Do or Die

I am a big fan of traveling. So, I set off to Kutch, I mean Rann of Kutch. To see the wonderful Rann Utsav and the vast White Dessert. I was driving past when I saw a tea-stall. I am a tea addict, so I decided to stop and drink some tea. I wasn't comfortable leaving my purse in the van since I had already lost it once. I took my purse out of the van and started to walk towards the tea-stall . There I saw a man and asked him how much 1 cup of tea would cost? " 20 Rupaya behen ji " He said. Agreeing I took out my purse and paid him 20 Rupees. I sat there for a while complaining of the heat and chatting to the man. After that it was time to move on , I thanked the man and started walking towards my car. That's when I found out a nasty surprise! My car was gone!!!!! I ran back to the tea stall and asked the man if he had seen a yellow car parked here." Are vo wali, vo to road par age chali gayi ". Now I was worried, nor there was a police station near by. Did I forget to put the car in parking, or did I accidentally left the door open and now someone took my car, all these negative thoughts splashed into my mind.

I convinced myself that it must not have gone far. And so, I started walking in the direction the tea-stall man told me. I must have walked 4-5 km in the beating sun but there was no trace of my car. I started to panic , I decided to move back to the stall and take a bus from the nearby bus-station. But I couldn't find my way back to the stall. Now i was in the worst situation in which I ever was. It was afternoon time and the sun was beating down so hard that I felt my head spinning. at that point I felt that I was thirsty, and when that happened I realized I don't have water. Then it hit me, I did have my purse, and in my purse I had a bottle of 2 liters which I hadn't even opened. That was a relief. I drank 2 sips of water and decided to save the other for later. I started thinking about eating, but in this vast desert there were no trees and nor were there any animals. I tried to find a cement road, hoping that would lead me to a village or someplace where I could get some help. I chose a path and then, started walking in the direction, drawing arrows out of stone in case some helicopter or car would follow them to get me. after walking for 5-6 hrs, I could see something at a distance. I was really excited I ran and ran until I could get a clear view of it. I was stunned............... It wasn't a village at all.

It was a camp of the army. I ran to them and asked them to give me some water, which they did, I told them all about my story. And you could tell they were sorry about me. But then all of a sudden an alarm went on and the army told me to run away, it was a fire alarm. I was scared and ran with the bag of 10 bottles of 2litres each that they had given me. Now I did have enough water but no food or shelter. I had no idea how to survive in a desert, but I did watch Survival programs. Suddenly I saw a cave, Night was falling so I decided to shelter in the cave. I threw stones inside to check, there wasn't any animal inside. I somehow managed to lit a fire as it becomes cold at night in the desserts especially winter nights. I ate an apple I had put in my purse and tried to sleep. I woke up at the sounds of chirping birds. I decided to wake up and start walking before the afternoon as it would be very hot.

I started walking continuing to make arrows from stone. I walked and walked till I lost all my hope. I had already finished the last drop of water left with me. Then a thought came to my mind. I took my pocket knife and poked it inside my wrist. Then everything was blur I fainted and opened my eyes only to hear loud sound of wings and saw a lighted object coming at me. I thought it was the end of my life when, I realized it is a Helicopter come to rescue me. I stood up with the only energy left in me, but I fell again. I remember, people coming down the helicopter, and lifting me up to it. Then I woke up only to find myself in a hospital bed. The doctor claimed I had lost almost 15 kgs. Then I saw the army people and recalled them from the camp. They were the ones who sent a helicopter in search of me, and the Helicopter had followed the stone arrows I had made in the first place. I thanked them with all my might. After spending a few nights at the hospital I was sent back home. 

This was a do-or-die experience for me. I tried killing myself but thank god I didn't die. I hope you learn from this experience and will be alert every time you visit a desert. And what is left? oh, my car was lost forever.....................