AneStory

Twist one, twist two, a turn here and a turn there, if it were not for the situation, somebody would have thought Hera was learning how to dance. Sleep at noon o’clock is not easy any way, but when you are supposed to think of getting finances in next two days, it gets even harder.  And when you are supposed to think of sources; Hera remembered from long time back, in his sub-conscious mind, you are supposed to get them, at least on paper.

When one says on paper, it does not mean hypothetically, but a surety from someone, that if you do this, they will sponsor you. Hera got up, frustrated, and no more in a position to sleep on a “SPONCERED” off day! And everything poured out of sub-conscious mind into conscious mind, and there was Avir, up on his toes.

Avir: “Man! We need to get the sponsors!”

Hera: “Yeah! I know!”

Avir: “We should be going, out there asking for money! Holy Shit! Just 2 days! What were they thinking?”

Hera: Frowning “We are not going out there to beg, and not knowing how much, we cannot even beg.”

Avir: “We need to make a list of things, we will need, check cost and then decide on a budget, and then approach the sponsors.”

Hera: “Ok! Get a note book, or rather some papers and a file, we need to make a rough draft, and be professional about it.”

And the lists are:

    Requirements:

  

    Sources:

Now, it was the time to hit the roads, whole sellers market to get quotations and put a prise tag on the cost.  And before that, some rest before the evening begins.

Something was wrong with the morning, it was not as if Sun had come up from wrong side or anything, it just did not seemed to be normal. Then there are very few things abnormal in any ones life, this was one such day in Hera’s life. Hera got up, and for no reason known to him, got ready very enthusiastically, and went to college, was just in time! Just before the prayer started. This had not happened for a long time now, well unless Hera did not sleep at all at night.

And here, even before he could enter his class room, he was escorted. Unannounced, without much details and without any prior notice, like an arrest. Towards an office, where Hera would not have gone for any reason at all, not even if it had been an emergency. And he started feeling the fear of a lamb being taken to gallows once he saw Avir standing in attention, very quite, as if he has been punished.

With a subtle moment of an eyelid Hera asked Avir

Hera: *What is going on?*

Avir: With not so subtle moment of shoulder *I dont know!*

And then they saw, what they wished they wont get to see, Dean walking towards the same office, gave them a bad ass glance and went in to the office, he was soon followed by the two professors who had helped Avir and Hera. They seemed to be surprised at the summons. Soon other directors of institute were coming, and entering office of the Principal Director.

After about an hour of tiring, mentally and physically, Hera & Avir were ushered in to the office. Hera was 1st too break silence.

Hera: “Sorry!”

Avir: “But Sir! Why were we called, when we did not get permission we dropped the plans.”

Sir: “We dont want you two to drop the plans, instead we are ready to give you permission, however; you would have to convince us how would your race help us and environment!”

Hera & Avir were stunned! And dint know what to say, so they did the best thing they knew, keep quite and stare!

Sir: “You dont have to answer now, but be ready with answer by day after tomorrow, and also think of a way to finance this event, and also remember we are going to demonstrate a device that will lower the emissions by near 100%”

And they were allowed to go and attend the class or go home and think of a way to get answers!

Hera: “Why are we supposed to look for finance? We went to them to get finance!”

Avir: “We are stuck in a pickle! We wanted race & money, and now we are going to do Rally and give money!”

Hera: “Whatever! Lets get something to talk about after 48 hours! And I was so sure this strange day was good, got up early and now I will sleep early too!”

Avir: “You were lucky then! I was dropped here by my father, he got a call from college, asking about me! He blasted me through the whole 30 minutes drive to college!”

Hera: Just looked at Avir and “Good night!”

Avir: “Good night!”

And they did go on to sleep, at exact noon o’clock.

On all of the Earth, everyday, every minute, every moment, plans are made, changed, twisted, broken and what not, but humans keep on planning things, keep on planning life, keep on doing things so that plans do not get affected and still end up changing them.

Likewise, the plan of visiting Monsoon’s place needed some change, for now, Hera was not in any position to gain from visiting her home town, and on other hand Monsoon had asked to postponed it herself. Her exams had been rescheduled.

