Bringing Home to Him

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The badminton tournament was in full swing, and the atmosphere buzzed with energy. The crowd roared as players moved swiftly across the court, their sneakers squeaking against the polished wooden floor. Dhruvin stood at the edge of the court, rolling his shoulders, taking deep breaths to center himself before his match. He had been practicing relentlessly, pushing himself harder than ever. This competition wasn't just another game-it was a big deal, an inter-state tournament that could open doors for him. But despite the anticipation, a gnawing feeling settled in his chest.

His friends were here-Manan, Raj, Saumya, Sia-all standing in the stands, waving and cheering for him. But someone was missing. Someone who had promised to be here. Aashna.

His brows furrowed as he scanned the crowd for her familiar face. She wouldn't just miss this, would she? She knew how important it was to him. His grip on his racket tightened, his heart hammering against his ribcage, though he wasn't sure if it was from pre-match nerves or the slight pang of disappointment creeping into his chest. Where was she?

"Bhai, focus on the game," Manan called out, nudging him. "You look like a lost puppy waiting for his owner."

Dhruvin scowled, running a hand through his hair, but just as he was about to turn back toward the court, a slight commotion at the entrance caught his attention.

And then he saw her.

Aashna walked in, but she wasn't alone. Right beside her were Aaji and Aajoba, their presence instantly warming his heart. His feet moved before he could even think, jogging toward them, his breath coming out in a relieved chuckle.

Aashna grinned at him. "Of course, we couldn't miss the match," she said, tilting her head playfully. "I had to bring them."

Dhruvin exhaled, a slow smile spreading across his face as he took in the sight of his grandparents, their eyes glistening with pride.

Aaji shook her head fondly. "Beta, we couldn't possibly sit at home knowing you're playing such an important match."

"Exactly," Aajoba chimed in. "And besides, someone here was very persistent about dragging us along." He shot a knowing look at Aashna, who shrugged innocently.

Dhruvin turned back to her, his gaze softening. "You really did this?"

Aashna rolled her eyes. "Oh please, like I'd let you play without your biggest cheerleaders."

Something in his chest tightened at her words. She understood him, in ways that sometimes even he didn't. His mind had been scattered with stress and pressure, but just seeing her-seeing them-settled everything inside him.

"Also, Aaji and Aajoba wanted to see you crush your opponents." She winked, her jhumkas swaying slightly. "No pressure, though."

He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

"And you're late," she countered, crossing her arms. "Now go win that match."

He looked at her for a moment longer before nodding, his confidence settling back into place. "Stay right there," he murmured, backing away toward the court. "I'm going to win this for you."

And with that, he turned, gripping his racket tighter, his body thrumming with a new kind of energy. The pressure, the nerves, the stress-it all melted away. Because she was here. They were here. And for the first time in weeks, he felt invincible.

Dhruvin took his place on the court, rolling his shoulders to shake off any lingering tension. As he glanced at the stands, his eyes instantly found Aashna. She sat between Aaji and Aajoba, leaning forward, eyes sharp with focus.

His opponent was strong, but Dhruvin was faster. He played with calculated aggression, every smash, every dive, every drop shot executed with precision. But the match was grueling. His opponent didn't back down, making him work for every point.

Between rallies, he would glance toward Aashna. She flinched every time he lost a point, clapped fiercely when he scored, and at one moment, he even saw her muttering under her breath-probably cursing his opponent.

A smile tugged at his lips despite the sweat dripping down his forehead.

With a final, powerful smash, he sent the shuttlecock flying past his opponent, hitting the ground with a sharp thud.

Game. Set. Match.

For a second, everything was silent.

Then-the crowd erupted.The moment the referee confirmed his win, his teammates swarmed him, shouting and clapping his back. But his eyes were locked on only one person.

Aashna.

She stood frozen for a second before breaking into a wide grin. Before she could react, Dhruvin ran toward her, grabbed her, and lifted her off the ground in a crushing hug.

"You did it!" she squealed, arms wrapping around his neck.

"I won," he whispered against her hair, still breathless, his heart pounding from more than just the match.

Aashna pulled back slightly, locking eyes with him. "You better have. I didn't cheer for nothing."

He let out a soft laugh, forehead touching hers. "I had the best lucky charm."

Before she could say something sarcastic, their moment was interrupted by Manan's loud voice.

"Oye, Deshmukh! Stop romancing your girl and come celebrate with us!"

Dhruvin groaned but let her go, though his fingers lingered on her wrist a second longer.

That night, the gang headed to their favorite hangout spot-a late-night café filled with neon lights and the scent of grilled burgers.

As they waited for their food, Dhruvin leaned back, eyes lazily watching Aashna argue with Sia over milkshake flavors.

She caught his gaze and narrowed her eyes. "What?"

He smirked. "Nothing. Just remembering something."

She gave him a suspicious look. "What?"

He leaned in slightly, voice low. "Just thinking about what my real prize was supposed to be."

It took her a second before realization dawned. Her cheeks flamed.

She shoved a fry in his mouth. "Eat. Shut up."

He chuckled, chewing slowly, eyes glinting with mischief. "See, you're feeding me now. I really am the champion."

Aashna groaned, but she couldn't stop smiling. This was their rhythm. This was them.

And she wouldn't change it for the world.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Author's Note

Hey there, dear reader! 💛

Thank you for diving into Aashna and Dhruvin's world with me. This is just the beginning of their journey-one filled with unexpected moments, heartwarming connections, and maybe even a little chaos! If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to vote, share, and show some love. Your support means everything and keeps me going! ✨

Let me know your thoughts-I'd love to hear from you! 💕📖