The Universe is Screaming

Tanmay's parents had settled in comfortably. His mother had already rearranged a few things in the kitchen, his father was casually browsing through the books on his shelf, and Tanmay... Tanmay was regretting every decision that had led to this moment.

The dinner table was set, and Aditi had long escaped back to her apartment, but not before his mother had given her a once-over that Tanmay knew meant curiosity mixed with suspicion.

As they started eating, his mother casually asked, "So, Tanmay... who was that girl?"

Tanmay, already expecting this, sighed. "I told you—she's my neighbor."

His father smirked. "Neighbor, huh? I don't remember you ever sharing lunch with our neighbors when we lived in Delhi."

Tanmay rolled his eyes. "That's because our Delhi neighbors were 60-year-old uncles who complained about kids playing cricket in the street."

His mother ignored his defense. "She's very pretty."

Tanmay kept his expression neutral. "I suppose."

His mother gasped dramatically. "You suppose? So you have noticed?"

His father chuckled. "Oh, this is going to be interesting."

Tanmay groaned. "Mom, please. She's just a friend."

His mother leaned forward, clearly enjoying this. "A friend who has lunch with you? And who you order snacks with? And who answers the door to your apartment like she lives there?"

Tanmay's ears burned. "She doesn't live here! She was just visiting."

His father raised an eyebrow. "So, she does visit often?"

Tanmay clenched his jaw. "I don't know why I'm being interrogated."

His mother ignored him and continued, "You know, she looked really flustered when she saw us. Like a deer caught in headlights."

His father nodded. "Exactly. And did you see how she looked at Tanmay when he walked out? Like she was caught red-handed."

Tanmay huffed. "That's because she probably thought you'd misunderstand and start assuming things—like you are right now."

His mother tilted her head. "And is there something to misunderstand?"

Tanmay was done. "Can we just eat dinner?"

His mother smirked but let it go—for now. His father, however, whispered under his breath, "A friend, he says."

Tanmay ignored them.

Aditi lay on her bed, scrolling mindlessly when her phone buzzed with an incoming call from The Chaos Duo—Ankita and Riya.

She picked up. "Hello, ladies."

"Finally! You pick up our call!" Ankita dramatically exclaimed.

Riya sighed. "You're so busy these days. Do you even love us anymore?"

Aditi laughed. "Oh, please. I'm always here for my two favorite people."

Ankita scoffed. "Then tell us, what's new? Any spicy details from your life?"

Aditi hesitated for a second, then said, "Actually... you won't believe who shifted next door to me."

"Who?"

She took a deep breath. "Tanmay."

There was silence. Then—

"WHAT?!" both of them screeched at the same time.

Riya gasped. "You're joking. Please tell me you're joking."

Aditi shook her head, though they couldn't see her. "Nope. He's my neighbor now."

Ankita burst into laughter. "This is GOLDEN. Oh my god, Aditi, do you remember how obsessed you were with him?"

Aditi groaned. "Please don't bring that up."

"Oh, I have to bring that up!"

Riya cackled. "Do you remember the time we found his Instagram and Ankita sent him a request?"

Aditi sighed. "And he didn't accept it."

Ankita pouted. "Yeah, rude. But then Riya sent it, and he accepted within a week."

Riya smugly added, "And followed me back. Don't forget that part."

Aditi rolled her eyes. "Trust me, I remember."

Ankita gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, and do you remember that day in college when we finally got to explore his Instagram? Aditi, you literally held Riya's phone hostage!"

Aditi covered her face. "Stop reminding me."

Riya giggled. "You took my phone for an hour, listening to the songs he had uploaded there. You recorded one of them so you could listen to it again and again."

Aditi groaned. "Okay, I was a little obsessed—"

"A little?" Ankita interrupted. "You listened to that song every single day for a week!"

Aditi cringed. "Okay, fine. I was very obsessed. Happy?"

Riya sighed dramatically. "Good times. And then... the infamous follow request disaster."

Ankita immediately burst into laughter. "Oh my god, YES! Aditi, do you remember how Riya challenged you to send him a follow request?"

Aditi groaned. "I didn't want to because I knew he wouldn't accept it."

Riya grinned. "But you sent it anyway. And guess what? He accepted it the next day."

Aditi sighed. "And then my luck struck."

Ankita was nearly in tears laughing. "You twisted your knee that day and was in pain, somehow you unfollowed him while checking his account."

Riya howled. "And when you sent him another request... he never accepted again."

Aditi groaned. "Worst. Day. Ever."

Ankita was still laughing. "It was so funny though! So many girls from our hostel sent him follow requests, and he accepted and followed back everyone."

Riya added, "But not you. The one person who had a real crush on him."

Aditi buried her face in a pillow. "I hate you both."

Ankita sighed. "And now, here we are. He's your neighbor. If the universe isn't screaming at you, I don't know what is."

Riya grinned. "So, tell us, Aditi... does he remember any of this?"

Aditi paused.

She thought about Tanmay. About how easy things felt between them now. About how they cooked for each other, shared meals, and had heart-fluttering moments she never would have imagined back in college.

She smiled softly.

"No," she said. "And I think I like it that way."

For once, her past didn't matter.

Because, somehow, Tanmay was in her present now.

And that was enough.