Destiny's New Neighbor

Aditi stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the sleeves of her light blue kurta. She had opted for something simple—jeans and a kurta, nothing too elaborate. There was no need to get too dressed up, she reasoned. This wasn't a date. It was just a meeting.

A meeting where she would sit across from a stranger and discuss the possibility of spending their lives together.Her parents had finally convinced her to meet someone. Just once, beta. There's no harm in talking.She let out a sigh, tying her hair into a loose ponytail. Her reflection looked back at her with uncertainty.Aditi wasn't against marriage. She wanted to settle down, to have a family of her own. But the problem was—her heart was still stuck in the past.Tanmay.Even after all this time, he still lingered in her thoughts like an unfinished chapter.

She grabbed her bag and stepped out of her apartment, but just as she locked the door, a deep, familiar voice rang in the hallway.

"Be careful with that box, yaar. It has fragile items."

Aditi froze.Her heartbeat stilled for a second, then began hammering against her ribs.

No.It couldn't be.

She must be hallucinating.

Slowly, she popped her head out from behind her door and turned towards the voice.

And there he was.

Tanmay.

Standing a few feet away, giving instructions to the movers, dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans. Her stomach twisted, and at the same time, as if he sensed her presence, Tanmay looked up. Their eyes met.

Aditi's breath hitched.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The world around them faded—the movers, the boxes, the dull yellow light of the hallway. It was just them.Then Tanmay blinked, breaking the moment. A slow, almost disbelieving smile tugged at his lips. "Aditi?"

She swallowed, forcing herself to speak. "You—what are you doing here?"T

anmay gestured to the apartment beside hers. "I, uh, I bought this place. Just moved in."

Aditi's brain short-circuited. He was going to be her neighbor?

She struggled to find words. "I—um—wow. I didn't expect..."He smirked.

"Neither did I. Looks like fate really enjoys throwing us together, huh?"

Aditi let out a small, nervous laugh. "Yeah, it looks like it."

Tanmay leaned against the doorframe of his new apartment. "So, how's work going?"

"It's good. Still at the same start-up. What about you?"

"I joined a big firm as a marketing strategist."

Aditi raised an eyebrow. "Look at you, climbing the corporate ladder."

He chuckled. "Trying to, at least."

His gaze flickered to her outfit. "You heading somewhere?"

Aditi hesitated. "Uh... yeah. My parents have been setting up meetings for me. I'm going to meet a guy."

Something flickered in Tanmay's expression. He hadn't realized it until now, but Aditi looked different today. Not just because of her outfit, but because of the small details—the silver earrings, the light kajal outlining her eyes, the subtle touch of lipstick. She had never cared for accessories back in college. She had always been plain, simple.

But today, she was adorned with things she never wore before. And for some reason, that unsettled him.

"You look... nice," he said, his voice quieter than before.

Aditi smiled. "Thanks. I should get going."

Tanmay nodded, watching as she walked away.

Aditi was meeting someone. A guy.

And suddenly, he didn't like that thought at all.

Aditi arrived at the café, scanning the tables until she spotted the man she was here to meet.

Sandeep.

He stood up as she approached, offering a polite smile. He was tall, well-dressed, and had a composed air about him.

"Hi," he greeted. "You must be Aditi."

Aditi nodded. "Yeah. Nice to meet you."

They sat down, ordering coffee, before diving into the conversation.

"I know this whole setup can be awkward," Sandeep admitted. "But I like to be upfront about things. My parents are excited about this, but before they start planning wedding dates, I want to hear your thoughts."

Aditi appreciated his honesty. "I understand. And to be honest, I do want to get married... someday. But right now, my mind is a bit—" she hesitated, searching for the right words, "occupied."

Sandeep studied her. "By someone else?"

She sighed. "Yes."He nodded thoughtfully. "Let me make you an offer then."

Aditi looked at him curiously.

"You don't have to decide anything right now," Sandeep said. "We can meet here and there and get to know each other. If, after some time, you think you can move forward, we'll take it from there. And if not, we go our separate ways. No pressure."

Aditi considered it. He wasn't wrong. She could use this as a way to move on.

Maybe.

"Okay," she said finally. "That sounds fair."

Later that night, as she returned to her apartment, she spotted Tanmay in the garden.

Something about his posture told her he wasn't feeling well.

"Tanmay?" She called out, walking towards him.

"Are you okay?"He glanced at her and sighed. "Yeah. Just some stomach discomfort. Thought a walk might help."

Aditi fell into step beside him. "Too much junk food?"

"Maybe," he admitted, rubbing his stomach. "Or maybe it's just... something else."

Aditi smiled slightly. "Want to talk about it?"

Tanmay shrugged. "Maybe later." He looked at her. "How did the meeting go?"

"It was good," she replied. "He's the perfect guy you can find in an arranged marriage setup. An IAS officer, well settled. He's being transferred to the central ministry next month. So, we have time to decide whether we want to move forward with this or not."

Tanmay's fingers curled into his pockets.

One month. That's all he had. One month to figure things out. To get her back.

Before he could say anything, Aditi's phone rang.

She glanced at the screen.

Sandeep.

Tanmay clenched his jaw. He had never talked to Aditi at night before. Not in all these years. But now, some random guy was getting all the chances he wanted.

Aditi stepped to the side to take the call, leaving Tanmay standing alone in the garden, his mind a chaotic mess. He watched as she smiled softly while talking, as she nodded along to whatever Sandeep was saying. And jealousy curled in his chest like a slow-burning fire.

Fifteen minutes later, Aditi returned. "Sorry about that."

Tanmay forced a smirk. "Must be nice. Late-night calls and all."

Aditi gave him a look. "Don't start."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Come on, let's head back."

They walked in silence, side by side, until they reached their respective doors.

As Aditi unlocked hers, Tanmay hesitated before speaking."Goodnight, Aditi."

She turned to him, her expression unreadable."Goodnight, Tanmay."

And with that, they both disappeared into their apartments, carrying thoughts too heavy to be spoken.