Journey by a boat can be a very interesting experience but, it can spell danger as well. This is what I have learned by my one and only and the first experience at boating.

During the summer vacations we had gone to for our holidays as, there lived a few of our relatives and friends. At Varanasi, the Ganges flows at its bloom and that is what I had wanted to enjoy and I had never lived near any expanse of water, me the very sight of water thrills me to Varanasi Had gone all of us, my parents and my elder brother, when was just about seven years old.

Since I was always fon4 0f any water expanse, the thought of going to a place where I would be able to be near and see the Ganges made feel very excited. Within my mind I had already planned to 80 to the Ganges and enjoy the trip.

Theie, at Varanasi, we were a group of six of us all of the same group I being the youngest. Every day we used to Play and go out together. One day while we were playing, mZ elder brother who is also very fond of water planned with the others that, the next day we would visit the Ganges, and there go for a boating spree.

My brother and I knew that, if We told our parents about the plan they would not allov us to go alone, so, we kept it a secret from them. The next morning we just told them that we were all going out for sightseeing in the town, and they obviously allowed us so now all the six of us got together and went to the venire of the river.

At the banks of the Ganges, there were a number of ghats and a number of boats plying through the length and breadth of the water. The very sight of the Ganges excited me and I eagerly waited to enter a boat and start rowing.

When enquiries were made, we were told that people go upto the middle of the river for different purposes. Some go to the middle of the river to pray, some for fishing, some for picnics and some like us just to have some fun.

There were boats of different sizes to cater to the different needs, and for us to go just for a short while for boating for fun, was the smallest boat. Finally we hired the boat which was supposed to be enough for us six and the boatman, and boarded it.

My excitement knew no bounds as we moved towards the boat. We boarded the boat and off we went with the boatman rowing the boat at quite a good speed. I was absolutely thrilled and my pleasure knew no bounds when the boatman offered us to try our hands at rowing the boat one by one. He told us that, he would not allow me to row the boat as; he thought I was too young to do the same.

Soon one by one each of the other five had their hand at the oar and each one was very happy about the attempt. As soon as they had all finished their turns, the boatman said that now he would take up the oar and hearing this I started crying and howling as, I also wanted an opportunity to row the boat. The boatman opposed the idea but, as I continued to howl, my elder brother requested him to allow me just for a while.

To my brother's request the boatman yielded and aha, I had got my way and I sat in position to row the boat. It was great fun and I felt as though I was on top of the world, rowing the boat. The boat was turned by the boatman to return to the bank and then, since I was still crying, he handed it over to me on the request of my elder brother. I

V^s ever so excited and had just held the oar that, the boat started turning and twisting and I shouted for help. I could hardly have been at the oar for a minute that I felt that the boat had almost overturned and there I was in the river and there was utter commotion in and near the boat. The ihciment I fell, I started shouting for help as, I knew nothing abput swimming.

My elder brother took over the oar and the boatman jumped into the water to rescue me. Within I think a few moments, I was out of the water unconscious \vith my nose and throat full of water.

My brother later told rne that I had fainted due to the shock, and, if it were not for the boatman I am sure I would have drowned that day. The damage was not much I was only shocked even though it could have been fatal. We took some time to rest and for the trauma of the experience to settle down and we left for home. After having reached the bank of the river, I was made to jest, and the boatman had helped in removing the water from my nose and throat, and now, after an hour or so I \vas alright and ready to go home.

After this little incident I have become a little nervous about Water and my interest in it has declined a little bit, though I am still very fond of the sight of any expanse of water, s^ll or big. The only thing that I will never repeat is, never being obstinate, and realise my position and capacity.