It was supposed to be the most awaited break of the year—Diwali vacation at KMA. But this year, luck was not on the cadets' side. The entire second-year batch had their vacation canceled. And for once—shockingly—it wasn't even Super Six's fault.

A completely different group of overconfident cadets had decided to sneak out of campus just a day before Diwali leave was to be announced. Brigadier Chandok, in all his glorious rage, canceled everyone's vacation. No one was allowed to go home. Not even for a day.

So instead of enjoying the festival of lights at home with sweets and family, the cadets were stuck in their academy fatigues, surrounded by army discipline and dusty parade grounds.

Still, Diwali couldn't be entirely joyless. The academy did allow some breathing room. Since it was Diwali, the cadets were given freedom to roam around the academy, hang out, decorate the campus, or basically do whatever they wanted—as long as they didn't break any more rules.

But there's only so much cleaning, decorating, and rationed sweets a group of restless cadets can take. Boredom hit the Super Six like a truck.

So, one fateful evening, as they sat sprawled across the game room, lamenting their fate and throwing ladoos at each other like grenades. That's when Yudi, eyes twinkling mischievously, piped up with an idea that would change the evening:

"Guys, this is the perfect night to play Truth or Dare! Come on—let's make some memories. Or... at least some blackmail material."

And just like that, the game began—with firecrackers outside, and even bigger explosions waiting inside.

Everyone agreed with suspiciously quick enthusiasm—especially Alekh, who proudly volunteered his empty alcohol bottle like it was a national treasure.

The group sat cross-legged around the bottle like it was some sacred ritual, and Yudi, grinning like a mischievous elf, gave it a dramatic spin.

It whirled. It wobbled. It pointed.

Straight at Ali.

Ali grinned nervously, forgetting momentarily just how merciless his friends were. 

"Truth or Dare?" Yudi asked with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

"Dare," Ali said boldly.

Big mistake.

Huda's grin stretched so wide, it could've passed for a Halloween mask. "Okay, Usool," he said, rubbing his hands like a villain in a 90s movie, "Put on a dupatta and do a full item dance. Bonus points if you sing too!"

Ali's eyes widened in horror. "Huda bhai, what—?!"

But it was too late. The group had already started clapping in excitement.

Glaring at Huda and muttering every creative insult he could think of under his breath, Ali reluctantly turned to his girlfriend, Pooja, who was already giggling like a maniac. She pulled out a bright pink dupatta like she'd been waiting for this day.

Ali threw the dupatta over his head like a martyr, took a deep, dramatic sigh—and then, in the most painfully high-pitched voice known to mankind, started singing:
"Munni badnaam huiii, darling tere liye..."

He twirled. He shook. He even did thumkas that would put Bollywood extras to shame.

The room exploded with laughter. Naina fell sideways, clutching her stomach. Alekh had tears streaming down his face.

And of course, Yudi, ever the opportunist, whipped out his phone. "For future blackmail," he announced cheerfully, already recording.

Ali shot him a glare mid-hip-thrust.

"Delete it or I'll ruin your love life."

Huda smirked. "Joke's on you—He doesn't have one."

Then it was Ali's turn to spin the bottle. It twirled dramatically like it knew something wicked was coming... and landed on Huda.

Feeling all macho and overconfident as always, Huda smirked. "Dare, obviously."

Ali gave him a smile so sinister, even the devil would've said, "Bro, relax."

"Your dare," Ali began with pure evil in his voice, "is to get five girls to tie rakhi on your wrist... in the next thirty minutes."

Dead. Silence.

And then? Absolute chaos. The room exploded in howls of laughter. Huda's face dropped like he just saw his romantic future flash before his eyes—burning in flames.

"You're sick, Ali! You're evil!" Huda gasped, clutching his chest. "Five? FIVE?! Do you want me to die alone?!"

Still laughing, the group followed him as he stomped out of the game room like a sacrificial lamb.

The next half hour was pure comedy gold.

Huda, with the most tragic puppy face, went from girl to girl among the second-year cadets, dramatically pleading, "Please... just one rakhi. Just one. Think of me as your long-lost brother from another mother."

Most of the girls burst out laughing—and some actually tied rakhis, giggling as Huda wailed, "NOOOOOOOO! My love life! It's over!"

