AneStory

                Everything had now calmed down, all election, kidnapping and cancellation hoopla had calmed down. As a result, Hera had found new closeness with his friends. After all they had cared for him, dearly. So, Hera was spending more and more time with them. And was learning more and more about them.

                It was very intriguing experience for him; he was watching people for 1st time and realizing they were different too. Sometimes, it becomes too close for comfort and to close to manage without being misunderstood or slip in the flow. Or end up learning some things that can really change one's perception towards the other. 

                Hera, ended up knowing to well, who was like what. Found Monc to be living in present. Good, he remained happy for most of time, was charming to every girl, nowadays. But seemed shallow, for often would forget what he had said two days back. But, then it was not that he did not mean it, he really had bad memory when it came to conversation.

                Vin, was volatile, could easily be ticked off. Temper was always high with him. Smoky was aloof, always, smoke was most important to him, and then his bike. Rack was bit of a guru kind, being older than others. While Rocky is just opposite, he was most fun loving and fun being with, because of his ability to entertain, but had a serious side when needed.

                Duds was a duds, she was very intelligent in her Indian way, was 1st ranker in her stream and used to get distinctions, but had her dumb moments when in intense discussions. Vee was lost, not in her career but in her life.

                Taklya, was enigma in itself, he was most difficult to understand, but once his layers were opened, to Hera, he seemed most dubious of the lot, but not harmful in any way. On other hand Wari was very clear in her thought and frank, there was little difference in what she thought and what she said, it was due to some control she was learning to exercise, because everyone said so.

    Wari's frankness and small height brought Hera close to her. Frankness is quite simple to understand, as Hera too was quite frank. But Wari's short height meant she had to travel sitting behind Hera, as BOXER was comfortable for her. This led others to think that Hera and Wari were going out. 

                On other hand, Hera was having worrying thoughts about who is or wants to be close to whom, he feared the group would disintegrate. 

             Hera woke up next day to find Rack chatting one of his friend from other college, and ended up joining them for a trip to nearby camping spot. And went straight away, to the scenic place, did not think of asking anyone to accompany, cause already seats ad filled up. Rack accompanied Hera on his BOXER.

             Meanwhile elections for GS were on in college and all toppers had to be present for elections, because one of them would become GS. So Duds and Rocky were busy in that. When they were rounded off, and given a briefing in secrecy, which frightened them. Elections are never clean, were asked to vote for particular candidate, and not to enter there name in the fray.

            Hera was having fun in jungle, going on trekking, for the first time since start of bachelors. Was enjoying his life, something to take his mind off, that sweet girl and her last look to him, when she entered that lab. There was a river flowing somewhere down and its noise was calming factor too. Sometimes too much of external noise can calm down the internal twisters. 

            Monc after meeting Duds and Rocky was frantically searching for Hera, something was extremely wrong. 

            Rack and Hera had made a stop in between along with others to pack lunch, which they were having now, tandoori chicken was awesome while kababs had got cold and were not tasting that good. And yes there was nothing carried that can be called roti/chapati or as such bread. It was pure chicken lunch! Nothing, else.

            They managed to get some sleep after reaching the river and after that had a gala time playing in water, it was shallow, Hera did not know swimming, hence remained quite near to the shore.

            Monc told something to Smoky in a closed room, Smoky relaid it to Vee on her mobile, she quietly went to meet a faculty and told her what was concerning her, Monc, Rocky, Duds and Smoky. She was surprised to hear what had happened and straight away went to meet college principal. An emergency meeting was called, but was kept totally secret.

           Rack and Hera started their way back along with others, were really exhausted by the time they made it to bike, but it was worth it. They started riding back to room, feeling guilty over missed day of study.

            Next, election took place as scheduled and, Duds and Rocky did what they were told. Felt miserable and were thinking of what to do next. Sit and wait or to take next step.

            Duds and all others were still contemplating over the next step when, an announcement was made regarding who will be next GS. Vee was really surprised in-spite of her telling the ma'am no step was taken. And then she was called in to office, where she was told to report back as soon as any new development occurred, or latest by in an hour.

           All six of them sat in garden waiting for something to happen. 

