On the Edge of Control

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The party was already in full swing. The beach house was filled with laughter, music blasting from the speakers, and the unmistakable scent of snacks and booze lingering in the air. Manan had somehow managed to get his hands on every possible type of alcohol, while Raj and Sia were engaged in a very serious (and very drunk) debate about whether pizza was better than pani puri.

In the middle of all this chaos sat Dhruvin—stone-cold sober, sipping on his cola—while right beside him, sprawled across the couch, was a very drunk Aashna.

If there was ever a sight that Dhruvin found equal parts hilarious and worrying, it was this.

She had started out just tipsy—smiling more than usual, laughing at everything Manan said, holding onto Dhruvin’s arm like he was her anchor in this ocean of intoxication. But now? Now she was a giggling mess, her hair swaying as she dramatically leaned against him.

"Dhruviiiiin," she slurred, poking his cheek. "Why are you so hot?"

He sighed, fighting a smirk. "Aashna, stop drinking."

She gasped, placing a hand over her heart like he had just broken it. "Excuse me? I am an independent woman! I will drink if I want to." She hiccupped, then immediately clung to his shirt. "But also, my head is spinning a little…"

Dhruvin chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist so she wouldn’t slip off the couch. "That’s because you’ve had one too many shots, Miss Pathak."

She squinted at him, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "You’re really handsome, you know?" Her fingers trailed up his arm. "And your jawline is so… sharp… I think I could cut my feelings on it."

Dhruvin rolled his eyes, shifting slightly so she wouldn’t be all over him in front of their friends. "Alright, Shakespeare, I think it’s time for you to drink some water."

She pouted, leaning in way too close. "I don’t want water, I want you."

Dhruvin stiffened. The room was full of their friends, and here she was, whispering things that had his brain short-circuiting.

Manan, sitting across from them, snorted into his drink. "Bhabhi is on full flirt mode today, bro."

"Nahi chahiye!" (I don’t want it!) She pouted before leaning in, her lips barely an inch from his ear. "Mujhe paani nahi, mujhe tu chahiye." (I don’t want water, I want you.)

She was too close, her breath warm against his skin. His grip on her waist faltered for a second, but he quickly snapped out of it. "Bas, yeh ho gaya." (Okay, that’s it.)

In one swift motion, he scooped her up in his arms.

"Oooooh," Aashna giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Mera strong boyfriend. Mujhe uthake le ja raha hai. Kitna romantic scene hai, guys!" (My strong boyfriend. Carrying me away. What a romantic scene, guys!)

"Okay, that’s it," he muttered, hoisting her up before she could say anything else. "You need fresh air."

Aashna clung to him as he carried her toward the quieter part of the house. "Oooooh, so strong. My handsome boyfriend, sweeping me off my feet," she giggled, her fingers tracing his biceps. "Dhruvin, let’s make out."

He almost tripped over his own feet. "WHAT?"

"You heard me," she sing-songed, tightening her grip on his shoulders. "You never kiss me first, Mr. Gentleman. I demand justice!"

"Aashna, you're drunk out of your mind," he deadpanned

Just then, the clock struck midnight, and the group erupted into cheers. The birthday boy was officially a year older. The cake was brought out, candles lit, and Dhruvin’s Aaji and Aajoba called to wish him. His heart softened at their words, and when the call ended, he turned to see Aashna blinking up at him, still grinning.

“Happy birthday, my Dhruuuuu,” she whispered, cupping his face.

“Thank you, Aashu,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

After the cake was cut, and the chaos slightly died down, he noticed how exhausted she looked. Deciding to get her to bed before she passed out in the living room, he guided her to their room.

"Aashna, you're drunk out of your mind," he deadpanned, kicking open the door to their shared room.

She flopped onto the bed, dramatically sighing. "You’re no fun."

"And you," he tapped her nose, "are wasted. Now stay here while I get water."

She huffed but stayed put as he left.

