Chad's POV

We reached home in 20 minutes and found it locked.

"Locked? We are locked out of the house?" Sonny asked.

"No, the key-chain has house keys also." I replied and unlocked the lock on the main door. I opened two more locks on the house's entrance and got inside.

I was about to hang the key in the key holder when I found a piece of paper.

"Nice place." Sonny giggled as I unrolled it.

'Change and come to 36 number house. Dance. Polo is with us.' It read.

"Sonny, we are going to the dance function. Quickly change." I said and ran to the room to get my clothes and changed in the other room, while Sonny was in our room.

I wore a jeans and a blue button-up shirt. I was wearing my shoes when Sonny opened the door. She had worn a white knee-length skirt with a black top and black boots.

"How did you get those shoes to India?" I asked out of sheer curiosity.

"I was wearing them, idiot." She giggled, "Well, is this fine?"

"Just perfect." I said and stood up.

"Let me…just…tie…my hairs." She said as she pulled her hairs up in a pony.

I walked closer to her, leaned in, and kissed her. I was kissing her after a long time, and I just realized I lost the bet. Damn!

"You lost, you know." She whispered as I pulled back.

"It was worth it." I whispered and kissed her again. My hand reached up to her hair and I pulled out the rubber band, letting her hairs free.

"What the…"

"I like them better this way, sue me." I smirked and led her out of the house. "You should have worn a sari." I said as I sat on the bike and pulled the helmet on.

"No way!" She exclaimed and sat behind me.

"Why not?" I cried.

"'Cause I can't wear a sari!"

"Mum will teach you!" I retorted.

"I can't and I won't."

"You will, I will make you." I said determinedly.

"You can't."

"Let's see. 15 November, Ridhi will, hopefully, be wearing a sari. Mum would love to see both of you in one." She smacked my back. I laughed.

I stopped the bike in front of the house. I could hear the dhol beats and the latest songs.

"Yo, brother." I spotted Abhi, a cigarette in his hand.

"Hey." As soon as I spoke, Polo, running out of the house, –again- attacked me. "Where are the twins?" I asked.

"Inside."

"Why is she out?" My anger boiled as I picked my dog up. He shrugged.

"Come on, Sonny." I motioned her to follow me. "Tu bahar he hai?" (You will be out?)

"Yeah, 2 minutes."

I nodded and led Sonny inside.

"Sonia, Sania! Why was she out?" I snapped at them.

"Uh…sorry?" They said nervously.

"Yaar, you say you can't take care of her, I will take her back!"

"No, please, sorry." They cried.

"Take her inside." I set her down and they asked her to follow them, but she didn't bug.

They tried to pull her, "She won't come if you pull her! Pick her up, and take her in." I said, again my anger boiling.

"Chad, calm down. They are just kids." Sonny patted my shoulder as they both picked her up and took it inside. I took a deep breath.

"Oh ho,bhai aa he gaye!" (Oh ho, you finally came!) Nishu came jumping, drenched in sweat.

"Where is mum?" I asked. He pointed to the room where twins had taken Polo. "Sonny, coming?"

She nodded and we went inside the room.

A woman was sitting in the corner, making mehendi designs on Bua's hand. Mum was lying down in a corner, seemingly asleep.

"Oh, dadi!" I exclaimed as I spotted dad's mother.

"Arre, Chad! Kaisa hai?" (Oh, Chad! How are you?) She exclaimed as I bent down to touch her feet, and she hugged me. Twins were holding Polo down as she tried to run to me.

"Dadi, this is Sonny." I introduced. Sonny smiled and joined her hands.

"Sonny Munroe?" She asked, "I have heard so much of you!" Sonny looked at me and I blushed.

"Sonny, you also sit. Your turn after me." Bua said.

"Me?" She squeaked.

"Yes, my dear. You. Sit down." I said and made her sit.

"No, please. Not me." Sonny shook her head.

"Why not?" Bua asked.

"Bua, iske kal subah laga dena. Abhi toh dance bhi karegi." (Bua, apply hers' in the morning, tomorrow. Right now, she will dance too.) I said.

"Yes," she mumbled and then turned to the woman, "You will come tomorrow morning?" The woman nodded.

"Sure. Two-three more are left, and I am getting late right now. I'll come tomorrow. Here only, isn't it?"

"Here only." Bua turned to me, "You will get Sonny here tomorrow, hear that?" I nodded.

Sonny sat down with bua and Dadi, and I went over to mum.

"Ma," I bent over her sleeping figure.

"Hmm?" She opened her eyes and turned to face me.

"Come out, please."

"You go, let me sleep."

"You must be the only mother who is sleeping through her son's marriage. You'll sleep through mine also?"

"No, if the bride is Sonny, not then. If anyone else, I won't even come." I sweat dropped. Okay, so now I have my bride fixed. No changing or my mother won't attend my marriage. Great.

I shook my head and stood up. She will do anything to sleep, isn't it?

"Sonny, I'll be out, okay?" I told her, as I opened the door.

"Oh, you go. We won't kill your love!" Bua exclaimed and I blushed.

"Bye." I called as Sonny giggled.

I was immediately dragged to the middle of the hall as soon as I opened the door.

(Following conversation will be in Hindi, till Sonny comes in the picture, that is.)

"Oh my, Chad!" Ashok mama, mum's brother, greeted me.

"Namaste, mama." I said and touched his feet.

"You have grown so much!" he exclaimed as he patted my shoulder.

"Isn't it? Only we are growing older, you have not changed a bit!" He was the group captain in air force. At height 5'11, he was still as skinny as a stick. "Where is mami?"

"Oh she is back home. She was sick." I nodded. "Oh, come on!" He said and dragged me to the centre.

