6 Days and 7 Nights!

Monc had had few setbacks before, and Hera too had some of them, but this one was unlike any other. It hurt, Sam declining was too much to take in, not because she said no, but she had aid him on. Any Tom Dick and Harry or any person walking down the road glancing up at them would have said that girl is taken, she has fallen for that guy for sure, but now it did not seem to be so.

That night when Monc went to a chemist and to a Pan shop and got some tablets for headache and 2 packets of cigarette and of to smoke and sleep, but Hera never imagined the sleep to stretch beyond 1 night 1 day, and it went on for 6 Days and 7 Nights! 

First day Hera did not miss Monc, he had all the stuff, submissions and all to complete and thought Monc must be sleeping, after all it was not for the first time, 24 hours of sleep, pure bliss. And as most things that seem good, you learn they are not so, the hard way. Second day into Monc's sleep, his roommates got worried, he had not eaten for 36 hours now, and there were no signs of him doing so, he had not moved from his bed, no not even for bathroom. They tried bells, kicking, punching, water and many ways which their friends told them to try.

At end of 48 hours they were really scared, they checked Monc's pulse, his breath, and got even more scared. Monc's pulse was weak, and his breath was shallow. They freaked out, and sat in corner facing death as a possibility. After about 6 more hours they got a friend who was going to be a doctor in future, and he found the wrapper for tablet.  

                    Doc: "Did Monc take his tablet?"
                 
                    Sandy: "Yes, it was for headache!" 

                Doc: "Headache my foot! It is a sleeping pill, and strong one at that, and he has taken 2! And strong ones at that!"

                    Deep: "What! Holy Shit!"

                    Doc: "Those are prescribed drugs, how did he get hold of them?" 

                    Sandy: Looking at Deep "We do not know!"

                Doc: "Hmmmm...If he dies you are going to be in trouble. How was his mood that night? Any chance of suicide?"

                    Deep: "Oh! God! Oh! Crap!" 

                    Sandy: "We do not know!"

                    Doc: "You will be grilled by police if you answer in that manner!"

It is already about 60 hours now.

                    Sandy: "We better call Hera here."                    

                    Deep:  "That idiot, what help is he going to be? Do you think he would help in throwing the body off, if you want an extra hand, he is quite week."

                    Sandy: "Can you be serious for a moment, only he can answer such questions."

                    Deep: "I was serious, but you are right."

Hence, they tried calling Hera, and they failed, for he was already in class room, giving class test, it was a tough week for Hera, he wanted to make it dead sure that no assignment, no work, no rock remains to be turned for Sunday, the promised date with Monsoon by Monsoon. However, Monc's where abouts were troubling him too, so he decided to pay him a visit after college, even more so cause Monc's cellphone was off.

                    Sandy: "One last try to call-up Hera else we will call police."

                    Deep: "May be Hera has done something, that's why he is not reachable, already on run."

                    Sandy: "Okay! Give me your phone!" and he started to dial 100.

And Hera walked into the room.

                  Hera:  "How come you people leave all the doors open for anyone to walk in, and even leave your wallets out in leaving room?"

Sandy and Deep sighed of a relief, and were glad to see Hera there.

                    Hera:  Looking at them and perplexed at their reaction "For once you people are happy to see, what caused this change."

And Hera was soon sorry that he asked, for he did not want to hear what he did. It had been 72 hours now, since the pill had gone in. Hera checked Monc's breath, and started searching.

                    Sandy: "What are you looking for?"

                    Deep: "We already found wrapper for the pills!"

                    Hera: Ignoring their tones. "Where is Monc's cell phone?"

                    Deep: "Oh! Have no idea." Giving weird looks to Hera!

                    Hera: "Then start searching."
                    
They searched for an hour or so, and found it switched off under Monc's pillow. Next Hera switched it on, placed it next to Monc, and started calling. Monc in his sleep heard the ring and answered the call.

                    Monc: "Hello?" 

                    Hera: "Glad to here you are alive!"

                    Monc: "That headache tablet is so strong!" Still, in his sleep.

                    Hera: "Sandy, get some glucose and water." 

