Chapter 1: The Unexpected Dare

It was a long, hectic morning. I checked all the things for the last time before heading to the door. "Aarna come fast or we'll leave you here!" My mom called me from the car. How to tell mom that she can leave me as I already don't want to go. I locked the front door and walked straight to the car. Mom was in the passenger seat and dad was driving. I with my younger sister, Aavya were in the back seat. We were attending my cousin's wedding in Lucknow.

Dad started the car. We all were silent mostly, except the music being played in the background and the frequent conversation shared by my mom and dad. What can you expect from us?…Yes! We all were busy on our phones, oh yes, except dad, he was driving. I was busy chatting away with two people. One was my friend, Vritika, who was busy telling me about the movies she watched recently. The other person, was indeed my favourite person, my cousin Kyra. She was not attending this wedding as her mother was not well. She just keeps on using a 'black heart' emoji, which now-a-days for us goes by the meaning ; her crush. I don't even know the name of that person, she hasn't told a single soul about this 'secret boy'. And whenever someone asks that when will she tell, she just says 'Its not going to happen in this lifetime'. Crazy. As though if she tells the name, I will fall for him.

It was just a five hour trip from Allahabad by road. It was about 5pm when we reached there. Dad pulled the car in the driveway and we all got down. Uncle and Aunt came to the door to welcome us with my few other cousins. And let me tell you, I don't give a damn about them and as visible from their faces, neither do they. But to be a decent girl, who respects everyone, I hugged them. After all the 'HIs' and 'HELLOs' I followed everyone inside.

I didn't want to attend this wedding. I don't feel like coming here anymore now, staying among these people. And as everyone here knows what Indian weddings are like, they are LONG. I can recall something which my friend said once "There's no wedding on this Earth where you cannot like a guy". Not true. I can't even see a single guy, except my cousins! So that's not happening here!

Now it was just me and my phone left here in this room. I tried calling Kyra but she didn't pick up, must be obsessing over the 'secret boy' by listening to her playlist, which is just full of romantic songs. Sorry will not disturb you. Vritika must be sleeping and that left me to do the same thing. Sleep.

After about half an hour or so, Aavya came to tell me that we should get ready for today's party. We started getting ready and by 8pm, I was standing in front of the city's most famous, 5-star hotel. God! I loved that place. Few good pictures and too good food is waiting for me! Okay! I have to say I just came here for these things only.

As expected, I was sitting here at the corner with few of my cousins and my sister with my food, yeah the best thing. After just a little of my 'Yes' and 'Sure' and many nods to their constant babbling, they decided to dance. I instantly refused but my sister approved and now they were dancing.

I was busy on my phone sending some snaps, when I heard a boy of about my age yelling on the phone on one of my side tables. Boys these days! I can make only few words from what he was saying… "Again" "Oh No". Oh wait!! I noticed something just now. He. Is. Hot. " Oh forget him Aarna, your grand mother and yes of course your father will eat you up if they see you staring at a boy." my sub conscious reminds me. He ended the call and left the table with a growling face.

I disowned my thoughts about him and left the table in order to find my sister. When I got around the hotel room, at the other end of it I found my sister with my cousins there. I decided to go there and see if they can talk something which would make sense. And to my utter surprise they were currently discussing about my favourite movie. Okay dear cousins, I'm joining you! After about ten-fifteen minutes when we were fully engrossed in the conversation, I felt someone sitting beside me. He was the very same boy who I saw yelling on the phone.

Just when I was going to say something, one of my cousins spoke "Oh hey Aarav, how are you doing boy?" Aarav. Nice name. "Very well, how about you? I heard you are shifting to Delhi now" he replies. And they were going on with their conversation from which I got to know few things that he lives in Allahabad too and he is the son of my aunt's elder sister.

As we all were of about same age 16-17, we decided to play Truth and Dare. I was never going to take dare from this bunch of people, so as my chance came, I chose truth. And irony? The person who has to ask me a question was none other than Aarav.