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!