đź’Ś First Love
Written in 2006, re-written with Copilot
I. Eleven Years Later
It was night. The sun had receded, and the stars had taken their place. Joseph lay awake, thinking about the day ahead. Tomorrow was the reunion—eleven years since he last saw many of his classmates. Some faces he had glimpsed on Orkut, the online portal reconnecting old friends. But there was one face he couldn’t forget.
II. The Bubble-Gum Girl
Joseph was in sixth grade when he met Sheeba. She sat near him—two corners apart in a classroom split between boys and girls. Her father worked in Dubai and brought her fancy stationery: rubbers, pencils, and scales with shifting images. Joseph adored those things.
One afternoon, he asked Sheeba if she could get him a set. She promised she would when her father returned. That’s how it began.
III. Mischief and Mayhem
By seventh grade, Joseph had grown mischievous. One day, he boldly told Sheeba, “I love you.” She slapped him and chased him with her slipper. He ran, laughing.
The next day, Joseph told his friends Viju and Rony. They decided to get revenge. They chewed bubble gum and stuck it to Sheeba’s bench. She sat, unaware. At recess, the gum clung to her skirt. Laughter erupted. She cried.
She reported it. The teacher punished the boys—made them wash and iron the skirt. The next day, Sheeba brought it to Joseph. He washed it. And somehow, from that mess, a friendship bloomed. They laughed, fought, and shared moments. But the school only went up to seventh grade. At year’s end, they parted with tears.
IV. The Reunion Plan
Now, eleven years later, Joseph still remembered the bubble-gum-stuck girl. He wanted to see her again. So he organized a reunion.
He had seen her on Orkut—grown into a beautiful woman. They had spoken briefly on the phone. But seeing her in person would be different.
He still adored her. He worked in the Merchant Navy and would be shipping out soon. If he had anything to say, it had to be now. His family knew about her and approved. Their backgrounds matched. Everything aligned.
But what if she declined? His classmates were already teasing him. He feared looking like a fool.
Rony, ever the rescuer, had an idea:
“Why don’t you propose on April first? If she says no, just say it was an April Fool’s joke.”
Brilliant, Joseph thought. Tomorrow was April 1st. He would propose.
V. The Day Arrives
Joseph dressed carefully, sprayed on cologne, and arrived early. As an organizer, he had to be there first. When Sheeba arrived, he greeted her and escorted her in. He had brought his car to drop her home afterward.
The party was a hit. Old friends reunited, laughter echoed, stories flowed. The bubble-gum tale resurfaced more than once.
VI. The Proposal
After lunch, Joseph approached Sheeba.
“Can I talk to you personally for some time?”
“Sure,” she smiled.
“You remember the old days?”
“You mean the day I slapped you and the bubble-gum story?”
“Yes,” he laughed. Then, serious: “I called you to propose. I’ve adored you all these years. I want to marry you. I’ll ask my parents to speak to yours—if you don’t mind.”
She sighed. “I also like you. Today I’ll ask my parents.”
From a distance, voices called out:
“Hey, what are you doing there?”
“Are you proposing?”
They smiled and parted.
VII. The Evening
Later, after the girls had left, the boys gathered around.
“What were you doing with Sheeba?”
“Is it the old story?”“I proposed. She’ll ask her parents tonight. If they agree, I’ll ask for her hand through mine,” Joseph said.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then we’ll need a bigger party next time,” someone laughed.