Enlightenment chapter four

Raj p.o.v

Life sucked. I had always suspected it, now I knew. All I had to do was to speak up, or try to, but no- as Penny walked out of the apartment, I said nothing.

Even after the door had closed behind Penny, I could have said something but I had kept quiet. Letting her take the blame and the shame: 'Yes life indeed sucked'.

I had been so swept up with the laughing and back slapping, all of which had come from Howard. Him and has stupid blog within hours I was: 'the Indian stud'. Howard was even trying to sell my story to Playboy.

I had not spoken to Penny since that morning; a text message was ready on my phone. All I had to do was press…. 'Send'. Thinking about that night with Penny, how drunk we both were, the way she had let me carry her to the bedroom. Her sweet kiss…then blank. My mind was a total blank. Yes, I remembered waking up naked next to Penny and it was as amazing as all the times I had dreamed of doing that. No. I had to make this right; the sadness on Sheldon's face, as he had looked at Penny left a hollow spot in the pit of my stomach.

Penny and Sheldon were both my friends: 'I owed them the truth'. Standing outside of 4A, I tried to think of what I could say, what would be the worst that could happen? Priya would yell at me. Big deal.

…...

Raj walked straight into 4A, without knocking, he was feeling brave tonight.

"Sheldon I need to talk to yooooow." As soon as Raj caught sight of Penny, his selective mutism kicked in. His first instinct was to turn and run. Sheldon, however, had other ideas "Raj, sit down." Even Penny was taken aback by the tune of his voice.

Raj very reluctantly sat down facing Penny and Sheldon.

"We seem to have an abundance of takeout, will you join us?" Raj nodded his head as Sheldon stood up and moved to the kitchen area. Raj looked down at the floor he could not meet Penny's eyes.

Penny could not bear it "Raj we're ok. I need you as my friend" Raj slowly looked up, a slight smile on his face. Sheldon placed his takeout on the coffee table, plus one bottle of beer.

"Your limit is one bottle as we need to talk, no more. I've seen the consequences of alcohol on both of you." Sheldon looked at Penny and Raj who both burst out laughing.

As Raj drank his beer, he looked at Penny: "I'm so sorry Penny. I should have spoken up earlier." Sheldon looked anything but impressed "That would seem a rather moot point; it seems you were very neglectful in regard to your friendship with Penny."

"Penny I'm so" Raj was cut off by the appearance of Priya and Leonard from the bedroom.

"Rajesh, why are you here? I told you to keep away" Raj turned and looked angrily at his sister.

"I'm not a child; I'm a grown man. I will do as I please." Raj turned back to Penny "Penny that night may have been a mistake, but I'm not sorry for everything we did. I just hope I was a gentleman. Sadly, I still can't remember thing about it."

Penny stood up and, walked up to Raj. She stroked his face "Raj you were the perfect gentleman all night, and I thank you for it." Priya looked at Penny, who went back to sit next to Sheldon. She glared at her brother before storming out of the apartment, closely followed by Leonard as he passed the couch he whispered "Call me" to Penny, who burst out laughing before the door closed.

Raj stood up "I'm sorry Sheldon but I need another beer." While Raj was getting his beer, Sheldon looked down at Penny and smiled. He whispered "Did anything actually take place that night?" Penny looked up at his face and returned his smile and shrugged "Well…"