A new skill

 One of my greatest fears is death by drowning. Images of a Thekkady boat tragedy and Prithviraj in Ennu Ninte Moideen often pop up in the back of my mind. And even when the rest of the family make maximum use of the pool during hotel stays and water park trips, I always stay on shore hating the mess that water entails.

But when bro came and goaded me to put the kids for swimming or badminton, it changed some patterns at home. So twice a week V came home from work and took the kids all the way back to his office area in Dubai for swimming lessons. The two of us often sat and watched like many other parents as our wards improved their skills with each passing day. Sometimes we made a quick one-hour shopping at Lulu. 

On one of our sit-ins, we met Johnson, the boxer turned entrepreneur who ran Westford Sports. He encouraged us to join saying that age-related injuries didnt affect swimming as much as it did badminton (V has started going for the latter with his colleagues). 

Finally, we made the plunge this month and yesterday was our first session. We got the same trainers as the kids. Carin was patient and encouraging. After gingerly stepping into the pool at first, I toddled in the water until the deep side holding her hands. And then she taught me to inhale and breathe under water. It was pretty dreadful and I wished I could just quit. The water went into my nose and ears and I thought I was going to die. I searched for V in the next lane to tell him I wanted to stop and if the children could use my classes instead. He was not around, and Carin kept telling me it was okay and I could take my time. It got a little better soon, and then we progressed to keeping my head underwater and floating. After the initial habit of closing my eyes each time I dunked, I slowly gathered courage to open my eyes from the safety of the goggles and see the water and floor beneath. The water was beautiful and shone in the night lights. 

At the end of the one hour session, I was beginning to enjoy my time under water like a fish. No more the fear that my heart and lungs would burst and I would be dead by the end of the training.

I hope unlike my driving and cycling training, this will be one skill I will complete and use after I pass.