*Aslesha*

I'm on my 4th drink, or is it the 5th. I don't know and I don't care.

"The real party is outside guys tum log ab tak andar kya kar rahe ho?" Sid comes inside the kitchen dancing and then goes out taking a drink in his hand.

"Ha chalo bahar chalte hai" Saumya says and we all get outside the kitchen. The living room has been converted into a dance floor and it's packed with sweaty teenage students grinding their bodies against each other.

I stumble ahead and by mistake push a girl. "Hey sorry sorry. I feel so clumsy, sorry" I say and giggle.

Why do I feel like just laughing at everything.

Why is the house rotating.

I look to see the person whom I pushed, and standing in front of me is not one but two Trishas.

I gasp covering my mouth with my hand. "Do Trisha? Baap re! Mera khoon mat peeyo. BACHAAO" I scream and they both look at me like I'm a moron.

"Are you fucking stupid?" she asks crunching her nose.

"Are you fucking stupid?" I imitate her in a mocking high pitched voice and giggle.

She leaves mumbling something under her breath and I roll my eyes at her.

I look around the room and at the far corner see Paro and Majnu dancing. "Way to go Romeo Heer" I scream but my voice doesn't reach them.

"Vo Romeo and Juliet hota hai. Aur Heer Ranjha" says a voice behind me and I turn to see who is this idiot who knows nothing about literature.

"Ayee Chaddha!" I say slapping his back and he glares at me.

"What did you just call me?" he asks.

"Chaddha. Tumhara surname hai na Chaddha?" I ask and he looks at me with wide eyes.

"You are clearly drunk" he states shaking his head.

"I'm not drunk. You're drunk!" I scoff rolling my eyes.

Kya zamana aa gaya hai. Khud itna pee ke dusro ko drunk bolte hai log.

"Hey Neel! Come we're playing truth and dare" a guy calls him and he looks at me.

"Wanna come?" He asks and I shrug following him outside the house where a group of people are sitting in a circle. Sid, Joel and Shabnam are also a part of the game. I sit beside Shabnam.

"Hey Shabman.. I mean Shabnam" I say giggling.

"Oh my god, Aslesha Mathur. Are you drunk?" she asks raising her eyebrows in amusement.

"Joel sambhaal apni girlfriend ko. Kuch jyada hi pee li hai isne" I say shaking my head and Joel laughs.

Bada hi kharab zamana hai ye. Agar jamti nahi toh itni peete kyu hai log?

After 4-5 rounds I'm almost dozing off while the others play.

"Aslesha.. Aslesha!" Shabnam shakes me and I slowly lift my head from her shoulder.

"Neel ko tumhe sawaal puchna hai. Truth liya usne" Joel says and then I see Neel sitting in front of me and the two ends of the bottle pointing towards us.

"Truth? Chee. Chalo koi baat nahi. Mai jo tumhe puchne ja rahi hu vo bahot hi serious sawaal hai. Are you ready?" I ask seriously.

He simply nods.

"Toh Neel.. mujhe puchna tha ke.. but promise tum sach bologe? You can't lie ok" I say seriously and the others start paying attention as Neel grows tensed.

"Kya.. tumhari family.. kya tumhari family chaddi bechne ke business me hai?" I ask seriously and after a second everyone around me has toppled over and laughing loudly.

"What the fuck, who's this girl? She's so funny!" says a guy clutching his stomach and laughing loudly and I frown at him.

"Ek minute tum log hass kya rahe ho. Ye serious sawaal hai. Bolo na Chaddha. Does your family sell chaddis?" I asks seriously as everyone around me starts laughing more loudly.

Even Neel is chuckling under his breath, his hand rubbing his forehead.

"Mujhe ek baar FB pe friend request aaya tha. Mukesh Tatti ka. I wonder uska aisa surname kaisa hai?" I say almost to myself but everyone hears it and starts laughing harder.

"But maine usse pucha nahi. Bura lagta na usse" I tell everyone seriously.

"Logo ko kabhi hurt nahi karna chahiye. Surname Tatti hua toh kya hua?" I mutter.

