The blessed fall …

An unexpected paragliding experience..

The throwback to my family trip to Shimla, Manali in year 2013.
Rohtang pass was our next visit spot, but since few days there had been a heavy snowfall at high area of Shimla leading to prohibition of tourists to Rohtang valley. At nighttime, when generally our guide narrates the next day plans, informed us that Rohtang pass is closed for tourists and hence the
destination is replaced with Solang valley. I wasn’t very happy with this, Rohtang pass had been an important tourist destination in Shimla package and everyone wants to go, so do I.
The very next morning after covering a few local points, we eventually reached the valley. Solang Valley, is also known as Solang Nala derives its name from a combination of two words – Solang and Nullah. Solang means ‘nearby village’ and Nullah mean “water stream”. The valley was no doubtlessly beautiful
comprised of magnificent slopes of green lawn covered with tall pine trees and surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Besides admiring its picturesque landscapes, Solang Valley was also famous for its various adventures winter sports. Looking around all I could see people skiing in the pure, driven snow, few were zorbing, tumbling down the green slope with transparent sphere and few waiting in queue to enjoy the rope way ride.
After a quick family discussion, we all took a ropeway ride to reach on top of the mountain to catch an entire view of the valley from the top. While we were enjoying our view, l came across the jump station for Paragliding. It was very exciting to witness how people wearing those huge parachutes jumping off the hill to fly in the skies. I told my father I want to this. At start my mother was skeptical about it, but my father easily convinced her and we go forward towards the jumping station. After doing with our ticketing, we reach the jumping spot. There were about 5-6 Paragliding pilots standing in line with
passenger about to fly. One of the pilots took the ticket and started equipping me the harness and slowly walking towards the tip of slope instructing me to jump after his counting. I ask him to wait and go in the next round since the station was already over-filled with riders. But he was in a hurry and said
no-issue, he can cope well. He started to countdown 1,2,3… and before I should leap from the slope, I felt a bit heavier on my shoulder and lower body, I was getting pulled by something and in fraction of seconds before I even realized I fell off from the slope rolling down the hill. My parachute suspension lines, which looks like thin, transparent thread got entangled into other’s parachute lying beside us making it heavier and releasing immense pressure pushing my body.
Everyone around me was panicked and shouting out loud for someone to hold me. My pilot immediately removes his carriage bag and scrolled down to hold me and pulled me up. For a minute everything around me was dark, I was blank and numb. My dad came running from behind, started shouting the pilot. The people around also joined in and started shouting and bawling out at the pilot. The entire episode was frightening, I got a big scratch on my elbows and knees. I completely lost my hope and ask my dad to do it on behalf of me, I don’t want to go now. Dad came forward and by holding my hand, said ” that’s ok if you fall for the first time, but it’s not ok if you give up without even trying for second time”. He boosted me back with the same energy and enthusiasm I had before and I was wholly set to fly again.

The second take off was perfect and I was finally flying above the land. There are no words to portray the experience, the mesmerizing views. Everything was so perfect in a spell.I was busy enjoying the views, when my pilot in his sturdy voice, stated “Sorry madam”. I assure him, it was ok, but he should never get into so hurry and risk lives.He apologizes, saying “Madam, humlog ko
din ka minimum rides karna hota hai, uspe hi paise milte hai.Aur aap jaisa hum ropeway se nahi ja shakate upar, hume chad kar jana padta hai. Ye 15min ke ride ke liye hum adha-adha ghanta ye parachute ka bag lekar upar chadna padta hai”.” Toh yaha ka har pilot ye hi chahta hai ki kaam se kaam
time mai jyada ride karke , chadkar upar jaye”. Aap please meri complaint maat karna niche,Muje bhi laga hai madam haat pe par mai kisko bolunga”.
Listening to this I feel broken and I was speechless. I apologize to him on behalf of my father and others and told him not to worry, we won’t complain about him. That second I realized how it’s not always right to scold or shout at a person without even knowing his side. Later on, we had a great talk, regarding theamazing facts of valley, village, and his family and hard work everything. As a bonus he rides me for more 5 minutes, taking to the location which are not commonly covered by tourist. The location was exactly near the water stream surrounding by glaciers and village nesting beside it, from where the valley actually got its name. The view still gives me goosebumps while thinking about it. Such divine view
it was! I didn’t even realize how a half hour passed off and it was time to land back to the ground. We had our safe landing, Reaching back to the ground, he released me out of parachute saying “Chalo madam chalta Hu”.I thanked him me for such an amazing and memorable ride and particularly for that bonus 5 minute ride. He smiled back pleasantly and left.I run back to my dad, who was waiting for me as far, and narrated him the entire story. Hewanted to apologize and thank him. We went searching for him, but he simply disappeared in seconds.
I guess he went off climbing the mount for his next passenger……..

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