Dark Love: A Psycho Lover

Season 1 Episode 12

Ishika sat at the edge of her bed, her heart racing as she scrolled through her messages. The vibrant world outside her window felt distant, overshadowed by the gnawing anxiety that had become her constant companion. She glanced at her phone again, half-expecting a message from Arav. Instead, her screen displayed a notification from her friend Meera.

Meera: Hey, are we still on for lunch today?

Ishika hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. She wanted to reply, but the thought of Arav finding out sent a shiver down her spine. Just last week, he had berated her for hanging out with Meera, accusing her of prioritizing friends over him.

Ishika: Can we reschedule?

As soon as she hit send, a wave of guilt washed over her. She wanted to see her friends, to feel normal again, but the weight of Arav's expectations pressed down on her like a heavy fog. A part of her felt wrong for not prioritizing their relationship, but another part longed for the laughter and freedom she shared with her friends. "Why did it have to be this way?" she whispered to herself, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Later that day, she stepped out of her college, the campus buzzing with life. She felt a momentary relief, but it was short-lived. A familiar figure lingered near the entrance, and her stomach dropped. Arav was here, leaning casually against a lamppost, the sun glinting off his hair in a way that was meant to be charming but only felt suffocating.

"Hey, babe!" he called out, his voice dripping with false sweetness as he approached her, a charming smile masking the intensity in his eyes. "I was just in the area and thought I'd come pick you up."

Ishika forced a smile, but dread twisted in her gut. "I... I was just going to meet Meera for lunch."

Arav's smile faltered, replaced by a glare that sent chills down her spine. "Meera again? You spend way too much time with her. Why can't we just be together?"

Ishika's heart raced, feeling the walls of his possessiveness closing in. "I—I just wanted some time with my friends, Arav," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Fine. Let's go together then," he said, the pleasant tone returning as if nothing had happened. The suggestion made her stomach twist in knots. Did he really believe he could just join her and everything would be fine?

She felt trapped, unable to argue as he led her away from the thrumming energy of her classmates. The knot in her stomach tightened as she sensed his grip on her life tightening, just as it had done in their relationship. The voices around her faded as her thoughts spiraled. She wanted to break free, but every time she attempted to assert her independence, he made her feel guilty, as if she were the one in the wrong.

Days passed, and Ishika's unease morphed into paranoia. She noticed Arav appearing unexpectedly at the library, at coffee shops, and even outside her home. Each time, her heart sank deeper. He was tracking her, and the realization left her feeling exposed and vulnerable. "This isn't normal," she thought, her mind racing. How did it come to this?

One afternoon, she found him leaning against the wall outside her favorite café, arms crossed and an inscrutable expression on his face. She felt a mix of anxiety and anger bubbling within her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady, although she could feel it trembling slightly.

"I was worried about you," he replied, his tone almost affectionate, yet his eyes burned with intensity. "I wanted to make sure you're safe. You never know who's out there."

"Arav, I can take care of myself," she insisted, her voice tinged with desperation. "I just wanted some time alone."

"Alone?" He stepped closer, invading her space, his breath warm against her skin. "Is that really what you want? Or do you just want to hang out with those other guys?"

Ishika felt her heart race, a familiar fear creeping in. "You know they're just friends," she protested, trying to maintain her ground.

"Friends?" He laughed, but there was no humor in it, just an unsettling edge. "Tell me, where were you yesterday after class? I couldn't reach you."

"I went for a walk... I needed some fresh air," she replied, avoiding his gaze, the lie tasting bitter on her tongue.

"Fresh air?" His voice dropped, low and dangerous. "I tracked your location, Ishika. You were on the other side of town. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't need to report my every move to you!" she shot back, surprising herself with her boldness. She felt a rush of defiance surge through her, but it quickly drained away as she caught the fire in his eyes.

"Watch your tone," he warned, the smile disappearing from his face. "You wouldn't want to make me angry, would you?"

Ishika felt her courage falter as she met his gaze, the intensity of his expression suffocating. "No," she replied softly, the defiance evaporating like morning mist. For a moment, she faltered, wondering if she could ever escape the labyrinth of his control. The walls felt too high, and the way he looked at her made her doubt her worth.

Later that night, she lay in bed, the shadows of her room closing in around her like a shroud. She picked up her phone again, scrolling through social media to distract herself, but even that couldn't shield her from the reality of her situation. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she tried to banish the fear that crept in with every breath.

A notification popped up from Arav.

Arav: Can't sleep. Can't stop thinking about you. Where are you?

Ishika hesitated, her heart racing as panic coursed through her. He was watching her, and she couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped in his web. The feeling of surveillance made her skin crawl. "This isn't love; it's control," she thought bitterly.

She took a deep breath and replied, I'm at home. Just tired.

Within moments, her phone buzzed again.

Arav: I'll come over.

Ishika's heart sank. The thought of Arav's impending arrival filled her with dread. She felt suffocated by the reality that she could no longer breathe without his presence looming over her. "What am I supposed to do?" she whispered to the empty room, her voice tinged with desperation.

As she stared at the ceiling, she whispered to herself, "I can't keep doing this." But the truth was, she was terrified. Terrified of his anger, terrified of his control, and terrified of what it meant to leave him. "What if he doesn't let me go?" The thought gnawed at her, and tears pricked her eyes as uncertainty wrapped around her like a heavy cloak.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Ishika?" Arav's voice cut through the darkness, smooth and deceptively sweet. "It's me. Let me in."

With her heart pounding, she knew she had to make a choice: stay in the safety of the known or confront the darkness that threatened to consume her. "I can't keep living like this," she told herself, summoning every ounce of courage she could muster. "But how?"

She swallowed hard, contemplating the weight of his presence. "What will I say?" The questions circled in her mind, each more daunting than the last. She hesitated, knowing she had to choose between confrontation and compliance. "I have to stand up for myself, even if it's terrifying," she thought, her resolve slowly hardening.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to her feet and opened the door, bracing herself for whatever was to come. Would tonight finally be the night she found her voice? Or would she continue to drown in his shadow?