"Stop it Aslesha! I can't breathe" Sid says between his laughs, his eyes watering and I frown. Itna hass kyu rahe hai ye log itni serious baat pe.

Yaaron mujhe maaf karo main nashe me hu..
Badi haseen hai zulfon ki shaam pee lije, humaare haath se do-chaar jaam pee lije..
Pilaaye jab koi mashooq apne haathon se, Sharaab phir nahi rehti haraam pee lije...

"OH MY GOD THIS SONG!" I squeal and go running to the living room.

*Viraj*

I'm drinking with some seniors, a girl whose name I forgot sitting on my lap.

"Itne saal baad jeete yaar. Football khelta hai kya tu?" the captain of the football team, Zach, asks me and I shake my head.

"Baap re! Vo Aslesha hai na?" A girl sitting across me says widening her eyes and looking behind me.

I look back frowning and my jaw hits the floor when I see her.

Maa ki aankh!

Aslesha has climbed upon one of the counters and is dancing like there's no tomorrow. A crowd has gathered around her cheering loudly and whistling and hooting. Most of them being guys.

I try to get up but then I remember that I-forgot-her-name girl is sitting on my lap.

"Utho!" I order her. "Kya hua Veer?" She says trailing her finger on my chest and leaning ahead to kiss me.

"I'm feeling uneasy and I want to puke" I say with a straight face and she jumps up like my body was on fire and she got burnt.

"Ugh. Um.. ya sure ok" she says making a disgusted face.

Bass chipakne me aage hoti hai kuch ladkiya. Care toh bilkul nahi.

I push the crowd away and walk towards the counter.

Bas isi baat pe botal kholo, kiye jo saare paap woh dholo..
Aao mere saath me holo, Put your hand's up zor se bolo..

Main sharabi, main sharabi..

The music is thumping loudly as Aslesha opens her hair and starts dancing, swaying her perfect hips in sync with the music. Her eyes are closed as she moves her body with the beats.

Damn, she looks sexy!

"Aslesha! ASLESHA!!" I scream at her and she opens her eyes and looks at me. "Hey Viraj. Kya party hai na.. Come on up!" she slurs still dancing.

Fucking hell! Is she drunk?

I see a guy taking a video of her and I grab his collar roughly. "Agar ye video mujhe kahi dikha, toh tujhe life me koi video nikaalne laayak rakhunga nahi. Delete kar" I order as he looks at me panicked and nods.

Wah Viraj! Khud toh nikaala tha video.

Vo alag baat thi. And my inner voice needs to shut up!

I leave him and focus my attention to the main problem here.

"Aslesha what the hell are you doing? Neeche utro" I shout at her. Ye ladke usse itni gandi nazar se dekh rahe hai, mann kar raha hai aankhe noch du sabke.

"But I'm having fun" she says giggling and starts removing her denim jacket.

The boys in the crowd start whistling and some shout 'take it off'.

I run my hand through my hair and grab her hand yanking it.

She stumbles ahead and I quickly grab her waist pulling her down as everyone starts booing.

I glare at them as they dissapear in the crowd.

"Kya kar rahi thi tum?" I shout at her.

"I was dancing" she says and again starts dancing putting her hands around my neck. She starts moving her hips and for a moment I get hypnotized looking at her.

Kya ladki hai yaar ye!

Suddenly she stumbles and I grab her in my arms.

"Bahar chalo" I say, dragging her out of the room.

"I thought you liked parties and you'd like it that I'm having fun. You wanted me to show my talent right? I was dancing na" she says resisting to come with me and digging her feet down.

"Aslesha bahar chalo!" I say getting frustrated. "Please".

"Mujhe naachna hai" she says trying to get away.

Ok. So time for plan B now.

I bend down and wrap my hands around her thighs and throw her over my shoulder as she yelps in surprise.

"VIRAJ! MUJHE NEECHE UTAARO! YOU ASSHOLE!" she screams and starts hitting me on my back with her fists.

I just tighten my hold and walk outside the house going towards the back where it is a little quite.

She keeps struggling in my hold hitting my back but eventually stops.

"Good girl" I mutter.