                    Hera: "Monc, your throat is sounding dry, you must have smoked too many, have some water."

                    Sandy: "Take this Sir Hera!" Sarcasm clearly making a point!

                    Hera: "Give him! Not me!" Looking at Sandy with suppressed anger and utmost frustration!

                    Monc: "What are you saying?"

                    Hera: "Drink what Sandy is giving you."

And Monc drank the glucose water, and slept again, and Hera followed same policy till Monc had not taken about 3 litters of liquid. They had shifted to plain water after 2nd glass, and now it was matter of time and few more glasses before Monc would vomit and decrease the effect of pills. They watched Monc's health and made him drink water at regular interval throughout the night.

And it worked, but pill were going to take some more time to wear off, now 84 hours were gone. Glucose and water would not give back Monc's energy, he needed to eat, but when would be right time. So next task was set to make Monc eat something, just soup, and second task, more important than anything else, have a talk with Sam. It was Thursday morning now, and now it was time to head to college and take care of those class tests.              

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Monc's Valentine!

The calm and contentment with one hour to go, brought Hera some much needed sleep, and one thing was sure he was going to be late. And Hera had already moved on to dream land, and was having sweet dreams, living today's evening again and again, but somehow dream seemed to stop over and over again at same moment. The part where 

"    Monsoon: "Why did you wave to me?"

Hera: "I did not know he was your brother!"

Monsoon: "Good that we have NCC cadets, told him you are one of them." 

Hera: "Narrow escape."

Monsoon: "Yes, narrow escape." "

And was refusing to progress ahead, somehow this was the important part that Hera was not getting.

Monc was nervous wreck and did not want to go alone, and hence instead of going to pick up Sam, he came to pick up Hera instead, waking Hera up from his dreams and

Monc: "Hera, what do you think? Will she say yes?" 

Hera: "Have no idea; she should say yes, have not put a single foot wrong."

Monc: "That is true, still, I have no idea how these girls think and we may never know what may offend them."

Hera: "That is true, someone has rightly said, "Each woman is a different Enigma!" I have to believe in me and my love!"  

Monc: "Yes! I should believe in me! And she will be mine, positive thinking results in positive outcomes."

Hera: "Whatever time it may take, I will not give up, how much ever pursuing it may require,  I would not give up."

Monc: "Yes! I would never give up, even if I have to fight with whomsoever it may be!"

Hera: "Yes! Whomsoever it may be!"

And then rang the phone, and both fumbled to check their own, it was for Monc.

Monc: "Hello?"

Sam: "Where are you? You are late."

Monc: "Come down, on my way!"  Monc cut the line, both jumped out of bed and ran down to kick start the bike an off they went.

Hera went straight to hotel arranged a good secluded table and decided a menu which Monc had already told and candle light, and they walked in, before Hera had a chance to hide, resultant the seating for two was converted into a table for three, Monc made glances to Hera, half way through dinner to walk away for few minutes, and so Hera gave a miss call to Monsoon, under the table, after all some under the table activities are sweet, like footsie. 

And surprisingly, monsoon called, and Hera thought she would only give a miss call back, as she generally did. Hera asked her to cut the call and called back, after all girls bills were more closely scrutinized, specially the detailed phone bills. 

Hera was back on phone in no time, with Monsoon, and was chatting away, giving details of what was happening and how romantic is setting, and how much he wanted her to be here with him. 

Hera: "Moon is full today, and skyline from here is just beautiful, with this cool breeze, we should come here some time, if you say yes, that is."

Monsoon: "Ah! You make me sound as a villain; do I not come with you?"

Hera: "Yes, you do, but still, such scenery is only possible a little late in night, like this time, that is 21:00 hours."
                        
Monsoon: "Hmmmm...Okay! Someday I would come!"

Hera: "Okay!" Little disheartened, he was wishing that someday would be the international flower day / in other terms the next Sunday.

Monsoon: Laughing a bit "Why do you still say yes to everything I say?"

Hera: "Well, that is something for me to think about and find an answer to, and will let you know once I know/when time is right."

Monsoon: "Alright!"

