Arjun woke up before his 6:30 AM alarm went off. His eyes went straight to the watch Priya had given him. The silver gleamed in the early morning sunlight, and the engraved message reminded him of the intensity from last night.
Thinking about me 24/7. Was she serious?
Rohit was still asleep. Arjun quietly walked to the bathroom, but when he looked into the mirror, his reflection seemed different. The same face, but the expression had changed. His eyes looked brighter, his skin slightly glowing.
Is this what being kissed looks like?
His mind kept replaying the memory — Priya's soft lips, her hand tangled in his hair, the way she whispered, "I wanted to be your first everything."
Everything? What did that actually mean?
His phone buzzed. A text message.
Priya: Good morning, beautiful. Did you sleep well? I kept thinking about last night.
Arjun's stomach fluttered. No girl had ever called him beautiful.
Arjun: Morning. Yeah, slept okay. Thank you for yesterday... it was amazing.
Priya: Just wait for today. Meet me at the girls' hostel gate at 2 PM? I want to show you my space.
Her room. She actually wants me in her room.
Arjun: Okay. But won't there be restrictions?
Priya: I've handled everything. Trust me.
She's handled everything? How?
Arjun: Alright. 2 PM.
Priya: Wear something comfortable. You might be there for a while.
The kiss emoji made his cheeks warm instantly.
---
During class, concentrating was impossible. The Data Structures professor was explaining binary trees, but Arjun's mind wandered to Priya's room, her special something, and especially that kiss emoji.
What does "you might be there for a while" mean?
During break, he went to the canteen, and predictably, Priya was already there. But today, she wasn't trying to be subtle. She walked straight to his table.
"Hi," she said simply, sitting next to him instead of across from him. Their arms touched.
"Hi. You're being very… direct today."
"Yesterday changed things," she replied, taking a bite of his sandwich without asking. "No more pretending we're just acquaintances."
She took my food without permission. Possessive behavior escalating.
"About today," Arjun said carefully, "what exactly are you planning to show me?"
Priya's eyes sparkled with mischief. "My sanctuary. The place where I do my real work." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "The place where I keep all my... research materials."
Research materials?
"What kind of research materials?"
Instead of answering, she slid her hand under the table and placed it on his thigh—casual, but undeniably intimate. "You'll see. But Arjun, I need you to promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't judge me. What you'll see might seem... intense. But it all comes from genuine care."
Her hand squeezed his thigh gently. A public display, but subtle enough that others wouldn't notice.
"Intense how?"
"Promise first."
She's asking for commitment before the revelation. Classic manipulation tactic, but...
"I promise," Arjun heard himself say.
Priya smiled brilliantly and gave him a quick peck on the cheek—right there in the cafeteria.
"Priya!" Arjun hissed, glancing around. A few students had noticed.
"What? I'm allowed to kiss my boyfriend," she said loudly enough for nearby tables to hear.
Boyfriend? When did that happen?
But before he could respond, she stood and walked away, leaving him with a burning cheek and confused thoughts.
Did I just get claimed publicly?
---
At exactly 2 PM, Arjun stood nervously at the girls' hostel gate, wondering how Priya planned to get him inside. Usually, boys weren't allowed beyond the reception area.
"Right on time," Priya appeared, looking casual but beautiful in a simple white t-shirt and jeans. "Come."
She walked confidently toward the gate. The security guard—a middle-aged man who usually stopped all male visitors—smiled and waved at Priya.
"Afternoon, ma'am. Guest?"
"Yes, Uncle. Study project. Already informed the warden, ma'am."
"Of course, ma'am. Please sign here," he handed the register to Arjun.
How did she get permission so easily?
Inside the hostel, Priya led him through the corridors. Other girls looked curiously but not suspiciously—as if this was normal.
"How often do you bring boys here?" Arjun asked.
"You're the first," Priya replied. "But I've built a good reputation here. Top student, helps with hostel activities, never causes trouble. Wardens trust me."
She's manipulated the system to get me here.
On the third floor, room 314. Priya unlocked the door with a keychain that had a small photo of... him? Arjun couldn't see clearly before she pushed the door open.
"Welcome to my world," she said softly.
Arjun stepped inside and froze.
The room was… dedicated to him.
The opposite wall had a large corkboard covered with photos—all of him. Candid shots from the library, cafeteria, walking on campus, studying, laughing with Rohit. Professional quality, taken with a telephoto lens from a distance.
She's been photographing me for months.
"Priya," he whispered, "what is this?"
"Documentation," she said simply, closing the door behind them. "I told you I've been observing you. These help me study your expressions, body language, natural behavior."
Arjun stepped closer to the photo wall. Dozens of pictures. Some from weeks ago based on his clothes. All taken without his knowledge.
"This is… this is stalking," he said, but his tone wasn't accusatory—more amazed than angry.
"This is devotion," Priya corrected, moving behind him. Her arms wrapped around his waist from behind. "Look closer."
Each photo had small notes attached: "Beautiful smile—rare but genuine." "Concentrated expression—so intelligent." "Helping junior student—kind heart." All positive observations, like love letters to captured moments.
"You've been watching me this closely for two months?"
