You Were Always There

Book excerpt: Set in suburban India, Aaron, a social outcast, becomes innocently obsessed with Samara, the 'it' girl of his neighborhood. His infatuation gradually spirals into delusion as he believes he will be with her. Consumed by this obsession, Aaron resorts to stalking Samara, invading her privacy to the point of spreading rumors that tarnish her reputation, pushing her to the brink of despair. As Samara's life unravels, her friends notice the toll Aaron's actions have become the reasons for her anxiety. They rally around, supporting her by devising a plan to confront Aaron, delving deeper into the root of this obsession and the psychotic triggers involved that gave rise to it. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the fine line that exists between "deep love" as shown in pop culture and the dangers of unchecked obsession that can potentially tear apart the mental health of the other. To further unfold, she manages to get rid to finally get rid of him!