Hera wondering, while his mind wandered, with what should he fill the vacant days with, and he was coming up with nothing or absolutely ridiculous ideas in world, one after the other.

To get his mind off the case, Hera decided to be friends with the new guy in class who was transferred from another college and was for some weird reason trying to be friend. Avir.

Avir was very much interested in cars and had even managed to buy a run down Fiat Premier Padmini and was devotedly renovating it, but was finding it very difficult to get the funds together.

Avir had a brain wave of asking it to Hera, and Hera had a brain wave of suggesting an answer.

Hera: “Why not organise a motorcycle race?”

Avir: “Great! I know a guy, who can help!”

Hera: ”Why not ask college, as a part of sports festival!”

Avir: Thinking this was bit stretching, but enthusiasm on Hera’s face. “Yes! Why not?”

Hera: “Any how, we will need their permission to let students participate in it, else we might not get any takers.”

And they roped in two faculties, lying about green words, and how they can help students learn how to save petrol as well as race and stuff. Got a proposal made, with signatories: Hera, Avir and the 2 faculties. Things started to role, until they hit a rock wall of their Dean.

Dean’s first word were

Dean: “Why don’t students just shift to cycling instead? It is more environment friendly!”

And there the plans of winning a race, that is what Hera was thinking, ended, until one of the director of society, a person much higher up the leader started showing some interest, and gave new life to Fiat! Plans got twisted!

How is one supposed to make one self count important, as oneself and not someone else, when the other person does not see you as you at all? Not an easy question to answer, should it come out as an out burst or should it be a gradual realization on part of the other person, that she can not search someone in Hera who is not that someone, she misses.

Hera was searching for a unique way to be different from what her ex was, but the difficulty being to know what her ex was, what he liked disliked, and then highlight the things which he disliked and Hera himself liked. Hence began a mission to learn about monsoon’s ex.

And the only ones whom Hera could approach were Monsoon’s friends, and that included Vidi and Kaveri. Hera was already close to Kaveri, but she would not have told Hera anything, she was that kind of person, with whom your secret would remain a secret from the person you do not or would not like to tell.

Hence Vidi it was, so one evening Hera just went to her hostel, called her out and decided to put all the burned cards on the table.

Hera: “You know, you said I will burn my fingers if I do not give up on Monsoon, well I have and you know what, I still can not give up on her!”

Vidi: “Well, then you are just another fool or is it just adrenalin in heat of the moment.”

Hera: “Former, for love is blind, deaf and mute to reasoning. And when I keep my heart aside I know, at end of all this Monsoon still might not love me and even if she does, I might not be me.”

Vidi: “Then you are the former, so why have you come here, just to talk about your felings for  Monsoon?”

Hera: “Who was he really like, I mean who Monsoon’s ex was as a person, his likes, his dislikes, everything else?”

Vidi: “Vij! Was a charming boy, in crude sense, like all other villagers, but was good looking, just like you, infact a little too like you.”

Hera: Wincing “I know that part, what else?” she had confirmed the unwanted.

Vidi: “How much has Monsoon told you?”

Hera: “Just about that much.”

Vidi: “You see, Vij was not at all like you, not a person who would stick with wooing one woman for as long as you have, it is about 2 years now, is it not?”

Hera: “Yes! It is.”

Vidi: “I would not forget the day before that day, Monsoon had just learned about Vij breaking up with her, and he did not have the guts to tell her. She got the news, on eve of his marriage. He was a kind of Hero in town, all boys liked him, and she with him looked as perfect couple, until she out performed him in those exams, and she went ahead and decided to fulfil her fathers dream. And you know, you are also not part of that dream.”

Hera: “I know, what else?”

Vidi: “We are four friends Hera, I, Richa, Pooja and Monsoon. I and Richa are close, and Monsoon and Pooja are, so what I know is what Richa would know, you should get in touch with Pooja.”

Hera: “Where is she?”

Vidi: “Delhi.”

Hera: “Mobile/contact number?”

Vidi: “Only Monsoon would have it, anyways she did not use mobile, so it might belong to someone else.”

Hera: “Okay!”

That was pretty much it, what Hera learned from Vidi, and that was not much, but he had a start, and it was time to call it a night. Mission Pooja would have to wait.

