I had my first crush when I was in grade IX. She was a transfer student from another school. I don’t know what it was about her that made me so crazy for her. Though I had always been frank with girls, I didn’t have the courage to speak to her. All my friends used to tease me and she too knew that I liked her. I still remember those days when I used to take my friend with me on a bicycle and roam around her community. Once I even woke up at around 4:00 am and stood in front of her home... I’m not even sure why. Finally when we were in Class X, I had the guts to speak to her. I was pleased to talk to her, but I realised that my first crush wasn’t my first love. There is someone else waiting for me.

— Shakti Gurung, Pokhara

Campus life is really nothing without a crush. I had my first crush when I was in Class XI. She was a girl with golden hair and sweet voice. But there was a problem. I was a quite shy and couldn’t speak to girls. But as time passed I became friendlier with her and was able to be her good friend. When I was ready to give the ultimate test, I got the news that she was leaving the campus next year. It broke my heart and I decided not to express my feelings to her because it would be good for me to suffer the pain alone than the both of us. Then she left the campus and I said goodbye to her with a big smile. Now my life is going on with sweet memories of my first crush.

— Amish Ratna Sthapit, Hetauda

I first met her when I sat for my entrance exam for Class XI. Since then she has been on my mind. At the end of my +2, our relation began which lasted for only around two months. Those were the most beautiful as well as painful moments of my life. I was crazy about her. For me she was the most beautiful girl in the entire world. I still don’t know the exact reason why she broke up with me. Perhaps I wasn’t her type or maybe she like playing with people’s feelings. This craziness of mine finally led me to regrets and desperation. No mater what, life goes on but I shall never forget my first love. There’s nothing left to say besides, ‘Dela, I am sorry!’

— Mizan, Putalisadak

It said that ‘first love is the last love’. I fell in love with a Chettri girl when I was in Class XI. Even though we were from different castes we loved each other. We were so deeply in love that we couldn’t do anything except think of each other. It continued till I reached Class XII and she passed her SLC. Unfortunately, our love took a very tragic turn soon as her brother and entire family came to know everything. Finally, she was sent back to her village and I was very hurt. I still remember her with all my heart and mind.

— Gautam Sah, Sanepa

I had a crush six years ago which was my first and last crush till now. She was new in our school. I did not talk to her till the middle of the year. One day while going out I met her near my home. Talking to her I cam to know that she was staying in my neighbourhood. After that day I started talking with her. A few weeks later I started liking her a lot. When she knew this she stopped talking with me, but it didn’t hurt me that much till she started ignoring me. I could not bear that so I started doing things like bad mouthing during self-study, getting angry over small things and I cutting my hand. I still have a mark on my hand. I couldn’t bear her ignoring me nor did I have the courage to say ‘I love you’. So I left that school after that year. I have seen her only once after that but she always comes in my dreams every night.

— Tenzin Samphel

I was in Class X and I had a crush on a guy two years younger than me. He was very charming, I couldn’t resist his charm so I proposed in front of all my friends on Valentine’s Cay. He was really shy but he did accept my gift. From that day on, he hasn’t even looked at my face or spoken to me. However, I did become an inspiration to my friends who wanted to express their feelings to their loved ones.

— Diya Adhikari, Dhapasi

I was very fond of watching movies and my first crush was heartthrob Sal-man Khan while watching the movie Maine Pyar Kiya.

— Sonisa Sharma

Of course I remember my first crush. When I was in Class VII there was this particular girl who walked by my home. I fell for her at first sight, she was too beautiful and I was crazy for her. But there was a problem, I was studying in a boys’ school and had no idea how to talk to a girl. But I believed that God was with me. My friend studied in the same school where that girl studied and his sister was her friend as well. I requested him to help me as he was my best friend. He did so and after a few days I got a chance to meet her. I was dumbstruck and didn’t know how to start the conversation. Finally I spoke to her — the first words that came out of my mouth was, “Ke chha! (What’s up?)”. And she was like “Thikai chha. Ani timi lai ni? (Everything’s good. How about you?)” That was the most memorable moment of my life. I asked her number and finally after five or six months I proposed to her and her answer was of course ‘Yes!’

