Shalaka Says - Once A Swimmer...

I am a natural swimmer, they say.

You throw me into the water and I'd swim like a mermaid...or a tadpole, some say. (Please don't throw me by surprise though, I will press some real charges, I swear!)

Well it all started when I was summer holidaying for the very first time with my cousins at their father's company provided, get-away villas near Goa. And oh, they were swanky! #CantGetEnough

Actually it was more like a resort slash township with lots and lots of villas, built exclusively for the creamy layer of the company. My goodness, ever since I saw that, I only wished to become someone big when I'd grow up...you know, someone higher in hierarchy, someone really important - just like my uncle. So I would also end up getting such cool get-aways like him. (Well, the hard-work, experience and knowledge part didn't crossed my mind back then, OK? I was 12!) But by all means, he was and always have been my inspiration! #ProudOfMyFamily

Coming back to our trip to those villas, each of them had their own, big swimming pool. Riiight, now you are getting the big picture here! #RichDreamsComeTrue

Well, my cousins were already pro, because they would go for daily lessons back at school. I, on the other hand, studied in a typical government public school. So swimming or any other luxurious hobby was strictly prohibited or rather punishable by death! #90sKids

But I was the eldest among us, hence it was an utter shame for me not knowing how to swim. #SeptaUnellaChantingShame #PleaseWatchGOT

But still I would tag along with them everyday to have some fun time by pool. And that means - me watching them swim and play water-polo like a pro, while I sit back and relax on wooden benches eating Pringles and Jelly Beans. #PerfectSummer

Well on one such mornings, my Mum was there accompanying us. And she saw me getting all awkward - pulling a rather 'Scaredy Dog' and doing 'chhap-chhap' by the shallow ends of the pool. #WhySwimWhenYouCanWalk

And she did not like that - Not.One.Bit.Of.It!

Here, I should tell you something about my Mum - Don't go all mushy with the word 'Mum'. She was not mushy. She was the opposite of mushy!

She was a high school teacher. Meaning, she was a strict, stubborn, iron lady who hated failing, losing, whining, being afraid and anything that comes under this category of human emotions. She just plain hated losers. And she would hate it even more if she finds her only daughter being one. #NotOnMyWatch

I really don't remember getting a 'B+' in tests and making it through the day without a head smash! #SheMadeItCoolBeforeTheHulk

But she would go any distances to make sure that I don't stay a loser...that I become strong and fight back...that I don't end up being a scaredy dog. She was a real fighter you know, always have been. Well, God rest her beautiful, brave yet scary soul!

So, everyone watching, she pulled me out of the shallow waters, dragged me all the way to the nine feet deep zone while I screamed, kicked and tried to pull away from her to no avail and just threw me into the pool!

I drowned!

I was drowning in front of my Mum!

I was kicking and shaking. My hands were flapping like headless chicken wings for seven or eight long minutes. And no, I didn't have floaters tied to my waist or thrown at my rescue. Huh, you think someone would dare cross my Mum in this effin world? You dumb?

And I remember being scared to death for the very first time in my life. I was choking, I couldn't breath and all I could see was a blurred vision of my Mum standing near the edge, both hands folded and just silently looking back at me.

I tried and tried and tried for minutes. My feet were touching the bottom of the pool. I felt this is the end of me.

Then suddenly my survival instinct kicked in. With the last ounce of energy left in me I kicked the floor hard and launched myself forward to came out of the water. #IDidIronMan.

It worked. I was on the surface again, I could breathe again. Relieved, I started kicking even more and extended my arms to reach nearest pool ladders. Somehow I managed to grab one. I hung on it for my dear life and pulled myself out of the water. And then I just lied there on the ladder, breathing hard, coughing and practically crying. #TrueStory

Everyone was watching me, rather amused. And I felt humiliated. I felt defeated. On top of that, I felt totally betrayed by my own mother. I mean, whatever happened to mothers being protective and stuff? #90sMothersBeLike #ChildProtectionWhatsThat

I somehow managed to look up to meet her glaring eyes and before I could utter a single word, I was pushed back into the pool again!

Same drowning. Same kicking. Same humiliation, all over again.