Hera reached home, it was a long drive back, and though he was tired, he called up Monc and Duds to calm their nerves down.  It was very late though, he was surprised they were even awake, it was next day's morning already. All that riding had made one thing sure, Hera slept like never before.

Next time Hera woke up, it was already the day of Kaveri’s Party, 2 days straight! And Hera had to buy a gift! And for lack of a working head; Hera still suspected his mind for time being, after what rocking time he was having, he called Monc, but he was not free, Sam had his time booked with her. However before Hera could cut the line, Monc demanded some explanation.

Monc: “Why did you do, whatever you did that day?”

Hera: “Oh! That prof was going to fail me anyway, just gave her what she wanted, at least now she will be off my case!”

Monc: “She might not have done that!”

Hera: “Well! First thing she said in front of external examiner was, “Why are you here? Why are you even considering trying? You will fail anyway!” So just gave her what she wanted!”

Monc: “She must have been just intimidating you! She was the one who was searching for you, for; you did not sign the papers.”

Hera: “She does play her part well, convinced you, well let it be! I am not exactly her fan.”

And Hera cut the line.

The day was like a bad hangover, except head was not the only thing that was splitting, every other bone was cursing Hera too! And still Hera got his lazy ass to move to shopping area of city checking out all the gift shops in city and coming up with nil. All of them were either filled with Father, Mother or Girlfriend gifts, and Kaveri was none, she was a saviour, and a sister, but nothing for that kind of a relation.

After giving up on the gift, Hera went over to college garden, and sat on his tread mark bench under the Almond tree and was soon joined by his long time missing companion, the smelly black dog called Majnu! And for a moment Hera felt nothing has changed since he first came here. Here he was, all alone, none of his old friends around, except for a strange dog who seemed to visit him, only when he was alone, and look on, listening to whatever crap he blurted out. Sometimes it was about home sickness, sometimes bad grades, missing friends or even a boring subject. Today he was listening to Hera’s heart break and quest for gift.

Like some magical cue from somewhere, Majnu got up, barked once at Hera and moved on, as if saying “Get going mate, or you will be late!” and moved on behind a girl going to hostel, his only hobby! Hera looked at him, and smiled, saw watch and got moving.

Hera made it to venue just in time, and as he parked, in front, across the road was his gift, a jewellery shop. Hera went in, saw around, and two thing just held his mind, he could not move out of that shop without taking those two things a Silver bracelet for Kaveri and a Silver engagement ring for someone, no not Monsoon, she would never accept, yes he did  imagine her finger but then she won’t.

Hera went into the party, happy with his gift, that he gave Kaveri, she thought it was too expensive but Hera did not think so. And Monsoon was here. Hera’s heart missed a beat as she approached him but he just looked on.

Monsoon: “Hi! Where have you been? Have been calling you, but my call is not getting through.”

Hera had blocked her calls after his outburst, did not want to hear from her.

Hera: “Bad Network!”

Monsoon: “Ok! So you are coming with me, I have booked tickets for you too?”

Hera: “Not sure!”

Monsoon: “Why? Did you cancel going to your uncles place?”

Hera: “I am just not sure!” Little strain in his voice, and Monsoon noticed it, sensing that “When are you going? I have some work to finish before I go.” in calmer voice, still tense.

Monsoon: “Next week! Exactly 7 days.”

Hera: This will be difficult to avoid, so much for it is *my problem theory*. “Ok! Don’t cancel the ticket, I will pay for it whether I come or not.” Shits! There I go firing bullet in my own leg!

Hera could not take any more of Monsoon’s company, and so he went close to Kaveri, who got ready to cut the cake, and everyone sang……Happy Birthday to you…….Kaveri….

Hera had cake, asked Kaveri for permission to leave and did not say a word to Monsoon and left, just a detour to a friends place on way home, but home did not come till next day. When Hera reached his friend’s place there was a party on! As Hera was not known to drink, he never did, so he was not invited. However; he sat through the party, having cold drink, learning secrets of everyone and realising he was not the only one in love with Monsoon.

This party just made his life worse, he got a competitor, self proclaimed one at that, when Hera had already lost the battle. Next morning the question was put forward formally.

