In "Raj returns to Cambridge", part of my "Life without Penny" series, Raj meets Samina and they head off to India to get married. What happens next?
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Miami Airport, Raj and Samina are preparing to fly home from their honeymoon in Florida.
Samina gave Howard a hug
"Thank you Howard to you and your mother for your kind hospitality whilst we have been here in Florida. The tour of Kennedy Space Centre was fantastic. I hope we see you soon on our side of the pond."
Howard replied "It has been great to have the two of you here, look after Raj." Howard then turned to Raj "You look after Samina Raj, you have got a good one here."
Raj and Samina entered the airport together, Raj said to his wife "Now for British Airways and then back to reality."
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Twenty-Four hours later Raj and Samina were both back at work at the University of Cambridge. Towards the end of the day Samina phoned her husband.
"Hello my dear husband, what a day today, I bet you have had a hard day today as well. I can't face eating at home tonight, I have just made a reservation at our favourite restaurant, Sunil is expecting us for 6pm."
6.05pm, Raj entered the restaurant. Samina was chatting to Sunil the waiter.
"Welcome back, how's married life?"
"So far so good, we have had a hectic few weeks. We had 10 days in India for the wedding and then 10 days in Florida where we visited with Raj's old friend Howard. We got back last night and it was back to work today. Here's Raj."
Raj shook hands with Sunil and kissed his wife.
Samina said "I have given Sunil our usual order."
"Great, thank you Sunil" as Raj sat down with his wife.
Samina started talking straight away.
"What a day today, there were a million emails waiting for me when I got to work and people kept bothering me asking about the wedding and the honeymoon. After lunch I was in an examiners meeting, new lecturers have to help to plan out all the exams. That meeting dragged on until 4pm. Finally a chance to go through the emails then Darwin College phoned me, that was another 45 minutes gone. I was only able to ascend the lower foothills of the email mountain at the end of the work day."
Raj took hold of his wife's hands "Don't panic my dear, it will all be there in the morning, don't check your email when we get home."
"Thank you Raj, anyway how was your day?"
"It was hectic, but not quite as bad as yours. I got about halfway up my email mountain, although there is an ominous looking email from Wolfson College that I haven't opened yet. I spent most of the afternoon with the two Ph.D students that I share with Professor Anderson. Professor Anderson has been away in Sweden the last few months so I have had to do all the supervision. One proudly showed me his first draft Ph.D thesis chapter, the other was panicking about some data analysis."
"Just like when we were Ph.D students. I have this to look forward to with the weekly Ph.D students meeting on Wednesday."
"Here is Sunil with the Naan bread…."
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At the end of the email, after they had paid the bill and said goodnight to Sunil. Samina said
"Thanks for that Raj, I needed it after a long first day back."
"No problem Samina, lets get home and carry on living happy ever after."