Catastrophic Bliss (On Hold)

Chapter 4

Alia was people watching. It was something she enjoyed doing while she was waiting for someone. It gave her time to think about things. In the time she was waiting for her mother to arrive in Spill the Beans, Alia had decided that she wanted to help people be happy. Alia knew that it sounded cheesy but she enjoyed seeing people being happy. "Sorry I'm late." Kate said, appearing at Alia's side with a smile.

"It's fine."

"See any interesting people?"

"I saw someone walk down the street in a cow onesie. Oh, and there was a guy walking around pushing a trolley full of fans."

"Sounds interesting." Kate chuckled. Alia grinned. "I'm just going to get my drink." A few minutes later Kate was back at Alia's side and the pair of them continued Alia's game of people watching.

"He looks like a Gary." Alia said, watching a man walk past the window.

"No, he's a Simon."

"Do you think so?"

"Yeah. Simon suits him better."

"Ooo what about her?"

"She looks like a Sarah."

"What about a Lucy?"

"Hmm...Maybe..." The pair lapsed into silence for a few seconds while they both took sips of their drinks. "So Gita called today."

"Gita? As in Cousin Gita?"

"Yes, that's the Gita I'm on about." Kate laughed.

Gita was Kate's uncle's daughter. She was a few years older than Kate but the pair had spent the majority of Kate's childhood together. Kate had been born and raised in India as Kanta Joshi, daughter of Sanvi and Raj Joshi. Kate had left India to come to England just before she was nineteen so she could learn to become a doctor. When she reached England she began to think that her name was so weird compared to other people's and that she should change it – so that's what she did. Kanta Joshi became Kate Jacobsen.

She started university and met Justin. They had fallen in love and Kate had ended up pregnant a year later. When he had heard the news, Justin had run. Kate had never heard from him again. She quit university to have her baby and to take care it, trying to apply for as many jobs as possible. Halfway through her pregnancy she heard her parents had died. Gita had called to tell her that they were going to cremate them and that Kate was welcome. Kate couldn't go because of her pregnancy and because she couldn't afford to so she said goodbye to them in England. She eventually got a job as a receptionist the local hospital and had kept it ever since. Kate had tried her best to bring up Alia the best way possible but it was difficult for Kate to judge how well she was doing. She had met Zoe's mother when she had started to search for advice and Lena had taken her under her wing.

"What did she want? Alia asked, bringing Kate back to the present.

"Oh, she said she wanted to come over and see us this year. I think she plans on celebrating Diwali with us."

"She does know neither of us celebrate it, doesn't she?" Alia said, her eyebrows raised.

"She knows. She just wants to meet you! She's not had the chance to before!"

"Is it just her coming?" Alia asked.

"No, she's bringing Devansh, Rishi, Padma, Aunty Rishika and Uncle Ishan."

"So basically everyone then."

"And my parents spirit will be with them." Silence settled for a few minutes.