"And I know that I have a scar on my back that looks like a swastika, you don't think that's come up every single time I've dated a Jewish guy?"

"You have one?"

"A jewish guy in my life or?"

"No a swasticker."

"Yes, the latter."

"I didn't ever notice that!"

"Well maybe you could get cataract surgery, old man!"


"Are you ready for this?" she asked as they listened to the gentle chimes of the doorbell through the door.

"I'm fine," he said as he squeezed her hand.

"Babe, your hands are so sweaty it's like holding to a frog."

"What? How often do you hold frogs?"

"That's actually a pretty interesting story," she began, but stopped abruptly when the door swung open and they were both caught in the intense gaze of a lovely older woman who bore a startling resemblance to her daughter.

"Hi, I'm Danny Castellano," he said, reaching his hand out to shake hers.

"No!" Mindy cried. "Don't shake his hand, he's slippery!"

"Mindy!"

"I'm sorry, babe, but it's true." She stepped forward and her mother's face softened into a warm smile as she wrapped her arms around Mindy.

"I know who you are, we've heard so much about you from Rishi. From Mindy, not so much," Mindy's mother said, her voice rather richer than her daughter's. "Lovely to finally meet you."

"Thanks for having me, Mrs Lahiri. Um, Dr Lahiri." he cleared his throat nervously and looked past her at the gently milling crowd behind her. "I, uh, I'm excited to meet everyone."

"Come in, we've plenty to eat and Mindy can show you around. I need to attend to some hostess duties, but we will talk later," Mindy's mother nodded meaningfully.

As soon as they walked through the door Mindy was swamped with little girls who were presumably cousins asking about her clothes and admiring her handbag. She was swept away, and Danny stood alone in the front hall taking in the scene around him.

"Danny!"

"Hey Rishi, great to see you," he swung his hand out to meet Rishi's as the younger man walked forward.

"Dude, why is your hand damp?" Rishi wiped his hand against his slacks.

"Sorry. So this is your family?"

"Yeah, like all 7000 of us. I find it's easier to just give in and nod at any and all advice offered and keep drinks hidden all over the house in case you get cornered. Are you ready for this?" Rishi asked with raised eyebrows.

"Why do people keep asking me that?"

Two hours and a few more drinks later, Danny stood in Mindy's childhood bedroom looking at brightly colored collages of the cast of Friends and a gigantic BoyzIIMen poster. He felt hands slip through his arms from behind and jumped. "I didn't even hear you come in!" he squeaked.

"Okay, that was a bit dramatic, who else here would sneak up to hug you?" she asked with narrowed eyes.

"You'd be surprised. Your family has been very welcoming. I mean VERY welcoming."

"It was Anisha, wasn't it?" she gasped. "I knew she was a little too interested when she asked what size jeans you wear!"

"You told her what size I wear?"

"Of course not! Don't worry about it, I will sort her out later."

He slipped away from her and moved to her CD rack, he ran his finger across the spines. "There is a surprising amount of Garth Brooks here, Min."

"Well it was the 90's. Everyone had Friends in Low Places."

"No, no, I think it's great. Who knew my girl could do the Electric slide?"

"Okay, that's enough."

"Why aren't these at your apartment?"

"Because, old man, I have all of these on my phone. Why would I need all this plastic when my phone does everything I used to need the library for."

"Okay we've talked about this, libraries are cornerstones on which our culture is built. Where would we be if these fine institutions didn't collect all of human knowledge in one place and then share with anyone.."

She kissed him, "You're making my point for me, old man. But as it happens I agree. Libraries are the shit."

He kissed her back and smiled. "With all the books in this room I figured you spent every Saturday at the library, returning everything you'd read that week, asking for recommendations for the coming week. Reading People magazine."

"How dare you, I was on dates every Saturday. I was very popular."

"You have literally told me a dozen times that you didn't get hot until college. It's why you..." She kissed him silent again.

"Doesn't matter, I'm hot now, aren't I?"

"Yes you are," he grinned. "Hey," he said as he walked up to her dressing table. "What's the R for? It says MRL. Why not MLL? Your ID says your middle name is Lorelai."

"I told you, IDs are meant to be aspirational. And I didn't want to tell you this way, but my middle name is...a family name."

"I have a family name too, it's no big deal."

"My name is Rajnighanda. Mindy Rajnighanda."

"Rajiniganja," he said slowly.

"Ugh, this is "swasticker" all over again. Rajnighanda, not ganja, that's drugs."

"Rajnighanda. I like it."

"Ugh, no you don't. No one likes it, which is why I never tell anyone. You've never told me your middle name, by the way."

"Daniel. My middle name is Daniel."

"What? Then what's your first name?"

"Alan. I haven't used it in..a long time."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. I am a little less conflicted about it these days. But I don't really think it's fair to give a kid a family name they have to live up to. Or down to."

"Oh I agree. I'd never throw Rajnighanda at an infant."

"Our kids can have brand new names."

"Whoa, did you just say our kids?"

He blushed darkly. "Yeah. Sorry, just got a little carried away. And I'm a little miffed that my dad recycled my actual name for his daughter. That's weird."

"You're right! Why have we not talked about this before? What is that about?"

"I don't know. I mean I guess it could be a compliment."

"Sure. It does suit her though. So maybe a recycled name isn't all bad?"

"Maybe."

She looked up thoughtfully. "Chloe Danielle Castellano-Lahiri. Danielle Piper Lahiri-Castellano. Hmm.."

"Now who's getting carried away?"

"Sorry, sorry," she stepped closer. "You know, Alan doesn't suit you at all. You're not an Alan. Daniel's a good name. Daniel's a guy who steps up. Daniel's handsome, if a little arrogant."

"Hey!"

She smiled softly. "Daniel is kind. Daniel has completely charmed my family."

"Really?"

"Daniel has charmed me. Daniel is loved. And Daniel is getting lucky tonight."

"I'll get our coats."