Passenger Princess, Balcony Confession

The night was cool, the air crisp with the lingering scent of wedding flowers and celebration as Tanmay's parents, Aditi, and Tanmay walked toward his car. Aditi, lost in thought about the entire evening, instinctively moved toward the backseat, planning to sit there quietly, avoiding any further teasing or awkward moments.

But just as she was about to pull the door handle, Tanmay's mother's voice rang out, filled with playful mischief.

"Aditi, beta, why are you going there?" she called, raising an eyebrow. "Go sit in the front, with Tanmay. Be his Passenger Princess for tonight."

Aditi's eyes widened. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Um—Aunty, I—" she started, but Tanmay's mother was already smiling knowingly.

Tanmay, who had been unlocking the car, paused for a split second. His lips twitched as he processed what his mother had just said.

Passenger Princess.

Aditi. In his car. In his front seat. Right beside him.

He was hit with a rush of emotions—satisfaction, amusement, and a strange sense of warmth he wasn't used to. For all the years he had known Aditi, he had never imagined her sitting in his car like this. But now, she was. And damn, if that didn't make him happier than it should.

Aditi sighed, knowing there was no escape. She glanced at Tanmay, who looked way too smug about the situation, and reluctantly made her way to the front seat.

As soon as she sat down, Tanmay glanced at her, his voice laced with amusement. "Comfortable?"

Aditi folded her arms and huffed. "Just drive."

Tanmay chuckled as he started the engine, the soft hum of the car filling the silence. But inside, his heart was thundering.

For the first time, she was sitting by his side. In his space.

And he liked it.

More than he should.

But the very next morning, Aditi vanished.

Not literally, but she might as well have.

She left early for work before Tanmay could even catch a glimpse of her and returned late, sneaking into her apartment like she was avoiding a crime scene.

By mid-week, Tanmay had noticed the pattern.

She was dodging him.

Completely.

It was almost comical how she managed to escape every possible encounter. She never stepped out when he did, never lingered in the hallway, and even on weekends—when she usually went out—she stayed locked inside.

Tanmay frowned, sipping his coffee on Saturday evening, standing near his living room window. He had been thinking about the wedding night all week, reliving every damn second. The way she danced with him, the way she had teased him, the way she looked at him.

Everything had felt different.

And then suddenly—nothing.

He didn't understand what had changed.

And that was when he heard it.

Aditi was on the phone, pacing back and forth on her balcony, completely unaware that Tanmay was just a few feet away, standing on his own balcony, separated only by the quiet night and a little distance.

"Wait, wait, wait," Riya's voice came through the speaker, loud and dramatic. "You danced with him? Like full-on, sexy, ownership kinda dance?"

Aditi groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Ugh. I don't even want to think about it."

Ankita laughed. "How? How were you this bold after years of running away from him?"

Aditi exhaled sharply. "I had a few drinks."

Tanmay's grip tightened on his coffee mug.

A few drinks?

She wasn't drunk that night; he was sure of it. He had seen her eyes—clear, sharp, playful. A few drinks, sure, but not enough to not know what she was doing.

"But WHY did you dance with him like that?" Riya asked, her voice dripping with curiosity.

Aditi let out a frustrated sigh. "Because..." she hesitated. "Because when all those other girls were talking about him, I just wanted to show them that he was taken."

Tanmay's heart skipped.

What?

What the hell did that mean?

His jaw clenched as he leaned forward slightly, hanging onto every damn word.

"You claimed him?" Ankita teased.

Aditi groaned. "No! I just—ugh. It was stupid. And then I even joked about the future wife thing, and now I feel so EMBARRASSED!"

Tanmay blinked.

She remembered that?

She was thinking about that?

His fingers curled around the railing as he fought the urge to smirk.

"Okay, but be honest," Riya pressed. "Was it sexy?"

Aditi paused.

Too long.

Too telling.

Tanmay could feel the hesitation in the way she was debating whether to tell the truth.

Finally, she exhaled. "It was... very intense."

His stomach tightened.

Holy. Shit.

He took a deep breath, his pulse quickening as he tried to process that.

"I don't know how to face him now," Aditi whined. "I literally seduced the guy in front of an entire wedding crowd."

Tanmay nearly dropped his coffee.

Seduced?

He sucked in some breath. That was a strong word. And yet, the way she had moved with him, the way her body had responded to his touch, the way their chemistry had practically crackled in the air—

Maybe she wasn't wrong.

"And I think he liked it," Aditi muttered.

Tanmay closed his eyes for a brief second, trying to get himself together.

Yes, Aditi. I did. More than I should have.

"And now I'm hiding because I don't know what to do with myself," Aditi admitted.

"Just talk to him," Riya suggested.

"No way," Aditi said quickly. "Not after what I did."

Tanmay exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face.

This girl.

This ridiculous, frustrating, beautiful girl.

She had been avoiding him not because she regretted the dance but because she was embarrassed.

A slow smirk crept onto his lips.

Well.

That was about to change.

Because now he knew.

And Aditi?

She wouldn't be avoiding him much longer.