"Every day," she admitted, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Morning walks to class, library sessions, meal times, evening hostel returns. I know your schedule better than you do."
This should terrify me. Why doesn't it?
"There's more," Priya said, leading him to her desk.
Multiple notebooks, each labeled with dates: "Arjun – Week 1," "Arjun – Week 2," continuing to the present. Each notebook thick with detailed observations.
"May I?" she asked, reaching for the latest one.
Arjun nodded, too stunned to speak.
She opened a random page and read aloud:
"September 15th – He ordered extra coffee today, unusual. Noticed dark circles, probably studying late. Left library at 11 PM instead of usual 9:30. Conclusion: upcoming assignment deadline causing stress. Note: Should offer study help."
Another page:
"September 18th – Smiled genuinely three times today—twice at funny memes Rohit showed, once when helping junior student. His happiness is beautiful and rare. Goal: Find ways to make him smile more often."
She's treating my emotions like a science project. But also… caring about my happiness?
"Priya, this is incredibly detailed."
"I want to understand everything about you. Your patterns, preferences, what makes you happy, what stresses you, how you react to different situations." She closed the notebook and moved closer. "So I can be perfect for you."
"Perfect for me?"
"I can anticipate your needs, provide what you're lacking, support you in ways others can't because they don't pay attention like I do."
She gestured around the room. "Everything here is about understanding you better. So I can love you better."
Love?
"You love me?" Arjun asked quietly.
Priya's expression became intensely serious. "I'm obsessed with you, Arjun. Completely, utterly obsessed. I think about you constantly, dream about you, plan my day around glimpses of you." She cupped his face. "If that's love, then yes. I love you more than should be humanly possible."
Her honesty was breathtaking and terrifying.
"Show me more," Arjun heard himself say.
Priya's eyes lit up. She led him to her wardrobe and opened it. Inside were clothes in colors she'd noticed he liked, snacks she knew he preferred, books on subjects he enjoyed.
"I buy things I think you'd like," she explained. "Sometimes I imagine you here, comfortable, happy, surrounded by things chosen specifically for you."
She's creating an environment designed for me.
Then she opened the bottom drawer. Inside were items that made Arjun's breath catch. His old pen that he'd lost weeks ago. A notebook he'd thrown away. A coffee cup he'd used in the library.
"You've been collecting my things?"
"Things you've touched, used, discarded. They help me feel close to you when you're not around." She picked up the pen. "This pen wrote so many beautiful notes in your handwriting. I couldn't let it be lost."
This is beyond obsession. This is…
"Priya," Arjun said slowly, "this behavior… it's not normal."
"I know," she replied without shame. "I've never felt normal about anything. But with you, everything makes sense. My intensity, my need to understand, my desire to possess completely—it all has purpose now."
She moved closer, gently backing him against the wall. "Tell me honestly—does it scare you?"
Arjun looked around the room again. Photos of himself, detailed notes about his life, his discarded belongings preserved like relics. Any rational person would run.
"It should scare me," he admitted.
"But does it?"
"No," he whispered. "It makes me feel… important. Valued. Like I matter more than I ever thought I could matter to anyone."
Priya's smile was radiant. "You matter everything to me."
She kissed him then—deeper than yesterday, more passionate, more desperate. Her hands tangled in his hair, pressed him against the wall. He could taste her need, her obsession, her overwhelming focus on him.
When they broke apart, both breathing heavily, Priya rested her forehead against his.
"Stay," she whispered. "Stay here with me. Let me take care of you completely."
"For how long?"
"Forever," she said simply. "Move in. Be mine entirely. Let me love you the way I need to love you."
Move in? Live here? With all these photos of me, all this… shrine?
"Priya, that's… that's huge. We've known each other for three days."
"I've known you for two months. I know what you eat for breakfast, how you study, what makes you laugh, how you sleep, what you dream about." Her eyes were intense, hypnotic. "I know you better than anyone ever has or ever will."
She probably does know me better than anyone.
"What about your roommate?"
"I don't have one. Requested a single room. Told administration I need quiet for psychology research." She smiled. "Which wasn't a lie."
She planned this. All of it.
"I need time to think."
"Of course. But while you think," she led him to her bed, sat down, and pulled him down next to her, "let me show you how good it feels to be completely understood."
Her hands cupped his face, her thumbs stroking his cheeks. "You've been lonely your whole life, haven't you? Always feeling like nobody really sees you, understands you, appreciates what's special about you."
How does she know that so accurately?
"I see all of it, Arjun. Your intelligence, your kindness, your beautiful shyness, your hidden passion for the things you care about. I see how you blush when you're complimented, how you help others without expecting recognition, how you think deeply about everything."
She was right. She saw all of it.
"And I want to spend every day making sure you know how extraordinary you are."
Her lips found his again. This time, when she deepened the kiss, he didn't hesitate. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. For the first time in his life, he felt completely wanted, completely understood.
This is dangerous. She's obsessed, possessive, has been stalking me. But…
But nobody has ever cared about me like this.
When they separated, Priya's eyes were dark with something deeper than desire.
"Say you'll stay," she whispered against his lips. "Say you'll be mine."
What am I getting myself into?
And why does it feel like exactly what I've been waiting for my whole life?
---
To be continued...