Fishing

Fishing

Roorkee is probably not the town which comes to mind when you think about fishing. But for my dad and I there were plenty of fish to catch in Roorkee. My dad was always keen to go for fishing  and he often took me as well with him on summer evening. He even managed to get himself a very nice fishing rod imported from Canada through some of his University Of Roorkee connections. 

My dad use to go fishing in the tributaries of ganga canal, which cuts roorkee into two haves. An old Roorkee on one side and a new one on the other side. Legend has it that it was built by an Englishman who went by name of Mr. Cautely, may be, I have never seen his picture or his bust or his name on the canal anywhere. Only thing, which comes to my mind when I hear Roorkee canal is Lions and fishes. Lions as there are 4 lions on either side of the canal and fishes because of my great childhood memories of catching fishes with my dad off the canal near Pilan Kaliyar, a holy shrine for muslims. 

One fine day my dad asked me if I would like to go with him for fishing in afternoon. I was excited and immediately said yes. After I came back from school my dad had prepared everything for fishing. His ice box was mounted on the back of the cycle with fishing rod dangling between cycle handle and my seat. I was tired from school but excited to go with him. I had a quick lunch of kidney beans and rice and jumped on the cross bar and onto my seat in front and with hands firmly holding the fishing rod and bi-cycle handle I signalled  my dad that I am ready for the ride. 

We drove few kilometres along the canal and reached Pilan Kaliyar shrine, every time we were near the shrine my dad told me the legend of Karan, Arjun’s half brother, from  the legend of Mahabharata. Before the shrine got famous with muslims the place was famous for the purana kila - of Karan. Remains of which are still visible today in the form of a huge old of brick wall. 

When we finally reached the spot, which was famous for fishing I got off and went straight into the tributary with the fishing rod. I heard my dad screaming from behind for me to be careful. I wanted to quickly catch a big fish. I was hoping to get the king fish. My dad has caught some big ones in past. Now my dad was next to me he took the rod and started to put some earthworms on to the fishing hook. Then he took an aim and threw it in the middle of the tributary. I liked to go fishing but I never liked the waiting part. While my dad was waiting I noticed some local boys playing in puddle of water nearby. I asked my dad if I could play with them. He said ok but come back soon.  I don’t know how long I was playing but then I heard my dad again asking me to come back. He asked me to hold the fishing rod stead while he comes back from a toilet break. I held the rod and put my head on it sideways. 

Suddenly I felt a bit of tug on the rod. I screamed we got a fish, I tired to pull the cord back but the rod won’t bulge. I tired harder and then I felt the tug again and this time it was so hard that I slipped and fell into water. Before I could understand anything I was being pulled along into the river and as my head went under water I got glimpses of a huge king fish. I was happy to see such a big fish but scared that I was being dragged into the water and I didn’t knew swimming. As soon as I surfaced back I started to scream but I didn’t let the fishing rod go. Now I was scared and started screaming louder and louder. Then I heard my dad again he was screaming and his scream was getting louder and louder. I was trying to make what he was saying. As his screamed louder I heard him asking me to open my eyes. Then I suddenly opened my eyes and realised that I had slept with my head on the rod. I was relieved it was just a dream. 

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