Journey to the Destination of Flight

by Nivedita Rathor (India)

A leap into the unknown India

I stared up into the vast expanse of sky, my face plastered to the windowpane as hushed whispers of excitement rose behind me. Mountain crests disappeared into the grey clouds, initiating to pour down while varying shades of colors dotted the stormy sky with excitement. As the bus came to a halt, a shiver skittered down my spine as I descended to see the entire landscape in my field of vision, scattered with people coming down from the sky while others eagerly awaited their turn. Today, I, too, was going to grow a pair. Of wings. Standing in Bir, sun shone over us with stunning brilliance as the lush green mountains surrounding the grassy plains paved way to Billing, the highest spot for paragliding in Asia, from where I was going to take the first flight of my life. Hours passed by and soon evening was on us, as I and my friends stepped out of the mini truck that had ferried us all the way to Billing, traversing steep, bumpy and the sharp curving mountainous passages. Exhilaration knocked me right in the gut the instant I looked around. Right behind me in the distance was a lone camp standing atop a snow covered cliff. And in front of me were endless depths and unlimited possibilities. Gusts of wind were strong and chilling to the bone. I regretted not bringing my gloves. Around me, I saw my friends and other tourists being equipped with the appropriate gears in hurry, for the weather was worsening and light drizzle was already on us. As a guide hollered me, I ran up to him, my eyes fixated into the far off distance where a glider had gone for a ride. It was way darker over there. Pulling down a helmet on my head, I fastened the belts below my chin, and buckled myself to the harness as the pilot joined me in the rear one. “You have to run” The guide, Raju explained. “Sorry, what?!” I asked bewildered, my frenzied eyes focusing on the dip a few meters in front of me. If my leg was to get caught in one of the rocks, I and the Pilot Danny were going to snowball straight down the mountain. “Run when I signal you to” I nodded nonetheless awaiting Raju’s signal as he hurried towards the edge, and the instant he turned around, I picked up my legs and bolted. The glider weighed a ton and we had barely brisk walked, when Raju caught the suspension lines connected to the wings being dragged behind us, and pulled me forward. My breath hitched and I paused. We were almost at the edge and he had no safety on, whatsoever. “Run”, He shouted and I willed myself forward. One step. Two steps. Three steps. And the land was no more. Just like that we had walked off the cliff and were soaring into the sky with Danny steering the glider with ease. This truly had been a leap of faith. Adjusting myself in the seat, I looked around in unbridled awe. We were at 8000 ft from sea level and I was flying. Straightening my arms to the sides I laughed, taking in mouthful of cold, fresh air. Looking down, I saw the terrace farms decorating the landscape, tiny houses, roads and alleys cutting across, and Bir where we had been and where we were supposed to land. In a while. Right now, my head was in the clouds. Literally. And I felt invincible. Until Danny decided to take the glider for a swing and spun us around in a complete circle. “Danny, keep it straight! No acrobatics!” I shouted, trying to calm down my stomach. Thankfully, it did and we made a smooth landfall. Two hours later, as I lay down on my back beside my friend, we stared at the night sky enamored. Below us, the entire city was shining with the night lights and above us sky was lit up with a gazillion of stars. A view truly befitting of a dream come true.