Today is 1st April.
And even after seven years, I still remember that day like it happened yesterday. Same date. Same season. Same foolish heart that didn't know it was about to change forever.
Back then, I was in 9th standard — trying to understand how science was suddenly divided into Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, as if life itself wasn't already complicated enough. It was the first day of our new session. The school ground smelled of fresh paint and new beginnings. I was roaming around with my friends, laughing loudly, pretending I had everything figured out.
"Hey Abhi! How are you, man?" I said as I hugged him tightly.
Abhi — my closest friend. The only one who truly knew me. He hugged me back and smirked.
"Sarthak, looking good bro."
Yes. I'm Sarthak.
The boy everyone respected. The most popular student in school. Best speaker in debates. Best sportsman. Top student. And also the most dangerous backbencher when needed. If I said something, no one denied it — not out of fear, but out of trust. They believed their Sarthak bhaiya would never make a decision that would harm them.
I was confident. Loud. Unstoppable.
But that was before her.
While walking with Abhi that morning, laughing about something meaningless, my eyes suddenly stopped on someone standing near the staircase.
A girl.
I don't know what it was about her. She wasn't doing anything extraordinary. She was just standing there, adjusting her dupatta, looking slightly lost.
But in that moment, the world around me became silent.
She was… beautiful. Not the kind of beauty you describe. The kind you feel.
For the first time in my life, my heart skipped without permission.
I told myself it was just attraction. Just a random crush. I ignored it. I didn't even know her name. But that night, when I tried to sleep, her face appeared in my dreams like she had always belonged there.
And that's when I knew something wasn't normal.
After summer break, on 2nd August, there was a government competition — debate and written exams. As always, I participated. Winning had become a habit for me.
And then I saw her name on the participant list.
Payel.
So that was her name.
The competition day came. I gave my best speech — confident, sharp, fearless. I secured second position. First went to a senior.
But she…
She missed the debate prize by just three points.
Three.
I don't know why, but that hurt me more than losing first place myself. However, she secured second prize in the written competition. When her name was announced, she smiled softly — not proudly, just gracefully.
I felt strangely proud of her.
After the ceremony, I gathered courage, walked up to her, and said,
"Congratulations."
She smiled. "Thank you."
That smile stayed with me longer than any trophy ever had.
On 6th August, we had to travel out of the city to receive our prizes from local ministers. Since I was a prize holder, I was asked to go with the head of our institution.
I entered the car confidently — and then my heart stopped.
She was already sitting there.
Payel.
And the only empty seat… was beside her.
For a moment, the confident Sarthak disappeared. I sat down carefully, trying to control the storm inside my chest. She looked even more beautiful that day — sunlight touching her face softly, her hair slightly moving with the breeze from the open window.
I wanted to speak.
I rehearsed a hundred lines in my head.
But before I could say anything, she turned toward me and said gently,
"Hi… myself Payel."
Her voice was soft. Nervous. Real.
I swallowed and replied, "Sarthak."
That was it.
Just two names.
But sometimes, forever begins with something that simple.
If only I had known that the girl sitting beside me that day would become the most beautiful chapter of my life…
And the most painful one.
Because today, after seven years, I still look back at that 1st April and wonder —
Was it destiny?
Or was it just my luck preparing me for the greatest lesson of my life?
I lost her.
Maybe because of my fault. Maybe because of fate.
I don't blame God.
But I don't thank Him either.
All I know is…
The first time I saw her, I felt something I had never felt before.
And the first time I loved her…
I felt forever.
To be continued ...