The first week with Abhi is here, and the second (Bella Goth's first week) is here.
We're in Strangetown for the first of several households with the surname Cho. The original Maxis-made playable Chos are of course Vivian and her daughter Etsu, but since then, former townies, NPC students and service NPCs with the same name have been moved in, and here is one of them.
Abhijeet Cho, or Abhi to his friends, was invited to settle in Strangetown by Circe Beaker. In his turn, he met, befriended (very quickly!) and moved in the elusive original Bella Goth - the official Maxis-made Strangetown version who is the "true" Bella Goth who disappeared from Pleasantview and has no memory or family ties whatsoever to her former life.
Here in Strangetown, she dreams of the top of the Athletic career and ended her first week on the position of All Star. Like Abhi, she's a Romance Sim. His lifetime want is to have 20 best friends, and he already has 17.
The two of them were 3-bolters to begin with, but now that Bella's fitness has increased a lot - a turn-off for Abhi - they are down to two bolts. At the end of their first week, Bella became pregnant, but so far, only you and me know it!
On this Monday, Bella is off to work and Abhi decides he wants to go for a swim. The public pool at No. 94 Road to Nowhere is only a short walking distance from his house.
It being relatively early, he is the first to dive-bomb into the refreshing clear water of the pool but is soon joined by Strangetowners.
Swimming makes hungry, and a batch of hot dogs is quickly produced. Since none of the other visitors is of particular interest to Abhi, he leaves soon afterwards... and my game crahes :-(
Back in the game and at Abhi and Bella's house, she returns from work with a smile - and a promotion to MVP.
Abhi has just made his 18th best friend in Ajay Loner. By the way, while he has only two bolts for Bella now, he has three for ex-townie Jill Smith - and she lives with Ajay... Do I need to worry?
Bella's evening is spent working on her body skill, which leaves her unusually exhausted, and after a grilled cheese sandwich she is off to bed, not without having told Abhi how happy she is for him to have so many best friends for life. ("Yes, and you're one of them... I hope..." Abhi thinks to himself.) Should I be worried?
Just as Monday slips into Tuesday, Bella becomes aware of her pregnancy. She goes straight back to bed without even waking Abhi, as she is still very tired.
The baby in her belly does not stop her from working on her body skill, and she is off for a gentle round of jogging by mid-morning. Abhi has just paid today's bills when an attractive lady walks by, and he stares after her. Do we have reasons for worrying?
After a shower, a good long sleep and a well-filled bowl of Abhi's chili con carne, Bella manages to maximise her body skill, a big wish of hers and also a requirement for her career.
"I'm getting bigger by the minute," Bella thinks when she wakes up shortly after midnight on Wednesday. This time, she does not go straight back to bed, but decides to read a while until she is tired enough to sleep.
Getting up at 6:00 as usual, Abhi shows that he is still very much attracted to Bella - no immediate need for worrying about their relationship, then!
While they have lunch together, Abhi gets a big aspiration boost when Ajay Loner becomes his best friend for life.
Just after 2:00 am on Thursday morning, Bella goes into labour... unlike what is so often the case with our Sims, not in the bathroom, but in the kitchen.
A little girl with Bella's brown eyes and her skin tone is born! Something deep inside Bella makes her want to give the baby the name Sandra... no, wait... not Sandra... not Alexandra, either... but Cassandra! Yes, that's it - her heart settles on Cassandra; that name somehow, strangely, feels completely and utterly right for her little girl.
A few things are shifted around to make room for Cassandra's crib in the bedroom, and the bathroom is extended a bit to accomodate a changing table; also, instead of the shower, a bathtub is installed.
With the baby peacefully asleep, Bella settles for some reading. She keeps wondering why it is that she feels so entirely certain of her daughter's name.
When she finally retreats to bed, Abhi takes over. He is a proud and caring Dad; after he has given little Cass her bottle, he also changes her nappies.
Bella's lifetime want is within close reach, and over a late breakfast with Abhi, she mentions that she is hoping for another promotion next time she goes back to work.
Abhi tells her he is sure she will, and lovingly reaches for her hand. It seems like the "downgrade" from three to two bolts doesn't affect their love for each other, even though I thought otherwise at the start of the week.
Spring has progressed into summer, and Bella can wear her original strapless dress again.
On this Friday, the promotion she was talking about the day before comes true: She is now a Superstar!
Abhi helps her celebrate - burgers & bubbly, not the worst combination :-)
It is Saturday, and Bella returns from work earlier than expected - thanks to the right decision with a chance card, she is promoted to Assistant Coach. She heads straight back to work for her first shift not on the field, but from the sideline.
That was a smart move! She is promoted for the second time today and has now replaced her team's former coach as the new coach.
It is funny - every time Bella is promoted, she looks sky-wards, as if to say "Thank you" to what or whoever is up there, looking out for her :-)
Abhi and Bella share another celebratory meal. "Galoush!"
Had she come by a bit earlier, DJ Verse could have joined her friend Bella clinking glasses. This is the first time this week anyone is paying the couple a visit on their own initiative.
Late that night - her parents had already been asleep - it is time for little Cassandra to grow up to a toddler.
I am actually quite relieved that there is only Sunday left to play here before I'll move to the next household, thus breaking up the toddler "years"! But I am sure it'll be mostly smooth sailing for Cass, what with her stay-at-home Dad and her Mum being close to reaching her lifetime want.
I have only two pictures for Sunday, but they are both important:
First, by having a phone conversation with General Buzz Lee (formerly Grunt) and then with former dorm cook Zaitrarrio Lee, during which he makes best friends with both men, Abhi reaches lifetime want of having 20 best friends.
He is 9 days from Elderhood and will spend the rest of his life on Permanent Platinum. Congratulations!
Second, I decide to change Cassandra's hair to pigtails... now, where did I get that idea? ;-)
Little Cass is very close to her Dad now; hardly surprising, since her Mum is out for work a lot. Here, Abhi teaches his daughter to walk.
This was an interesting week with Abhi and Bella! At first, it seemed that Abhi wasn't all that interested in Bella anymore. Then, he started to roll romantic wants about her again. By Saturday, though, he wanted to flirt with Jessie Pilferson... I suppose that's Romance Sims for you.
Bella's daughter simply HAD to be named Cassandra. And now Bella is just one Charisma point and one promotion away from reaching her LTW. We'll be back here in the not too distant future, when it is time to play the letter "G" on my list.
