Jealousy, Twirls, and Goodbyes

The farewell night was a mix of laughter, nostalgia, and the bittersweet realization that an era was coming to an end. The grand hall was bathed in warm, golden lights, the decorations shimmering as the students of the batch danced their hearts out, celebrating their time together one last time.Aditi stood with Riya and Ankita near the dance floor, swaying to the lively music. The beats were loud, infectious, and impossible to resist. Everyone had let go of their inhibitions, lost in the joy of the night.

"Come on, Aditi, let's hit the dance floor properly this time,"

Riya insisted, pulling her toward the center where a larger crowd had formed.

"I already am dancing," Aditi laughed, lifting her hands playfully.

Ankita rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but not like you mean it. Tonight is our last big party. No holding back!"

Aditi laughed, letting herself get dragged into the mass of students dancing in synchronized chaos. Just beside them, another group was just as energetic—Tanmay's group.

The loud, fast-paced music drowned out all conversation as everyone jumped and swayed to the beat.

Aditi found herself completely lost in the moment, her feet moving to the rhythm. She didn't care how she looked or how well she was dancing—she just let herself enjoy it.

And then, without warning, the DJ changed the track. The beats slowed down, replaced by the soft strum of a romantic melody. A soft hush fell over the crowd as everyone realized what was coming—a slow dance.

Aditi saw couples and friends hesitating for a moment before looking for a dance partner. She barely had time to register it when Aditya, one of her batchmates and a good friend, turned to her with a grin."Dance with me?" he asked.

Aditi chuckled but nodded. "Why not?"

They stepped closer, their hands meeting in an easy rhythm as they swayed to the soft music.

Tanmay, standing just a few feet away, scanned the crowd almost instinctively. His eyes landed on Aditi, expecting her to be somewhere near the edge of the dance floor or perhaps still giggling with Riya and Ankita. But the moment his gaze settled on her, he felt something shift in his chest.

She was dancing—with Aditya.

Tanmay clenched his jaw slightly, his fingers twitching at his sides. It wasn't a big deal, was it? It was just a dance. Aditi was free to dance with whoever she wanted. And yet, as he watched Aditya place a hand on Aditi's waist, guiding her through the slow movements, something ugly curled inside him."It should've been me."

The thought came so naturally, so effortlessly, that it caught him off guard.

He knew he had no claim over her, no reason to feel this ridiculous pang of jealousy. But knowing it didn't make it any easier to swallow. His eyes lingered on the way she laughed at something Aditya said—the way she looked so effortlessly beautiful in that moment."Why didn't I ask her first?"

His fingers curled into fists at his sides before he exhaled slowly, shaking his head. He wasn't going to make a fool of himself over this.

Just as the song ended and people started shifting around, another song—another slow one—began playing.

And this time, Tanmay didn't wait.He moved through the crowd purposefully, his heart hammering in his chest. He reached Aditi just as she was about to step away from Aditya, her laughter still lingering in the air.Without hesitation, he extended his hand."Dance with me."

Aditi blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"

Tanmay didn't give her time to think. He reached for her hand, his grip firm but gentle. His touch sent a jolt through her, her breath catching in surprise.

Aditya, still beside her, raised an eyebrow but stepped back with a knowing smirk. "Guess you have a new partner."

Aditi barely had time to process what was happening before Tanmay pulled her close, his other hand resting lightly on her waist.

"Since when do you take the lead?" She teased, her voice quieter than usual.

Tanmay's lips curved slightly. "Since I didn't feel like waiting anymore."

Aditi swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of how close they were. The music wrapped around them like a cocoon, blocking out the rest of the world.

They moved together slowly, his grip sure and steady, guiding her effortlessly across the dance floor. It wasn't complicated—just a simple sway to the rhythm, their steps instinctive. And yet, something about it felt different. Charged. Unspoken words hung between them, lingering in the air like a whisper neither dared to voice.

Aditi dared to glance up at him. His eyes, usually so playful and unreadable, held something else tonight—something that made her stomach flip.T

anmay's grip on her hand tightened slightly. "I was looking for you earlier."

"Were you?" Aditi asked, her voice barely above a murmur.

He nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "But you were already dancing with Aditya."

Aditi chuckled softly. "You could've just asked."Tanmay's lips twitched. "Next time, I won't wait."

The moment stretched, the song winding to a close. Neither of them moved away immediately, as if neither wanted to let go just yet.

But then reality set in. The music ended, and the spell broke. The crowd erupted into applause as the DJ switched to another high-energy track. Aditi and Tanmay stepped back, the space between them returning as quickly as it had disappeared.

For the rest of the night, they didn't talk about it. But the feeling lingered—unspoken, undeniable. As farewell night came to an end, groups of students gathered outside, saying their goodbyes. Cars pulled up, and friends hugged, making last-minute plans to meet again before they all parted ways.

Aditi stood with Riya and Ankita near the entrance, adjusting the strap of her bag as they waited for their ride.Tanmay approached them, hands in his pockets. "You guys need a ride back to the hostel?"

Riya glanced at Aditi, her expression unreadable. "Oh? You're offering to drop us?"

Tanmay shrugged casually. "I live nearby. It's on the way."

Aditi hesitated, a small part of her tempted to accept. But before she could respond, the familiar sound of an engine revving reached them.

A sleek, black car rolled up beside them. The window rolled down, revealing Aditya behind the wheel. "Need a ride?" he asked with a grin.Without waiting for confirmation, Riya and Ankita practically ran to the car. "Yes, please!"

Aditi looked back at Tanmay, who was watching the scene unfold with an unreadable expression.

She bit her lip. "I guess... we already have a ride."

Tanmay exhaled, nodding once. "Right. No problem."

Aditi hesitated. She almost wanted to say something—to explain that she hadn't planned it, that she hadn't chosen Aditya over him. But before she could, Riya called out."Aditi! Come on!"

She gave Tanmay one last glance before stepping toward the car.

As Aditya drove off, Tanmay watched them disappear into the night, the weight of something unspoken settling heavily in his chest.He had danced with her. He had held her close.

And yet, in the end, he was still watching her leave.