AneStory

                       It was end of exam, all had studied seriously, and keeping all thoughts of trip aside and it was a short vacation, before college would start again. But all Hera could think of was a nice trip to Mahabaleshwar, and this time, whole gang was going to be there and there were enough bikes for them all to go! 

                       Unknown to Hera, some plans were being made! Hera had backpack ready, was going to make a call when Monc comes and were going to take off, along with others, or maybe next day morning. Now that Monc, Rack and Rocky had also got bikes, it was going to be lot easier to meet up anywhere anytime, and go anywhere anytime.

                       And while Hera was packing bag, Monc walked in to announce, about movie plan. Hera was lost, did not get it. 

                      Monc: "It’s not possible to go to Mahabaleshwar, we cannot afford it"

                      Hera:  "Afford?"

                      Monc: "Well, yes, none of the girls have talked about contributing the money!"  

                      Hera: "Yeah! Then, why movie?"

                      Monc: "We are going to test it out, there reaction on asking for contribution."  

                      Hera:  "Whose idea is this? Nice idea!"

                      Monc: "Rack's."

                      Hera:  "What are we going to watch, which movie?"

                      Monc: "U would not like that! Sathiya!"

                      Hera:  "Man! What! That's going to be third time! That would be wastage of money!"

                      Monc: "We have no other option! Hope they dont learn about our financing of first time."

                      Hera: Things of 2 weeks before pass in front of his eyes. "Rack the fool! Cant he have made some other movie plan!"

                      Around about a week before the trip to Junnar, a prestigious issue had unfolded! Monc and Hera decided to give Pee a treat and along came Tee and Priyu. The five of them were final list, it was not disclosed to others. At that time Monc did not have bike so girls were going to come by auto and Hera and Monc by bike. And it was decded, Monc and Hera would get the tickets booked in advance, and so they did. 

                     So Hera and Monc rode to multiplex, booked tickets for an evening show and rode back to room and disaster struck! Hera rode the bike, trying to cut traffic at high speed right into a Maruti 800. And the Boxer's leg guard got stuck in front bumper and tearing it out!

                     While Hera and Monc flew right over the ongoing traffic, and fell on other side of road. Monc did not get hurt, surprising though; he had flown over Hera and fell further away. Hera got hurt, Monc's 1.5 Kg shoe came undone and fell right on Hera's back.

                     They both got up, went to watch the bike, and were devastated to see whole of front thing gone, no head lamp, totally new design of handle and Car's driver turned out to be lawyer, asking money from Hera for the bumper! Hera got really scared, did not have any papers for the bike! Was about to fall apart, but Monc just fought him off, verbally, and arranged a trade.

                     Monc was held at ransom while Hera drove the broken Boxer to his room, got Rs. 800 to pay the lawyer, then they put the bike for repair and rushed the mechanic. Who, like any angel in this era, extorted Rs 2.5 K for duplicate Head lamp apparatus and another Rs. 1.5 K for the handle! 

                     Still, unshaken, the two rode to room, got changed real quick, called girls to meet at multiplex directly, picked up flowers, it was Pee's birthday, and reached just in time. They had not learned any lesson about speed and crossing and had near disaster in the parking, when a car reversed and the two entered suddenly! 

                     As they landed in front of gate, the gals showed up, Pee was wished and presented the flowers.  And they entered to watch the movie. In interval, as courtesy Monc asked if they would like anything and they opted for Popcorn. Hera and Monc went outside and got in line to get Popcorn, while Monc bought cold-drink for all, Hera was confused to see so many types of popcorn, and opted for Caramel flavored popcorn of all, 5 large buckets, filled to brim.

                    They were hated by all, the sweet-caramel popcorn. In end they made it too girls hostel, and every girl got to eat some, and hear about how to guys had treated the ladies like gentlemen!

                   When Crack heard about all this, and also came to know about accident, because he saw it. He blackmailed a treat out of Hera and Monc, and yes it included the Sathiya at same multiplex and the dreaded caramel popcorn.                      

                   And if that treat were to backfire, now was the time, it was New Years Eve, Girls wanted mahabaleshwar, but guys had said, it has to be stopover, and due to vacation time, all lodges are booked. So it’s not possible, then they had settled for a movie at new multiplex! Movie Sathiya, else it had to be trip to somewhere.

                   Monc switched of his cell phone and both took off on bike to avoid going to book tickets in advance and it worked. Taklya had to go, who paid for tickets and girls paid him back. Monc made a call to Taklya and got details of the plan, and they settled to join them directly at multiplex, and thats what they did.

                   But, however cleverly they had avoided to pay for tickets, at interval, there fear caught up, and were asked to pay for the; yes cold-drink and caramel flavoured popcorn! And pay they did.

                   And after movie, they ended up in a traffic where people were not able to move an inch, and hence ended up parking their respective vehicles and go for dinner, it was already 10:00 in night, there was going to be big issue at girls hostel for night out.

                  After having anxious moments by girls over hostel, for another hour, while they were still in the queue for dinner, Hera spotted a faculty, and pointed her out to girls. Rest, the girls took care of, got a letter done, granting them permission for late night entry into hostel, on a side walk. Paper was provided by Monc.

                 At-last it was dinner time, at 11:30, they got entry into a restaurant, it was Chinese one, and as they were going in, a poor child approached Hera, and at first, Hera thought him to be a beggar, but he was selling balloons, and Hera bought them all, which he should not have done. Cause next thing, all girls took the balloons out of Hera's hand and one of them lost it and went straight to ceiling, and next thing girl was on table trying to catch it, Monc shouted her down, and Hera got on table and got the balloon, he was right choice for the job, not only was he tall, but he was lightest of the lot.   

