#Sim: Ashwani Chandra

[sims4royalsandimperials]

Miss Kensley’s Rehabilitation Center, Windenburg, Lunaria, and Desert Haven Hospital, Oasis Springs, New Nagara - 13 July

*What follows is shifting between places and settings, because two events happen the same day*

Eric: Are you ready, Reena? Katrina: I never thought I’d have to do this, but yes... I am. Eric: I’ll be right beside you, Min Älskling.

Dr. Beverly: Congratulations, Michelle. It’s a little girl.

Maria: Did you hear it, Michelle? A little girl. Susanna: My daughter... my sweet girl. She’s finally here. Hi, honey.

Shirley: I’m so glad you both were able to reconcile... before it was too late. Eloise: So are we, Shir. 

Katrina: Remember the song we sang as kids, Shir? *starts singing*  Through the stars, our lives began All according to the watcher's plan... Eloise: I thank the watcher up above For my sisters' guidance and their love Shirley: When I go, please don’t cry I’ll always watch you... Katrina, Eloise, and Shirley (together): From the clouds of the sky. *Shirley’s heart monitor slowly begins to flatline*

Eloise: Shirley? Shirley? *begins to tear up*

Eloise: She’s gone, Reena.

(Time of death: 9:27am)

*Soft fits of crying and tears fill the room*

Shirley: El?

Shirley: Reena?

???: They’re still in the mortal world, Shir.

Shirley: *gasps* Keith!

(Time of Birth: 9:29 am)

6:45pm - 9 hours later

Madhuri: How are you feeling, Michelle?

Susanna: Albeit a little sore from the C-section, a giant wash of joy fills my senses. I’m so happy, right now, Madhuri. When Ekant wakes up, he’ll be excited too, seeing our little girl for the first time. Benjamin: So what’s her name going to be, Michelle?

Susanna: *in tears* Linnea.

[sims4royalsandimperials]

Desert Haven Hospital, Oasis Springs, New Nagara - moments later

Ashwani: Maria, Benjamin! Michelle’s going into labor! Benjamin: What? What happened? Ashwani: Her water broke while she was sitting at Ekanta’s bedside!

Maria: ¡Por el amor de Dios! We should probably call for Dr. Beverly, Ben! Ashwani, how long have her contractions been? Ashwani: About a minute each.

Susanna: Ohh, shit! I’m in active labor?! It’s still too early! The baby isn’t due until Saturday! Call Dr. Beverly, Ben! *groans in pain* Now, please!! *starts crying in pain*

Benjamin: Fuck! I’ll get Dr. Beverly on the phone, you guys keep timing her contractions!

- Two Minutes Later -

Dr. Beverly: All right, Michelle, that’s just enough contractions.

Susanna: Dr. Beverly, something doesn’t feel right! Why isn’t my baby coming out? Is she okay?

Susanna: *lets out another painful cry* Mama, Papa!! Help me! Dr. Beverly: We’re gonna have to call for an emergency c-section. Stay calm, Michelle.

[sims4royalsandimperials]

Desert Haven Hospital, Oasis Springs, New Nagara - 7:12am, the next morning

*Susanna is sitting at Ekant’s bedside, when his parents arrive at the hospital straight from Tamland National Airport*

Ashwani: How are you holding up, Michelle?

Susanna: To be completely honest with you, Ashwani, I’m not. Ever since the accident, I’ve blamed myself for not watching Ekant. I even thought to myself, “It should have been me who was hit by that car, not him.”

Madhuri: Michelle, you do not think like that. That accident was beyond your guys’ control. 

Susanna: I’m sorry, Madhuri. With this baby on the way, and now this, I’ve thought of little else, but of how my child will know how wonderful her father is. Will he wake up, or will he... die... and never know--?

*Susanna yelps in pain... it’s time!*

Ashwani: Michelle! What’s wrong? Madhuri: I think it’s time, Prēma! Okay, uh... time the contractions, Michelle. We’ll take you to Benjamin and Maria.

To be continued...

[sims4royalsandimperials]

1749 Palmer Drive, Oasis Springs, New Nagara - 5:00pm/Dinnertime

*Ekant and Ashwani are talking to each other in Al-Simaharian. Susanna can barely eat anything, from morning sickness. Madhuri is staring intensely at her, not being able to pinpoint what is up with her.*

Ashwani: দুলালের বিয়ে হবে শিগগিরই। তাকে জিজ্ঞাসা করা হয়েছে আপনি কি তার সেরা মানুষ হতে চান? (Dulal will be getting married soon. He's asked if you would like to be his best man.) Ekant: আমি করব, বাবা. কিন্তু, তার বাগদত্তা পাগল। অন্য রাতে সে আমাকে মাতাল বলে সিগারেট চেয়েছিল। যখন আমি তাকে বললাম যে আমি আর আল-সালামে থাকি না, তখন সে পাগল হয়ে গেল, এবং আমার পাছা উঠানোর জন্য আমাকে চিৎকার করে... (I would, papa. But, his fiancée is crazy. She called me drunk the other night asking for cigarettes. When I told her that I didn't live in Al-Salam anymore, she went nuts, and yelled at me to get my ass up and...)