And the chat continued into night until from corner of an eye, Hera saw Sam go somewhere, so he told Monsoon that he would call her after sometime, and joined Monc at the table, looked into his eyes and knew instantly, he was heartbroken, Sam had said no! And had vowed too; never meet again.

That night, Monc dropped off Sam to her hostel, and Hera and Monc went over to Deep's place and Monc decided to smoke out the heart broken feeling and sleep through next day. Hera narrated all of this to Monsoon, she too felt sorry for him, but was outright against the way he was behaving. 

Hera decided to have some coffee to cool his nerves, after the roller coaster day of feelings he had had, and so went to aunty's STD for a cup of machine made instant hot coffee and some time alone. Also he had run out of balance, so wanted to be last one to speak with Monsoon tonight. Just before the day came to an end, at 23:55, Hera just got ready to call from the booth, she picked up and asked him to turn around and she was there. 

Surprised Hera looked on at her, until she waved her hand to break the spell. They got a cup of coffee, and talked for next 5 minutes, when she had to go back, and was as she was half way back, she turned around and ran back towards Hera and called out to Aunty, took a bag of milk and went, and was finally gone for the day. Hera had a perfect end to Valentine, all he wanted was to hear her voice, the last thing that he did today and he got to talk with her face to face! Perfecto!

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The Valentine!

The Valentine's Day was here and Hera had little idea of how he was going to pass the time, meeting Monsoon was out of question. So Hera had no option but to pretend that today was just like any other day and go out in the world with a brave face, and that's what he did, picked up a novel and Walkman and started reading and listening music, under the shade of his favorite tree in college garden. Hera thought none would show up, at least anyone from his group wont, some would stay at home, and others would be courting their fantasies. 

However, this assumption was the most mistaken one that Hera had ever made. The whole group shows up, and Hera somehow avoids answering all he questions except one asked by Smoky.

               Smoky: "So, where is Monsoon?"

               Hera: "She is with her brother."

               Smoky: "But today is Valentine's Day!"

               Hera: "That's why he is here"

               Smoky: "What?"

               Hera: "He is here to check on her, and making sure every suitor's of her stays away from her." Hera was telling lies trough his skin, keeping the last night’s conversation to self.

               Smoky: "Okay! Hera is she your girlfriend?" 

               Hera: "Why are you asking?"

             Smoky: Checking out Rack's reaction and approval to ask next question or answer Hera's . "Just like that" 

              Hera: "Yes, She is!" Getting an hint, that Rack is interested, Hera decided to say another lie, to keep competition minimum.

And Monc cut in. Monc took Hera away from group and explained his plan for the night, how he is going to propose Sam to night and how Hera is supposed to help, and Hera agreed, as he really did not have any plan that night, besides it would be a good experience to learn from.

Hera had seen them together, Monc and Sam, so had others and unlike Monsoon and Hera, people did not have any questions about them being a couple, but they were not, at least not officially, as far as Hera knew, and Hera knew well, as they both had said so to him, at separate times, but still felt the spark between them.

Hera decided to go and have some sleep in order to be ready for Monc-Sam event, and Monsoon walks in, and Hera gives a huge smile and an even bigger wave of hand, but she is not alone. And he is handsome, and Hera's heart sinks, he seems to be older too, with a baritone! A la Amitabh Bachchan material is walking towards Hera along with Monsoon. Crushed!

Next he sees a Nyaneshwar's sculpture and comments: "This child studied twice as hard as any scholar today, completed all his submissions for life at the tender age of 17 and took samadhi (being buried alive, to die) and you people crib about one semester's lousy submission." 

And he is intelligent too!

I have never seen him before, who the hell is this guy. And as if reading Hera's mind, Monsoon introduce the new guy as her brother, Hera instantly likes this brother of Monsoon and they chit chat till evening and as he leaves says bye to all.

After he leaves,

                   Monsoon: "Why did you wave to me?"

                   Hera: "I did not know he was your brother!"

                   Monsoon: "Good that we have NCC cadets, told him you are one of them." 

                   Hera: "Narrow escape."