           As Hera and Rack were driving back, rack got an SMS asking them to come to college garden, whenever they got it. Maybe Monc is calling for studies, but they were in no position to do so. Still, it was Monc thats why Hera turned the bike towards college garden.

          Now only five minutes were there to the deadline and small gathering in garden was getting frantic when Hera showed up and so did principals peon. And before Hera could say anything was hurried into the Principal's office. Others followed in.

          There he stood as guilty, but this time he was not sure of the charges. 

          Principal: "So, you were kidnapped."  (To Hera)

          Duds, Smoky all others: "Yes sir."

          Hera and Rack: "Kidnapped!!!"

          Principal: "Where were you taken?" 

          Hera and Rack: "There is some misunderstanding, we were not kidnapped."

          And they told the whole story, how they were financed by these guys to go out on an outing, etc.

         While Duds and Rocky narrated what happened with them. As nothing can be proven, no case was made, but connecting the dots it was clear, there kidnapping was staged as could not be reached on phone, it was believed to be true. However, next day the elections were discarded and a toppers meeting was convened. Where a new GS was appointed and it was ruled from this year there won't be any elections ever. 

            Hera only had spoken to her few minutes back, but was missing her now like as if was always in love with her. It was practical exams and there was not going to be any set duration of wait. Hence, it was going to be long time before she would come back. Sensing Hera's thoughts Monc decided to stay back. And others made a big drama of leaving and hide in the building overlooking the garden.  

            They were watching through the small design gaps in corridor, and whispering as less as possible. Sign language was in use on full scale. Never have 6 grown adults remained on all fours longer of there own will. Being made fun off, and when people laughed at them, all they did was a finger on lips, big eyes and no ssshhhhh...... They were, the 4 guys - Smoky, Rocky, Vin, Taklya(bald) and the two girls were Vee and Duds. 

            Taklya was not used to exercise, and staying still on all fours was one of it, hence got a cramp in one of legs. Would have started wailing like a fool, had smoky not got a hand in instead over his mouth. But that was not what really stopped Taklya, Vin jumped on him from other side and accidentally got hold of cramping leg. The signs that Taklya followed up with, only Vin understood, the two girls were dumb struck and when Vin started massaging the thigh, they looked at them with evident disdain and suspicion.

           All Vin could do at that time was deny the unsaid allegation as clearly as possible and had to be hold off by another hand on mouth, this time it was Rocky's hand that got the bite mark, this time they were deliberately made. In end all four guys ended up injured in one way or another, 3 physically and Vin's ego.

          At that time a girl made with boyish walk, green jacket and a blue bag made her way to garden, towards Hera and Monc who were doing all the things in world but study. Her name was Wari, was sort of warrior and yes tom boy, but was not that tall though, and was made fun of her by other girls for that.

         Wari dropped her back next to Hera and questioned why only two of the gang were here, where rest are . She too had her exam and as always, had not gone so well. She was a rotten apple in her teacher's eye. But she took it lightly and never gave second thought to her language, and hence others were bit afraid of her. 

        But not Hera and neither Monc, she was like third buddy to them.  And so Hera did not waste any time and asked about the junior girl, she was junior to Wari too, and knew her. Wari, replied a little to frankly for Hera's taste, coming direct to point,

                      Wari: "She left."

                      Monc: "ssshhhhhh......Oh, shit." And made certain eye formation.

                      Wari: "Oh...Okay." And reciprocated the certain eye formation.

                      Hera: "Oh, lets go. When did she go?"

                      Wari: "She had a reservation, and was getting late, she literally ran out of examination hall, so asked around. Even external examiner had a big laugh on her."

                      Hera did not have anything to say, and started walking, all others joined in, Taklya not able to walk, and Rocky asked for lift from Hera to doctor's place, so that he can get Anti-rabies injections. Everyone laughed, except for Vin and Rocky, Rocky seemed serious about doctor. 

                     They all ended up in Laxmi, after an end to long evening, nothing like cold coffee to relax. But someone was following Hera, a rough guy. 

             Before real preparative leave started, that is before all practical examinations were over, Hera got a bike. Out of blue his dad had come, gone to showrooms and other places and got him bike. No it was not blue, it was not CBZ and it was not even a 150 cc or second best at that time, Yamaha. It was a second hand 100 cc red coloured Bajaj BOXER. Hera was not at all happy with it. But it was better than nothing, so he kept quite.

