India, Jan. 17 -- When young students leave home to study abroad, they step into a world that promises freedom, discovery, and reinvention. Spanning two continents and unfolding largely in Australia, the novel Stars Over the Silhouette captures this very shift, following a young man's emotional drift through desire, illusion, and self-realisation for a journey that mirrors the lives of many GenNext readers. Author Mukul Damle's novel is on display at the ongoing New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. Structured in three parts, the novel traces a path from new lands to new waters, and finally, to the skies. "We are all stars in our own right," Damle says at the fair as he watches young bibliophiles stream past with dreamy eyes. At its heart, the book follows Hari, a young man who moves overseas to build a future and to escape the weight of his past. Blending suspense, adventure and introspection, the novel taps into the restless pulse of contemporary youth. "As the protagonist goes abroad for further studies and is exposed to a very different world, what's exciting is seeing him meet fascinating people with incredible stories that sometimes create illusion, even delusion," Damle says, adding, "These are young minds, full of emotions and desires. Often, in trying to become somebody, you lose your own self, and that's what gets one into trouble." The inspiration is deeply personal. Damle moved to Australia in 2002, long before constant internet access bridged distances. "It was a fascinating world," he recalls. "People came from everywhere, and everyone had a story." Coincidentally, he once worked for someone named Harry. "I had just watched Dil Chahta Hai (2001)... You know that 'Harry uncle' reference," he laughs. "So Hari becomes Harry when he goes there, and then becomes Hari again when he comes back." The title, too, was born mid-flight, while travelling from Delhi to Sydney. Looking out of the window at dusk, Damle saw stars appear and disappear: "I wondered, how do you make sure you're one of those stars that shine through the night? That's where Stars Over the Silhouette came from. And it ends on a hopeful note because hope should never die."...