The first day of high school was chaotic. Students rushed through crowded hallways, searching for classrooms and familiar faces.
Aarav sat alone on the last bench, nervous and quiet. He had recently moved to the city and knew nobody.
Just as the teacher began taking attendance, a boy walked into the classroom, slightly out of breath.
"Sorry, ma'am! The bus broke down."
The entire class laughed.
"Find a seat, Kabir," the teacher said.
Kabir scanned the room and noticed the empty seat beside Aarav.
"Looks like we're bench partners," he said with a smile.
That simple sentence became the beginning of an unforgettable friendship.
Within weeks, they were inseparable. They studied together, played cricket after school, shared lunches, and spent hours talking about their dreams.
Aarav wanted to become an engineer.
Kabir dreamed of becoming a filmmaker.
Though their dreams were different, their bond was the same.
They promised each other one thing:
"No matter what happens, we'll always have each other's backs."
Neither knew how important that promise would become.