Veil of Obsession

Chapter 8: The Silent Watcher

Sanika sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The events of the past few weeks had left her feeling drained, both physically and emotionally. She had thought a break from Agrim would ease the tension, but the constant worry gnawed at her mind. She was tired—tired of the possessiveness, tired of the arguments, tired of feeling like she was walking on eggshells.

Her phone buzzed with a message from a friend, inviting her to a movie night. She sighed, wishing she could accept without the lingering fear that Agrim would somehow find out and be upset. She hadn’t heard from him since their last conversation, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was always watching.

Unbeknownst to Sanika, Agrim’s obsession had only intensified. Unable to bear the thought of not knowing her every move, he had taken drastic measures. One night, under the cover of darkness, he had broken into her house and planted tiny cameras in various rooms. Now, from the safety of his own room, he could watch her every move, ensuring she was safe—or so he told himself.

Sanika went about her daily routine, but she couldn’t shake the growing sense of paranoia. She felt eyes on her even when she was alone. Little things began to unnerve her—a misplaced book, the slight misalignment of her curtains, the faint sound of static she couldn’t locate.

One evening, as she settled into bed, she tried to push the unease away. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, but sleep was elusive. Thoughts of Agrim haunted her dreams and waking hours alike. She missed the times when their relationship was uncomplicated, but she knew she couldn’t go back.

Meanwhile, Agrim watched her through his screen, his eyes glued to her every movement. He saw the weariness in her eyes, the tension in her shoulders. His heart ached for her, but his mind twisted that ache into a justification for his actions. He was protecting her, he told himself. He was keeping her safe from a world that she didn’t understand.

Days turned into weeks, and Sanika’s paranoia grew. She started avoiding her friends, afraid that Agrim’s presence lurked somewhere close by. She couldn’t concentrate on her studies, her grades slipping as a result. She barely slept, her nights filled with restless tossing and turning.

One day, as she walked back from class, she decided to take a detour through the park to clear her mind. She sat on a bench, watching the sunset, hoping the fresh air would help her think more clearly. As she sat there, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Agrim.

“I miss you. I just want to talk.”

Sanika’s hands trembled as she read the message. She typed out a reply, then deleted it, unsure of what to say. She knew she needed to respond, but she couldn’t bring herself to engage with him.

As the sky darkened, Sanika finally stood up and made her way home. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she entered her house. She checked the locks, making sure everything was secure. But the feeling of being watched didn’t leave her.

She wandered into the living room and turned on the TV, hoping the noise would drown out her thoughts. As she flipped through the channels, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

In his room, Agrim watched her, his eyes never leaving the screen. He saw the fear in her eyes, the way she glanced over her shoulder as if expecting to see him standing there. He knew he was pushing her away, but he couldn’t stop himself. His love had twisted into an obsession that consumed his every thought.

Sanika’s phone buzzed again. Another message from Agrim: “Please, Sanika. Just one chance to explain.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. She knew she needed to confront him, to end this once and for all. She couldn’t live like this anymore—always looking over her shoulder, always feeling like she was being watched.

Taking a deep breath, she typed out a reply: “Okay. We need to talk. Meet me at the park tomorrow at noon.”

She hit send and immediately felt a sense of dread. But she knew it had to be done. She couldn’t keep living in fear.

As she prepared for bed that night, Sanika couldn’t help but feel that tomorrow’s conversation would change everything. She hoped it would bring closure, but deep down, she feared it would only drag her further into the darkness that had enveloped her life.

And all the while, Agrim watched, his obsession growing with every passing second, his mind racing with thoughts of what he would say to make her understand. To make her stay.