Veil of Obsession

Chapter 6: Encroaching Shadows

The days passed in a blur of classes and study sessions, with Agrim and Sanika spending nearly every waking moment together. While Sanika enjoyed their time and appreciated Agrim's unwavering support, she couldn't help but notice his increasing possessiveness over her.

It started with small things. One morning, as they sat together in the cafeteria, Sanika laughed at a joke made by one of their classmates, Vikram. Agrim's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he watched her.

"What's so funny?" he asked, his tone a bit sharper than usual.

Sanika blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, just a joke Vikram made. It was pretty funny."

Agrim's gaze flicked to Vikram, who quickly looked away, sensing the tension. "You shouldn't waste your time on people who don't matter," Agrim muttered, his voice low.

Sanika frowned but decided to brush it off. "It's just a joke, Agrim. No big deal."

The possessiveness extended beyond the classroom and cafeteria. One evening, as Sanika was heading to the library to meet a study group, Agrim insisted on coming along, even though he wasn't part of the group.

"You don't need to come, Agrim. It's just a study session," Sanika said, trying to sound casual.

Agrim shook his head, his expression unreadable. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

Sanika sighed, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration. "I appreciate it, but I'll be fine. You don't have to watch over me all the time."

Agrim's eyes softened, but the intensity remained. "I just worry about you, Sanika. Is that so bad?"

The final straw came during a class presentation. Sanika was paired with a new student, Arjun, to present a project. As they rehearsed their presentation in the classroom after hours, Agrim showed up unexpectedly.

"Hey, Agrim," Sanika greeted him, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Agrim's eyes flicked to Arjun, then back to Sanika. "Just wanted to see how your presentation is going."

Arjun, sensing the tension, cleared his throat. "I'll go grab some water. Be right back."

As soon as Arjun left, Agrim's demeanor changed. He stepped closer to Sanika, his voice low and urgent. "Why didn't you tell me you were working with him?"

Sanika crossed her arms, feeling a pang of annoyance. "Agrim, it's just a presentation. It's not a big deal."

Agrim's expression hardened. "I don't like the way he looks at you."

Sanika took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "Agrim, you can't control who I work with or who I talk to. You need to trust me."

Agrim's eyes flashed with something dark, but he nodded slowly. "I'm sorry, Sanika. I just... I care about you a lot."

Sanika reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "I know you do. But you need to let me have my own space too."

As they walked out of the classroom together, Sanika couldn't shake the feeling that Agrim's protectiveness was crossing a line. She loved having him in her life, but his possessiveness was becoming suffocating. And as they continued to navigate their complicated relationship, she couldn't help but wonder how much further Agrim's shadows would encroach on their connection.