Iam not much of an adventurous person. However, I do enjoy exploring new things. Doing things for the first time has its own charm. And this charm lured me into jet skiing, despite being afraid of water.

One Sunday morning, I and my friends went to the beach to relax, rejuvenate and have a good time together. When we found out that a jet skiing club was operating nearby, we decided to visit the site.

We went there and saw a lot of fascinating activity going on. Some of my friends were quite willing to go for jet skiing, thus we decided to be a part of the adventure and got registered on the spot.

My friends’ turn came after almost an hour, during that time we took pictures, bathed in the sun, ate snacks, played games and fully utilised the wait.

I had played other water sports in the past, but never attempted jet skiing, therefore, I was bit sceptical at first. My friends’ strong persuasion skills and the prospect of doing something new made me interested in going for this sport.

So when my turn came, I felt a bit nervous about wearing a life jacket, gloves and a helmet. As I was doing this for the first time, an instructor was asked to accompany me. I was really scared, my heart was pounding and I didn’t even take any pictures.

I was given 20 minutes to ride it. Mounting the jet ski was not easy. The continuous waves were making the jet ski float away, so the support crew had to hold it still for me to hop on. My trainer took the handle and I sat behind her, clinging very tightly. She started the jet ski and we accelerated into the deep blue sea. It was breathtaking. I closed my eyes, letting my mind be slave to the beautiful sensation I felt in the open. The water appeared less scary and blowing winds cleansed my mind from all fears.

My trainer asked me if I wanted to ride it, I said yes. She drove for the first 15 minutes and then we switched places very carefully. She gave me all the important instructions and started the ski. At first, I was bit clumsy but then, when I figured the technique to ride it, I rode it quite well. I felt as if I was riding into infinity, leaving this world and its worries behind. It was perhaps a moment of ecstasy, thrilling and soothing at the same time.

The whole experience was not just exhilarating, but very refreshing. I decided to do it more often. It is one of the best exercises to recharge the mind and cheer up the soul.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 12th, 2016