                   Monsoon: "Yes, narrow escape."
                   
Hera did not speak for few minutes, but just looked on at Monsoon. For Hera dream had come true.

                  Monsoon: "Hey! You know, next Sunday, there is an international flower day."

                  Hera: "Really!"

                  Monsoon: "Don't you believe me?" 

                  Hera: "I believe you, but just have never heard about that."

Hera resolved to present her flowers! And they walked together she to her hostel and Hera to his room, in one hour it was going to be Monc-Sam event, meanwhile Hera had easy and calm smile of contentment. 

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That day!

Every girl dreams of being cared for, treated like a princes and spoiled for at least a day, by the guy she is with, and one such occasion was fast approaching, in a week's time it was going to be the Valentines day! And not any Valentine, it was going to be the first one for Monsoon with Hera.

Monsoon cherished thought of being spoiled, being treated as princess, woman of his life and what not, but she did not want to be known as Hera's girlfriend, for she was not. A dilemma she was fighting in her thoughts. No it was not love in her heart, but the love in air, topic of hostel rooms, girls having boyfriends discussing how to plant a hint of what present they want in the poor boys head! 

The only question to Monsoon's mind was: 
             "Why a gift only from Hera?" 
             "Why is she not dreaming of getting gifts from other suitors?" 
             "Why not some one else?" 
             "Was it his not giving up on her attitude?" 
             "What was it?"
             "Was she falling for him?"
             Or
             "Was it simply because he would give her one even if she did not accept it?"
What ever it was, it kept her mind occupied with thoughts of Hera.

Hera was indeed getting ready to spend big, and big meant big! No not any fancy limo ride or restaurant, but whole day of outing! A ride down to Mahabaleshwar, from sunrise to sundown, only two them, lunch and dinner at Mapprow Garden, spoil her with all the strawberries and cream and brownies and ice-creams and sizzlers all the good things in life. And on return to city a nice late night movie, if she got permission for night out. All of this was a big secret, none knew anything about this, not even Monk.

Hera had first time hidden something from Monk, not because he thought of it as personal, but because he did not want it to turn into double date. Monk was looking forward to propose Sam on this valentine, and Mahabaleshwar would have been a perfect idea, so thought Hera and so the secrecy.

Hera was toying with idea of proposing to Monsoon too! Again! This time armed with a ring, a beautiful solitaire American diamond ring. And while he contemplated on the idea, days passed by quickly, and already next day was valentine. That evening Monsoon called Hera and asked to be taken for a long ride. And away they went. Hera had to ask her out, and today was going to be last day to do so, hence

            Hera: "Is it possible for you to meet me tomorrow?"

            Monsoon: "Why?" Bit expectant with anxiety!
            Hera: "For whole day?" adding quickly "We can go somewhere, long ride and have fun, it is a holiday tomorrow."

            Monsoon: "Do you think I do not know that tomorrow is Valentine? Do you think I am stupid?"
             Hera: "No, but it is a good day, I do not have any assignment to complete, and as college festival is approaching classes are bit relaxed, plus it is a holiday. So I am just asking you if you would come."

             Monsoon: "No, I would not." In spur of the moment.  

             Hera:"Okay! So is there any chance of next Sunday?" Hoping that, the whole stubborn no is only for Valentines Day taboo thing. 

             Monsoon: "Can not say anything now!" Only if he had persisted little bit more.

             And an awkward silence happened. This broke Hera's heart, but then he did not realize a girls no may not be a no at all.

             Monsoon: "Were you going to try something fancy? For if you would have;  I would never have been with you again."

             Hera: "No, nothing, just wanted to go out, somewhere, with someone, all others are busy."

             Monsoon: "Do you still love me?"
             Hera: "Yes, I do, but then, those are my feelings and I can take care of them, you do not have to worry about them."

             Monsoon: "Can't you just give up on me, you can get some one better, why love me when I do not love you back."

             Hera did not have answer for this question and hence kept silence.

             Hera dropped her at hostel, and went to room with heavy heart. That day Hera did not have a friend to share his thoughts or emotions, Valentine seemed a far away wish.

 

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