Dark Love: A Psycho Lover

Season 1 Episode 17

Ishika sat on the edge of Arav's bed, the walls closing in on her. The air felt thick, heavy with the suffocating weight of his control. Day after day, she felt her spirit eroding under the relentless pressure of his emotional manipulation. She glanced around the room, searching for a way out, a sign that freedom was still possible, but every corner reminded her of Arav's presence—the framed photos of their happy moments, the love letters he insisted she keep, each a reminder of a love she once believed in, now twisted into chains.

"Hey, where are you?" Arav's voice jolted her from her thoughts, breaking the suffocating silence that filled the room. He entered, a frown etched on his face, his eyes sharp as they landed on her.

"Just thinking," she replied, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than a genuine expression. "About school and... stuff."

He walked over, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed in a way that made his body language intimidating. "What kind of stuff? You know I don't want you to worry about school. Focus on us. You're not going to be stuck here forever."

"Yeah, I know," she said, though her heart pounded with doubt. The truth was, she felt trapped, not just in his room but in this life that had become a prison. Each time she tried to plan an escape, Arav was right there, watching her like a hawk, his gaze always calculating, always weighing her every move.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, concern lacing his voice, but Ishika could sense the underlying tension, the barely concealed impatience beneath his façade. "You seem distant lately."

"I'm fine, really," she insisted, though she could feel the cracks forming in her façade. "Just tired." Tired of the constant push and pull, the endless battles of wills that drained her spirit.

Arav stepped closer, tilting her chin up with his finger, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You know I love you, right? No one will love you the way I do. I'm the only one who really cares about you. The only one who can protect you."

Ishika's heart sank. The way he twisted love into a tool for control was suffocating. "I know you care, Arav, but..."

"But what?" His voice rose slightly, an edge creeping in that sent a shiver down her spine. "You think your friends care about you? Rhea? She just wants to pull you away from me, from your real life." His tone hardened, and a shadow crossed his face. "You need to realize that. I'm the one who's here for you."

"But I miss talking to her," she confessed, her voice shaking, the truth spilling out as if the dam she had built around her feelings was finally breaking. "I miss feeling normal." Each word felt like a rebellion, a tiny flicker of defiance in the darkness of his control.

"Normal?" He scoffed, stepping back, arms crossed in disbelief. "You think normal means being around people who don't understand you? I'm the only one who truly knows you, Ishika. Don't you see how they've filled your head with nonsense?"

"No, Arav, I—"

"Ishika, stop." His voice was firm, unyielding. "You're making this hard on yourself." His voice softened, but it felt more like a silken thread tightening around her throat. "You need to trust me. Everything I do is for your benefit. You're the one who has to change."

She felt the tears welling up as she met his gaze, the despair rising within her. "What if I want to change back? What if I want to see my friends?" The words slipped out, desperate and trembling, as if they were a plea for the freedom she craved.

He stepped closer, invading her space, and she felt the warmth of his body mingling with the cold air. "You don't mean that," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. "You just need to understand that I'm protecting you from the outside world. You don't want to be hurt, do you?"