Back in the corridor, Super Six were doubled over, clutching their stomachs, tears of laughter running down their faces.

The group stumbled back into the game room, still wiping away tears from Huda's "Rakhi Rampage." Once they'd caught their breath and recovered from the trauma (read: comedy), the bottle was back in the center, spinning again.

It was Pooja's turn.

She looked at her friends with narrowed eyes. "Truth," she said firmly, like someone stepping into a courtroom full of liars. "No dares. I don't trust any of you."

Alekh rubbed his hands together like a villain. "Alright then, madam braveheart," he said with a wicked grin. "Tell us... your most embarrassing moment ever."

Pooja groaned dramatically. "Ugh, you're all horrible people." But they all leaned in, hungry for the gossip.

She sighed and began, "Okay, so I was in Class 7, and we were on this school trip. Our bus had stopped at a rest point, but I was too busy playing tag with my friends to go to the washroom."

Huda already had a bad feeling. "Oh no. Oh no."

Pooja continued, "About an hour later, the pressure started building. I mean, Mount Everest-level pressure. I was sweating, squirming, clenching every muscle in my body like I was doing yoga for survival."

Everyone started giggling. Even Ali bit his cheek to keep from laughing.

"I finally decided I couldn't hold it anymore," she said, face already turning red. "So I got up to tell the teacher, and right at that moment... the bus hit a huge speed bump. And I mean HUGE. Like, 'launch into space' kind of bump."

"Oh god," Yudi whispered, horrified and gleeful.

Pooja covered her face, but kept going. "The jolt was so strong, I... I just... lost control of my entire existence."

There was a beat of stunned silence before the room exploded.

"You POOPED?!" Naina shrieked.

"My pants were covered. Covered!" Pooja yelled, half-laughing, half-dying inside. "I just sat there, frozen. I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole. Or at least the bus."

"Forget truth or dare," Huda gasped between laughs. "This is straight-up horror story level!"

"And that," Pooja concluded dramatically, "is why I am emotionally damaged to this day. Also, why I always use the washroom before getting on any vehicle."

Everyone applauded like she'd just won an Oscar for "Best Tragic Performance in a School Trip Drama."

"Give her a medal," Alekh laughed. "A brown medal."

"Stop it!" Pooja shrieked, throwing a cushion at him.

The game had definitely hit a new high—or low—depending on how you saw it.

It was Alekh's turn now, and the entire group leaned in with wicked anticipation.

Alekh glanced at his friends' mischievous faces and smirked. "Dare."

Naina clapped her hands like an evil mastermind. "Perfect! Your dare is to propose to the first person you see in the mess... Bollywood style. Full drama. Full emotion. Extra hand gestures. You've got one minute. Impress us."

Alekh rolled his eyes. "That's easy," he said, standing up with exaggerated confidence.

The group trooped over to the mess and huddled just outside the entrance.

Pooja peeked inside and snorted. "Oh, this is gonna be good," she whispered, already giggling.

The rest leaned in to see who was inside—and immediately burst into muffled laughter.

Alekh peeked through the door and froze.

Sitting there, calmly sipping his tea, was none other than Subedar Suri.

Alekh groaned. "Suri ji? Really?" he grumbled under his breath.

"Time's ticking," Huda said gleefully, practically bouncing.

Trying to summon his inner Shah Rukh Khan, Alekh marched in, flipped his imaginary hair back, and dropped to one knee right in front of Subedar Suri—who now looked up at him like he'd completely lost his mind.

"Oh Suri ji!" Alekh began dramatically, one hand pressed to his chest, the other outstretched as if offering him the moon. "Without you, life feels like... like a training camp! Full of discipline... but empty of love!"

The Super Six burst into uncontrollable laughter as Alekh added a fake tear, swaying slightly, and even added his own background music with his mouth: "Tunnaaa... na na na... tunaaa!"

Subedar Suri blinked. Then slowly raised an eyebrow. "Oye, son of a donkey, do you want to be permanently transferred to the kitchen?"

Alekh immediately shot to his feet and saluted like his life depended on it. "No, Suriji! I mean—sir, this was a dare! Not from my heart! My heart only belongs to—uh—tea!"

The gang completely lost it. Even Suri ji started snickering.

