📖। Chapter 1:
The First Bell
The morning sun slowly touched the small town, and the sound of birds filled the air. Rahim stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his school tie. Today was the first day of Class 10. His heart was beating a little faster than usual.
"Rahim! Jaldi koro, late hoye jabe!" his mother called from the kitchen.
He grabbed his bag and stepped outside. The road to school felt different today. Maybe because this year was important. Board exam. New responsibilities. New pressure.
As he entered the school gate, he saw his best friend Arif waving from near the মাঠ.
"Oi hero! Class 10 er boss chole esheche!" Arif shouted jokingly.
Rahim smiled. "Boss naki? Result er din dekha jabe ke boss."
They both laughed.
The school building looked the same, but everything felt new. New classroom. New teachers. And new expectations.
When the first bell rang, the whole class became silent. Their class teacher, Mr. Hasan, entered with a serious face.
"Welcome to Class 10," he said calmly. "This year will decide your future. But remember — marks are important, but character is more important."
Rahim listened carefully. Something about those words stayed in his mind.
During recess, the group sat together under the old mango tree. They talked about dreams — someone wanted to be a doctor, someone an engineer, someone a cricketer.
Rahim stayed quiet.
"Tor dream ki?" Arif asked.
Rahim looked at the sky. "Ami… boro hoye emon kichu korte chai, jate ammur chokhe gorbo dekhi."
Everyone became quiet for a moment.
Maybe Class 10 was not just about exams.
Maybe it was about growing up.
And this was just the beginning.