I am always dressed right for the occasion. Even when I am not expected to, I am.
First I went shopping at Decathlon for the perfect outfit. The salesperson there asked, “Novice or professional?” I replied, “Of course a novice but aiming to be a professional. What do you suggest?” I bought the novice gear, two colours for each.
So, back to now, where I am dressed right. The most insignificant part of the act is done. Now was the time for me to venture into the biggest fear of my life. The surface was perfectly flat, glassy. I touched it with my feet, cold as expected. Dabbed it with my hands, got colder if that’s a possibility. “Do you want to do this or what? I have a kids’ batch later.” That made me wonder if this is something that I really had to do? At 29, I have all the possible luxuries at my disposal, does this really have to be ticked off my bucket list?
I climbed down the steps until the water was chest deep, this seemed surreal. “Now breathe in through your mouth and breathe out through your nose as hard as you can inside the water.” I tried breathing in, but the air wouldn’t just come out of my nose. Suddenly there was water in my nose and mouth that sparked a memory. The memory of why I quit in the first place and why I have been baulking at the water for the last 22 years. “Just get into the water, look there are kids younger to you, you are 8 years old now. Don’t you think it is embarrassing? You have to learn how to swim,” bellowed Dev, my older cousin. I wouldn’t budge, so the next thing I sense is rough hands on my shoulders & chlorinated water in my eyes, nose and throat. I gave up and conjectured this is what death felt like. At 8, I thought water is not for me I am content in a wave pool with the 4-year-olds all my life.
When I was 17, I read two of Dr Brian Weiss’ books and was reassured that I had a horrible accident in my past life and the cause of my death was drowning. I pretentiously mentioned this to a couple of acquaintances whenever there was a swimming opportunity. While booking rooms at resorts, for me private pools have always been like decoration and for the resorts to charge exorbitant prices. I never understood why people enjoyed being by the pool and why do they like being soaked at parties? I was always the one who enjoyed the vibe, the dancing, the drinking of cocktails but never inside a pool.
“Madam, will you please try?” implored the instructor. “OK OK”, I acceded. I gave it another go. “Keep your eyes open, don’t worry this pool is only 4 feet deep and you have the glasses on.” I opened my eyes, and I could see a beautiful hue of the blue inside. I tried breathing out with my nose again and saw bubbles in the water. It did not seem that scary anymore, the water was tranquil. “Yes, that’s right. Do it again. You got it right.” I emerged out of the water and put my hands up in the air triumphant. “I did it, did I not?” The kids outside the pool looked unimpressed. The instructor chuckled, “Yes, now the only thing that’s left is swimming.” So, the first day all I did was breathe in through my mouth and breathe out from my nose inside the water. I followed up this exercise in the bathtub as well until there was a bang on the bathroom door. “Enough, get ready for work now,” my husband screamed.
Day two was when I realised I am buoyant, day three I could glide across the breadth of the pool by flapping my legs alone. Day four was so much more than just that, I could keep my eyes open all along the gliding and flapping. By now I had started enjoying this, and in the next 6 days, I could swim. Rather swim enough to enjoy the pool. I realised swimming is not only an essential rescue mechanism but also a calming exercise. Cleaving the water with rhythmic strokes and reaching the other end of the pool by escaping the dull drag of gravity is such a freeing experience.
Bespectacled View 