Ginger and Cardamom | Moon Knight

03 | Astha

As Astha walked up to the couple's cosy house in London, she couldn't help but smile. The exterior was covered in ivy, and pots of blooming flowers lined the front porch. Upon entering, she was greeted with the aroma of a delicious meal being prepared by Jessica. The living room was decorated with posters of beloved movies and TV shows, and a bookshelf overflowing with books and board games.

Alice was sitting cross-legged on the couch, intently focused on her laptop as she tweaked her Dungeons and Dragons campaign. She looked up and beamed when she saw Astha, welcoming her with a warm hug. Jessica was bustling about the kitchen, chopping vegetables and stirring pots on the stove, but stopped briefly to tell everyone she'll be there in a minute. There were three other people in the room that Astha assumed were Jessica's coworkers.

Over the years it had become somewhat of a tradition for them to have dinner together once a month. The couple's four-year-old twins were staying with Jessi's parents for the weekend. So the two of them decided it would be the perfect time to have some friends over and start a new D&D campaign. 

Jessi greet Astha with a kiss on the cheek and was eager to introduce her to the three new players.

"Guys this is Astha. Astha, these are the lucky people who have the pleasure of working with me every day. This is Daniel, think you guys met once at my birthday. Daniel is currently single by the way." Jessie winked at Astha.

Jessica's attempts at trying to set her friends up were halted when a cushion came flying towards her from where Alice was sitting. "God Jessica. Darling, as much as I adore you, I'm not letting you play matchmaker here. Poor guy just got out of a relationship. Let him live a little."

"Yes ma'am. Anyways moving on, this is software developer and painter extraordinaire Maya, and finally Alex. They make the best brownies you'll ever have." Alice said, gesturing to each person in turn.

Astha smiled and greeted everyone warmly. It had been difficult for her to go out and meet people after things ended with her ex-girlfriend. So Astha was happy to actually meet people other than Alice and Jessica. 

As they settled in for a night of adventure and storytelling, Alice showed everyone some of the new characters she had created for the campaign, and the group eagerly delved into the game. Astha was impressed with Maya's attention to detail and creative thinking, and Daniel's humorous quips kept everyone in good spirits. Alex, who was playing D&D for the first time asked for some pointers to help create their character.

As the game ended Jessica got a call from her mother, so Astha went inside to help Alice with the last of the dinner preparations. As Astha helped Alice set up the dining table, her mind couldn't help but wander to Marc. It had been a week since she last saw him, and she couldn't shake the worry from her mind. Though she had his number, she hadn't worked up the courage to reach out to him.

Alice could tell that something was bothering Astha, "Hey, are you okay? You seem lost in thought."

Astha sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm just thinking about this guy I met."

Alice's eyes widened with excitement, "Ooooh, tell me more! Who is he? What's he like?"

Astha hesitated, "Well, we didn't really go on a date, per se. I met him a while back when I found him injured in an alley near my house. I helped him out and we talked for a bit, but I didn't catch his name."

Alice looked surprised, "Wow, you sure know how to pick'em. What happened next?"

Astha continued, "Well, I didn't see him again until last week. He was waiting outside my apartment, injured again. I let him stay on my couch for the night, but the next morning he woke up not remembering who I was or where he was. He had a panic attack and had to leave."

Alice's expression softened "Oh, Astha. I'm sorry to hear that. Is he doing okay?"

Astha smiled, "Yeah, he's doing much better now. But I'm still worried about him. He has clearly been through a lot."

As much as Astha wanted to open up to Alice about Marc, their conversation was cut short by Jessica calling out from the other room, asking about dinner. They headed back to join their friends and the rest of the night was filled with laughter, snacks, and stories.

As the last of the guests said their goodbyes and headed out the door, Alice, Jessica, and Astha began the task of cleaning up after dinner. The sound of clinking dishes and silverware echoed through the kitchen as they worked in comfortable silence. It wasn't until they had finished putting away the last of the dishes that Jessica spoke up.

"Astha, is everything okay? You've been pretty quiet throughout dinner," she asked, looking at Astha with a concerned expression.

Astha couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for how distant she had been from her friends over the past week. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to share. She didn't like talking about her personal matters with just anyone, but these people were more than friends to her; they have been her family ever since she first came to London to study nursing.

"I'm sorry, guys. I've been feeling down all week. It's just been a lot with work and personal stuff, and... my dad is coming to see me in a few weeks," Astha said, looking down at her feet.

Alice and Jessica exchanged a knowing glance. They knew that Astha's relationship with her dad was complicated, but they also knew that it was difficult for her to talk about.

"I'm sorry, Astha. I know that talking about your dad can be difficult, but we're here for you if you want to talk," Alice said, putting a reassuring hand on Astha's shoulder.

Astha smiled gratefully at her, feeling the weight of her worries lifting a little. "Thanks, Alice. I appreciate it. It's just... It's been a while since I've seen him, so I thought it would be nice to catch up."

"That sounds nice, Astha. Is everything okay with him?" Jessie asked,

"Yeah, he's okay. Said he has some work stuff to take care of. I didn't ask too many questions"

"Well, we are here if you need to talk. I mean it. Even though you met Alice first, you are like my little sister. We just want you to be happy." Jessica pulled her in for a comforting hug.

Astha's eyes filled with tears as she looked at her friends. They had welcomed her into their lives with open arms, and they had become the family she never knew she needed. "Thank you, guys. I don't know what I would do without you."

As they finished up, Alice turned to Astha with a smile. "Hey, before you go, let's schedule the next game night. We can't wait to have you back."

Astha grinned, feeling grateful for her friends. "Sounds great, let me know the date and I'll be there."

As she made her way out the door, Astha couldn't help but feel grateful for the duo. They had given her a sense of belonging in a foreign country, and she knew that she could always count on Alice and Jessica to be there for her, no matter what.