Smoky: “Is Monsoon your girlfriend?”

Hera: Thinking what to answer, can not say yes, and can not afford to say no. Could not say anything, but looked quizzically at Rocky and finally said “Why?”

Smoky: “I know you love Monsoon, but does she?”

Hera: Grabbing the opportunity “Yes, she loves my face.”

Rocky: “Ok!”

Smoky: “See, if a girl is taken she is taken, if not it is an open field, and Rocky here also loves her.”

Hera: “That is okay buddy!”

Hera got out of there, with Monc. And he knew in his heart, he had lost a friend or two with that half a lie, if they ever learned about the truth they would not forgive him, but anything is fare in Love and War and this is now a War, no longer about Love alone. War between Monsoon’s old Love and his current Love.

When one feels everything has come to an end, and chaos reigns in one’s mind, one seeks peace, peace that everyone is searching, but it is never as crucial as when the chips are as down as of Hera. And in such circumstances more often than not, some desperate steps are taken. And sometimes peace becomes so critical that life is just some collateral damage.

Hera was in one such situation, and he was untraceable. Monc was worried, Duds was terrified, and Hera was missing. However, last time Hera was missing, it did not turn out much, but that exam episode was scaring them up a bit, plus none of the calls were getting to Hera, his mobile was either out of coverage area or he was just not picking up, but they had it confirmed, he had not gone home.

Hera on other hand, was doing what he loved the most, riding his bike as fast as possible, on a long drive, but it was not much fun today. It was after a long time that he was riding alone for such a long distance. And slowly tears did come out, was it speed, with which air was hitting his eyes or was he just letting it flow, it does not matter, for now he could not drive any further, his vision was blurred.

Hera parked his bike on one side of the highway, barely crossed half the road and slumped on the grass of divider, wondering what he should be doing next, his head was splitting with ache, caused by all the thoughts of Monsoon, of what happened today, it was bleak! What was he going to answer to his parents? What was he going to do with his life? Was it going to be any good, why bother living? One step and a truck would run over, the end.

Or should he just drive on ahead and never come back, sell off the bike, work shitty jobs, after all no job is low. What if he could not make it big, bring his dream to life? And without Monsoon what are those dreams worth? Does anyone even care about me, none seem to be calling me, why the hell did I waste so much money on that cell phone? Or I can just roll down that cliff on the other side and die, it would be more like accident.

When thinking is not right, steps taken have to be wrong. Hera crossed the road, and on edge of cliff, he takes out the phone and it rings, Hera picks it up and

Caller: “Hera? What are you doing? Do you have any exam on the day, the day after tomorrow?”

Hera: Somewhat cracked voice “No.”

Caller: “I have been trying to call you, but you have been out of coverage area, so listen, it is my birthday, so if you are free day after tomorrow, can you come?”

Hera: Finally understanding who it is on other side, “Yes! Kaveri, I will certainly come.”

Kaveri: “I will be waiting for you! And you sound bit sad, and why are you still outside, go home, aunty will be worried for you.”

Hera: “Yes! Good Night!”

One phone call explained all, and brought some sobriety to Hera’s mind and he recovered from the slump, numerous missed calls helped further, got on the bike, and…….“Which direction is city in? ”

Hera: Flags down a truck “Where is city?”

Truck diver: Looks at Hera’s bike and looked at Hera “How did you get here?”

Hera: “I just rode here without stopping or thinking!”

Truck driver: Thinking Hera is a whacko! “In reverse direction, 240 KM (150 miles) in reverse direction.”

Hera got on the bike and started the journey back.

Hera was disturbed, he was trying to make sense, think positively, for he could not afford negativity in his life, not at the moment. Monsoon was not the only loved one he knew, his Mom & Dad too were there, and he had some responsibilities towards them. As the night before, Monsoon had made him aware how girls tend to separate out the task of passing exam from the matters related to heart make or break, Hera had to find his way through this mess too, and focus on fast approaching exams.

One thing was clear, it would be very difficult in near future to approach Monsoon, but then there was that planned trip together, and it had to go through as planned for he had made a promise to visit his Maternal uncle meanwhile. Can’t back out and can’t go ahead, he left the things to the flow of time.

