Four pairs of eyes trained their sight on Lakshya. Three with excitement. And one with a feeling of dread. Lakshya had a look of determination on his face. For the first time, Sanskaar was regretting making the punishment worse than the bet.

When the dinner table conversation steered towards the upcoming nuptials, Lakshya's eyes lit up.

"I want to join the kids in their sangeet performance," Sujata said, smiling brightly as she practically bounced out of her chair.

"Control yourself. Don't forget you are the aunt of the groom. Not the bride," Ram said, holding her hand and dragging his wife back into her chair.

"I may be the aunt of the groom, but I am not old. I got married too young. You were the one who was old," Sujata complained shoving his hand away.

"Sujju," Ram said making a sad face, "You take everything seriously. You are still my child bride."

"Don't try to butter me up, it is not going to work," Sujata warned him.

"Chachu, you know you are the only romantic couple in this family," Lakshya cut in.

"See, even he notices it," Ram said trying to hold Sujata's hand.

"Hey! How can you say that?" Adarsh said quickly, seeing Pari give him a glare.

"Bhai, you let it be. Your idea of romance is getting Chinese food for Pari Bhabhi," Lakshya said casually.

"It is her favorite!" Adarsh said looking affronted. Pari rolled her eyes.

"See Maa, this is what happens," Lakshya said.

"Why are you pulling me into this?" Annapurna asked.

"It is because of you and Papa that Bhai doesn't know any romance," Lakshya said.

"What does it have to do with us?" Annapurna asked looking at her husband.

"Lakshya," Durgaprasad cautioned in a quiet voice.

"But it is true," Lakshya said pushing on, "We have never seen the two of you romance, so how can we learn it?"

"Lakshya," Durgaprasad warned loudly.

"Lakshya, do you have no shame. How can you say such things?" Annapurna asked. Her face showing the range of emotions she was feeling: shock, anger and embarrassment.

"There are somethings that are more appropriate to be displayed in the married couples own private room," Savita said gently trying to maintain calm.

"Kaki, what about Chachu displaying it in public?" Lakshya persisted.

Sanskaar watched Lakshya cautiously. Today Lakshya was either going to win the bet or get beaten up by Bade Papa–beaten up really badly. There was going to be no middle path. The trouble was that he wasn't sure what he wanted to wish for.

"Lakshya!" Durgaprasad yelled, standing up so quickly that his chair fell down.

Lakshya took a deep breath. He was most likely going to get slapped in the next minute. But the alternative was worse. He needed to do this. Or die trying. He took a deep breath, "Papa, I am going to get married soon. You wouldn't want me to make your daughter-in-law unhappy like Adarsh Bhai does."

"What!" Adarsh exclaimed jumping out of his own chair, "I will have you know I take very good care of Pari." He turned to his wife, "Tell him, Pari! Tell him!"

"Calm down," Annapurna said standing up, "No one is going to be unhappy. She is a really nice girl and she will not complain."

"Maa, you and Papa have taught us everything right from childhood. You have taught us to walk, talk, read...," Lakshya said putting on the sincerest and emotional expression. It wasn't tough. He was feeling both those things even if the reason was completely different. "We look up to you for everything. So why cannot we look up to you for this."

Annapurna looked unsure seeing her son's expressions and hearing his words.

Durgaprasad had a serious expression on his face as he listened to his youngest son. His anger seemed to have subsided a bit.

Sanskaar felt his heart beats rise. This was not good. Far from good. He had to do something. Now. "Lucky, why are you so worried?" he asked patting Lakshya on his shoulders, "If you need advice, Dad is there to help. Our family romance guru, right Dad?" he said looking at Ram for confirmation.

"Anytime, I take classes from 7-9pm. We can talk about fees separately," Ram said in jest, "I will even give you the friends and family discount," he adding winking.

"Besides, since when do you need classes on romance?" Sanskaar asked with a wink.

Durgaprasad cleared his throat to stop the topic from getting further. 

"Sorry, Bade Papa,' Sanskaar said apologetically. 

Lakshya glared at Sanskaar. Sanskaar shrugged his shoulders and sank back into his chair relieved.

"Why are you so worried, Lakshya?" Annapurna asked, her motherly concern coming out now looking at the despondent look on Lakshya face.

"It doesn't matter, you don't understand," Lakshya said looking away.

"Lakshya, if you are worried about something. Talk to us. We are here to help you. We are your family," Savita asked feeling concerned herself.

"I tried to tell you. But all I got back for screaming and yelling," he said softly looking down.

Sanskaar looked at Lakshya suspiciously. Bratty Lakshya was never good, but brooding and sulking Lakshya was worse. Especially, when it came to Badi Maa. Why did he feel as though he had just been played? That he had given Lakshya exactly what he wanted.

"Look she will not be unhappy. I promise," Annapurna said walking

"Why should she have to adjust?" Lakshya said softly

"Lakshya," Annapurna said quietly, brushing his hair before turning to her husband. "He is really worried ji. He is trying to do right by her," she added given Durgaprasad a helpless and pleading look.

Durgaprasad sighed and walked over to his wife, taking her hand in his.

Sanskaar's heart sunk. Something in Laskhya's expressions, his determination was telling him that this effort was not just for a bet.

When the family hooted, cheered, clapped and whistled as Durgaprasad twirled Annapurna around, Lakshya was the loudest amongst them all. He had a twinkle in his eyes. A gleam almost.

