The Promise Beneath the Stars

It was a small village called Noorabad, surrounded by hills and open skies. The stars always shined brighter here than in any city. In this quiet village lived a 16-year-old boy named Zayan. He was kind, thoughtful, and always dreamed of doing something big. But his family was poor. His father worked in the fields, and his mother took care of the house.

Zayan had one best friend—Amina. She was smart, strong, and full of dreams too. Every evening, they would sit on the hilltop outside the village and talk about life, stars, and the future.

One night, while watching the stars, Amina said, “Zayan, do you ever wonder what’s beyond these hills?”

Zayan smiled. “Every day. I want to go out there, study, work hard, and help my family. I want to make them proud.”

Amina nodded. “Me too. Let’s make a promise.”

Zayan looked at her. “What kind of promise?”

Amina pointed to the sky. “Let’s promise that no matter what happens, we’ll follow our dreams. We’ll never give up, even when it’s hard.”

Zayan held out his hand. “I promise.”

They shook hands under the stars. That moment stayed in their hearts forever.


Days turned into months. Life was not easy. Zayan’s father fell sick, and Zayan had to help in the fields. He could no longer go to school regularly. Amina, on the other hand, got a scholarship to study in the city. Before leaving, she came to see Zayan one last time.

“I don’t want to go without you,” she said.

“You must,” Zayan replied. “You got a chance to change your life. I’ll manage here. But don’t forget our promise.”

Amina hugged him. “Never.”


Years passed.

Zayan worked hard. He studied at night under the stars after finishing work in the fields. He read old books, listened to radio lectures, and sometimes walked miles to attend weekend classes.

People laughed at him. “What will you become, a teacher or a scientist?” they teased.

But Zayan stayed strong. His promise with Amina kept him going.

One night, tired and alone, Zayan lay on the hill, staring at the stars. “Why is it so hard?” he whispered. “I’ve given everything… I wish I could just give up.”

Just then, a shooting star crossed the sky. Zayan smiled weakly. “Okay… I’ll try one more time.”


Meanwhile, Amina had finished college. She became a journalist and started working in the city. She visited many places and met many people, but she never forgot Zayan.

One day, she returned to Noorabad. The village had changed a little, but the hilltop was still the same. She went there and sat, remembering that promise. Just then, she saw a man coming up the path—it was Zayan.

He looked tired but confident, with a bag of books on his back.

They smiled at each other.

“You kept the promise,” Amina said.

“So did you,” Zayan replied.

They sat under the stars once more.

Amina looked at him. “I’ve been writing stories of people who never gave up. I want to write yours.”

Zayan laughed. “My story is not big.”

“No,” Amina said softly. “It’s beautiful. And it can inspire others.”


Amina wrote Zayan’s story and shared it online. The response was huge. People from across the country read it and were touched. A kind man from the city offered Zayan a scholarship to study full-time. Others sent books and support.

Zayan finally went to university. He worked hard and became a teacher, helping children from villages just like his.

Every year, on the same night they made the promise, Zayan and Amina returned to the hill. They looked at the stars, remembering how far they had come.

“Sometimes,” Zayan said, “one promise under the stars can guide your whole life.”

Amina smiled. “And sometimes, a simple story can change someone else’s world.”


Moral of the Story:
Dreams may take time, but with hard work and true friendship, even the stars are not too fa