Hangovers & Heartbeats

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The sun was up, golden rays stretching into the villa, warming the sheets as Dhruvin slowly stirred awake. He reached out instinctively, expecting Aashna’s warmth beside him—but his hand landed on an empty bed.

His brows furrowed, sleep still clouding his mind. Where did she go?

Blinking his eyes open, he scanned the room—her pillow was crumpled, but she wasn’t there. Running a hand through his messy hair, he swung his legs over the bed and stretched.

“Aashu?” he called out, voice thick with sleep. No answer.

With a growing sense of curiosity, he stepped out of the room—and was met with absolute carnage.

Beer bottles everywhere. Confetti stuck to the floor. Someone’s shoe was in the sink. His friends were scattered across the villa like war survivors. Manan was face-down on the floor, hugging an empty whiskey bottle like it was his last hope. Raj was slumped over a dining chair, head against the table. Sia was curled into a ball on the beanbag, still in her heels.

Dhruvin groaned. What the hell even happened last night?

And then he spotted her.

Right in the middle of all the chaos, Aashna stood in the kitchen, flipping pancakes.

She was wearing his oversized t-shirt—sleeves rolled up, hair an absolute mess, and her face soft with concentration as she carefully flipped another pancake.

The sight was so domestic, so damn endearing, that his heart clenched.

Before he could even process the sight, she turned and spotted him.

Her face lit up instantly.

“Dhruuuuuu!” she squealed.

And then she was running toward him.

Before he could react, she jumped on him, arms around his neck, legs around his waist, almost knocking him back.

He barely managed to catch her, chuckling. “Whoa, easy there, Aashu.”

She leaned in, pressing an exaggerated kiss to his cheek. “Happy birthday, dhruv!”

A soft smile pulled at his lips as he murmured, “Ohh, thank you, my Aashu.”

She pulled back, grinning. “How does it feel to be a year older, buddhe?”

He scoffed. “I’m twenty-two, not eighty.”

“Same thing.” She scrunched her nose. “You’re gonna start complaining about back pain soon.”

Dhruvin rolled his eyes. “I should’ve let you fall.”

She gasped, smacking his chest. “RUDE.”

Laughing, he finally let her down, eyeing the pancakes. “You made breakfast?”

“For us,” she corrected. “And extra for these hungover morons.”

As they worked together in the kitchen, he took every chance to tease her—stealing bites from her plate, sneaking up behind her, or standing way too close just to mess with her. At one point, he dipped his finger in syrup and tapped it on her nose.

“Dhruv!” she shrieked, wiping it off.

“You looked too serious.” He smirked.

Aashna glared at him before grabbing a handful of flour and smacking it onto his cheek.

Silence.

Then—

"You better run.”

She bolted out of the kitchen.

He chased her through the villa, laughter filling the air. Raj, barely waking up, groaned, “Shut up, idiots. I’m dying here.”

Manan peeked up from the floor. “Is there food?”

“Pancakes,” Aashna called over her shoulder.

Instantly, the room came to life. “I need food,” “I’m never drinking again,” “Someone kill me now.”

Dhruvin finally caught her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. “You’re gonna pay for that, Bubba.”

She smirked. “Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do, huh?”

He leaned in, voice dropping to a low murmur against her ear. “You don’t wanna know what I have in mind.”

Her breath hitched. She pushed him away, flustered. “SHUT UP.”

Chuckling, he let her go. She was way too easy to tease.

After breakfast, everyone began to wake up properly. Dhruvin sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone while Aashna sat beside him, sipping her tea.

Then, out of nowhere, he smirked.

“So, Aashu,” he started, voice dripping with amusement.

She narrowed her eyes. “What?”

He leaned in slightly, watching her reaction carefully. “Do you… remember anything from last night?”

Aashna froze.

Her fingers tightened around her mug. Shit.

She looked at him cautiously. “I mean… depends?”

Dhruvin grinned. “Depends on what?”

“I—” she cleared her throat, suddenly very interested in the floor. “I remember the party… the cake… the drinking…”

“And?” he prompted, leaning back on the couch, watching her squirm.

Aashna swallowed. “And… uhh…”

She knew she had been a mess last night, but what exactly did she do?

Dhruvin chuckled, leaning closer. “Babe… you were really… handsy.”

Her eyes widened. “I—WHAT?!”

“Oh, yeah,” he continued smoothly. “You were all over me. Kept touching me. Tried to get me to—”

“SHUT UP.”

“—take my shirt off—”

“DHURVIN, STOP TALKING.”

“And then you pouted because I wouldn’t kiss you properly.”

Aashna threw a pillow at his face. “LIES.”

Dhruvin laughed, dodging it. “Oh, it’s very true.”

She groaned, hiding her face in her hands. “I hate you.”

He just smirked. "You know, you don't."

She kicked him.

After breakfast, everyone started getting ready for lunch. Dhruvin went to take a shower first while Aashna ironed their clothes.

She was humming to herself when suddenly—

The bathroom door opened.

Steam rolled into the room as Dhruvin stepped out, a towel hanging low on his hips. Water dripped down his toned chest, trailing down his abs in slow, sinful drops. His damp hair was tousled, making him look way too good for her sanity.

Aashna froze.

Her throat went dry.

Heat pooled low in her stomach.

Dhruvin noticed her staring immediately.

Smirking, he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Like what you see?”

Aashna snapped out of it, face burning. “SHUT UP.”

He chuckled, stepping forward. “You sure? Because you’re still looking.”

“I AM NOT.”

He took another slow step forward, eyes glinting with mischief. “You look kinda flustered, Babba.”

“I—YOU—UGH,” she grabbed her clothes and bolted into the bathroom.

As soon as she shut the door, she exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to her racing heart.

That idiot was going to be the death of her.

Aashna was humming softly to herself as she curled the last strand of her hair, watching it bounce back into place. The sounds of laughter and cheering from downstairs filtered through the slightly open window of the villa, making her smile. The boys were probably watching some funny video or engaged in one of their ridiculous bets. She picked up her earrings, about to put them on, when the door creaked open.

Thinking it was Dhruvin coming to rush her, she didn’t even glance back as she said, “Haan zaala maza, Dhruvin. Just help me wear this earring, na.”

She turned slightly, expecting to feel his warm presence behind her, only to freeze mid-motion.

It wasn’t Dhruvin.

It was the man who had once made her life a living hell.

Nishant Solanki.

(Obviously, had to leave you on cliffhanger. 😂😂🙂🙂💀💀)

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Author’s Note

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