The town was sleeping, when they drove past the board. It was such a beautiful, sight to witness. Every house's front porch was lit in the night, with the warm yellow bulbs. It was magnificent scenery to witness. The woods draping the town, on all sides. The crickets chirped, and that was all that was heard. It was a different atmosphere, for the siblings. Being raised in cities like Mumbai and New York, this was something Mannat had never witnessed.
The night was beautiful, but so was the morning. Mannat could proudly say, that her first sun-rise was the most beautiful, one ever. The sky had burst into different shades of orange and pink. It was annoying to wake up to the persistent sun rays, from the windowpane she had slept next to.
"Riaan would love, it." She looked around for her sling bag, which was used as a pillow by the girl last night. She took out her phone and turned to click a picture.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" her mother's soft voice called out from the right side of the living room. The small group had crushed, tiredly in the living room. Nothing was set up, it was an old house, Mark's home. He abundant the house, when he lost his parents.
"Yeah, it is." Mannat smiled as she pushed her hair behind her ear. Her mother sniggered slowly. "What?"
"Your hair, it a bird's nest in the morning." Mother's voice filled with glee.
"Well, I have you to thank for it! I get it from you." Mannat smirked, at her mother's appalled face. Her hands went straight to her messy hair as she tried to straighten them.
It was 9 a.m. when Marked walked in with bread and eggs. The mother and her kids had somehow managed to tidy up the living room, enough to have a decent breakfast. "The aunty next door was generous enough to lend us, her hot plate. I will go and get it." He said as he dropped the bread on the cleaned dining table, and delivered the eggs, in Sarah's waiting hands.
"Can I come?" Riaan piped in excitedly.
"Did you help mum and Manny?" Mark asked as he bent down to his level.
"Yeah" He nodded, happily. "Alright, then let's go!" The two walked out almost skipping out as if they were out of jail.
"Dad would have loved it, here!" Mannat said slowly, looking out of the window, to see Riaan running to the neighbor's porch, with Mark sprinting behind him, telling him to slow down.
"Of course, he would have. Don't you remember all of his plans, after retirement?" Sarah stated in monotone.
"But, he is not with us anymore. I would like you to move on, Mannat. It's been years now." Sarah stated.
"I have!" Mannat's weak defense called out as she tried to dust off the clean side table, near the couch.
"No, you haven't. If everything, around reminds, you of him, then you have not moved on, Mannat! This move, all of this, is for you! We all want you to let it go!" Sarah started her voice now on the edge.
"I am trying!" Mannat yelled, now. Angry tears slipping through her honey brown eyes.
"No! you are not!" Sarah's voice is harsher now. "I want you to try, harder!!" She now screamed.
"It's not easy! He was my father!" Mannat's voice now reaching an unknown octave.
"Who, left! Went for a fishing trip, without telling his family and died!" Sarah's voice now at its peak. The front door opened to Mark and Riaan's shocked face.
"Wow.. so you blame him for his death, as well! That's rich of you!" Mannat's voice now, broken. She wiped her tears away as she walked out of the house. She didn't know where to go, but the left turn was truly instinctive.
It was surprising as, to how Mannat reached the coffee parlor, named ironically 'Coffee Parlor' the owner was definitely lazy. Mannat, walked into the shop and the sweet bell attached to the door, tingled as soon as she walked in.
"Good morning, we are just getting started for the day! Can you wait for a minute?" Mannat smiled as she, noticed the brunette pulling her hair in a high bun, she wore a net cap across her hair, and then pulled her specs from a pocket from the apron that she wore.
"Hello!" She smiled a dazzling smile, the braces were easily visible. "Hello" Mannat smiled.
"Hey, never seen you around the town!" The girl asked as she walked out, from behind the counter.
"Yeah, my family just moved in, last night!" Mannat provided as she followed the girl to the table. The girl wore baggy blue pants, which held a notepad and a pen.
"Last night? You say?" The girl asked as she sat on the chair, next to her.
This was weird, never were any waitresses in New York ready for a chat, like this. "Well, then I guess I should introduce myself! I am your first hope of a friend here! If you answer this question!"
"Okay.." Mannat mumbled, lazily.
"Harry Potter or Twilight?" She, her voice interrogative. Her blue eyes, grazing against her skeptically.
"Umm...Harry Potter?" She answered, quietly.
"Superb! I am Hope Green! Your new friend!" The girl bounced up, in excitement. She walked across the table, and pulled Mannat in a bone-crushing hug!
"Wow, feels like a virtual game!" Hope chuckled, at Mannat's remark.
"Yeah, sure! I would have been your friend either way. I'll get you a coffee." The girl skipped towards the kitchen before Mannat could tell her how she preferred her coffee.
"Well, okay! Not like I am a tea person or anything" Mannat mumbled. As she brushed her black jeans, sitting down. She was unsure of what to think of the brunette. Her mother taught her very early; that nature of a person can be easily judged in one meeting. So, this girl was either crazy, gullible, or entirely stupid. Mannat, could easily walk out of the parlor and leave the girl with a cup of tea in hand. But, she was new here, she could use some friends. Especially, if there are no stupid remarks about her origin being thrown at her.