AneStory

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.