This was something I had secretly dreamt of doing for ages. I could not back out now. The sheer size and gradient of the wall that I was about to climb made goose bumps erupt on my arms. I tried to swallow away the lump that seemed to be lodged in my throat and took a deep breath.

I swept my eyes over the wall and pondered. If I fell or if the rope severed, I would probably break every bone in my body, I thought with a shudder. But I was determined not to back away now.

I had been begging my parents to take me rock climbing for ages. Now I was standing at the foot of the rock climbing wall near Lake View Park, Islamabad, and I was terrified. I suffered from fear of heights and now I gritted my teeth. The person-in-charge secured a contraption around my waist and shoulders, and handed me the climbing shoes.

The wall I was about to climb had deep ridges and protrusions. I stood at its base and flexed my fingers. Already a queue had formed behind me and I heard a few young men crack jokes at my expense. They thought that a young teenage girl did not have the guts to do something so audacious.

I was infuriated. With a new burst of energy and determination, kindled by my anger, I leapt onto the wall and grabbed a protrusion. My foot found a ridge and I pushed myself upwards. The steel cable attached to my back knocked against my head but I ignored it.

I steadily climbed on. My arms and legs sometimes felt too short to reach a protrusion, but I battled on. First foot up, then pull by arm, then other foot up and then grip by hand.

Suddenly I realised that I was no longer afraid. In fact I felt exhilarated!

I was now more than halfway up. The thought made me smile. I paused and risked a glance below and was shocked. The ground looked far away and people looked like miniature dolls.

The crowd below looked up at me with wonderment. This was an adult’s playground but it seemed as if a little kid, that was me, was about to conquer it.

I looked up and felt a new wave of determination. ‘I am going to do it,’ I thought. First foot up, pull by arm; other foot up, grab with hand. This way, I soon reached the top of the wall. The crowd below me started cheering. Gripping an artificial rock with one hand, I raised the other in a victory gesture. I could see my proud father clicking the camera and my brothers waving and clapping.

I almost lost my balance as a gust of wind buffeted against me, but I tightened my grip and grinned. Steel cables don’t break, right? The descent, in contrast was easier. The cable became taut as I leaned back and abseiled.

Thoroughly enjoying my adventure now, my hands gripped the cable and I descended the wall quite easily, careful to follow the instructor’s directions. My feet finally touched terra firma again, and still grinning from ear to ear I got rid of the ropes securing me and launched into my father’s arms. I had not only climbed the wall, I had also vanquished my fear of heights.

Now it was time to retrieve my shoes!

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 21st, 2017