The train screeched to a halt, and Anaya clutched her small suitcase tighter. The station was crowded, noisy, and nothing like the calm little town she had grown up in. The city smelled of rain and dust, and of something else she couldn’t quite name—dreams, maybe.
Her mother’s words echoed in her head:
“Be careful, Anu. The city is big, but don’t let it swallow you.”
Anaya adjusted her dupatta nervously and walked toward the taxi stand. The buildings outside loomed taller than anything she had ever seen. Buses roared past, people rushed like they were late for life itself, and neon hoardings blinked with advertisements she had only seen on TV.
Inside her chest, her heart beat fast—not just with fear, but with excitement. This was it. Her new beginning.
---
The first day of college was even more overwhelming. The campus stretched endlessly, filled with hundreds of students. Some were laughing with friends, some scrolling their phones, and others looking as confident as if they owned the world.
Anaya, on the other hand, felt invisible. She found her classroom, sat in the last row, and tried to disappear.
But fate had other plans.
During the lunch break, lost in search of the library, she turned a corner too quickly and collided with someone. Books scattered on the floor.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Anaya bent down immediately, scrambling to pick them up.
“It’s okay,” a calm voice replied.
She looked up—and froze.
The boy in front of her had sharp, quiet eyes, the kind that looked like they noticed more than they said. His hair fell messily over his forehead, and there was a sketchbook under his arm. He wasn’t like the loud, energetic students she had seen all morning. He seemed… different.
“You’re new?” he asked, picking up the last book.
“Yes,” Anaya said softly. “First day.”
He gave a small smile, almost shy, and handed her the books. “The library’s that way. You looked lost.”
“Thank you,” she replied, a little embarrassed.
As he walked away, Anaya couldn’t help but glance back. He was already lost in his sketchbook, pencil moving quickly as if he carried a whole universe inside his pages.
She didn’t know his name yet.
But she knew she would remember this meeting.
---
That night, in her small hostel room, Anaya lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. The city still felt big, noisy, and strange. But somewhere in its chaos, she had found a pair of quiet eyes.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to make this new world feel a little less lonely.

Thank you so much for reading Chapter 1 of “The Stars Between Us.” ✨
This is my very first attempt at sharing a fictional story here on Scrollstack, and your support means the world to me. If Anaya and Ruhan’s journey touched your heart even a little, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 🌸
Every like, share, and little word of encouragement gives me the strength to keep writing and bringing more chapters to you. Stay tuned for Chapter 2 –