•𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐰!•

21. Drunk again??

A D H W I T

It was exactly 7 PM when I got her message. "I'm at a club with Paridhi. First time, haha! Just thought you should know."

Nakshatra in a club? That wasn't like her. My brows furrowed as I typed back.

"Send me your location. I'll pick you up later."

Her reply came a few moments later: "Relax, Adhwi. I'm fine! Don't worry so much!"

But I couldn't relax. Something about this felt off. Nakshatra was usually reserved about places like this, and the idea of her being in a club for the first time, surrounded by strangers, made my chest tighten.

By 9:30, I had called her twice. No answer.

At 10, I was driving toward the location she'd sent earlier. My patience had run out.

When I arrived, the loud music and flashing lights outside the club were already grating on my nerves. I stepped inside, calling her again. Still nothing. I called Paridhi next, and after the second ring, she picked up.

"Hello?" she said, her voice barely audible over the pounding bass.

"Paridhi, where's Nakshatra?"

"Adhwit..." she hesitated, then sighed. "She's drunk. I've been trying to calm her down, but she's-"

"Where are you?" I interrupted, my voice sharp.

"In a booth near the back," she said.

I didn't wait for more details. I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the stares and murmurs as I scanned the dimly lit room. When I spotted them, my stomach twisted.

Nakshatra was slumped in her seat, her head resting on the table, her dress shorter than I'd ever seen her wear. Paridhi was beside her, looking stressed and unsure.

As I approached, Nakshatra lifted her head slightly, squinting at me. But there was no recognition in her eyes.

"Adhwit?" Paridhi said, relief flooding her face.

I ignored her, my focus solely on Nakshatra. She blinked at me, her lips parting slightly. "Who are you?" she murmured, her words slurred.

Without a word, I took off my coat and wrapped it securely around her waist. Then, without hesitation, I lifted her onto my shoulder.

"Hey!" she protested weakly, her fists thumping against my back. "Put me down! You can't just-"

"Stay out of this," I said to Paridhi, cutting off any argument she might have had. "I'll take care of her."

I carried Nakshatra through the club, ignoring the curious and amused glances from the crowd. Once outside, I walked straight to my car, opened the passenger door, and gently set her down.

She glared at me, though her eyes were unfocused. "You're such a bad man," she mumbled, her voice soft. "Never let me have fun!"

I couldn't help but smile at her childish complaint. "This bad man will protect you throughout, dear wifey," I said, fastening her seatbelt before walking around to the driver's side.

As I started the car, she leaned her head against the window, her eyes fluttering closed. "You're still bad," she murmured, though there was no real anger in her tone.

"And you're still mine," I replied quietly, the corners of my lips lifting as I drove us home.

The drive home was quiet, except for the occasional hum from Nakshatra. Her head rested against the window, her breaths uneven as she murmured things I couldn't quite make out.