               Once dinner was served and balloons tied to chairs, all settled a bit, after dinner it was quick run to room, in between dropping of the girls. And Good night, and Happy new year! 

               Tomorrow starts the new semester. Luckily, Taklya never asked Hera and Monc the money for tickets, but latter they realized, it totaled less than Cold-drinks and Caramel popcorn they bought! 

                   That week except for Hera, everyone was tensed, and could not concentrate on the subject at hand, and it was only a week now to papers, crunch time! Taklya rounded of all guys one evening, girls had gone home already, it was a cold evening. And asked: “If all are able to study, if not, then it’s time to go for a small outing”. All agreed.

                  Hera thought for a moment and said, as such no girl will be coming, why dont we go now, as such none of you are able to study at present. We have 3 bikes here, looking at smoky and Taklya need just 1 more. Thats when Teep came in, he had a bike so crew was ready to leave within an hour.

                  Food was, whatever mom had sent for as Pharsan/chiwda etc, was packed into a sack. Three 1.5 liter water bottles were taken, and seating position on bikes was taken. Here Teep says, "But I dont drive that well!" Hence, after much deliberation, Monc was supposed to drive the Teep's bike and Teep sat behind Hera. Taklya and Vin on one and Smoky and Rocky on one. Hence, Monc picked up Rack. So crew was all set and started off.

                  They took off, close to 7:00 in evening, on way tanked up on petrol and started driving, Taklya was driving ahead and all others were following. Where were they going? No one knew except for Taklya, but not near any river/lake, as advised by Hera, that day was cold, night will be cooler. 

                  After driving for about 2 hours, Hera felt they are really going away! That was too early, they were two hours on highway, and at last he asked Taklya. Answer was we are going to this place, which is high on a mountain, and Shivaji Maharaj had born there. Great choice thought Hera. But would not it be colder over there. Still, they continued. 

                  They reached Junnar at around 1:00 - 1:30 in night. Reached up, till where bikes can go at around 2:00 parked their bikes. And, now question was “What to do?” 

                  Taklya: "We can explore the place."

                  Smoky: "We don’t have Torch, and it’s awfully dark here." 

                  Taklya: "What? You people dint bring torch" Lighting his up.

                  Monc: "Did you tell anyone, where we are going!" Taklya did not say anything, did not get a chance.

                  Teep: "Run." Full on scream!

                  But no one does, for all are petrified. Hera, is calm, reads the sign, which made Teep scream.

"Danger! Beware of Panthers."

None of them had anything to say, just stared at Taklya. Who:

               "You people don't have anything to fear, I will be first to be attacked, I am fattest among all." 

On that note, everyone decided to sleep in the veranda of the Temple which was there little ahead. Made a make shift bed of shawls, luckily they had packed extra. And went to sleep. Teep had picked up a nice long stick, to which even local dog was not afraid off, forget Panther, but that was the intention.

               That was the shortest night of Hera, he was up, and everyone else, were up at 4:30, with 1st sign of sun-rays. It was beautiful scene, seeing sun rise. They went on exploring, a bit of trekking, and lot of fun, and some learning. Hera felt like eating, but he was told its not allowed over here, but then they had not brought any either. Hera defensively:” not here, when we get down then, on a dhaba.”  

               After staying till about 11:00, they moved on to have a look at Lenyadri and Ozharkar - 2 of the Ashtavinayak's and before night were back at home making a round trip of about 500 Kms on bike, and all worry gone, refreshed, they were back to studying ways. That night they did have Chicken Tandoori, so much for visiting Temples.                                  

                   Look closely, thats how Hera's group looked like in terms of relationship to an outsider. Too confusing and too complicated to interpret ones take on others statement. Lots of emotions were at lose. And most involved Question of Love Over Friendship.

                    Simplification of Diagram:

                    Lines:

                               Red: Genuine Love Interest.

                               Red Dotted: Others thought, the interest is there.

                               Lilac: Friendship.

                   Dots are people.

                   Hera - Black

                   Monc - Maroon 

                   Tee - Dark Green

                   Pee - Blue

                   Smoky - Purple

                   Wari - Yellow

                   Junior gal - Light Green

                   Rocky - Grey

                   Taklya - Lilac

                   Vin - Brown

                   Vee - Orange

                   Duds - Pink

                   Rack - Pale Yellow.

          Okay diagram seems to be not helping, it did not help Hera either, when he was discussing it with Monc, Rack and Smoky. Rack and Smoky being the eyes outside the group, mostly.

          Hence following equations can be gathered, only Love related equations are considered, those are of most interest to Hera. Starting with Hera 

          Hera Likes Junior Gal, people think he likes Tee & Wari. 

          Rocky Likes junior gal & Wari, people think he likes Duds

          This implies, Hera on collision course with Rocky.

          Taklya Likes Vee and Duds.

          Hence, Taklya verses Rocky possible. 

          Vin Likes Vee.

          Hence, Taklya and Vin on colision course.

          Vee likes Monc.

          Hence Monc Vs. Vin 

          Duds people think likes Rocky and Hera.

          Wari People think likes Hera.

          Duds vs. Wari possible.

          Monc likes Pee. Line clear.

          Hence one proposal in wrong lane could disintegrate the group in moments.

Hera was using different way, this time. This made Hera draw doodles, do abstract equations and make unusual faces. Being preparative leave, study was all, that all did, and thought that's all what all did. Most people had started thinking Hera was some eccentric genius, who does not rest his brain for fear of losing his thoughts. In other words; a topper material, who will never be. Even more better words, simply stupid and absent minded.