A fish in me !!!

I think I was a fish in my last birth. The reason I am saying this is that the love I have, being in water no matter whether it is small pond or a well or a river or a sea. As my childhood was spent in a village, taking bath in a pump-set of a agricultural field was a normal routine. My Chitthappa (father's brother) was a brave person and a great diver too. He used to dive deep into water in the village common well to bring out the motor & pump that would submerge due to heavy rain. He was my guru in swimming.

My first swimming training (!) happened when I was 12 when I visited his place near Vellore during summer holidays. In the first day of the swimming training, the task assigned to me was to jump from top of the village well (may be 30 feet depth!). Without a second thought I did it. He later mentioned to my mom that he was worried when I did not come out of water for a minute and got earful from my mom :)

Swimming in Cauvery is a nice feeling. In our school summer holidays, my family used to camp at another chitthappa's place (Marudur near Trichy). Going to Cauvery as whole family with sisters, cousins & parents for bathing was our daily ritual. It was not easy for our parents to get us out of water, every time it would be a begging by us for '5 more minutes' :)

When I was in 8th class, my name was picked up in lucky draw in a temple donation drive in my village (my donation was 2 rupees :)). I went to Kodaikanal with my childhood friend on a free tour without my parents accompanying me but the neighbors and known organizers. On the way to Kodai, the tour bus stopped in Silver Cascade water falls. In spite of biting cold in the morning, I plunged into water and had nice bath but had severe ear pain for few hours.

When we shifted to Dharmapuri, I used to pedal for 5 km to the nearest public swimming pool & swim with my friend Shankar in spite of knowing someone drowned there and were rumours that ghost was haunting around the pool :)

During bachelorhood days in Bangalore, Jayanagar 4th block swimming pool was my favorite. It is a large and deep pool. My real kick was to go down to touch the floor of the pool at its deepest point. Initial few times I had to abort my attempt in half way as it used to get darker inside, but felt too good when I achieved it.

Once I went to Hogenakkal with my office friend. On seeing kids of fishermen jumping off from a cliff to the gorge  I could not resist myself, thank God my friend thwart my idea, so I am writing this blog now !!!

Once while swimming Cauvery alone in Mokkombu (near Trichy) , I got cramps and could not move my legs. Scariest moments.

In Chicago I used to swim in Lake Michigan during summer while my little daughter enjoyed playing on the shore & my wife had an eye on me for not going too far in water.

During our second trip to US,  I enjoyed north shore beaches in New Jersey.  Swam in Atlantic ocean Asbury beach, Atlantic city,  Point pleasant & sea side height beaches. My daughter used to give me company until she complaint of discomfort due to rough wave and after that it was no-no from my wife.

I always thought there should be some purpose of my swimming skills eventhough I am not an expert. During our offsite trip to Siluguri (West Bengal) in 2018, we were staying in some resort in the Himalayan range. I along with a group of my colleagues were enjoying in the pool and it was raining. Suddenly I noticed one guy was drowning at a distance. I immediately swam to him, went underwater and lifted him out of water and took him to shallow place. I forgot the incident until he sent me a WhatApp message on his birthday thanking me !

This fish never stops swimming ... :)