Anna never liked books, and she never tried to hide it.
To her, books were slow and boring. Too many words. Too much sitting still. She didn't understand how people could spend hours reading when there were so many better things to do. Her mind worked differently. It wanted colors, shapes, movement, and ideas that could be seen, not just read.
Anna loved fashion designing and graphic designing. She enjoyed drawing patterns, mixing colors, and imagining how something plain could turn into something beautiful. Her notebooks were filled with sketches instead of notes. Her laptop carried design files instead of study material. Even during lectures, her fingers often moved without her noticing, drawing lines and shapes on the corner of a page.
Her bag was always heavy and unorganized. Color pens, pencils, fabric samples, loose papers, and chargers were mixed together. Anna didn't care much about keeping things perfect. What mattered to her was freedom. College felt like a place where she could finally breathe and explore who she wanted to become.
She wasn't careless, just different.
People often told her she should read more, study harder, focus on books. Anna only smiled and nodded. Inside, she knew books were not her world. Creating was.
Sid belonged to a completely different one.
His full name was Siddhart, but almost no one used it. Sid was what everyone called him, and he preferred it that way. He liked simple things. Quiet places. Clear thoughts. And above all, books.
Sid loved reading.
Books were his comfort. He liked the smell of pages, the silence that came with reading, and the feeling of getting lost in someone else's story. Where others saw words, Sid saw meaning. Reading helped him understand people, emotions, and even himself.
He was calm by nature. He didn't talk unless he had something to say. He listened more than he spoke. While others rushed through college life, Sid moved at his own pace. A book was almost always in his hand, whether he was sitting alone, waiting for class, or walking through campus.
His bag was neat. Books arranged properly. Notes written carefully. Everything had its place. Sid liked order. It made life feel easier.
College was not loud for him. It was peaceful.
Anna and Sid studied in the same college, walked through the same hallways, and attended classes in the same building, yet their worlds did not touch. Not yet.
Anna spent her time in design rooms, computer labs, and open spaces where ideas flowed freely. Sid spent his in libraries, quiet corners, and classrooms where silence felt comfortable. They moved through the same days without noticing each other.
Anna noticed fashion trends, colors, and people's clothes. Sid noticed expressions, behavior, and small changes in mood. They both observed the world, just in very different ways.
To others, Anna seemed energetic and expressive. Sid seemed reserved and calm. She liked noise and movement. He liked quiet and stillness. She followed feelings. He followed thoughts.
There was nothing connecting them.
Not yet.
College life moved on around them. Students rushed to classes, laughed loudly, complained about assignments, and planned futures they weren't sure about. Anna focused on her designs and dreams. Sid focused on learning and understanding life through books.
They were strangers sharing the same space.
Two different minds.
Two different interests.
Two completely different worlds.
Neither of them knew that this difference would one day matter.
For now, they were just Anna, the girl who hated books and loved creativity.
And Sid, the boy who loved books and found comfort in silence.
Their stories had not crossed yet.
But they were closer than they thought.