6:45 PM. Arjun stood in front of the hostel bathroom mirror, applying hair gel for the third time. Light blue shirt – his best one, the one he usually wore on special occasions. Dark jeans, clean sneakers. He even sprayed on some cologne – subtle, not too overpowering.
Why am I putting in so much effort? It's just… whatever this is.
But his hands trembled slightly as he buttoned his shirt.
"Bro, are you going on a date or what?" Rohit teased from his laptop, glancing up. "Getting all dressed up like this."
"It's not a date," Arjun replied quickly, but his reflection in the mirror betrayed him. He looked nervous, excited, scared – all at once.
"Uh-huh. Sure. Meeting that psychology girl, right? Priya?"
Arjun froze mid-hair-fix. "How do you know?"
"Dude, I saw the whole thing this morning at the mess. Plus, you've been distracted all day – checking the time constantly, changing clothes twice." Rohit grinned. "She's got you wrapped around her finger already."
Wrapped around her finger? The phrase stuck in Arjun's mind. Am I really that obvious?
"Just… wish me luck," Arjun said, grabbing his phone.
"Good luck, lover boy. And if it gets serious, don't forget protection—"
"ROHIT!" Arjun's face turned crimson as he hurried out of the room.
---
Evening on campus was calm. Most students were busy with dinner, some in late study sessions at the library, couples strolling around. Arjun walked toward the banyan tree, his heart beating faster with every step.
The old banyan tree was behind the library building, a little secluded from the main campus. Huge, ancient, with thick roots and sprawling branches. It was a favorite spot for quiet conversations because it felt removed from the crowd.
7 PM sharp. Arjun arrived at the tree.
Priya was already there, leaning casually against the trunk. But her outfit… was different. Not the usual kurta. She wore a simple yet elegant black dress that reached just above her knees. Her hair was loose, flowing over her shoulders. Light makeup accentuated her eyes.
Holy shit. She looks… stunning.
"You came," she smiled, pushing off from the tree with grace.
"You said 7 PM," Arjun replied, trying to keep his voice steady. Up close in the soft evening light, she looked even more beautiful.
"I wasn't sure you'd come. After realizing I've been… observing you so closely." She stepped closer. "Some people would find that creepy."
"Do you want me to find it creepy?" Arjun asked, surprising himself with how direct he sounded.
Priya's smile widened. "No. I want you to find it… intriguing."
Mission accomplished, Arjun thought.
"So," he said, glancing around, "what's the surprise?"
"Patience," Priya giggled, reaching into a small bag she'd placed near the roots. "First, close your eyes."
"Close my eyes? Why?"
"Trust me, Arjun. Just for two minutes."
This is how horror movies start, his logical brain warned. But curiosity won out. He closed his eyes.
He heard rustling sounds, footsteps, and things being arranged. Her perfume grew stronger as she moved around him.
"Okay, open."
Arjun opened his eyes and gasped.
Around the base of the banyan tree, Priya had arranged small battery-operated fairy lights. Not many – just enough to create a soft golden glow. A picnic blanket was spread on the ground with cushions. On it – homemade food in containers, a thermos, and what looked like dessert.
"You… did all this?" Arjun was genuinely stunned.
"I told you I like cooking," Priya said, settling gracefully on the blanket. "And I wanted to create the perfect setting for our conversation."
"Conversation?"
"Sit," she patted the space next to her. "I have things to tell you."
Arjun sat down, careful to maintain some distance, but Priya scooted closer until their shoulders nearly touched.
"This is beautiful," he said honestly, looking around. The fairy lights made everything look magical, the branches above forming a natural canopy.
"I'm glad you like it. I spent all afternoon setting it up." She opened one container. "I made your favorite."
"How do you know my favorite?"
"Research, remember? You always order dal makhani from the hostel mess when it's available. You skip lunch when they serve rajma because you don't like kidney beans. You prefer rice over roti most days."
Arjun stared at her. "You've been watching what I eat?"
"I've been watching everything, Arjun." Her voice was soft but intense. "How you walk – slightly faster when you're nervous. How you push your glasses up when you're thinking. How you bite your pen during hard problems. How you tap your foot when you're impatient."
This is beyond casual observation. This is…
"Why?" Arjun asked. "Why me?"
Priya was silent for a moment, serving food on plates she'd brought. "Do you know what drew me to psychology?"
"No."
"I've always been… different. I see patterns where others see randomness. I notice details others ignore. Most people find it unsettling." She handed him a plate. "But you… you're fascinating. Shy but intelligent. Reserved but passionate about what you care about. Introverted but capable of deep connection."
She moved even closer, her thigh brushing his. "And you respond to attention in ways that make me want to give you more."
Arjun's breathing became shallow. "Priya, are you saying you're… interested in me? Like, romantically?"
Instead of answering directly, she reached into her bag again and pulled out a thick notebook – different from the one he'd seen earlier.
"What's that?"
"My real notes. Not the behavioral observations – those are surface level." She opened the notebook. "These are my thoughts about you."
