The night air was crisp as the group stepped out of the venue, the distant music echoes still faintly audible. The freshers' party had ended in absolute madness, and now they were left to deal with the aftermath—more specifically, a very drunk Shumaila, who was barely able to walk straight.
"Why is she swaying like a damn palm tree?" Rudra whispered to Siddarth, who stifled a laugh.
"Probably because she drank half the ocean back there," Siddarth replied, watching Shumaila stumble.
Shumaila, in her intoxicated glory, spun around, nearly tripping over her own feet, but Hamza, standing right behind her, instinctively grabbed her wrist to steady her. "Whoa there, genius. At this rate, you'll be kissing the pavement soon."
She turned her head, glaring up at him with narrowed eyes. "And who—who asked for your help, huh? Do I look like a damsel in distress to you?"
"Right now? Absolutely," Hamza deadpanned, making Aarav and Rudra chuckle.
Sneha sighed, rubbing her temples. "We should get her back to the dorm before she does something even dumber."
"Excuse me!" Shumaila gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. "I am a sophisticated, intelligent woman. I do not do dumb things."
"Oh really?" Komal smirked. "Who was the one that challenged a whole table of guys to a drinking game and then forgot she had no tolerance for alcohol at high school party?"
Shumaila blinked as if the thought had only just occurred to her. "Oh. Right. That was me. But in my defence… no, I have no defence."
The group collectively sighed as they continued walking, but Shumaila wasn't done yet. She suddenly swung an arm around Aarav's shoulder, pulling him in close. "Aarav," she slurred. "Tell me, why do you look so serious all the time? Are you secretly a brooding movie hero?"
Aarav raised an eyebrow. "I think that's just my face, Shumaila."
She gasped. "So tragic! Akansha, fix him!" she declared, pointing a dramatic finger at Akansha, who burst into laughter.
Before Aarav could protest, Shumaila had already moved on, now latching onto Siddarth. "And you! Defending Komal like a knight in shining armour, huh? So chivalrous! Maybe a little too chivalrous. Hmmm." She tapped her chin thoughtfully while Siddarth groaned.
"Oh great," Siddarth muttered. "She's in her matchmaking mode now."
Komal rolled her eyes but was clearly amused. "Let's just hope she doesn't try to marry us off right now."
"You know what? That's an excellent idea!" Shumaila grinned mischievously, pointing at both of them. "I hereby declare you two… engaged!"
"Oh, for the love of—" Siddarth groaned as the group erupted into laughter.
Hamza, watching this unfold, shook his head, amused despite himself. He expected Shumaila to keep moving through her list of victims, but to his horror, she suddenly turned to him.
"And you…" she dragged out, stepping right up to him, tilting her head as she examined him closely.
Hamza sighed. "What now?"
"Why are you so grumpy all the time, Hamza?" She pouted. "I mean, look at your face. So serious. So sharp. So…scary. Are you a villain?" She gasped dramatically. "Or worse—a nerdy villain?!"
Rudra nearly choked on his laughter. "Oh, she got you good, man."
Hamza pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're insufferable."
"Ah! But you didn't deny it!" Shumaila pointed at him triumphantly before bursting into giggles.
Just as she was about to take another step, her foot caught on an uneven patch of pavement, and she stumbled forward. Hamza instinctively reached out, catching her before she could face-plant onto the ground.
For a moment, everything stilled. Shumaila blinked up at him, eyes slightly dazed. Hamza sighed, shaking his head. "You're going to be the death of me."
Shumaila, still drunk out of her mind, suddenly poked his cheek. "Soft."
Hamza's eyes widened. "What the—"
The group, who had been holding in their laughter, finally lost it.
"Oh my god! Did she just—"
"She poked him!"
"Hamza, are you blushing? Oh, this is golden!"
Hamza, thoroughly done with the night, sighed. "Someone take her before I leave her here!!"
Aarav and Rudra quickly stepped in to drag Shumaila away, still laughing at the sheer absurdity of it all. As they finally reached the dorm entrance, Sneha turned to the boys. "Thanks for dropping us off."
"Yeah, but next time, you carry your drunk friend," Siddarth muttered. "I think I lost five years of my life dealing with her antics."
Hamza, still recovering, just shook his head. "Good luck waking her up tomorrow."
With that, the boys finally left, leaving the girls to wrangle their very drunk, very chaotic friend into the dorm for what was sure to be an interesting morning.
And just like that, the night ended—one part hilarious, one part disastrous, and one part unforgettable.