Coincidence
I believe in God for there is an almighty power, which is responsible for all activities occurring in the universe. I sometimes wonder how God keeps track of all these things. Does he also have some software to maintain a record of all happenings occurring in this universe?
Today’s incident added one more drop in the pool of my belief in God. On June 10th, I went to swim for the first time. Vikas was the idea generator and the inspiration behind my joining the swimming class. On the first day, we both did well. We were able to float, and swim for some distance. On the second day, I was able to use my hands and synchronize my hand and leg movements. This was an appreciable achievement, as this was just the second day. The next step was a little difficult. How to breathe while swimming? It took me almost three to four days to learn how to breathe by coming out of water for a moment, while swimming.
When a learner learns something faster than normal, he thinks that he has become a master. As soon as this feeling comes, then the learner is surely in danger. And this was the exact feeling I had just three days after I joined my swimming classes.
On the last day of the first week, I and Vikas were returning from our swimming class. Our coach was standing at one end of the 7.5 feet deep pool. It suddenly occurred to me why not give a try at this depth.. I asked the coach if he would be able to save me on time, if I could not reach the other end. After getting his reply in affirmative, I jumped into the pool. Initially, I thought of covering only a quarter of the actual distance, and I did it successfully. But as soon as I touched the wall, my grip on the wall gave away and I slipped. I was immersed in the 7.5 feet deep pool, with water covering me on all sides. I was jumping and splashing my arms and legs in the water and trying to come out, but all in vain. For a moment, I lost all hope and thought that within few seconds I will meet my waterloo. The coach did not come on time to save me. While trying to save myself life, I scolded myself for trusting the Coach. My friend, Vikas came to my rescue. He held my hand and pulled me out. Vikas was too tired trying to save me and then we both somehow managed to come out of the pool by helping each other.
My swimming classes are going regularly, and yesterday I was able to complete the whole length in one go. This was a big achievement for me. I tried multiple times, and each time I succeeded. Once again I grew over confident and thought of going to the deeper side of the pool. From 5.5 feet to 6.5 deep side, and swim the complete distance in one go. Before this, I had swum successfully from the 6.5 feet deep end to the 5.5 feet end. I thought of waiting for some time before starting from 5.5 deep side, but John, my swimming classmate, instigated me to start at once. John is a better swimmer than me as he started learning it 10 days prior to me. John tried going to the 6.5 feet deep end and succeeded. After his continuous egging, I started moving towards the deeper end. Initially, I was confident that I would be able to reach the other end safely. I was about to reach the deeper end but suddenly my legs stopped moving. The depth of water at that place was 6.5 feet. I was motionless and speechless, standing still under the water. I mustered all the courage and tried to swim but could not make a wee bit of progress. I jumped out of the water 3-4 times gasping for breath. John, who had promised to save me, if I could not swim the whole distance, was sitting at the other end and watching me. While jumping, I screamed asking him to hold my hand but his only reply was “Try to swim”. At that moment, my mind was filled with thoughts about people who lost their lives by drowning. I was screaming my lungs out. But the only help I received was “Try to swim” words from John. For one moment, I could feel all my hopes drown in water and had the feeling that Lord of Death “Yumraj” was hugging me and not letting me go off. As I kept screaming for help, a lifeguard handed me a stick and pulled me out. Everyone present at the pool was laughing at me. One guy commented sarcastically, “what an attempt to suicide”. I felt very embarrassed. After coming out, I stood still for 2-3 minutes, took my bag, and went home. On my way back, Vikas tried to console me saying that I had been doing well and it was OK, but I was very quiet. After reaching office, I did not feel like talking to anyone. I was still overcome by the swimming experience I had this morning. But I narrated this incident to Archana. She advised me not to try any such endeavors until I learnt to swim properly. Throughout the day, I was feeling very embarrassed about what had happened
By evening, I was fine and feeling Ok. The next morning I woke up fresh and went for a swim. I met John, and he asked me to try going to the deep end once again. At first, I wanted to reprimand him for what happened a day before. But then I let the matter go. He told me he would try going again to the 6.5 feet end from the 5.5 feet end I was standing at one end and watching him swim. He reached the exact spot, where I was drowning a day earlier I could hear John screaming. It did not occur to me for some time as to, what had happened. But then I realized that his legs were not moving like mine yesterday. I too thought of giving him the same suggestion that he had given me. But then I immedaitely realized the feeling of despair that I was drowned in. I ran and pulled him out of the pool by holding his hand. He was feeling as embarassed as I had felt a day before. . I then said to him, “What a coincidence?” and resumed my swimming practice. He was standing at the other end and staring at me.