— 289, Mr X, New

Baneshwor

I had a crush when I was in Class X. Actually I was the shy one among my buddies and used to hesitate talking to girls. But one evening in my coaching class a new girl joined in and I was very impressed by her. Her wonderful complexion, beautiful hair and sweet voice gave me goosebumps. Through friendship I gradually got close to her, then our friendship grew into the wonderful relation of love. And it has continued since then, with a strong expectation of a happy ending.

— Ravi Koirala, Hetauda

About two years ago I was returning home from my aunt’s place in Balaju. I was on a bus to Bhaktapur and it was raining. At Gongabu, two ladies got on the bus. Both of them were of my age. One of them got the seat in the front but other just stood and later on she sat on the lap of the other in such a way that I could clearly see her face. She was so beautiful just like an angel. Our eyes met but I pretended I was not looking at her. Then she smiled in such a way that kind of paralaysed me. I looked at her frequently and so did she. I thought she too liked me. She whispered to the other girl and both of them laughed. I thought of inviting her to sit with me and talk a few words as the seat next to mine was empty. But I couldn’t do so as I didn’t have the courage. I could read on her face that she was interested in me. But it lasted only till that moment as she got off the bus near Basundhara with a beautiful smile for me. I smiled back at her. I regretted not talking to her. That was a very unforgettable moment of my life as she is still in my memories.

— Bishal KC, NSS,

Bhaktapur

While in college there were a few crushes that I had. The first time I saw her in college she grabbed my attention. I wanted to know more about her. Then one day I saw her in a cyber café. She was mailing someone and I saw her email ID. I thanked God. Then I mailed her and she replied and soon we became good friends. But we couldn’t find the time to meet. Finally we fixed a date at a restaurant in Kantipath. I was on cloud nine. It was New Year’s Eve of 2005. We had a pretty good conversation, we exchanged goodbyes and smiles, departed promising to keep in touch. We then had continuous conversations on the phone, sms and met frequently. Last year I expressed my feelings towards her and she said that she only thought of me as a good friend. She simply said ‘Sorry’. Things changed. I’ve learned how to accept, forgive and love myself. She’ll always be my good friend because I care about her.

— Siddhartha Mahat, Tinkune, Kathmandu

We studied together for six years. I do not remember the exact moment I became crazy about her. I always supported her even when my friends were against me. Although I knew that my love for her might hamper my studies as well as hers, I could not stop myself from loving her. I knew that she just took me to be like any other friend of hers. We used to talk on the phone sometimes. I used to share my feelings with my friends but all they suggested me was to propose to her. I couldn’t hold back and even I thought that if I did not confess my love for her at that time then I never would be able to. So I gathered all my courage but still I couldn’t express my love to her when we met. So I decided to call her. One evening I called her and told her all my feelings for her. Even though I knew her answer would be no, when she said it, it completely broke me down. But I was relieved when she agreed to continue our friendship. That was the first time I had a crush and proposed.

— Pradeep Bhandari, Prasadi Academy

I was studying in Class VI and it was love at first sight. When I saw him for the first time, I don’t know what happened to me. I always thought about him only. I found him different than others. I asked my friends what was happening to me. But they just smiled and replied that it was love. I didn’t know what to do. After that day, I was very shy about facing him. All my girlfriends started teasing me calling me S (as his name started with S). As time passed, he proposed to me when we were in Class VII. But I was disappointed, as I had planned to propose to him. Yet, I was crazy about him and accepted. But it didn’t last.... but I still remember him as he was my first crush.

— Rojina Shrestha, Machchhe Gaun

I have had many crushes, but my first crush was Sarita. She was such a sweet girl that I thought my life would go in vain in her absence. I even left my studies and dreamt about her all the time. And at last I proposed to her. But to my surprise she didn’t even recognise me. So in despair I stopped looking at her and started focusing on my studies, but I will never be able to forget her.

— Nilotpal Sharma

As far as I remember my first crush was my classmate when I was in Class I. I don’t remember his name but I really liked him and I used to look at him. But I left that school so I don’t know anything about him now. However, now there is someone in my life who is very special and near to my heart. I love him very much and can’t even think of living without him. I feel that I am in this world just for of him.

— Sarita Shrestha,

Bhaktapur

I cherish the memory of those days in college when for the first time I fell in love while studying in +2. I still remember the moment she smiled and blinked her eyes softly at me. I felt quite nervous at that moment. I was drowned. I got into the habit of waiting for her in the morning and staring at her almost all the time. A year has passed by but I still remember my first love and my love of forever.

— Majeet Man Maharjan