The life is so monotonous and tiring that it compels us to pause and redo our senses. We want to leave our job and retire to the greens in the Himalayas.The same moment came in my life when I was wading through the deep waters of the "Rogue Island". I was determined to do rafting in Rishikesh, but my friends were feared about the depth, the indomitable rapids, and the crocodiles in the Ganges.They tried everything to change my plans, but I was not going to give up.

The last day of the trip came and two of the four friends left for the "Rogue Island".I and another friend caught the bus to Rishikesh.We reached there in the night and the next night, we had to monitor the skies of the "Rogue Island". Early in the morning, we reached Ramjhula.We asked from a kiosk about the charges of rafting.My friend was very apprehensive about the safety in rafting.He was asking for the shortest possible distance.It was too early and there were no rafting groups.Finally, a open jipsy with 10-11 dudes from Delhi stopped before us.My friend took his steps back and said that he won't keep his life on stake as these dudes were determined to do 21 KM of adventure on the Ganges.The image of ferocious and indomitable rapids of the Ganges must have feared him and he decided to stay there in the kiosk.I jumped into the jipsy and I found myself out of place amidst the big dudes drinking and smoking.

The journey began to take us to the point from where we were supposed to take the control of the raft.The half broken bridge, small boulders slipping down the hill and the sharp turns of hilly roads were the things to capture.Within 20 odd minutes, we, the soldiers, to win over the cruel rapids of the Ganges, reached Shivpuri(the initiation point).Three groups were there to showcase their mettle and to nourish their senses.Everybody was given a proper training of teminologies and the use of rescue rope, and the risk factor involved.There was a big plump guy who was uncomfortable sitting on the sides of the raft as we were.Because it would have made the raft unstable and we would have found us lying on some sand beach beside the Ganges.So the plump guy was made to take the control of the front and enjoy the blunt of rapids on his face.

Two professionals were on-board to help us during mishaps.The raft was given a push through the shallow waters kissing the banks of the Ganges and all of us hopped on the raft and took control in our respective positions. The rapid was nothing to fear until I saw one.The gallons of water rose and rose high it tried to overpower the big dudes and turn the raft turtle.I can't explain how much exciting it was to face the splashes and at the same time my feet began to tremble.The professional rafters had a name for each rapid. They categorised the rapid as a minor one.Everybody on the raft shouted with excitement that they won't be able to go back.The three major rapids were waiting for us. I couldn't imagine how high would it be and how much gallons of water would it throw on us?Would it submerge the raft? Would the rescue rope come into the picture to save a drowning soldier? Where would I find myself if I fall over the edge of the raft?Would it be the bed of the Ganges, some beach on inside a whirlpool?

The wait was not so long and in a few seconds, we were going to hit the first major rapid. It was a continuum of four hemispheres which were dancing in all directions and were as powerful as hundreds of elephants.The guides shouted, "Be ready!!!! we are going to hit the black tornado(name of the rapid)".My legs were trembling and I was trying to push myself inside the raft.The raft stood straight as it hit the first hemisphere of the rapid.As it rose to the peak, all of us were thrown to the back of the raft and it unbalanced the raft.Now the raft was on the mercy of the black toranado.The guides encouraged us and to take the charge.As soon as we realized what happened, we fell into the hemisphere which was dancing in all the diractions and pushed us to the rocks beside the river.We were about to hit the rock and a big acident was waiting for us.Literally, I surrendered like everybody did.But the professionals who were with us during our journey rescued the raft and took the raft clear out of the black tornado.

It was the time to take some rest and drink some water as all of us were tired, although we hadn't done anything except sitting idle on the raft. A boy was selling Maggi and mineral water and few steps ahead, there was a jumping point. All of us took a holy jump into the Ganges and got ready to cover up the next half of our extravaganza.We hit three major rapids and 7-8 minor rapids in our journey.

The Laxaman Jhula was about to come.Few of us jumped into the Ganges using rescue rope and played with water.I could literally sleep on the river bed and it was feeling like a thing not to vanish. We all crossed the Laxman Jhula lying on the river bed.Suddenly, the guides shouted that final rapid is waiting for us. So, get in. All of us hurried up and the colleagues on board push us up.We crossed the rapid without any hitch and we looked up it was Ram Jhula showing its strength and courage as it had been showing for the ages.

Guess what was the name of the rapid.The name was "Thanks God!!!!".All of us shouted high facing sky, "Thanks Goddddddddddddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"