"Do you mind if I sit here?" A lady asked Naila. Naila just wiped tears and then her nose with her handkerchief and moved closer towards the window, making more space. She looked pretty wearing an off white satin skirt and a pale yellow top.
"Of course, please," Naila said smiling.
"I'm Miranda," Miranda introduced herself.
"Naila," Naila introduced herself too.
"That's a great name!" Miranda laughed. "My car broke down, down the hill, so taking the bus to the valley," Miranda said. "Do you live in the valley too? I don't remember seeing your around the town at all," Miranda said.
"I'm just moving in. I got a job here at the global school," Naila explained.
"Oh, that's great! Congratulations on your new job," Miranda looked genuinely excited for Naila.
"Thank you," Naila smiled. "Do you live here?" She asked back.
"Yes. I do," Miranda replied. "It's been five years almost."
"Oh, that's nice," Naila did not know what else to say.
"You know, you reminded me of my old self," Miranda said after a long pause. Naila looked at her. Her eyes were sparkling. She had a constant smile on her face.
"The first time I stepped here, I had no idea what to do with my life. I just ran away from home and wondered what I should with no job in my hand, just super lost," she stared outside the window. "All I knew was I wanted to stop feeling so hurt," Miranda then looked at Naila. "I was responsible for my own happiness and I found it," Miranda felt satisfied. "You should too," she suddenly said.
"What?" Naila asked. "Sorry."
"You look really sad Naila. I don't know what you're going through, but I'm sure this new beginning would bring a lot of relief and happiness for you," Miranda smiled again.
"Thank you," Naila said. "It's a long story, yes, but I hope I feel better too," Naila badly wanted to.
"I live near the school. My daughter goes to that school," Miranda said.
"You have a daughter? " Naila was shocked. Miranda laughed. "I do, She is 8 year old now," she said. "I'm married and a mother," she confirmed.
"You seriously don't look like that, woah," Naila looked really surprised.
"Do you know my husband's name is Niall?" Miranda told Naila.
"What a coincidence!" Naila laughed. "No wonder you laughed when I introduced myself."
"Haha, yes," Miranda agreed. "Why don't you take down my number. You can call me if you need help with something," Miranda said.
Naila saved the number and gave missed call to Miranda. "Thank you so much Miranda," Naila thanked her. "You will be my first friend in the valley,".
"I'm honored," Miranda replied. Miranda's phone rang at the same time. "Hello," she answered. "Yes, Niall," it was her husband. "I will reach like maybe another half an hour," she said.
Naila stared out the window. She felt kind of relieved. 'It's going to he great here,' she told herself, consoled herself. Miranda agter hanging up sat chatting with Naila about the cafes and restaurants.
"The coffee shops here are really good. Also, try the arabic restaurants, the food is just amazing. If you need homestyle, walk into Twelve Oaks Inn, my friends runs it. The food she cooks is amazing," Miranda said. "It is where I lived the first time I landed here," Miranda smiled recalling her past.
"I will definitely remember this and try once I settle down," Naila replied.
Exactly half an hour later the bus reached the valley bus station and Niall was waiting there with their daughter Fleur.
"Mama," Fleur walked towards her mother. "Guess what Dada and I did," Fleur looked super excited.
"What?" Miranda asked, her eyes reaching her husband, who stood smiling, leaning against the car, hand folded against his chest," Miranda raised her eyebrows.
"Dada let me cook ramen today," Fleur said.
"Oh that's great honey," Miranda gave a peck on her daughter's cheek and turned around. "Naila," she called Naila.
"Niall, this is Naila, Naila, Niall," she introduced.
"Great name," Niall smilled ans shook hands with Naila who had huge trolleys beside her.
"Nice to meet you," Niala smiled. This was not what she expected. It felt less lonely suddenly.
"Naila where are you staying, I will drop you," Miranda offered.
"Hey, that's okay, I will go myself," Naila politely refused. She didn't want to disturb the family.
"It's totally fine, we will drop you. It's late now. It's hard to get cabs around here," Niall said and carried the luggage to the car's trunk.
"I have booked a room in Daffodils hotel," Naila said and they all got in the car. Naila about Fleur got in at the back. She saw Niall giving Miranda a quick kiss before he started driving. Naila smiled.
"Fleur, you must address her teacher," Miranda said.
"Why?" Fleur asked.
"She is joining your school as new teacher. Who knows maybe she will teach you this year," Miranda scared Fleur a little. Fleur then looked at Naila and gave a smile and turned her head away quickly.
"That's great!" Niall said. "Are they providing stay so?"
"I kind of forced them to provide me with one," Naila said. "At the present, they aren't paying much, it would be difficult for me to find a place.
"I know. I started as a teacher too," Miranda said. Niall smiled at her. The three discussed about various jobs and skent the time. They reached the hotel before it turned dark.
Niall and Miranda dropped Naila at the hotel entrance. "Call me if you need anything," Miranda said again before they took off.
Naila stood there till the car disappeared and smiled. She carried the luggages herself, checked in and walked upstairs. She was exhausted.
"Oh, I'm so tired," she said. Let me shower and lue down," she decided. She stripped and quickly got into the shower. The hot shower helped her. "I can feel the stress leaving my body," she told herself and enjoyed the shower for little more longer.
Around 8 pm Niala called her parents and informed them that she reached the hotel and is going yo sleep.
But she did not. She walked downstairs to grab dinner. She walked down the street and ended up in a noodle shop.
"A bowl of dumpling ramen bowl," she ordered. She sat at the rmtae, sitting next to the window, watching the buzzing street. She really enjoyed the food and finished it all. "It was really good, thank you," she told the waitress while the lady served the tea. Naila felt peaceful as she sat there sipping the tea slowly. "I should have done this early," she told her.