Veil of Obsession

Chapter 7: Beneath the Obsession

The days grew warmer, the campus alive with the vibrant energy of spring. Sanika and Agrim continued to spend time together, their bond growing stronger despite the shadows lurking around Agrim's intense behavior. One afternoon, as they walked through the quad after a particularly challenging class, Agrim stopped abruptly.

"Sanika," he began, his voice uncharacteristically nervous, "I wanted to ask you something."

Sanika turned to him, surprised by his tone. "What is it, Agrim?"

He took a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "Would you like to go out with me? On a date, I mean."

Sanika's eyes widened in surprise. She had grown close to Agrim over the past few months, but this was unexpected. "Agrim, I..."

He quickly interrupted, his words rushing out. "I know I can be intense sometimes, but I really care about you, Sanika. I want to be more than just friends."

Sanika hesitated, the mix of emotions swirling within her. She did care about Agrim, but his recent behavior had made her wary. Still, she decided to give it a chance, hoping that it might help him relax a bit.

"Alright, Agrim. Let's go on a date," she said with a small smile.

Agrim's face lit up with a rare smile, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Great. How about this Saturday? We can go to that new café near campus."

Sanika nodded, her heart pounding. "Sounds good."

As Saturday approached, Sanika found herself looking forward to the date. She hoped it would help Agrim feel more secure in their relationship and ease his possessiveness.

The date itself went well. Agrim was charming and attentive, and for a while, Sanika felt like they were just a normal couple enjoying each other's company. But as the days passed, she began to notice unsettling changes in Agrim's behavior.

It started with small things. He seemed to know her schedule better than she did, showing up unexpectedly between classes or waiting for her outside the library. At first, she appreciated his thoughtfulness, but soon it felt more like surveillance than affection.

One evening, as Sanika was leaving the library after a late study session, she spotted Agrim leaning against a tree, his eyes fixed on the entrance. He straightened as she approached, his expression unreadable.

"Agrim, what are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light.

"I was just waiting for you," he replied, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place.

Sanika forced a smile, feeling a knot of unease in her stomach. "You didn't have to wait. I could have managed."

"I wanted to," Agrim said simply, falling into step beside her as they walked.

As the days turned into weeks, Agrim's behavior became more concerning. Sanika would find him waiting outside her classes, following her to the café where she liked to study, and even appearing at her favorite spots on campus. His protectiveness had turned into something darker, something that felt like obsession.

One afternoon, as Sanika sat with a group of friends in the courtyard, she noticed Agrim watching from a distance. His eyes never left her, a constant presence that made her feel trapped rather than safe.

She decided it was time to confront him. After her friends had left, she walked over to Agrim, her heart pounding.

"Agrim, we need to talk," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

He looked at her, his expression softening. "What's wrong, Sanika?"

"Why are you following me everywhere?" she demanded, her frustration boiling over. "It's like you don't trust me to be on my own."

Agrim's face darkened, his eyes narrowing. "I'm just trying to protect you, Sanika. You don't understand how dangerous the world can be."

Sanika shook her head, her fear turning into anger. "I appreciate your concern, but this isn't healthy. You're suffocating me, Agrim."

For a moment, Agrim's expression was one of hurt, but it quickly shifted to something more sinister. "I just care about you, Sanika. Is that so wrong?"

"It's not wrong to care," Sanika replied, her voice firm. "But it is wrong to control someone's every move. You need to give me space."

Agrim stared at her, his eyes unreadable. "I can't do that, Sanika. I need to keep you safe."

Sanika took a step back, her heart racing. "If you can't give me space, then we can't continue this relationship."

Agrim's face twisted with a mix of anger and desperation. "You don't mean that."

"I do," Sanika said, her voice breaking. "Please, Agrim, let me have my life back."

Without another word, she turned and walked away, her heart heavy with a mix of sadness and relief. As she left Agrim behind, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over. The shadows that had been encroaching on their relationship were growing darker, and Sanika knew she needed to find a way to protect herself from the man who claimed to care for her more than anything in the world.