"Bhaiya." Divakar nodded.

We danced for straight half an hour until I was drenched. My wet shirt clung to my chest, as I made my way for the room.

I was about to reach the doorknob when it opened and Sonny and mum came out.

"You are drenched!" Sonny exclaimed.

"You also dance, you will be a puddle." I pointed to my siblings and relatives, dancing with full energy.

"Mum, come on!" I tried to pull her.

"No no, you run along. I will be here."

I made a face and went back.

Sonny's POV

I watched as Chad, Dimpu, Divakar, Sunny, Honey and all the elders danced to the beats of Hindi and Punjabi hits. Honey could not dance whatsoever. Chad was a good dancer, I must say. Abhi joined them after some time.

"Sonny! Run and give these to Chad and uncle!" She said hurriedly and handed me two wads of 10-rupee notes. I stared at them for 2 seconds before running to give it.

"Chad." I poked him. He turned around, grinning.

"Wassup?"

"Here" I handed him one wad.

"Thank you." I nodded and ran to uncle.

"Uncle?"

"Yes, Sonny?" Uncle said gently.

"Here" I handed him the second wad. He patted my head.

"Looking good." He winked and I grinned and ran back to aunty.

"Given?" I nodded.

"What was that for?" I asked curiously.

"Look." She pointed to the centre of the room. Ten-rupee notes were flying everywhere. Chad, uncle, Nishu, Ashu, and almost all the men, save Sunny, Honey and Divakar, were throwing money in the air.

"What's going on?" I turned to aunty incredulously.

"If we had not given them ten rupee notes, 100 or 500 rupee ones would be flying out of their pockets." I nodded and stared at the scene in front of me.

The song changed and there was a pause. Suddenly, Chad and Ashu lifted Abhi on their shoulders. Almost everybody began to beat him up as they all danced.

"What is happening?" I looked at aunty and she was laughing.

"The song. They are having fun."

"What is the song?"

"Tenu ghodi kine chadaya." I whipped around as I heard bua passing behind me, with a smile and joined the others.

There were two solo performances of a girl around 15 years, Kritika, and Chad. I never really knew Chad could have danced, but he did, and exceptionally well.

There were more dances. I looked around, and noticed that Chad, Divakar and the thin, tall man, Ashok mama (?) had disappeared.

I looked around for few more minutes when I noticed Chad running inside the door and to the tables, which were being set up for the buffet meal.

Divakar followed him in after a minute.

Chad was heading to the door again when aunty stopped him.

"Chad, again?" She gave him a stern look.

"Mama." He replied and ran out again.

"What is happening, aunty?"

"Wait and watch. These men…" She shook her head.

I understood what was happening after 5 minutes, when the males dominated the floor and all the females proceeded to the meal along with the younger kids like Divakar, Sunny and Honey.

Alcohol began to circulate around. Each of them had a glass.

"Oh." I muttered.

"Yeah." Aunty sighed.

"Sonny, mum! Had food?" Abhi asked breathlessly. Chad popped up behind him.

"No," I replied.

"Sonny, you want to go home or not?" Chad smiled, "Come on, quickly have the dinner." I nodded and aunty and I stood up.

The food was, as usual, tasty and spicy. I think I bit on a chilly, as well. I saw Chad laugh when I downed almost three glass of water.

After Chad and Abhi had eaten, we all were outside. Aunty was busy inside as all the adult males danced.

I, Chad, Abhi, Polo, Dimpu and Sonny-Honey and twins sat outside on the chairs, waiting for the car.

We were talking when we heard barking. Chad's head snapped up and he instantly got up. Polo had again tried to befriend a stray dog, and had gotten herself in trouble.

"She had never seen stray dogs in LA, always domestic. Therefore, she thinks every dog is nice. When one stray dog will bite her, then she'll know that dogs also bite." As Chad had said once.

Chad gave her a hard slap on her butt and she sank to the ground, guiltily. Chad scolded her a bit, sat her on an empty chair, putting one in front of her so she was trapped.

"Oh, your bet still on?" Dimpu asked randomly. I bit my tongue.

"I lost." Chad scratched his neck nervously.

"You lost? When?" Abhi asked in disbelief.

"Today, before coming here."

"Chad, we regret saying this, you are a goner." Divakar patted his shoulder. Cha narrowed his eyes.

"You-" Chad started,

"Oh, where are you all going?" Ashok mama cut him off.

"Home. Mama, you also have to go?" Sonia asked.

"Yes, I have to be back in the mess. Think you could adjust one more?"

"Sure." Chad smiled as everyone nodded.

"Oh, goody!" He exclaimed as the car pulled up.

Mama sat in the passenger seat. Sunny, Honey and the twins adjusted themselves in the last row.

Abhi, me, Chad and Divakar with Polo were to sit in the middle row.

"Make madam sit on your lap." He told Chad, pointing at me.

"That's perfect." Chad smirked.

Chad sat at the window seat, with me in his lap. Divakar sat in the middle and Abhi on the other side, with Polo in his lap.

I whipped around and stared incredulously and he gave me a innocent smile.

"Did you…?"

"Yes, I did."

Chad Dylan Cooper just kissed my back.

I think I should just end it here. 2026 words are enough, don't you think? This was the longest chapter, full 7 pages. Lol, never thought I could write this long. Sorry, not much Channy. I wanted to pressurize the ceremonies as well. And believe me, all this really happened in this ceremony when my brother was getting married. Just the difference is, Polo belongs to my brother who was getting married.

Thank you for reviewing, everybody. Send in your requests, ideas or just review for absolutely nothing, I don't mind.

Okay, so today's question: If you were a worm, how long would you like to be?

Review,

Sakshi