The wave of survival hit me second time and I managed to come out again, this time to the farther end of the pool, in a hope to get away from my Mum. But man, was she faster than the Quick Silver! She caught me before I could even climb the ladder and pushed me back for the third time.

Funny question - how long one can last before being drowned for third time in a row? I guess zero times.

This time I could not come out on my own. I was floating in the centre of the pool head down. I had no energy left in me to fight back. I just gave up.

Oh, I am sorry - were you expecting me to magically learn swimming by this time? That happens only in Bollywood movies, people. #HanikarakMummy

The pool boy finally came to my rescue. He pulled me out of the water and made me rest for some minutes. Everyone gathered around me, this time more worried than amused. I was shaking and coughing water all over. I was too tired to say anything. I just sat there staring blankly ahead.

And there was my Mum, ready with a nice hot cup of chocolate and super soft bathrobe. She covered me with the robe and thrust the cup in my hands, ordering me to take a sip. I took one and felt warm in a micro second. Somehow I was back on earth. You see, she was a softball under all that hard shell after all. #MummasGirl

In next few minutes, everything was back to normal. cousins were back in pool. Helpers were back to their own business. I could hear trees rustle and bird chirping or probably laughing at me in bird-tongue. #WhatALoser

And I sat there with my Mum. I did not even want to look at her. I was angry, hurt, upset and just plain ashamed.

Then she spoke in a softest yet the most affirming voice I ever heard.

"Listen now girl. I wasn't expecting you to learn swimming in that first push...not on day one...not even the whole summer here."

"But I wanted you to stop quitting before trying. I wanted you to learn the things that scare you the most. I wanted you to learn never giving up no matter what."

"I want you to be strongest among them all. You try and fail and try again until you learn - not just the swimming part, but also the pure joy of beating your worst fears!"

"Remember, you are my flesh and blood, and we never give up!"

...I never felt more warmth in my blood ever before. These were her real words, although spoken in our native tongue and translated here in English for your benefit. And if they sound too sketchy to you, a little foot note - they are from a stage four Cancer survivor who also happens to be a state-level boxing champion in her younger days. Those words are still resounding in my mind fresh as ever.

Well, next morning I tried again. I tried with floaters first...then without floaters. I also took help from my cousins. I learned some breath-holding techniques from them. For the whole summer there, I did nothing but trying every day without fail.

Slowly but surely I started getting a hang of it. I managed to stay afloat for more than a couple of minutes. I started building more stamina for kicking. I improved my breath-holding technique. My arms slowly started to work in one rhythm. I could hold my body in correct form.

By end of the summer, I learned swimming.

Well, not as a pro but a beginner, a good one at that nevertheless.

All this time my Mum was there to overlook my improvement. On the last day of our stay, she joined me in the pool to celebrate my efforts. She was happy and mildly proud. #NotEasyToPlease

Well, ever since then I can swim like a natural. Even if I didn't go for swimming classes back at home, whenever we would go back to those summer villas I could swim - at first like a tadpole...but later like a mermaid who was born to swim!

Do you see? It is not about getting things right at the very first try. Don't expect to master the art of anything in day one.

If you are lucky, you will get to try and learn it over the period of time on your own.

But if you are luckier, you will be thrown head-first into the pool - the pool we call life.

You will get drowned with the sudden tasks and responsibilities. You will try to defend yourself hard, to get away from those, but they will get back at you even harder. But would you give up?

No, just learn how to breath and kick. And keep doing it until you rise above the water.

Find the rhythm in your working style. Find a balance between your work and life. Complete things at hand and put them back to move forward. Enlist some help from your mentors, colleagues or even subordinates if you must, there is no shame in that. Learn some fool-proof techniques from them and improve on it further. Be aware of your surrounding so you'd know where to go next. You will get it. Give it some time. You will struggle at first, then hustle around like a beginner but slowly and surely you will be a pro at it. And most importantly, once you learn it by sweat and heart - you will never unlearn it.

So I'd say - once a swimmer, always a swimmer!

Last but not the least, It's okay to be afraid, but just don't stay afraid. Defeat your fears.

And always remember to celebrate the victories with your loved ones. That's the best part, trust me!

As a matter of fact it has been a while I went for a swim. But I know when I am back, I will be the mermaid in the water.