When I Found My Aurora

by Tanha Emita (Bangladesh)

A leap into the unknown Bangladesh

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I have never been to the wild before. The salty enchantment of rhythm canyon, the molten flavours of butterfly summer, and the origami tasselled with cloudy and watery hue- all in a package- for the first time in my life. I had slightly heard the notion that we are going to visit the Humhum waterfall. After exploring the forests of Sylhet, one blooming morning, we journeyed toward our ultimate destination. Me and my friends in a Chander Gari (Small minivan), and two guides ready with bamboo sticks, Savlon bottles, Oils, salt and turmeric. I was curious, asked them why so much precaution. It was then I got to learn about leeches. I had seen leeches in movies, but having anything like that in any of my body parts actually did not send any chilling sensation to my brain. We contemplated the tea gardens, sang local songs aloud, bumped our heads with the minivan - and after two hours reached the small village, from where our climb began. I saw a murky road ahead, taking a small curve to the left, and vanished amidst the chuddar of the leafy ocean. Reaching the curve, a dark entrance welcomed me. As we began to go up, it didn't seem really hard. I was afraid I might slip in the puddles laying here and there as I have some issues with balance. After crossing four ascensions, my fear became true. I glided over my guide, and somehow he managed to control my downfall. My confidence lowered to 70%. I asked him how many more we'd have to climb. Replied the second guide, Taijul. He said we still have to go for 80-90 minutes and need to climb 26 big and small ascents yet. I thought if I need to go the rest of the path just by gliding on, I'll still do that. The forest grew thicker as we went on- we heard a lot of birds chirping nearby but saw none. The guides said birds and animals avoid this path as people use this path regularly. The golden ray of the sun poured barely through the tainted green hue and suddenly. By that time we had climbed three hills, each about 800 feet, and I had slipped about 10 times or more. My situation was so exhausting that I took off my snickers and decided to go barefoot. We finally settled to take some rest. Everything from there seemed mesmerizing. The cacophonous harmony of the crickets made like a humming tune of nature. The last descent to Humhum was fearsome. The rocks were smooth and dry down the first 50 steps. Trouble started beginning hereafter. Local people had put the bamboo railings to hold on while stepping down the nature-made staircase. But the sloppy steps made it a turmoil. I slipped, again and again, my whole body shivered and I was loudly chanting the almighty's name. When finally I got down from the stairs, I laid straight down into the cold water. The water came from the cistern at the feet of Humhum. The pebbles under my feet gave me like some massage, my fatigue was evaporating. It was a cautious walk, however. Some rocks were too slippery. The water was opaque, so there was no way to find out where to take the next step. Suddenly I realized something moving down my cleavage. I thought it could be the water and raised one hand to remove the droplets. But, it was neither water nor sprinkles of my dripping sweat. It was a leech. Dark yellow and black stripes all over its body. I couldn't scream or anything. I was just bemused however it got there. Patiently I told my teammates that I got a leech near to my breasts. It caused a flow of heavy laughter around the group. One of my friends came forward and removed it with just her bare hands. Right at that moment, I knew I was ready for great adventures ahead in my life. Hum hum is now in sight. The foamy shower flowing proudly adorning the incarnadine shadows. I ran to float in the bottom. I am in the arms of the mountain.