As Dhruvin stepped back into the dimly lit room, a glass of water in his hand, his breath caught in his throat.

Aashna stood near the bed, her back facing him, the warm glow from the bedside lamp casting soft shadows on her bare skin. His oversized t-shirt was pooled in her hands, ready to be worn, but she wasn’t in any rush. She stretched lazily, her toned back flexing slightly, completely oblivious—or maybe not—to the effect she had on him.

Dhruvin swallowed hard, fingers tightening around the glass.

She turned slightly, just enough for him to catch the teasing glint in her eyes. “Took you long enough,” she drawled, her voice sultry from the alcohol, from the heat of the night, from something else entirely.

His jaw clenched. “Aashu, put the damn shirt on.” His voice was hoarse, strained.

She smirked, taking a slow, deliberate step toward him. “Why? Don’t you like what you see?”

Dhruvin let out a sharp breath, shaking his head with a chuckle. “You’re drunk, Babba.”

She pouted, reaching out to grab the hem of his black tee, fingers curling into the fabric. “So?” She tugged him forward, her body brushing against his, her bare skin igniting something dangerous between them. “You’re always so in control, Dhruv. Just once, let go.”

Dhruvin inhaled sharply as she tilted her head up, lips ghosting over his jawline, the scent of vanilla and the faintest trace of alcohol filling his senses. His free hand instinctively landed on her waist, fingers flexing as he battled the war waging in his mind.

God, she was testing him.

“Aashna,” he murmured, his lips dangerously close to her ear now. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

She let out a breathy laugh, pressing herself closer, her fingertips tracing lazy patterns along his collarbone. “Oh, I do.”

Dhruvin closed his eyes for a second, steeling himself, but when he opened them, she was still looking up at him—challenging, teasing, tempting.

Then she went up on her toes, lips brushing against his in the softest, most infuriatingly innocent kiss. His control snapped like a thread pulled too tight.

In one swift motion, he cupped her face, deepening the kiss with a raw intensity that made her knees buckle. She gasped into his mouth, fingers sliding into his hair, and he groaned, pressing her back against the nearest wall, his body flush against hers.

Her breath hitched as his lips left hers, trailing slow, lingering kisses down her neck, tasting her, savoring her. A low moan escaped her lips as he nipped at the sensitive spot just below her jaw.

She arched into him, fingers gripping his shoulders. “Dhruv…”

He sucked in a shaky breath, resting his forehead against hers, his hands now gripping her waist—holding, restraining. His pulse was erratic, his control hanging by a thread.

“Aashu,” he rasped, forcing himself to meet her hazy, desire-filled eyes. “Not like this.”

She blinked up at him, still lost in the moment. “What?”

He sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I want you, more than anything. But not when you’re drunk. When this happens, I want us both to remember every second of it.”

Aashna stared at him, her heart pounding, lips swollen from his kisses. Then, with a soft smile, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest.

“God, you’re so frustrating,” she mumbled against his skin.

Dhruvin chuckled, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of her head. “You’ll thank me later.”

She pulled back just enough to look at him again, her eyes gleaming with warmth. “Or maybe I’ll make you beg for it later,” she quipped, a sly smirk playing on her lips.

Dhruvin groaned. “You’re impossible.”

“Mm-hmm,” she hummed, stepping back to finally slip into his oversized t-shirt. It swallowed her frame, reaching mid-thigh, and damn if she didn’t look even more tempting now.

He sighed in defeat, handing her the glass of water. “Drink, Aashu.”

She took it, but not before murmuring, “You’re no fun, Dhruvin.”

He smirked, tucking her into bed. “You have no idea.”

Then, pulling her close, he wrapped an arm around her waist, tangling their legs together as she nuzzled into his chest. His hand rubbed slow, soothing circles on her back, and within minutes, her breath evened out.

Dhruvin sighed, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Happy birthday to me,” he muttered before finally letting sleep take him.

Sia, Manan and Raj

The Gang❤️

Manan, Dhruvin and Aashna.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Author’s Note

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