had lunch, and rested in the resort, flourishing the moment.

Set back to Kathmandu at around 4:00 for about 4 hrs of journey.

And Ganesh dai, why u need to tell everybody that it was you who didn't jump

"you know the guy who didn't jump…" "yeah" "it was me" "oh so sorry"…..

By the time we got back to Kathmandu, almost all the 40 in the gang probably have known that ganesh dai didn't jump, C'mon Ganesh dai!!!!

So, another great moment in life lived!! A great thing to do. Great way to prove that u can be a freak, to show your insanity!!

One reason I jumped was to know my limits; and by doing this I think I have pushed my limits further away!!

I am definitely going again and again, I'm sure my frens will be planning more seriously after this, and I don't want to be missed out on that occasion either!!!!