Forbidden Lessons

Shadows of Possession

          **Play the song for better experience.**

          ＴＨＩＲＤ  ＰＥＲＳＯＮ＇Ｓ ＰＯＶ

Aradhya was dreaming again. Dreaming again of him. Perspiration lay bare on her forehead as she twisted and turned in her sleep unaware of her surroundings. Subconsciously her hand constantly shivered with the activities of the dream that triggered such kind of emotions in her well being.

The hair on her arms and limbs arose with goosebumps spreading all across her body with ongoings of her chaotic dream.

Aradhya sat in the quiet corner of the university library, the smell of old books mingling with the faint scent of coffee from the café nearby. She was engrossed in "Fundamental Theories of Punishing a Criminal," scribbling notes in the margins about psychological disorders when a loud whispering broke her concentration.

'Punishing a criminal based on their physiological disorder involves several fundamental theories, primarily rooted in criminal justice, psychology, and ethics-'

"Did you see Maya being a total pick me girl around Professor Advani? Total chaos! How can someone be such a total loser that's what gets me." Sneha's voice cut through the stillness as she and a couple of friends sauntered over, giggling.

"I know right, I have never seen someone so keen to lose their dignity. I was like girl what?" One of Aradhya's friend stated and chuckled at her own statement.

"Come on, Aradhya, put that boring book down and join us!" Lyla urged, her laughter echoing in the hushed space. Aradhya raised a brow at her reluctance, she was not the one to be a bummer for fun but exams were approaching and she would not be able to digest the failure if she did fail by chance.

Aradhya looked up, torn between her academic focus and the lighthearted banter of her friends. "Really? I don't think Professor Advani is a kind of man who will care about girls throwing themselves at him. He is really an amazing mentor. I hope I get to work under him in the future." she replied, trying to sound firm, but a smile crept onto her lips as she reminisced about her future and dream of working as a profiler.

Just then, Professor Anand entered the library, scanning the room with his usual air of confidence. He strove towards the receptionist desk and started taking to her in hushed wishpers and serious tone. He turned to leave from the site but stopped as his gaze landed on Aradhya, and a playful smirk formed on his lips as he approached their table.

"Ah, Aradhya, caught gossiping instead of studying? I'm shocked, and also let's not let students judge the ability of professors. Are you more able to reflect recondite matters like us? " he teased, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

She felt her cheeks warm at his presence. "Not gossiping! Just taking a break, and moreover I was just appreciating Professor Advani's skills. He is a remarkable professor." she protested, though her heart raced at his closeness.

"Really, what do you think about my skills to teach?" He asked, a playful smirk playing on his lips but in his eyes there were burning emotions which Aradhya found difficult to put a finger to.

"I think you are more likely to resort to criminal activities in a short span of time judging your reluctance to stay on a right path from our previous class." She retorted with same burning fire in her tone.

"Is it so? Then please grace us with your opinion on my less than average skills to teach you all." He gestured around the expanse of library as if he was addressing an audience.

Aradhya flustered at his question and waved away his query as though she was dismissing him and tried to focus on what she was reading but she is not able to decode any recondite facts or theories due to close proximity between them. Blood thumped in her ears as she tried to calm down her beating heart. Her breathing took a fast pace as she pondered over her reaction to the close proximity of him.