Kissed by the clouds

I had a whole plan for my birthday.

Wake up at the lazy hour of eleven, go to the immersive art experience at Dubai mall, find a cute cafe with a view, have a muffin and end the day with sunset at Creek.

I was determined to do something for the day and feel good about turning a year older. I did not want to dread my birthday and I wanted it to be special somehow. I had it all planned in my head and I made sure my husband adjusted his work schedule so we could spend the day together, and if at all, it wasn't possible I figured I should go ahead with my initial plan.

Everything was set, he said we could do it all from breakfast to dinner. I tried convincing him to skip the breakfast part because let's face it, I'd rather sleep in than eat, but he was adamant on making use of the whole day and insisted that I don't be lazy on my birthday.

Sunday evening, he asked me to look up breakfast places with a view. I found a few places online and through my friends and I forwarded it to him, to see which one he found appealing.

Monday morning rolled around and I was half hoping he'd forget about the breakfast plan but he did not, so I got ready and as I was calling both our mothers, he booked a cab online. He said he found a place in Jumeirah by the beach.

I didn't ask for much details, I was enjoying being on the way to somewhere other than work on a Monday morning.

I got a birthday surprise (shoutout to Rashmi, Danish, Balu, Pooja and Bernard) the day before and I was not expecting another one the next day.

Clueless me

By the time we reached Jumeirah area, I wondered how the restaurant is going to be and I noticed the sky diving center sign boards and I thought to myself wow it is so nearby. We took a sharp turn and passed by a dock with yachts and I saw the sky diving center and exclaimed out loud how our cafe is near to the sky diving centre and that's when my sneaky, sneaky, wonderful husband grinned and said how about we go skydiving instead. This was straight out of my wildest dreams and I was literally jumping, as I bounded out of the cab.

We signed a waiver and checked in and had a breakfast of avocado toast and scrambled eggs and three quarters of a mango smoothie and croissant while we waited for our slot.

I was way too excited to be nervous, but I knew for sure that it will hit me when I am about to jump out of the plane. I couldn't help but to look at Vingzzz and smile every once in a while. I was so thrilled and excited and I could see it was mirrored in him too.

We got acquainted with our tandem riders first who eased us into a harness and gave us instructions and then with the cameramen who shot a before-dive video.

After a few more minutes of preparation, we were on the back of a vehicle taking us to the tarmac where we boarded a small plane manned by a single pilot taking us high enough to touch the sky.

I didn't dare look down but I could feel my ears popping as we flew into higher altitudes. The nervousness and panic hadn't quite set in yet for both of us, but I could feel it was at the precipice and I would look at my husband and smile wide to reassure him and myself as we ascended 13000 ft above the ground.

I was the second last person to jump, the last person being my husband.

My focus was on the getting the instructions right until I get the tap on the shoulder indicating I could let go from the harness and enjoy the freefall.

There was a moment of panic as I jumped which was quickly replaced with exhilaration. With the ice cold wind blowing forcefully on my face, my shrieks of delight drowned along with it, I arched my body as told until I was told it is safe to let go.

I was up in the sky, the air cradling me, the ocean and the earth underneath me and my heart was an ember glowing inside with inexplicable joy.

Dubai stretched out below, with Palm Jumeirah right below me.

Without warning my tandem rider released the parachute and we jolted up in the air for a moment and then floated along the wind like a dandelion and landed gracefully on the grass lawn.

I jumped out of a plane and it was incredible!

As I write this post, I realise I cannot do justice to express how I felt in the air. All I can say is I feel extremely special for getting this out of the world amazing experience, making me forget all the apprehension I had about the day.

I didn't do any of the things that I had originally planned but the day turned out to the absolute best.

It was a happy, happy birthday indeed.