I am Ishrat.
After that rainy afternoon, Sadab and I slowly became friends. Real friends.
We started talking every day. In the morning, he would wait near the school gate and we would walk to our classes together. During lunch, we sat on the same bench under the big neem tree and shared tiffin — sometimes my mother's aloo paratha, sometimes his favourite egg sandwiches. He helped me understand tricky physics problems, and I made him revise history dates because he always forgot them. We laughed a lot, sent each other funny reels on WhatsApp after school, and even started calling each other by nicknames — he called me "Ish" and I called him "Sadu".
The months passed quickly. Boards pressure was increasing, but having Sadab as a friend made everything feel lighter. I still studied till late at night, but now I had someone to tell about my small worries and small happiness.
Then came 15th May — Sadab's birthday.
I had been thinking about this day for weeks. My heart would race every time I imagined what I wanted to do. I decided that on his birthday, I would not just wish him — I would propose to him.
That morning, I woke up early. I wore my favourite light blue salwar kameez, the one with small white flowers. I tied my hair neatly with a white ribbon and put on a little kajal. In my bag, I kept a small handmade card I had prepared secretly. On the front I had written "Happy Birthday Sadu" in colourful letters, and inside I had poured my feelings in simple words.
School felt different that day. I was nervous the whole time. During lunch, our group of friends celebrated Sadab's birthday with a small cake that someone had brought. Everyone sang "Happy Birthday" loudly. Sadab looked so happy, cutting the cake and feeding everyone. When he fed me a piece, my hands were shaking a little.
After school, I waited for him near the cycle stand. Most students had left. The evening sun was soft and golden. Sadab came pushing his cycle, smiling when he saw me standing there.
"Ish! You're still here?" he asked.
I took a deep breath. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my ears.
"Sadab… today is your birthday. I wanted to give you something special," I said, my voice a little shaky.
I took out the card from my bag and handed it to him. He opened it curiously. As he read the lines inside, his eyes widened slightly.
Then I looked straight into his eyes and said the words I had practised so many times in front of the mirror:
"Sadab, I really like you. Not just as a friend. I like you a lot. Will you be my boyfriend?"
For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Only the sound of leaves rustling and distant traffic could be heard. Sadab looked at me, surprised but not in a bad way. His cheeks turned a little red.
He smiled gently, the same warm smile that had made me notice him in the first place.
"Ish… I like you too," he said softly. "I've been feeling the same for some time, but I didn't know how to say it. Yes… I would love to be your boyfriend."
At that moment, I felt the biggest relief and happiness of my life. I couldn't stop smiling. He gave me a small side hug — careful and sweet, the kind that felt safe.
We walked home together that evening, talking about everything and nothing. The world felt brighter. Class 10 was no longer just about exams and pressure. It had become the year I found my first love — simple, nervous, and beautiful.
From that day, Sadab was officially my boyfriend, and I was his girlfriend. We promised to support each other through the boards and enjoy these small, precious moments together.
And just like that, my simple school life turned into something special.