AneStory

              Being Practical was not going to be easy, certainly not for Hera. For being practical, one has to value head above heart, and a person like Hera, who lived life as it came and as he felt, and was in his dreams most of the times, the move meant 180 degree change in behavior / philosophy of his own life. Being practical meant he need not please everyone, need not be liked by everyone he knows, but most importantly it mean not being oneself, not pursuing dreams, giving up on Monsoon!

              Monsoon was a friend now, a good one for that, but Hera loved her and she did not, being practical meant not seeing her, not pursuing her, not wooing her, not trying to be with her! All these questions and scenarios sunk Hera's heart and he decided to try his best.

              After dabbling over the issue for few days, Hera let go and returned to his way of life, but something had changed. Hera seemed to be lot softer towards Duds, he started giving her as much time as he gave it to Monsoon. None noticed, except Duds and Monsoon, but Monsoon did not object to it nor made a point.

              Hera started pickup and drop service for Duds, and not because he felt guilty or was missing her, but he enjoyed that route, loved to drive on that patch of road, that's what he told everyone, and believed too! But then he started enjoying the company of Duds, he enjoyed that ride when she was there, but not when he tried it out alone. And then again with Monsoon, he was addicted to that route, it became a daily habit, morning with Duds, afternoon with Duds and then late evening long drive with Monsoon, and Hera tried to keep these long drives as long as possible.

              One day on one of such drops, Duds had to ask.....

              Duds: "Why do you come to pick me and drop me?"

              Hera: "I like to drive on this Highway. The cool breeze, smooth road, no traffic, it is like biker's dream road." 

              Duds: "Really! But then you could go alone too, or with your girlfriend Monsoon! Why me?"

           Hera: "I do go with Monsoon, in evening, besides it gives me much needed diversion while studying." And he added in lower voice." And Monsoon is just a good friend, just like you, she is not my girlfriend."

               Duds: "What did you say?"

               Hera: "It is a good relaxation to drive in between, a break while studying!"   

               Duds: "Not that! After that!"

               Hera: "Oh! I said she is not my girlfriend. But why are you asking?"

               Duds: "Did you not propose to her?"

               

               Hera: "Yes, I did, but she did not accept! Said; she has not thought of me as her boyfriend as such, but a good friend."

               Duds: "Wow! But she so much behaves like your girlfriend! She is playing with you! How frustrating!"  

                Hera: "She might have some reason!"

                Duds: "Okay! Well, Hera do you feel she is the one for you, I mean it has been a long time now, that you know her, is she the one for you, like long-long term relationship?"

                Hera: "Are you hinting that will I be marrying her?"

                Duds: "No, I mean, is she really your soul mate, are you really in love or is it just an infatuation and now you do not want to say so, because she is my friend."

                Hera did not reply.

                Duds: As Hera was not saying anything, she thought she must be crossing some boundaries. "Sorry! It is too personal, I should not have asked." 

                Hera: "No, its not that, I am not sure, I actually do not know where infatuation ends and love begins! Can you explain?"

                Duds could not say anything, when she thought of Hera's question; it seemed difficult for her to explain it to him! She decided to explain it to him though some other day!

                 Duds: "Hmmmm....Though question, will give you an answer in few days!"

                 Hera: "Sure! I am ready to wait, on other hand if someone explains it to me; I will let you know too."

                  And Duds home was there, she got down said bye and Hera returned to room; full of thoughts.

                     After that day, Monsoon always reminded Hera about breakfast, lunch and dinner, and each of these times Hera tried to meet her, sometimes he was lucky, sometimes not. Hera used to go alone for food now, on most times, as Monc was giving more time to Sam. Monc and Sam had become good friends, but still Monc had not made his intentions clear.

                     And after dinner it was the only time, when Monc and Hera would sit together, study & discuss life, love, friends and "What should we do next?" It was becoming difficult for them to maintain good relations with all, when not together. Hera & Monc together had formed a team, and unknowingly had started relying on each other, and now when they were not able to be together, things started to go wrong. 

                  Monc used to speak, complement and make promises, and forget. Hera used to remember, repeat and make Monc carry out promises, but alone Monc forgot his promises, and Hera never made any or complement people. Suddenly everyone was feeling as if Monc and Hera have changed, they had because of love interest, but not as much as it felt.

                     This led to frequent heated discussions with Vin, Vee, and Duds, and on some occasions with others too! Sometimes, Hera felt the two, Vee and Duds were just jealous, or just felt it should have been them with Monc and Hera. Monc tried maintaining a diary, but forgot to make entries, Hera tried same but never took an initiative that needed an entry, on other hand there was need of diary for Hera. In end Monc and Hera decided to never meet common friends alone.

                      And as stupid the decision sounds, it did not work, but things cooled down on its own. It was habit of seeing both Monc and Hera all the time, always being there for fun with them, slowly broke away as Duds put it "Be Practical" to herself, and to Vee and all others, a sense of practicality in friendship set in, and things settled down.

                      This was an important lesson for Hera in his life, he remembered it well, but was never able to implement it.