Today’s incident added one more drop in the pool of my belief in God. On June 10th, I went to swim for the first time. Vikas was the idea generator and the inspiration behind my joining the swimming class. On the first day, we both did well. We were able to float, and swim for some distance. On the second day, I was able to use my hands and synchronize my hand and leg movements. This was an appreciable achievement, as this was just the second day. The next step was a little difficult. How to breathe while swimming? It took me almost three to four days to learn how to breathe by coming out of water for a moment, while swimming.
When a learner learns something faster than normal, he thinks that he has become a master. As soon as this feeling comes, then the learner is surely in danger. And this was the exact feeling I had just three days after I joined my swimming classes.
On the last day of the first week, I and Vikas were returning from our swimming class. Our coach was standing at one end of the 7.5 feet deep pool. It suddenly occurred to me why not give a try at this depth.. I asked the coach if he would be able to save me on time, if I could not reach the other end. After getting his reply in affirmative, I jumped into the pool. Initially, I thought of covering only a quarter of the actual distance, and I did it successfully. But as soon as I touched the wall, my grip on the wall gave away and I slipped. I was immersed in the 7.5 feet deep pool, with water covering me on all sides. I was jumping and splashing my arms and legs in the water and trying to come out, but all in vain. For a moment, I lost all hope and thought that within few seconds I will meet my waterloo. The coach did not come on time to save me. While trying to save myself life, I scolded myself for trusting the Coach. My friend, Vikas came to my rescue. He held my hand and pulled me out. Vikas was too tired trying to save me and then we both somehow managed to come out of the pool by helping each other.
My swimming classes are going regularly, and yesterday I was able to complete the whole length in one go. This was a big achievement for me. I tried multiple times, and each time I succeeded. Once again I grew over confident and thought of going to the deeper side of the pool. From 5.5 feet to 6.5 deep side, and swim the complete distance in one go. Before this, I had swum successfully from the 6.5 feet deep end to the 5.5 feet end. I thought of waiting for some time before starting from 5.5 deep side, but John, my swimming classmate, instigated me to start at once. John is a better swimmer than me as he started learning it 10 days prior to me. John tried going to the 6.5 feet deep end and succeeded. After his continuous egging, I started moving towards the deeper end. Initially, I was confident that I would be able to reach the other end safely. I was about to reach the deeper end but suddenly my legs stopped moving. The depth of water at that place was 6.5 feet. I was motionless and speechless, standing still under the water. I mustered all the courage and tried to swim but could not make a wee bit of progress. I jumped out of the water 3-4 times gasping for breath. John, who had promised to save me, if I could not swim the whole distance, was sitting at the other end and watching me. While jumping, I screamed asking him to hold my hand but his only reply was “Try to swim”. At that moment, my mind was filled with thoughts about people who lost their lives by drowning. I was screaming my lungs out. But the only help I received was “Try to swim” words from John. For one moment, I could feel all my hopes drown in water and had the feeling that Lord of Death “Yumraj” was hugging me and not letting me go off. As I kept screaming for help, a lifeguard handed me a stick and pulled me out. Everyone present at the pool was laughing at me. One guy commented sarcastically, “what an attempt to suicide”. I felt very embarrassed. After coming out, I stood still for 2-3 minutes, took my bag, and went home. On my way back, Vikas tried to console me saying that I had been doing well and it was OK, but I was very quiet. After reaching office, I did not feel like talking to anyone. I was still overcome by the swimming experience I had this morning. But I narrated this incident to Archana. She advised me not to try any such endeavors until I learnt to swim properly. Throughout the day, I was feeling very embarrassed about what had happened
By evening, I was fine and feeling Ok. The next morning I woke up fresh and went for a swim. I met John, and he asked me to try going to the deep end once again. At first, I wanted to reprimand him for what happened a day before. But then I let the matter go. He told me he would try going again to the 6.5 feet end from the 5.5 feet end I was standing at one end and watching him swim. He reached the exact spot, where I was drowning a day earlier I could hear John screaming. It did not occur to me for some time as to, what had happened. But then I realized that his legs were not moving like mine yesterday. I too thought of giving him the same suggestion that he had given me. But then I immedaitely realized the feeling of despair that I was drowned in. I ran and pulled him out of the pool by holding his hand. He was feeling as embarassed as I had felt a day before. . I then said to him, “What a coincidence?” and resumed my swimming practice. He was standing at the other end and staring at me.
posted by Himanshu at 11:53 PM
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