"Good ass" she says and my steps falter. Did she just say that? Kuch jyada hi ho gayi hai isse.

I put her down when we are at the back side of the house and she stumbles.

"Oww head rush" she says clutching my arms.

"First of all tum ye bataao tumne kya pee hai?" I ask her making her sit on one of the bench.

"You just dragged me out here like I belong to you. You can't do that. Mujhe maza aa raha tha andar" she says huffing and looks away.

"Aslesha, tumne bahot jyada pee li hai. I'd love to see you dance and enjoy yourself as long as you don't feel guilty about it the next day. And mai tumhe jaanta hu, tum kal jab ye sochogi tab you'll regret it. I'm the one pushing people to have fun. But aise nahi ok" I say gently and she looks at me.

"First of all I'm not drunk and third.. I'm not.."

"Second" I correct her.

"Third hai ok. Tumhe jyada pata hai ki mujhe?" she says glaring at me and folds her hands.

"Tumhe. Right. Third baat?" I ask her smiling a little.

"Bhul gayi mai. Dekha tumne bhulaa diya mujhe. Huh" she scoffs and leans her head back on the bench looking at the sky.

"Wow. The sky is spinning. Stars kitne beautiful hote hai na Viraj" she whispers, her eyes lighting up.

"Hmm" I say staring at her face.

She's beautiful too. Just like the stars.

Damn, mujhe bhi chadh gayi hai shayad.

"I love looking at the stars" she says gazing up. I sit beside her and lean back, just like her looking at the stars.

"Viraj?"

"Hmm?"

"Tum log huddle kar ke kya bolte ho?" she asks out of the blue.

"Kya?" I ask frowning at her.

"Ground pe. When you huddle up" she asks again.

Ohh.

"Ek dusre ko all the best bolte hai. Koi accha sa motivational speech deta hai. Bhagwan ka naam lete hai.." I tell her and she nods.

"Do you think Neel ke family ka chaddi ka business hai?" She asks after a while still gazing at the stars and I burst out laughing.

Drunk Aslesha is the funniest person.

"Hass kyu rahe ho? Sab hass dete hai. Uska surname Chaddha kyu hai fir?" she asks innocently.

"You're just too cute" I say ruffling her hair and she whines, "Mat naa.."

"I'm feeling sleepy Viraj" she says getting up and sits on the ground about to go to sleep there.

"Hey no no!" I say quickly going towards her and grabbing her hand pulling her up.

"Sona hai mujhe" she whines trying to sit again and I pull her up and make her sit on the bench instead.

"My head is spinning. Mujhe ul.." she says holding her head in her hands and suddenly runs towards the corner behind a tree and starts throwing up.

Oh shit!

I rush towards her holding her hair back as she spills her guts out.

"Mujhe aise mat dekho. Go away" she says her voice strained as she tries to move away from my grasp but I hold her tightly. I start rubbing her back lightly.

"Tum mujhe ulti karte hue dekh rahe ho. This is so embarassing" she mumbles standing straight.

She looks away hiding her face and wiping her mouth with her handkerchief.

"It's ok. I'll get you a bottle of water. Sit here. Don't move" I order and she meekly nods sitting on the bench.

I go inside the house and grab a bottle of water.

I'm getting outside when Rudra calls me. "Kaha hai bhai? Pari ko ghar jaana hai. Aashi tere saath ho toh ask her if she wants to leave too" he says.

"Joel ko dhund. Chalte hai" I say and hang up. Joel is the designated driver today so he is sober and hopefully didn't drink anything.

I go and see Aashi sitting on the same spot. Her eyes are heavy and she is having a hard time keeping them open.

Paglu.

"Aashi" I gently shake her awake and she looks at me. "Here" I give her the bottle and she goes to the corner again washing her mouth.

"Lets go home, come on" I say and take her hand. For the first time I feel how small and soft her hand is.

The thoughts of her hands are vanished in thin air when she leans her head on my shoulder while walking.

"I can't keep my eyes open Viraj. Bahot neend aa rahi hai" she says and I grab her hand tightly.

