My Ex - Crush

Episode 44

Arjun’s POV:

It’s been a week since I properly talked to Deepika, and everything’s just chaos. The seniors have kicked off their Reubens work, and the ANDC team selections are underway. I’m drowning in deadlines and tasks, juggling between my classes and the seniors’ projects.

The pressure is relentless. I’ve practically moved into Ashok’s place; I even have a stash of clothes there now. There’s no time to breathe, let alone think.

Some students from my batch have already signed up to work on the ANDC projects with the seniors, hoping to lead their own teams next year. I tried convincing Deepika to join a team—it’d be so good for her—but she flat-out refused. I didn’t push her too much; I know how stubborn she can be. But still, it bugs me.

And then there’s Joshitha. She got herself a new car, and now she’s suddenly the chauffeur of the group. Every day, she’s all too eager to pick up Deepika, driving her around like she’s on a mission to steal every moment I could have had with her.

Deepika’s house isn’t even on Joshitha’s way, but she still goes out of her way to drop her at the college bus stop. It’s driving me insane! I could easily drop her closer to home, but whenever I offer, Deepika just shuts me down without a second thought, and then she smiles like it’s the greatest thing in the world to ride with Joshitha.

What is wrong with her?! Does it have something to do with what happened at my place?

I keep replaying that moment in my head—us alone on the terrace, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. The night was quiet, the cool breeze stirring around us, and for once, there was no one watching, no rumors or gossip waiting to start. It was just us. In that moment, I let my guard down; I let myself believe it was okay to be true to my feelings, to reach out and show her what I’d been hiding inside for so long.

I leaned in, closer than I’d ever dared before, drawn to her like gravity itself was pulling me in. Everything else faded away—the world, my fears, my logic—all of it disappeared as I got lost in her presence. The warmth of her skin, the scent of her hair... it still drives me insane. I could feel every single one of her breaths, soft and unsteady, as if she was just as lost as I was. Even though her eyes weren't on me, I knew she felt it too—the electric charge crackling between us.

I remember the way her skin felt under my chin, so impossibly smooth and warm, like I’d found a place where I was meant to stay. I swear, just the feeling of her so close was enough to make me forget how to breathe.

My thoughts went haywire; I wanted to close the distance, to feel her even closer, But then, right at that perfect moment, Preeti walked in and shattered everything. She pulled me out of that dream like a cold splash of reality.

Since then, I’ve been a mess. I thought I had control over my feelings, that I could keep everything buried inside. But that moment with her broke something inside me.

Now, all I can think about is holding onto that feeling, pulling her close again, losing myself in that space where it's just the two of us, where nothing else matters.

I keep trying to drown myself in work, to lose myself in the chaos of Reubens and ANDC, but it’s useless. That moment with Deepika plays on a loop in my head, too intense, too raw, too consuming.

And every time I see her with Joshitha, laughing and smiling like that moment on the terrace never happened, it drives me mad. Joshitha’s got her shiny new car, and now she’s her chauffeur, taking my place. I’m burning with jealousy. It’s like she’s stealing every second I could’ve spent with Deepika, driving her to and from college while I’m stuck on the sidelines.