*Susanna, chockful of nerves, has spaced out. She doesn’t know why Madhuri is staring intently at her, and wishes she would stop.*

*Ekant is still talking to Ashwani, until he notices how uncomfortable Sue is.* Ekant: Hey, Michelle. You okay? Susanna (snapping out of her wandering stare): Huh, oh..uh, yeah. I’m fine. Ashwani: I’m sorry, Michelle. I should be talking to you too. Madhuri (internally): এই মেয়ে সম্পর্কে কিছু পরিচিত আছে. তার গল্প সম্পর্কে কিছু ... যোগ করা হয় না. (There's something familiar about this girl. Something about her story isn't... adding up.)

Later at 6:15pm -

Ekant: So, Michelle’s got some... quirks... Is that how you say it, “quirks?” Susanna: More or less. I like to call it “ weird abilities.” *laughs*

*Ekant and Ashwani laugh*

Ekant: She’s surprisingly very strong. Her cousin, Benjamin, taught her some self-defense moves... or at least tried, but she grabbed him by his legs and threw him to the ground! Ashwani (shocked): পবিত্র বাজে কথা! (Holy Crap!) Don’t make her mad! Ekant: She only uses it during exhibitions... Susanna:... for lack of a better word. *Ashwani, Ekant, and Susanna laugh.*

Madhuri (thinking):  অ্যাবারনাথী মেয়েটা কি শক্ত? তাদের আলাদা করার আরও কারণ। সে আমার বাচ্চা ছেলেকে গালি দিতে পারে। (The Abernathy girl is strong, huh? All the more reason to separate them. She could abuse my baby boy.)

Madhuri (thinking, cont’d): একান্ত তার অভিশপ্ত সন্তানের মা থেকে তাকে আলাদা করার জন্য আমাকে কখনও ক্ষমা করতে পারে না, তবে দীর্ঘমেয়াদে সে আমাকে ধন্যবাদ দেবে। (Ekant may never forgive me for separating him from the mother of his cursed child, but in the long run, he'll thank me.)

[sims4royalsandimperials]

1749 Palmer Drive, Oasis Springs, New Nagara - 9:00pm

Warning: Use of the R-slur

*Susanna, who has called Ben, is waiting for him to pick her up. Meanwhile, Madhuri steps outside to finally bother her in person.*

Madhuri:  অবশেষে. (Finally.) Susanna: Hello, Mrs. Chandra, may I help you? *momentary pause* Madhuri: I hope we haven’t made you uncomfortable, Michelle. Susanna: Oh, no... not at all.

*Madhuri steps forward.* Madhuri: Then may I be the first to tell you that you are not good enough for my son? Susanna: Excuse me? “Not good enough?” Madhuri: Getting to know you, tonight, I can see that you’ll abuse my son if he decides to marry you, one day.

Susanna: Mrs. Chandra, Ekant knows I’d never get violent with him. I don’t know what you’re going on about, but it’s Ekant’s decision to marry who he wants.

Susanna: And to be honest, he warned me about you. I only tolerated you because you’re his mother. The way you’ve acted towards me tonight just proves that you don’t have his best interests at heart. Now, if you’ll excuse me-

Madhuri: You will not ignore me, you grimy slut! Susanna: What did you just call me? Madhuri: Listen very carefully, Michelle Abernathy. You will get an abortion, and leave my son. As soon as you do, he will return to Al-Simahara and marry Priya Virk. Susanna: And, he warned me about that too, and mentioned how you two called me a “retarded dog?” Honestly, Mrs. Chandra. No wonder Ekant hates your guts. You try to control his life when he doesn’t need or want your input on his life choices.

*Madhuri loses her temper and decides to get violent on Susanna*

Madhuri: তুমি নোংরা কুত্তা! (You little bitch!)  Susanna: *screams* *Ashwani and Ekant come running out to separate the scuffle*

Madhuri: You retarded dog! YOU’VE DESTROYED OUR FAMILY! Ashwani: মাধুরী, যথেষ্ট! (Madhuri, that’s enough!) Ekant: Are you all right, Michelle? Susanna: Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little shaken. *Ekant has finally had it with his controlling mother, and decides...*

Ekant: Okay, that’s it! Enough is enough! Mother, you have embarrassed me for the last time. If you can’t accept that I have fallen in love with Michelle, maybe you shouldn’t be in our lives, or the baby’s life! Madhuri: কান্তা, আমি... (Kanta, I...) Ekant: You’ve gone too far, this time. You can either start treating Michelle with respect, or you can leave.

Madhuri: তুমি সাহস করবে না, একান্ত! (You wouldn’t dare, Ekant!) Ekant: I would. You’ve taken your entitlement too far, and attacked Michelle. I want you to leave. Father, I’m sorry this dinner had to end so abruptly. Ashwani: বুঝলাম, কান্তা। আমরা যখন আল-সালামে ফিরব তখন আমি আপনাকে কল করব। (I understand, Kanta. I'll call you when we're back in Al-Salam.) *Ashwani turns to leave, as their cab arrives.* Ashwani: চল মাধুরী! (Let’s go, Madhuri!)

Madhuri: Mark my words, Abernathy. You are not, and never will be good enough for my son.  *Madhuri turns to get in the cab.*