Yudi clutched his stomach, gasping between laughs. "Alekh, bro, that was legendary! I'll never be able to watch a romantic hero again without picturing you proposing to Suri ji!"

Everyone returned to the common room, laughter still echoing from Alekh's dramatic mess-hall performance. It was now Yudi's turn.

But Yudi was no fool. He played it safe. "Truth," he said quickly, settling into the sofa like a strategist avoiding landmines.

Pooja narrowed her eyes mischievously. "Alright, smart guy. Tell me—what's one thing you'd do if you knew there'd be zero consequences?"

Yudi hesitated for a moment. Then, with a deep breath, he said, "I'd ask Dr. Shalini to marry me."

The room went completely still. Mouths fell open.

"You love Dr. Shalini?!" several voices exclaimed in unison.

"Guys, shhh!" Yudi frantically waved his hands, looking like he regretted his honesty already.

"Don't 'shush' us!" Naina scolded, leaning in. "Answer properly—do you really love her?"

Yudi's face turned bright red as he mumbled, "Yes. I love her."

"Awwww," Naina and Pooja chorused, practically melting.

Alekh and Huda exchanged smirks and a subtle fist bump, clearly not surprised.

And then, as if perfectly timed to ruin the moment, Ali tilted his head and said, "But... she's your teacher."

A collective groan filled the room as everyone facepalmed at once.

It was finally Naina's turn.

She considered choosing truth at first—but then glanced around at everyone laughing and enjoying themselves. It was Diwali, after all. Why not join in the fun?

"I'll take dare," she said, with a mischievous smile.

Her choice immediately brought wicked grins to the boys' faces—especially Huda's.

"I dare you..." he said, drawing it out dramatically, "to go to Rajveer Sir's room, knock on his door, and kiss him."

The smile vanished from Naina's face. "What?!"

Ali opened his mouth to object, but Pooja quickly clamped a hand over it.

"What nonsense! Are you completely out of your mind, Huda?" Naina shot back, glaring at him.

"Come on, Phoolan," Huda said, egging her on. "It's just a quick kiss on the lips. A few seconds. You'll survive."

"If I can propose to Suriji," Alekh chimed in with a crooked grin, "you can do this too. And it's Rajveer Sir we're talking about. He won't be mad. He'll probably just think you're finishing a dare."

Naina crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. She paused, thinking... then finally said, "Fine. But I'll do it my way."

Cheers erupted.

She stood up, then turned to Alekh and plucked his alcohol bottle from beside him. Without a word, she took a long, defiant sip before handing it back with a raised brow. Alekh gave an approving nod, impressed.

With everyone's eyes on her, Naina walked out into the hallway that led to the faculty quarters. Most of the staff had gone home for the holidays—only Rajveer Sir and Dr. Shalini were still around. And since their rooms were on opposite ends of the corridor, Naina felt a little more at ease. No one would be around to witness what she was about to do.

She reached Rajveer's door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

Then she waited.

... --- ...

... --- ...

Rajveer had just stepped out of the washroom, towel still draped around his shoulders, ready to finally collapse into bed after a long day. But just as he reached for the light switch, there was a sudden knock at the door.

He frowned, glancing at the clock. 'It's almost time for the lights out. Who could it be now?'

Opening the door, his expression shifted from mild annoyance to outright shock. "Naina?" he blurted, startled to see her standing alone in the dim hallway.

She was swaying ever so slightly, a dazed smile on her lips and a dreamy look in her eyes that sent alarm bells ringing in Rajveer's mind.

"Cadet Singh? You're here... at this hour?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief and concern.

Naina simply stared up at him, her eyes glassy, her tone deliberately sulky. "You've been bothering me lately." The deliberate omission of 'sir' made it clear she wasn't quite sober.

Rajveer blinked, utterly bewildered. "Me? When have I ever bothered you?"

She smiled softly, voice a little slurred, "Every night... you haunt my dreams and won't leave me alone."

His confusion deepened. "You see me... in your dreams?"

She nodded gravely. "Last night you did something so disturbing, I actually jumped out of bed. Couldn't sleep after that."

Rajveer struggled to process this. Clearly, Naina had had a little too much to drink. With a sigh, he silently cursed Alekh for whatever prank had brought this on.

"Alright, Cadet Singh. I think you've had enough tonight. Let me walk you back to your hostel. Where are your friends?"

