My Ex - Crush

Episode 55

Deepika's POV:

Shit, the door is locked!

I tugged at the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. The emptiness of the corridor sank in around me, silent and cold. Joshitha. I had told her—just leave it unlocked if she planned to slip out with Rahul. Yet here I was, past 1 a.m., stranded in the icy corridor with no phone, no warmth, no one to even blame.

Maybe Gayathri... I hurried to her room, knocking softly, hoping, but no answer came. She must have gone out, too. Rajesh’s room? I didn’t even know which one he was in. The idea of standing here, waiting, just let the cold crawl further up my spine.

I rubbed my hands together, trying to fight off the biting chill creeping through my sleeves, but it was relentless.

I didn’t want to look for Arjun, not after everything. He was likely off somewhere, probably with Anusha. Who was I kidding?

Not when he had Anusha—always by his side, effortlessly claiming his attention. She was bold, confident, never second-guessing herself, never left wondering if she was enough. She could pull him back to her with a glance, while I had to watch from the sidelines, painfully aware of every little flaw I couldn't hide.

Even on the bus, he chose her, leaving me to sit alone, left behind like I didn’t even matter. How could he not see? It was easy for him to laugh, to stay surrounded by people who would never vanish on him.

Why am I always the one left behind?

I wondered, hugging myself tighter. I was always there for everyone, a constant. And tonight, when the dark corners of the hallway felt like they were swallowing me whole, no one thought twice. Did no one even care?

I missed Meera and Lavanya—God, I missed them more than I’d realized. When they were around, loneliness felt like a myth. Now, without them, my insides felt hollow, and the aching emptiness pressed on me harder than the cold.

Desperation tugged at my heart, so I made my way to the lobby. The warmth of a receptionist's presence, an extra key—anything would be a relief. But the reception desk was deserted, the dim light casting eerie shadows across the empty seats.

I found an old cane chair in the corner and slumped into it, trying to fold myself into as small a space as possible to fend off the chill. My fingers were stiff and icy, numbness spreading down to my toes. I shivered uncontrollably, but it was more than the cold now. It was the wave of sadness I’d been burying for too long. Every suppressed thought, every ignored feeling, all rising to the surface.

A tear slipped down my cheek, and I didn’t bother wiping it away. Who would notice? I was alone, ignored, and maybe that’s what I deserved.

Huddled in the dim, cold hotel lobby, I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, fighting a shiver so deep it ached. The icy air was brutal, cutting through my thin pajamas, and every breath felt like a struggle. I sat there helpless, waiting for Joshitha, but it was getting harder to hold onto my composure. My skin was numb, my hands nearly blue, and I could barely feel my legs.

The sound of hurried footsteps jolted me from my thoughts, and a familiar voice—deep and steady—cut through the haze. I looked up, vision blurred and unfocused, but relief washed over me the moment I saw Arjun rushing toward me. He was here. He’d come looking for me. The weight of my loneliness lifted so quickly I almost cried.

His face was a storm of anger and concern as he looked down at me, his jaw tight. "Where the hell were you?" he demanded, his voice sharp yet full of a warmth I hadn’t felt in hours.

“I… I got l-locked out… Joshitha t-took the keys…” My words tumbled out, broken and shaky, barely a whisper between chattering teeth.

Arjun’s eyes softened, but the anger in them lingered, a rough edge to his concern. “Are you insane? Standing out here in this weather?” he muttered. “Why didn’t you come find me?”