Get the drift??

I remember those days(more than a decade ago) when we used to go for these picnics, in and around Ranchi. That place was really blessed with many waterfalls(Dasham, Hundru Hirni.. some of the names I remember). And there is this place called Panch Ghat. Anyone who has been there will vouch that it is a near perfect "picnic spot": a tranquil stream cornering the soft bends, crystal clear waters - knee-deep at best, soft powdery river bed. It was just the right place for our parents to let lose their brats and not worry much. I say that since the other mighty waterfalls are guilty of frequent fatal accidents. Dasham falls is especially notorious for gobbling at least one hapless soul, who would have dived right into the base of the fall in a show of extreme bravado only to be crushed by the majestic force of the falling waters, every year. No wonder the parents were concerned about the safety factor of the picnic spot as such.

A drive for a couple of hours, nonetheless, on roads that would put the lunar surface to shame(Lalu zindabaad!!), would take us to these watery havens, where we would let ourselves go wild: diving, floating, swimming, splashing, bubble-babbling(aka going under-water with lungfulls of air and letting out huge bubbles/or even letting out screams in those bubbles). We would just refuse to get out of the water. We would hungrily wolf down the sandwiches or parantha-achar rolls that were handed by the mummys on the shore who were merrily catching up on the gossip while nonchalantly conjuring up those easy-to-eat treats for us. There would be a casual call to the kids to be careful which we would reply to in the affirmative, only to resume our activites.

The papas would be in the water with us, hence we would try to edge our way out of there sight, to get some "real" adventure. Mind you, we were 'young men'(we would try to leave the girls behind) and we were true adventure seekers. we obviously had to find out the where the silent stream would scream down the jagged rocks to break into a deadly waterfall. We had to find the deepest spot in the water where we could not touch the bed with our feet and put our recently acquired swimming skills, in the club pool, to good use. We had to search for the dangerous aquatic animals. we would have given anything to see a crocodile. Ever thought, how exciting a story that would make - to share with our school-mates the following day. With all these thoughts in our heads, we would forge ahead surreptitiously with a gleam of excitement in the eyes.

"Get back here.. you are going too far", sounds a booming baritone. The echo adds to the effect.

"But uncle.. we are only here.. we'll be back in a jiffy.. something out there looks exciting..", replies a sugary tone. Lot of hope there. Rule of the thumb, of course, was to make sure one doesn't reply to one's own parent. The uncle/aunty effect was needed.

"Tinku.. back here.. NOW", with an extra boom. Damn the echo. The voice had just got personal.

"Haannnn........", trailing squeak. Had one tried to measure the decibels on that one, he/she would have got an award for discovering a sound with the lowest value ever.

We would come trooping back with sullen faces.. the sticks that would have aided us in our adventure had been disposed of or were being dragged behind us like dead bodies. we were carrying our dead adventurous spirt with us. Another splash in the water and everything would be fine again. Kids.. they are only sad till something else catches their fancy. And there is never a shortage of such things in the open outdoors.