However, Hera could not let one puzzle out of his head, one tiny bit of puzzle. Why his face hurt Monsoon, when she should just love him for being someone who was and is all who she wanted to be with? How much he ever thought he could not separate himself from the thought and his conclusion hence favoured his feelings.

What is love?

Is it selfless feeling to see someone happy or there is no such thing as being selfless. One gives up life to save ones country for love of country, but then is it not one who is in love with country, then you can substitute anything with country, may be an invention, an idea, a game or a girl.

Is the object of ones affection really the centre of ones universe, or is it the idea that the object is the centre of ones universe the real centre of universe, or is it the mind that thinks or designates what should be called the centre of ones universe? Here mind can easily be substituted as my feelings, which makes me me. And hence I am the centre of my own universe.

Is it not the fact that if Hera decided on a deeper level of his thought, that it is an apple/money and not Monsoon, then would his feelings be any different for this object? No! They won’t! Have not people killed for both love and money as motives, world over, over the history of man kind!

So what is love?

Hera had a thought through this turmoil, if he focused on negatives of Monsoon, which she said she has always had, but he never saw them, may be he will fall out of love with her and may be things will get back to normal. Hera did not share this thought with anyone, for this was an experiment. A two step experiment. First step, to try and stop loving him, second step being, he would ask Monsoon to consider settling for him, for he loved her rather than running behind a man whom she loved!

The path was decided, but he was undecided.

Hera’s day was made, getting approval from Vidi, who turned out to be best childhood friend of Monsoon, it felt like a very significant achievement. After all, an approval from friends just allows some people to go with the decisions they take, more comfortable when other assure you that it is not a wrong thing. You wont be hurt this time, specially when you have been on the wrong lane before. Hera felt calm, Vidi, was fond of him as a friend, she did not feel that she had to hide something in front of Hera. He was sure, she would put a good word for him with Monsoon.

Just before checking out, while Hera cleared bills, Vidi sent Monsoon to check on things in the room, and she asked Hera.

Vidi: “Hera? Do you really love Monsoon?”

Hera: “Yes! I do, but, why are you asking?”

Vidi: “Then what reason I have would not be a reason enough, for you, but still it would be better for you; and Monsoon, to not be together.”

Hera: “What? Why are you saying such things?” Hera was taken aback.

Vidi: “Well, you know the answer, you have asked her!”

Hera: “I know she does not love me, but then I can manage that.”

Vidi: “Well, for how long, when you asked her, you already crossed the line of friendship, now you are neither friends, nor a couple, you are somewhere in between, she cant go forward, and you cant go backward, it is going to hurt, both of you, it is better you & Monsoon, stop seeing each other, slowly.”

Hera: Of all the things said, he gets this: “Why cant she move forward?”

Vidi: “Well, lets forget we had this chat, just was testing things between you and her. You are a good guy, just hope things turn out the way you dream they do, and not a lost cause.”

Hera: “It s a challenge for me, lets see what time holds for us. After all I did not lose my heart to lose everything.”

Monsoon, just joins them back, and they all have a laugh at what she finds in room, Hera’s wallet! Now how on earth he was going to pay those bills with a lost wallet!

Rocky was basking in the glow of new found love and Hera was dreaming of having similar moments sometime in future with Monsoon and Monc with Sam. When 1 love story gets going, others become active too, same was the case with Hera & Monc.

Monc used to go and meet Sam now and then, but Hera was facing punishment, for wrecking one bike and a foot, was relegated to using mobile, whose bill was going to be huge, it was still the time of incoming charges.

Hera would ask Monsoon:

Hera: ”So Guess! Where I am?”

Monsoon: “Can’t guess that! Tell me?”

Hera: “Hospital! With Vidi and Rocky, Rocky got a fracture!” This was the last time Hera surprised Monsoon!

Next day:

Hera: “Can you believe! What I had today in lunch?”

Monsoon: “Chicken in Hospital Mess!””

Hera: “How? What! How did you guess that?”

Monsoon: “I have my ways!”

And from that day onwards it was as easy guessing things for Monsoon as if she had a pair of eyes there, on Hera. Hera was being surprised everyday and everyway, but was happy about it. Finally he was getting on her next page!

