One day, the school announced a grand event—a knowledge-based quiz competition designed to test the intelligence and quick thinking of the students. It wasn't just about the trophies; there were also arrangements for refreshments and a formal lunch for all participants, making it a significant occasion for the campus.
The Head Teacher called a special meeting, gathering only the students of Class 9 and 10. The atmosphere in the hall was a thick blend of serious anticipation and nervous excitement.
Standing at the podium, the Head Teacher addressed the crowd. "We are organizing this competition on a large scale. Beyond the quiz itself, we need to manage the logistics, the food, and the overall flow of the event. For this, we require a team of dedicated students who can handle the pressure."
He paused, scanning the room. "We need five volunteers. One among them will serve as the Head Coordinator, taking full charge of the team. So, tell me—who here believes they are capable of leading this?"
For a heartbeat, the room fell into a heavy silence.
Then, unexpectedly, Arian's hand shot up.
There was no flicker of hesitation in his eyes, even if his heart was racing with a lack of full confidence. Something deep inside—a new spark—pushed him to take that leap. Seeing his courage, Arman-da raised his hand next, followed by three others. Soon, five students stood ready.
"Now," the Head Teacher continued, "among these five, we must choose a leader. I'll leave that to you. Students, vote for the person you trust the most to lead this team."
The voting began. Whispers filled the room as students glanced at one another, weighing their options. Arian stood there, anchored in a quiet stillness, though his chest tightened with every passing second. In a surprisingly short time, his newfound kindness and the way he had started treating people with genuine respect had earned him something he never expected: their trust.
When the final tally was announced, the result was clear.
Arian had received the highest number of votes. He was the Head.
For a moment, the world around him seemed to freeze. Time slowed down just for him, and the weight of the moment felt surreal. This wasn't a dream or a motivational video—this was a real responsibility, a real mission placed squarely in his hands.
As the applause broke out, Arian's gaze drifted instinctively...
And there she was. Labiba.
She was looking directly at him. Her eyes held something different this time—a quiet, unreadable mix of surprise and genuine admiration. That single look felt heavier and more meaningful than all the cheering in the room.
But just as quickly as their eyes met, Labiba slowly looked away.
Even though it lasted only a few seconds, Arian felt it deep in his soul. It wasn't just a glance; it was an acknowledgment. For the first time in a very long while, Arian didn't just feel like a dreamer. He felt like he had finally done something that truly mattered.
The event was going to start on the 10th of September. Labiba had taken part in this competition, but Arian had not. Around eight groups were formed for the competition, and each group had three students. Arian's role was the most important, because he had to manage all the responsibilities of the event, including planning, organizing, and even the food arrangements. For this reason, he had taken advice from different people beforehand to prepare himself properly.
On the night of the 9th of September, the teachers called Arian. One of the teachers said, "You have to come to school at 6 in the morning tomorrow, there is a lot of work to do." After the call ended, a strange excitement started building inside Arian. He took some money from his father so that he could present himself in a more standard, smart, and handsome way during the event. He also took some money from his mother in a playful way to buy pants, and he planned to wear the beautiful shirt he had received on his birthday, so that along with managing everything, he could also carry a strong presence.
On the morning of the 10th of September, at 6 o'clock, Arian left his house, and before leaving, he called Arman da. Arman da, Arian, and three other boys reached the school together. At that time, Arian was not wearing his new clothes, he came in his regular school uniform, because for him, work was more important first.
As soon as they reached school, they got busy with the work. Setting up the mic system, blowing balloons, arranging the stage, preparing the quiz questions, writing, coloring—one by one they completed all the necessary tasks. Slowly, the whole place started to look ready for the event.
As time passed, it became 10 in the morning, and students started arriving at school. Everyone came wearing beautiful and stylish clothes. But Arian's mind was somewhere else, he was only thinking about one thing—what Labiba would wear today.
Gradually, the crowd started increasing, and by the time it was almost 12, the whole school ground was filled. By then, after finishing all his work, Arian also changed into his nice clothes and came to the field.
The competition was going to start at 2 in the afternoon. In the middle of his busy work, Arian felt like someone was looking at him again and again. Whenever he looked, he saw that Labiba was looking at him. And as soon as their eyes met, she would look away again. Today, Labiba had come in her school uniform only, without any extra dressing or makeup, but still she looked beautiful in a simple way. Arian smiled slightly to himself and felt that maybe there was also a deep feeling in her heart for him.
After some time, Arian finished all his responsibilities and went to sit on the stage. At that moment, he was the only one sitting there, while everyone else was sitting below on the benches. The teachers had not arrived yet. During that time, he looked around again and noticed that Labiba was still looking at him. But this time, Arian himself looked away and controlled himself.
At 2 in the afternoon, everything was ready to begin. All the teams went to their positions and sat down. After a while, Pralay sir came onto the stage, and he was the one who would ask the questions for the quiz competition. The rule was simple—whichever team could answer more questions correctly would become the winner.
One by one, all the teachers came and sat on the stage, and Arian was also sitting beside them. Since the stage was big, all eight teams would be questioned from there. At that moment, Arian looked at Labiba again and felt that she seemed a little nervous. Just then, Labiba looked at him, their eyes met, and Arian gently nodded his head, as if giving her confidence.
The whole environment became silent. Pralay sir took the microphone in his hand and asked the first question—
"What is the height of the highest mountain in the world?"