              Later he learned that this bike had lot of side effects. Hera likes to list things and so he did,

               1. I can go anywhere without letting others know.

               2. Like smoky, i can also lend my bike to others in return for some favours.

              3. I and Monc can go to any place at night. If anything goes wrong we can call someone using Monc's cell phone.

              4. May be I will get a girlfriend now.

              5. Being a Boxer, it will average better than smoky's bike, will save lot on travelling, as such cost of using bus and smoky's bike for two person at a time was same.

               All the assumptions were actually based on the 5th and final point, and that’s where it all went wrong. That bike did not average well at all, it was poorly serviced and damage was irreversible, both on bikes engine and Hera's pocket. Most of Hera's pocket money was blown up in bikes exhaust pipe in one week’s time. Hence for rest of the month he had to keep quite.

              It turned out to be better for Hera that way, as exam was near. Now Hera used to drive to college and sit in garden from morning till evening along with Monc and some of his class mates. Slowly a big group of 18 to 20 was formed, who used to study together and have fun together, but Hera was alone from his class and stream.

              Like before, Hera stared to act weird in the garden, sleeping on floor etc. But even more weird thing happened. Hera was being noticed by girls, sitting on opposite side of the garden a bunch of girls used to look at him. Hera too noticed this, only after Monc told him. Hera soon realized that it was only one girl who was looking at him more than once and not all others. Last year’s story was acting out all in reverse.

              This continued for a week or even less and one day Hera decided, not to come college, but was not able to resist, so instead of sitting in garden he sat in a corridor. Yes, the corridor to Women College. The girl missed Hera but did not draw enough courage to approach any of his friends. While, Hera’s examinations were over, some other pupil examination was still going on, that is practical. Hence, Hera was already concentrating on papers that are theory exams.

               She was very disturbed and though had studied well; felt she had offended him in some way. It was day of her last practical exam and was not able to concentrate well; as she was going to her examination hall she stopped in her tracks.

               Though, she was a junior, as she used to have 1st year books in her hand, Hera had never seen her before in his college. And that’s why had decided to not go forward with her as long distance relations generally do not work. But still, she used to come to his mind now and then.

               Hera was studying hard when he heard some girls, of Girls College make commotion, and saw up from his book and found her standing there, and before she could say anything, he said:

     "All the Best, you are getting late for exam, go and do well."

She came to her senses and ran the rest of corridor, with a smile over her face and confidence in her stride, looked back one last time, and got a thumps up sign from Hera. Her friend ushered her in along with her file, Hera decided to return to garden to study. And hoped she would come and meet him.              

                    While Hera was busy lazying around and looking for his ma'am, all others were busy trying to finish there assignments and even more busy to get fine lowered. Some had as much as 1K and some as little as 50 bucks, but they were all stressed. As submission was not going to be accepted until they paid up.

                   Some of Heras friends had there wits misguided, talked about going on a strike, just pulling suffering pupil's legs. Little did they know next day it would be termed as brightest idea ever! Hera, nonchalantly said, next they would put up a begging bowl for people to donate money for the purpose, instantly one box appeared.

                  Soon, well handled situation till then, had deteriorated. Pressed showed up, as some one from crowd donated a 1 Rupee coin, for pictures in next days newspapers. Next day newspaper headings read

"Students on street."

"College punishes Parents."

"College charges fees for absenteeism."

etc.

Lot of bad publicity followed, college management had hands full explaining there stance. All chanted the university rules regarding attendance, "No granting of term, unless 75% attendance in lectures and 100% in practicals." 

                Students retaliated that, "The first day attendance fine is about 500 bucks, one day can not amount to term being not granted, and all others who are absent for only one day should not be fined, as per that reason." 

                Hence, there was a cut in fine, people who had there attendance as 75% in lectures and 100% in practicals, were not fined at all, and people who were absent on 1st day also got cut in there fine. Resultant, strike was over, and most were not fined. But some who were, had to pay full price, those who did not, lost there term.

                Sometimes, even if you have nothing to do with the situation, you can end up influencing the outcome, Hera never learned from this incidence.