Then Vidi comes in and “ Today is last day of Rocky in hospital, he will be discharged!”

Hera: “It’s been only 3 days!”

Vidi: “It is just a fracture, and he can walk now, with plaster and that stick.” A bit of envy in her voice and sadness!

Hera: Equally sad! “I understand! I will miss Monsoon guessing everything I do here!”

And she walks in!

Monsoon: “Hi!” With flowers in her hand!

Hera: “What! What a surprise!” All gloom instantly vanishing.

Vidi: “Hi!”

Monsoon giving a hug to Vidi and Hera looking Dumb! Hera was still missing the point!

Monsoon: “Vidi here is my best friend from school, and Vidi, this is Hera!”

Vidi: “I know, he is Rocky’s friend!”

Monsoon: “Yes! And he isz Hera!” Stressing on is.

Just before the commotion from parking, Monc had got a phone call, but now it did not matter, as he was on his way ridding triple seat, with Rocky in between and Hera at the rear, who could barely keep his butt on the seat. Rocky, with all the pain in leg had forgotten all about the date, and all he wanted to see was a doctor.

Hera was surprised to see, one hospital pass by, one more, another, and another, finally he started pointing it out to Monc.

Hera: “Hey! Monc, why are you not stopping at those hospitals, Rocky is really in pain!”

Monc:“Shut up! We can not afford those!”

Hera:“I thought government hospital was the cheapest!”

Monc:“Hera, just seat quite, and hold Rocky’s leg.”

Rocky:“Shut the hell up, you both, and get to the damn hospital as fast as possible!”

And they did not speak until inside the gates of hospital. As Rocky was escorted to preliminary examination centre on wheel chair.

Hera:”Now I get it, you wanted him to be here, but she won’t be coming today, as she is going on date with Rocky! Holy Shit! We did not inform her about Rocky’s feet! She will be waiting for him, and she will get angry! We should inf….”

Vidi:”Hi Hera! Hi Monc! How come you are here?”

She is wearing uniform, but she should be waiting at the bus stand, for Rocky. Hera looked questioningly at Monc.

Monc:”Hi! Well, when you called and said that due to last minute scheduling of your duty, we decided to bring our and now your patient here.”

Vidi:”Patient? Who?”

Hera:”Rocky! I think he broke his leg.”

Vidi:”What?”

And she went straight to check on him, and Monc smiled at Hera, and Hera laughed!

Hera:“You brought him to the just right place!”

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Whenever Hera got his wish, he would slack off, but not this time, for Monsoon din't allow him to. Neither was Hera trying to wriggle out of the situation, all he was thinking was of how to make the ends meet? How to take the answer to the question, even before the question is ever asked? Hera was looking for an easy way, which would not make him speak and not make Monsoon angry either.

Monsoon: "What a day that was, I do understand the situation we have got ourselves into, but I can not have a say in your family, unless I am part of it and as I am not! Me telling them that, I am not trying to be part of your family, I do not think it is going to work unless they consider me as part of your family!"

After a pause...

Monsoon: "Do you get what I said?"

Hera: "Did you? Was I supposed to!" 

Monsoon: "Oh! This is so confusing!"

And they at last decided to live it at fate and concentrate on studies, which was proving harder than they thought it would be. 

Family moving into a new city implied buying new furniture, waiting for undelivered things and forming new bonds with new people. All this implied Hera did not have his own bike with him, for as of now his father's bike had not arrived in city. Hence, Hera was at mercy of his friends who were little apprehensive to let him drive their's so instead decided to be chauffeur for him.

With Hera's eccentric schedules of travel, only Monk could keep up with him, still with Sam and Monsoon in picture it was not possible for them to manage everything with one bike. So eventually Rocky relented and allowed Hera to use his bike when he had to go out with Monsoon or Monk had to be with Sam.

Hera was not a bad rider, albeit bit rash, was used to drive at his own pace and in his own space. So sometimes slow but in middle of the road, and when fast, going past people just centimeters away, who were innocently walking on footpath.

