The DARE

I had lost the game but I didn’t mind it as long as .................

It was time for the winner to decide who would be punished. The winner was a new entrant in the group. She did not know how things worked in this game. “DARE” said others, “DARE” said I. I liked this part the most. First, the ‘BAKRA’ had to be decided. Five fingers rose at once, all pointing towards me. My heart missed a beat. It could not be. I knew what the dare would be, my nightmare. Hoping against the hope, I asked them to reconsider. Their merciless mirth at my pleas chilled me to the bones. “God, let it not be a proposal.” But God was not on my side it seemed. “Propose the first girl who enters the room”, said they in a unison. I was aghast. They were wolves baying for my blood. Blood had drained from my face; heartbeat resembled the flapping of a humming bird. My protests were drowned in the cacophony of their laughter. Everyone had a score to settle. I knew that I was a dead meat. The question was WHO THE GIRL WOULD BE?? There were a few I could manage to propose but there were others I dreaded. “God, at least let it be an understanding girl who does not slap me”, prayed I with all my sincerity. My greatest dread though, was being humiliated by the girl. I had been witness to one such incident and it was not pretty. I vowed never to play the game again, but I knew that the damage had already been done.

Should I call ‘her’ voiced the only other male of the group that had been playing. “No” screamed I, “not her”. I prayed in my heart-“let no girls come in today, let them all bunk the class”. My ‘friends’ were in raptures, their laughter increasing at the expectation of the drama.

Then she entered, pretty girl. She had declared herself to be a beauty with brains, but she was unpredictable. Someone had predicted once that she would take great pleasure in humiliating anyone who crossed her path. My throat went dry. “I won’t don’t do it”, declared I. “You will”, they yelled back. There was no escape; the law of averages had finally caught up with me. The pretty girl noticed the commotion, “it is some kind of challenge, isn’t it?” she asked. “Yes”, said I, relieved that the proposal would be taken in the right spirit now. “Its OK”, said she, “I understand”. I took a sigh of relief, heartbeat returning to normal. “The girl has only 2 options-1.say yes or,2.slap” chipped in one of the bystanders. “Damn them”, cursed I. “Ohhh!!! Then it shall be a slap”, said she, a smile lighting her face. I was brain dead it seemed. And then I was asking people mindlessly for suggestions. “Let it be over even if it is a slap”. Chattering non-sense, I asked everyone within reach to suggest me a line which I could use for the drama. None came forward. I banged my fists together in frustration and my watch fell off. “Damn, everything was going haywire”. Looking at my friends, I could discern a maniacal gleam in their eyes. God had forsaken me today. The girl had an expectant smile on her face. She was already visualizing the thunderous slap she was about to administer. Somehow, in the commotion, an angel whispered something in my ears. There was no looking back now……………

“MERI BEHEN BANOGI?” said I. There was a groan from the crowd. They were disappointed. She accepted. Relieved and triumphant I turned around to meet the wolves. I laughed at their protest. I had just exploited a loophole; they had not specified what kind of proposal. “Thank you God for sending that angel to help me”, said I...........