"Don't go to sleep. You'll pass out and fir uth nahi paaogi. Ghar pe papa bhi hai na. Unko achha nahi lagega if he sees his daughter sleeping in the arms of a stranger at his doorstep" I say and she chuckles.

We reach near Joel's car and fortunately it's not locked. Or should I say unfortunately.

We sit inside waiting for the others to come.

"Aashi tumhe kon pilaya itni" I ask.

Who was so dumb enough to make her drink so much that she got sick. Uska pehla time hai, easy lena chahiye tha thoda.

"Mai khud se pee hu Viraj. Nobody forced me" she says and I sigh.

"Next time you're not drinking without me ok. I'll teach you how to drink without getting totally talli" I say and she laughs.

"Aise hi dosto ki kami thi bass. Jo peene ki training de" she says and lays her head on my shoulder chuckling lightly.

I have an urge to put my arm around her and pull her closer but resist myself.

"Did you just call me dost? Viraj and Aslesha kabhi dost ho sakte hai kya?" I say smiling to myself and she playfully hits my chest.

"Bilkul nahi. We are best enemies forever" she says yawning.

"Sona nahi Aslesha" I gently remind her and she nods.

"Meri aankhe khulli nahi reh paa rahi hai" she says and rubs her face lightly on my shoulder. This feels nice.

I see Pari, Rudra, Shabnam, Saumya and Joel walking towards the car.

"Tum wapas lock lagana bhul gaye" Shabnam scolds him getting in the passenger seat with Saumya as Joel starts the car.

Pari and Rudra get inside beside us and the car becomes fully packed. Aage teen log aur peeche chaar. Next time 2 designated drivers rakhne padenge.

"Sab log sahi se baith gaye?" Joel asks and we all mumble a tired 'yes'.

"Sona nahi" I say softly to Aashi and she nods yawning again.

"Keep talking to me" she says.

"Take part in the dance" I say and she groans.

"Iske alawa kuch bolo please" she says shivering a little as the cold wind blows inside the car. The tendrils of her hair are softly touching my face.

I again have an urge to pull her closer and rub her arm to get her warm but that's not what best enemies forever would do so again, I control myself.

"But you'd be amazing. Please Aslesha. Apne college ke liye itna bhi nahi karogi?" I say softly, almost whispering, so that nobody else listens to our conversation.

"But sab arrangements ho chuke hai. Mai part nahi le sakti" she says.

"Mai vo sab arrange kar dunga. Tumhe bass Friday ko stage pe jaana hai aur 3 minute dance karna hai" I say my voice really desperate.

She stays silent and for a moment I think she has fallen asleep. But then she slowly whispers a 'yes' and my eyes widen in surprise.

"Yes?" I ask.

"Yes" she answers smiling a little looking at me through her lashes and this time I put my hand around her shoulder and pull her towards me mumbling a 'thank you'.

She giggles. "Tumhe mujhe bahot saari bhajiya khilani padegi ha" she says and I nod happily. "Jitni bhi tum chaaho. Pakka promise" I say and rub her arm as she buries her head in my shoulder.

We stay silent after that and I see Rudra eyeing me from the rear view mirror with a smug smile and I'm about to glare at him when Aashi calls out my name.

"Viraj?"

"Hmm?"

"You were absolutely amazing today" she says sincerely and I get a fuzzy feeling in my chest. So she did like my game.

We reach Pari's house and just after 2 minutes Aslesha gets down when we're in front of hers.

"Ab so jaana aaram se. Good night paglu" I say as she gets down.

"Nighty night dummy" she says and I see her as she slowly walks towards her house and gets inside.

So she finally agreed. But will I be able to stay away from her when her stage fear is gone and she participates?

Kehne ke liye toh I'm telling myself that I'm just doing this for her to participate. But deep inside I know that slowly but surely, I'm getting attached to her.

Aslesha Mathur, what are you doing to me?

~•~•~•~•~•~•

Early update!! And Aslesha finally maan gayi hai. Bahot confusion wali feelings hai na dono ki? Who agrees with the fact that Aslesha is absolutely hilarious when she is drunk? Hahaha I loved writing this chapter. Hope you liked reading it too. Vote and comment! Ily :)