So one such night, after dropping Monsoon, Hera turned into park the bike and some noise came and bike stopped abruptly. Hera made a note of it to let Rocky know and parked it, but as he went up, Monsoon called and everything else was forgotten. And then it was time for some sleep.

Hera: "I feel, I am forgetting something. What was it?"

Rocky: "Sleep! You need to sleep, and so do I! Good Night!"

Hera: "No, that's not it, but anyway, I will remember it in morning. Good Night!"

Rocky was ready to rock the world of a medical student, shades, gelled hair, new boot cut in fashion jeans, a leather jacket and his bike. Walking into parking space, looking at people looking at him, he knew he was looking good. A guy two bikes away, having starting problem, he knew he was not going to have any, he had maintained it well.

Kick! And it kicks back. Seems to be in gear, no problems! Just hold the clutch and kick, and twisted the accelerator! Bike vroomed, moved forward and dashed with a car and fell over Rocky. And Hera reached just in time to witness the thing.

Hera: "So that was it last night!"

Rocky: "Aaaahhhhhhh! Get the bike off me! Aaaahhhh!"

Monk came out, hearing the crash!

Monk: "What about last night?"

Hera: "Nothing, just that bike's clutch wire is broken!" As he got the bike off Rocky.

All Rocky wanted to do was beat up Hera, but something else was broken, no not bike, but Rocky's leg. Resultant, Rocky's medical date turned into appointment with medic.
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Hera had to move to new home, and surprise was just sinking in, but he was not ready, not ready to discuss his non existent love life, and if his parents had taken the scene in as he thought they had, even sex life was on the cards. And with no love life, there was not going to be any sex life, not with Hera's pocket money. Hera was just looking for an excuse to not stay where he was supposed to, just for few more days. 

There was a story Hera had heard:

2 prisoners were put in front of the king, both were awarded death sentences, one accepted the fact, and was to be executed next day. Second just blurted out, in one year he can teach a horse to fly, and king gave him one year to prove that. The first prisoner just asked him, why are you procrastinating, and making your days miserable.

He said: "I am just buying time, who knows what will happen in 1 year, may be I will die after one year, may be there will be a battle and king might lose/die, & may be horse will learn to fly, who knows, as long as I have time, I have hope."

And right now Hera was following the second prisoners rule, either his parents would forget, either Monsoon would really fall in love with him, or may be he would be dead! Which in his own eyes seemed to have a low probability, very very low probability.

Hera still thought of one way of getting out of moving everything to new home, and wanted some reason to stay back for few days, just few days. And Monk just helped him to create an opening.

Monk: Thinking of breaking the silence "So Hera now you would not be studying with us this time!"

Hera: "Why not! I cant imagine not studying with you people, if I stay at home and study, the phone bill is going to be heavy, plus it would be difficult to match my timings with you all, for solving our doubts."

Monk: "Wh.....oh! Okay! Yes, I can not imagine how your pocket money is going to cover that." And he got an angry look from Monsoon, for she understood Hera was not looking for a raise, but time away from Home.

Monsoon: "Yes, It would be difficult to study alone, as since coming here you have been studying in a group with Duds, Monk, and others." Emphasizing Duds name.

Hera: "I think I will come to your room for studies, for exams, and continue to live with you for time being. That is roughly one month."

Duds: "Yes! You can shift everything today except for clothes, bed and books. And after exams get over you can move the rest of the things."

And Hera's father realized, what they wanted and agreed, however, there is no need to shift to Monk's place for the landlord has not agreed to pay back next months rent.

So Hera had finally got his time so that permutations & combinations of his life work themselves out, till then Hera had decided to just sit and study and watch life unfold, but that's not how god had thought of timings.

Trouble with relatives, friends, girl friends and enemies is that they all like to surprise you and if you are in any luck they work along with each other and if not then all depends on how merciful god is to you. Hera was having one such day.

First thing in morning, Hera was still in his pajama's and an erection from last night's wet dream., a la semi adult movie type, wet tongue in an ear, and there it was, the door bell, and all the room mates seemed to have gone. And there went that damn door bell again.

Hera: Yaaawwwnnnnnn "Who is so impatient, at this hour of morning?" It was 9:30 Am. "Coming!" At least  should have got a chance to get rid of this.

