That evening, after saying "yes" to Nishakar. Liza walked home with mixed feeling in her heart.
Her steps felt light, but her mind was full of thoughts.
"Did I do the right things?" she wondered.
She had never imagined herself saying yes to a boy, especially with her strict mother at home. The fear of getting caught stayed in her mind, but at the same time, a small happiness was growing inside her heart.
At home, everything looked normal.
Her mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner.
"You are late today." her mother said while cutting vegetables.
Liza tried to stay calm.
"Extra class was there, Mom." she replied softly.
Her mother nodded.
"Good. These last day before the board exams are very important. Don't waste time."
Ankit quietly went to her room and placed her bag on the table. She opened her book, but here mind was not focused on studies. Instered, she kept remembering Nishakar's happy face when she said yes. For the first time in her life, Liza felt nervous without any exam. Night slowly arrived.
After dinner, her mother reminded her again:
"Sleep early. Tomorrow you must wake up at 5 a.m. for revision."
"Okay Mom", Liza replied.
But she knew tonight would be different. Around 10:30 p.m. when the house become silent and her mother went to sleep. Liza slowly picked up her phone. Her heart started beating faster. She saw a message waiting. It was from NishaKar.
Nishakar: " Are you awake?"
A small smile appeared on her face. She quickly typed.
Liza: "yes... I am awake."
Within seconds, Nishakar replied.
Nishakar: "I still can't believe you said yes today."
Liza felt shy reading his message.
Liza: " Even I can't believe it."
Nishakar Sent another message.
Nishakar: "Today is the happiest day of my life."
Liza looked at the screen for a long moment. Her checks turned slightly red.
Liza: "I don't get too happy. We still have board exams."
Nishakar: " Yes,madam Topper. I will study hard."
Liza smiled softly. Their first late night talk hard begun. Minutes passed quickly as they kept chatting. They talk about small things — school, teachers, homework, and exam fears. For Nishakar,it felt like a dream. He was lying on his bed, starting at the phone screen, smiling again and again.
"Good night." he type after sometime.
"Good night." Liza replied.
But neither of them slept immediately. Both stayed awake, thinking about each other. The next day at school felt different. When Liza enter the classroom, her eyes automatically search for Nishakar. She saw him sitting at his desk,reading a book seriously. When he noticed her, he smiled softly.
Liza quickly looked away, feeling shy. During the Mathematics class, the teacher gave a difficult problem to solve. Many students looked confused. But Nishakar slowly raise his hand.
"Sir, may I try?"
The teacher looked surprised.
"Yes, come to the board."
Nishakar walked toward the blackboard and started solving the problem carefully. His hand shook slightly, but he continued step by step. After finishing, he turned around nervously. The teacher checked the solution. after a few seconds, he smiled.
"Correct answer."
The whole class looked shocked. Some students clapped. Liza felt proud without showing it. She smiled quietly.
"He is really improving." she thought.
That evening, their late night talks continued. Again at 10:30 p.m... Liza picked up her phone. A message was already waiting.
Nishakar: "Did you eat dinner?"
Liza: " yes, what about you ?"
Nishakar : "Yes, And I studied Mathematics for 2 hours."
Liza fey happy reading that.
Liza : "Good, keep studying like this."
Nishakar: " I want to pass the board exam... for you."
Her heart skipped a beat .
Liza: " Don't say like that, study for yourself and your future ."
Nishakar : " My future includes you."
Liza started at the message, feeling both shy and nervous. She didn't reply immediately. After a moments, she typed.
Liza: " You talk too much."
Nishakar: "Only with you."
Days passed like this. Every night, they talked secretly. Sometimes about studies... Sometimes about dreams..... Sometimes about their fears.
One night, Nishakar typed:
"Lisa, are you scared of board exams?"
See replied honestly:
"Yes... a little."
"But you are topper. Why scared?"
"Because everyone, expects me to score highest marks."
There was a short pause. Then Nishakar replied.
"Don't worry. You will definitely top. I believe in you."
Those simple words gave her unexpected confidence. For the first time, someone supported her not as a topper, but as a person.
Their bond grew stronger each day. But hiding their love was not easy. One afternoon, during launch break. Liza was smiling while reading a message. Her best friend Nitu noticed it.
"Why are you smiling at your phone?" Nitu askd suspiciously.
Liza quickly locked the screen.
"Nothing.... just a message."
Nitu looked at her carefully.
"Are you hiding something?"
Liza felt nervous.
"No... nothing like that." she said, trying to stay calm.
But inside, her heart was beating fast. That night, Liza shared her fear with Nishakar.
Liza: " Today Nitu asked me why I was smiling."
Nishakar: "Did you tell her?"
Liza: "No, I am scared someone will tell my mother ."
Nishakar: "Don't worry. We will be careful."
Liza: "My mother will be very angry if she finds out."
Nishakar: " I will not let anything bad happene to you."
His words gave her comfort. Days passed quickly. Now, the board exam where only three weeks away. Pressure increased everywhere. Teachers gave more assignments,parents became Stricter.
Late night talks became shorter because both had to study more. But they still found time to message each other. One night, Nishakar sent a message:
"Promise me something."
"What?" Liza replied.
"After board exams, we will meet and Spend one full day together."
Liza smiled reading that.
"Okay... promise."
"And we will celebrate after results ."
"Yes."
Their dreams felt simple but beautiful. But fate had other plans. One evening ,while Liza was studying at home, her mother suddenly entered the room.
"Who are you messaging every night?" her mother asked suspiciously.
Liza heart stopped for a moment. She quickly his her phone.
"No one... just classmates asking doubts." she replied nervously.
Her mother looked at her seriously.
"Don't waste time on useless things, focus on your studies."
Liza nodded silently. But fear slowly started growing inside her heart.
That night, she message Nishakar :
"Mom asked me about my phone today."
"Be carefully," Nishakar replied.
"I am scared...."
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
But deep inside, both of them know—
Their love was becoming stronger....
And so were the risk. The board exams were coming closer. Pressure was increasing. And some where ahead, a big challenges was waiting for them.
To be continued....