Arjun saw page after page of neat handwriting. His name appeared everywhere. Details about his expressions, things he'd said, even sketches of his face from different angles.
This is extensive. Like, really extensive.
"Priya, this is…" He flipped through the pages. Some entries were dated weeks ago. "You've been watching me for weeks?"
"Two months," she corrected casually, taking a bite. "Since the semester began. I noticed you on the first day – library mein, same corner table, always alone but completely absorbed in books. I wanted to understand what made you so… content in solitude."
Two months of stalking. Two months!
"And what did you conclude?" His voice was barely above a whisper.
Priya set her plate down and turned to face him fully. In the soft glow of the fairy lights, her eyes seemed almost hypnotic.
"I concluded you're not meant to be alone. You think you prefer solitude because you've never had someone who truly sees you. But when someone gives you real attention, you respond beautifully."
Her hand reached out and gently touched his cheek. "You bloom under attention, Arjun. Like a flower waiting for just the right sunlight."
Her touch was warm, soft, and Arjun involuntarily leaned into it.
"But this level of… attention," he whispered, "isn't it too much?"
"Is it too much for you?" she asked, her thumb gently stroking his cheek. "Or is it exactly what you've been craving without realizing it?"
Fuck, she's right. I've been craving this. Someone who notices me, understands me, pays attention to me.
"I…" Arjun struggled for words. "I've never had someone focus on me like this."
"And how does it feel?"
"Overwhelming. Scary." He paused. "Amazing."
Priya smiled – not her usual playful smile, but something softer, more sincere. "I know I'm intense, Arjun. I know my way of showing interest is… unconventional. Most people can't handle it."
"What exactly are you showing interest in? Me as a person or me as a study subject?"
"Both," she admitted without hesitation. "At first, you fascinated me. But somewhere during these two months of watching, observing, understanding…" She leaned in, her face inches from his. "It stopped being just academic."
"When?"
"The day you helped that junior crying outside the library. You spent an hour helping her with a coding problem, missing your lunch. You were patient, kind. That's when I knew you weren't just an interesting case study."
She was so close now he could count her eyelashes. "You became someone I wanted to know. Someone I wanted to be close to. Someone I wanted to… belong to."
Belong to? The phrase sent shivers down his spine.
"What do you mean by belong to?"
Her eyes darkened slightly. "I mean I want to be the person who knows you best. Who understands you completely. Who you think of when you're happy, sad, confused." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I want to be necessary to you."
Before Arjun could answer, she closed the remaining distance between them. Her lips brushed his – soft, warm, hesitant at first.
Arjun's mind went blank. This was his first kiss, and it was happening under fairy lights with a girl who'd been systematically studying him for two months.
I should be scared. This is crazy. But…
Instead of pulling away, he found himself kissing her back.
The kiss deepened. Priya's hand slid to the back of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. She tasted like mint and something sweet – maybe dessert.
When they pulled apart, both were breathing heavily.
"Was that your first kiss?" Priya asked softly.
Arjun nodded, too stunned to speak.
"Good," she said with satisfaction. "I wanted to be your first everything."
First everything? His brain struggled to process the meaning.
"Priya," he said carefully, "what exactly do you want from me?"
She arranged herself more comfortably against him – head on his shoulder, arm draped across his chest – possessive but gentle.
"I want you to let me take care of you. I want to know your schedule better than you do. I want to anticipate your needs before you even realize them. I want you to depend on me for happiness, comfort, understanding." She looked up at him. "I want to be the center of your world."
That sounds like…
"And in return?" Arjun asked.
"In return, you'll never feel alone again. You'll never doubt your worth. You'll always have someone who thinks you're the most interesting person in the room." Her fingers traced patterns on his chest. "You'll always be loved completely, obsessively, unconditionally."
Obsessively. She actually used that word.
"What if I need space sometimes?"
Priya was quiet for a long moment. "How much space?"
"I don't know. Normal space?"
"Define normal."
She's negotiating space requirements. Like a contract.
"Priya, are you… possessive?"
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "Very possessive. I don't share things I care about."
"And you care about me?"
"I care about you more than I've ever cared about anyone or anything." She sat up, looking directly at him. "Which is why I need to know – are you willing to be cared for this intensely? Because I can't dial it down, Arjun. This is who I am."
She's giving me a choice. Sort of.
"What happens if I say no?"
Priya's expression went unreadable. "Then I'll respect your decision and back off."
Will she though?
"But I don't think you'll say no," she continued confidently. "Because you've never felt as seen and appreciated as you have these past two days. And deep down, you don't want it to stop."
She was right. Again. Despite the red flags, despite the obsessive behavior, despite the fact that any rational person would run – he didn't want this attention to end.
"I need time to think," Arjun finally said.
"Of course. But while you're thinking," Priya reached into her bag one last time and pulled out a small wrapped box, "tonight's real surprise."
Arjun carefully unwrapped it. Inside was a simple yet elegant silver watch – classic design, expensive-looking.
"Priya, this is too much—