Twelve-year-old Omar is a hardworking student from a rural Pakistani village who wins a prestigious scholarship to the Ghalib Academy for Boys. He hopes to use this education to become an astronomer and eventually buy a house for his mother. At Ghalib, he quickly realizes that scholarship students are treated differently than wealthy, paying students, facing extra chores and bans on extracurricular clubs.

Amal is Omar's childhood best friend from his rural village. She has her own educational ambitions and hopes to secure a scholarship to the girls' school, Iqra. Her family employs Omar's mother, but they treat Omar and his mother like family, providing Omar with a strong support system outside of his new boarding school.

A tall, cheerful scholarship student who rooms with Omar at the boarding school. He maintains a positive attitude and often looks for the bright side of difficult situations. He loves basketball and candy, though he harbors personal anxieties about his lower socioeconomic status among the wealthy student body.

A fellow scholarship student at Ghalib Academy. He is naturally anxious and constantly worries about failing out of the rigorous academic program. He relies on Omar and Kareem for emotional support as they face the school's strict and exhausting rules.

A wealthy student who occupies a single room next to Omar and Kareem. He frequently complains about the school and acts superior to the scholarship boys, openly mocking their financial situations. He maintains a hostile barrier between himself and his peers.

The unsmiling headmaster of Ghalib Academy. He personally teaches English to the scholarship students and strictly enforces the school's separate, demanding rules for them, including mandatory community service and grade requirements.

The kind and encouraging art teacher at Ghalib Academy. He believes art should elicit emotions and acts as a positive force for his students, offering them a safe space free from the school's intense academic pressures.

The older head cook at Ghalib Academy. He previously worked as a celebrity chef but left that prestigious position to spend more time with his family. He mentors the scholarship boys while they complete their early morning chores.

A hardworking single mother who lives in a one-room home in Omar's village. She works as a domestic servant for Amal's family. Earning enough money to buy her a real house is Omar's primary motivation for succeeding at school.

Amal's father and Omar's mother's employer. He drives Omar to the Ghalib Academy on his motorcycle and consistently encourages the young boy to succeed in his studies.

Kareem's father, who works at Ghalib Academy as a janitor. He has a genial personality and offers assistance to the young scholarship boys as they adjust to their new environment.

An upperclassman and fellow scholarship student at Ghalib Academy. He provides the younger boys with advice on how to survive the school's demanding academic expectations and complete their community service quietly.

A younger cook at Ghalib Academy who assists Shuaib. He dreams of one day achieving the same level of culinary success that Shuaib once had in Islamabad.

A regular, paying student at Ghalib Academy. He plays soccer with Omar and is friendly, showing no prejudice against the scholarship students.

A wealthy student at Ghalib who frequently travels abroad with his family. Despite their economic differences, he acts friendly toward Omar and invites him to participate in social activities.

The new soccer coach at Ghalib Academy. He recognizes Omar's athletic talent and disagrees with the school rule that prevents first-year scholarship students from joining sports teams.