And he opened the door as if one of his roomies was going to walk in and Monsoon smiled at him.

Monsoon: "Surpriaaa!" One look and "aah! You get ready and come down, quickly!" And she skittered and giggled down the stairs!

Hera: "Shits!" And shut the door, smsed her to give him 30 to 45 minutes.

Started off with his morning chores and half way through his bath, rang the door bell. First thought; Monsoon, but then she would give him time than risking coming up again. So sped up his routine with a towel and as he opened the door, the flash of camera.

Friends: "Surprise! Good Morning! Happy Birthday!!!"

Monsoon was there too, urging them not too.....but they dint listen.

Hera: "Really! Is it!" And shut the door.

And heard Monsoon say: "I told you so! But can you show me that picture you clicked?" and though there was lot of protest, she deleted it.

Hera finally got ready and got out of the room, and they were about to go out on a picnic when one of Hera's class mate showed up.

Class mate: "Hera! You have to submit that file today!"

Hera: "Oh shit! That is today? Holy Shit!" Hera went back up, got the file, changed into formal dress and "Guys! I will be back in 30 mins."

And he went to class, Monsoon came along, and first inference she drew from the scene: "This is going to take lot longer than 30 minutes!"

Hera: "Oh! Yeah, What are you doing here?"

Monsoon: "I just came along, should I go?"

Hera: "No! Don't go! or else I will get bore alone."

Monsoon: "Okay! Just a minute."

And she gave a call to Monk and told him to leave for destination, "I and Hera will catch up with you."

Before Hera could tell Mansoon to hop on and go for picnic, it was already 3 hours past the said 30 minutes. And Hera was wet with perspiration and Monsoon insisted him to change and so they went to his room.

Hera: "Wait here, I will come in 10 minutes."

Monsoon: "Its too hot'today, and I really need freshen up, so I am coming up too."

Hera: Looking at her, she was not going to listen so.."Okay!"

Once up, Hera switched on fan and she went for freshing up, and he quickly changed into casuals and she got ready too, door bell rang.

Hera: "Who is it now?" Tired.

Monsoon: "Hope! its not your landlord."

Hera: Shiver running down his spine. "If it is, then I hope he allows you to pack my things, and not just orders you out and make''s me pack."

Its a common thing, when you think of what is the worse possible thing that can happen, that can go wrong, one tends to miss a point. My due respect to Murphy.

Monsoon opened the door, Hera stood behind her, if only it were a mirror, and not Hera's parents, Hera would have loved the fact that they looked like good couple, alas it was not a mirror.

Hera: "Mummy! Sunny! Papa!" I am dead!

Monsoon: "Hel_lo__w A_un_ty!" We look as if we have just changed and made ourselves presentable! This is weird!

Sunny: "Surprise!" Whispering "Awkward! Bro!"

Hera: "How come you are here? I am surprised!"

Mummy: "Well, we had decided to surprise you, but did not expect to be surprised!"

Dad: "We have decided to shift here, permanently, and so have rented the place and now we can go and stay there."

Hera: "What!"

Monsoon was aghast, she could not imagine what was happening. Hera's mom started giving his clothes to her for packing and Hera was asked to pack up his books. After all he was moving.

As soon as packing was done, and it was time to pick up bags and load them on to car, Hera, monsoon and Hera's family sat down for a breather, and door bell rang.

Monsoon, worried who would come in next, just got up, hoping she would be able to stop whoever it was from saying anything foolish.

Door opens.

Monk:  At top of his voice. "If you 2 wanted to

Monsoon: "Sssshhh!"

Monk: continuing uninterrupted "spend a day alone; here, you should have told us and we would have obliged!"

Monsoon: "Ssssshhhhhh!"

Monk: "Why was it necessary for us _to_go on a pic_nic!  Hello Uncle! Hello Aunty!"

Hera just hit his head and slept on the bed, and Monsoon just sat down, with her eyelids down and Monk kept quite, ran down and stopped other friends.

Duds: "This is such a movie kind of setup, Hera got us into."

Monk: "sssshhhh! There is a movie going on up stairs alright but certainly not a love story, Hera's parents are here and all his bags are packed."