Saturday afternoons were meant for freedom. For once, no lectures, no rehearsals, no Aarav Malhotra lurking in corners.
At least, that's what Meera told herself.
She and Priya were halfway through planning their weekend trip to the city mall when the shadow she dreaded most appeared. Aarav leaned against the café doorway, sleeves rolled up, eyes fixed only on her.
Priya groaned. "Oh no. Here comes Mr. Surveillance."
Meera muttered under her breath, "Don't engage. Maybe he'll vanish if ignored."
Of course, he didn't.
Aarav strode over and, without asking, pulled out the chair beside Meera and sat down. "Where are we going?"
Meera blinked. "We?"
"Yes," he said simply, reaching over to steal one of her fries.
Priya snorted. "Wow, Joshi, he's not even pretending anymore."
"Malhotra," Meera snapped, snatching her fries back. "This is girls' day. You're not invited."
"I just invited myself."
"That's not how it works!"
"It is now."
Meera groaned, dragging her hands down her face. "You can't keep inserting yourself into my plans."
He tilted his head, watching her with infuriating calm. "Then stop making plans without me."
Priya nearly spit out her soda. "Oh my God, he's serious."
Meera glared at him. "You're not my boyfriend."
"Yes, I am."
Her jaw dropped. "You can't just declare that!"
"I just did."
Despite all protests, somehow Aarav ended up at the mall with them. He walked a step behind, silent, watchful, like a bodyguard who also happened to criticize her shoe choices.
"Those heels are impractical," he murmured when she tried on a pair.
"They're fashionable," Meera snapped.
"They're dangerous. You'll trip."
"Then I'll trip!"
"I won't let you."
Priya, meanwhile, was having the time of her life. "This is better than reality TV."
Things escalated when they reached the food court. A group of boys from campus spotted Meera, waving her over. She smiled automatically—she was friendly, after all—but before she could take a step, Aarav's hand closed around her wrist.
"She's busy," he said flatly, not even looking at them.
The boys exchanged glances, muttered something, and walked away.
Meera yanked her hand free, glaring. "What is wrong with you? I was just going to say hi!"
"They weren't just saying hi." His tone was calm, but his grip had been iron.
"You can't just decide that!"
"I don't decide," he said softly, eyes dark. "I know."
On the ride back, Priya leaned over to whisper, "He's insane. But also… it's kind of hot?"
Meera groaned. "You need therapy. And so does he."
But when she glanced at Aarav sitting beside her, his gaze fixed out the window, jaw tense, she felt something shift in her chest.
He wasn't just being arrogant. He believed every word he said.
And that, somehow, was the scariest part.
That night, as Meera scrolled through her phone, another message appeared.
Aarav: Next time, don't wear heels if you're walking more than a kilometer.
Her eyes widened. She hadn't told him how much they'd walked. She hadn't even stumbled.
Meera: Were you tracking me?
The reply came instantly.
Aarav: Always.
Her breath caught. She stared at the screen, heart racing, before tossing the phone aside.
And yet, she couldn't shake the smallest, most dangerous thought.
If he was always watching… did that mean she was never really alone?