***

"I cannot believe you did it!" Raghav exclaimed patting Lakshya on the back.

"You were too good, Bhai!" Uttara said sitting next to Lakshya, smiling brightly.

"Did you really need to get me into trouble for it through," Adarsh complained from where he sat.

Lakshya shrugged his shoulders and grinned back.

Adarsh humphred. "Okay, so tell us what you want Sanskaar to do?" he asked, "Be quick. I need to get back to my room and calm down, Pari."

Sanskaar felt his palms starting to sweat. He looked intently at Lakshya. This was it!

"Actually, I haven't decided it yet," Lakshya said casually.

Sanskaar's head snapped to looked at Laskhya. That didn't make sense.

"What? Are you serious?" Raghav asked, "So what was all that task in the blind about? You are blind about it as well?"

"Something like that. I will tell you when I figure it out," Lakshya said.

"This is so anti-climactic," Adarsh complained.

"It is smart actually," Raghav said, "Sanskaar is going to be on the burner now.'

Sanskaar rolled his eyes despite knowing that what Raghav had said was true.

"So this, is it?" Uttara asked confused

"Yes, go out and let me get on with my sleep now," Lakshya said shoving her shoulder, playfully, "That was hardwork. I need some good old rest."

As everyone walked out, Sanskaar glanced back at Lakhsya. Lakshya was already pulling his duvet. Sanskaar scrunched his eyebrows. Lakshya was up to something.

***

Sanskaar laid on his bed for a long time. He couldn't sleep. The entire incident kept poking at him. Just as he was wondering if he should just go and confront Lakshya, his phone buzzed. It said 'Lakshya'

"You weren't sleeping were you?" Lakshya asked when Sanskaar picked up the call.

"You are awake as well. I thought you were sleepy," Sanskaar said.

"Not really," Lakshya said, "Meet me in the terrace."

"Why?"

"You want to know what you have to do as part of losing the bet, right? Your dare?" Lakshya asked.

"Fine."

"See you in five minutes," Lakshya said before cutting the phone.

***

"I thought you hadn't decided on the dare yet." Sanskaar commented when Lakshya walked in.

Lakshya shrugged his shoulder, "I didn't want to bring it up in front of the others. It is better it stays between just the two of us. In fact, that is the main condition."

"Why?" Sanskaar asked narrowing his eyes. He was feeling the weight in the pit of his stomach all over again.

"This dare is different," Lakshya said cautiously

"Lucky, don't play with words. Tell me what you want me to do," Sanskaar said firmly.

"I want you to break the wedding," Lakshya said plainly

"What wedding?" Sanskaar asked quietly

"My wedding," Lakshya replied.

Sanskaar felt numb for a second before he realized what was being said. "What?" he literally yelled.

"Shh! Keep it quiet. I don't want to wake up the whole house," Lakshya said.

"Have you lost it? Do you even hear what comes out of your mouth? Do you realize how close the wedding is?" Sanskaar asked throwing his hands in the air.

"Ten days. Ten days to be exact," Lakshya said calmly

"And you want me to do this stupid dare!" Sanskaar said shaking his head.

"It is not stupid. It is my life line," Lakshya said

"Life-line? Really?" Sanskaar asked, "If you didn't want to get married, why the hell didn't you open your fucking mouth before and say 'no' to it?"

"Don't you think I tried?" Lakshya asked, anger seeping into his voice, "I have tried everything. Every bloody thing. Nothing has worked!"

"So that makes it okay to throw the dare at me? What even makes you think I can make it happen?" Sanskaar asked.

"Because you have the incentive to," Lakshya said plainly

"What incentive?"

"The punishment," Lakshya said

"I am not doing this. You may have lost your brain. I haven't. Have you thought about what this will do the family? To the girl you are marrying?" Sanskaar asked

"Are you telling me that you pick the punishment and not the dare?" Lakshya asked.

"Yes"

"Don't you want to hear what the punishment is?" Lakshya asked raising an eyebrow.

"Just tell me what it is. I will do it," Sanskaar said feeling frustrated with his brother.

"You have to reveal the secret in front of the entire family," Lakshya said plainly.

Cold dread passed over Sanskaar. His heart beat raced loud enough that he could hear the thumping in his ears. He let out a shaky breath. "What secret?" he asked quietly.

"The one you shared with me long ago. The one you have held close to yourself. The one about what happened all those years ago," Lakshya said.

Sanskaar felt a lump form in his throat. He started at Lakshya in disbelief for a long time. "What did you just say?" he asked softly.

"Exactly what you heard," Lakshya said firmly.

"I will never reveal it. Not ever. Not to anyone. Never again," Sanskaar said through gritted teeth.

"You wont have to, if you do the dare," Lakshya suggested, looking him in the eye.

"No, Lakshya,' Sanskaar said firmly, "I am not going to do the dare. And I am not going to reveal the secret," Sanskaar said turning to leave.

"If you don't, I will," Lakshya said from behind Sanskaar.

Sanskaar turned to look at him.

"I will tell everyone the secret," Lakshya warned.

Thanks you for reading this chapter and giving this story a try. Please do vote and comment to let me know what you think of them.

Glossary of Indian terms:

Bhai /Bhaiya = brother

Maa = Mother

Bade Papa = Eldest uncle

Badi Maa = wife of the eldest uncle. An aunt

Chacha/ Chachu = uncle

Chachi/ Kaki = wife of a uncle. An aunt

Bhabhi = brother's wife