Before he could finish, Naina took a step forward and slipped inside his room.

Rajveer stumbled back, completely caught off guard. "Why did you come in?" he asked, flustered.

She ignored the question, instead grinning slyly, she asked, "Don't you want to know what you did in my dream?"

He shook his head, still utterly baffled.

Naina's smile deepened. "Wait. I'll show you."

Before Rajveer could react, she closed the distance between them—and in one swift, bold move—pressed a quick, daring kiss to his lips.

... --- ...

Outside, across the corridor, the rest of the Super Six were hidden behind a column, barely able to contain their laughter. They silently high-fived one another. Dare complete.

... --- ...

Rajveer froze.

The kiss wasn't intense, not at all. Just a brief, trembling touch of lips. But it sent a shockwave through his system.

His heartbeat roared in his ears. His breath grew heavy. And when he looked at her, she was biting her lip, head lowered, cheeks flushed—but that same mischievous smile still lingered.

For a moment, Rajveer simply stared at her, eyes unreadable. Then, with a small smile tugging at his lips, he stated in a thoughtful tone, "That can't be true. This kiss was way too innocent. I don't do things half-measured. Are you sure your dream wasn't... more like this?"

Before Naina could process what he said, he reached out—one hand tangling in her hair, the other slipping around her waist—and pulled her into him completely.

Their bodies fit together like puzzle pieces. Naina gasped, her breath mingling with his.

And then Rajveer kissed her—truly kissed her.

It was deep, slow, deliberate. He kissed her like he was memorizing her taste, claiming her soul, pouring in every emotion he had buried for so long. His lips moved with a kind of hunger that wasn't rushed—it was reverent, aching, tender yet consuming.

Naina trembled against him. Her whole body was buzzing—waves of feeling crashing through her like a storm. Her fingers instinctively curled around his neck, gripping him, grounding herself.

Her heartbeat thundered against his chest, and Rajveer felt it.

She moaned softly into his mouth, and he deepened the kiss, pressing her even closer, like he could somehow merge their hearts if he held her tight enough.

Eventually, the passion became too much to contain. Naina broke the kiss, pulling back slightly as she gasped for air, her chest rising and falling rapidly. But Rajveer didn't let go. His arms remained around her, his forehead resting gently against hers. His eyes were closed, his breath warm and ragged against her skin.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The world outside seemed to vanish. There was only the quiet thud of their hearts and the electric tension lingering in the air.

Naina's mind was spinning. 'What... just happened?' she blinked, still breathless, still standing in his arms. 'Did Rajveer sir just kiss me back? Like—actually kiss me?' Her heart thundered. 

"H-Hostel... lights out..." Naina finally managed to whisper, her voice barely steady.

Rajveer slowly opened his eyes and stepped back, the daze in his expression fading into awareness. He ran his tongue over his lips absentmindedly—an unconscious gesture—but Naina saw it, and her eyes widened in alarm.

He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yes. I should take you back to your hostel," he said, trying to sound composed. "Before you accidentally wander into someone else's room."

Without waiting for a response, he gently took her hand and led her out of his room. The silence between them was loud—charged, unspoken, and brimming with questions neither dared voice. The night air felt cooler as they walked side by side across the campus, their hands still loosely entwined.

... --- ...

Across the corridor, the rest of the Super Six stood frozen, still staring at the now-empty doorway with wide eyes and jaws nearly hitting the floor.

"Did that... really just happen?" Ali whispered.

They all had their suspicions. Somewhere deep down, they knew Rajveer had feelings for Naina. But none of them—none—had imagined he'd lose control like that. Not the disciplined, by-the-book Rajveer.

Pooja blinked. "Forget the dare—this whole game just turned into a full-blown love confession."

The truth or dare session had started as harmless fun. But clearly, it had revealed far more than anyone had bargained for.

... --- ...

... --- ...

... --- ...

A/N::: So... that escalated quickly, didn't it? 😳🔥

What did you think of that moment between Rajveer and Naina? Was it expected or totally out of the blue?

Don't forget to vote if you enjoyed the chapter — it really keeps me motivated to keep writing! And I absolutely love reading your in-line comments — your reactions make my day, whether it's a gasp, a laugh, or a scream in all caps.

Let me know your favorite line or moment!