It's not the pretty trinkets that are strewn all around the house now. Or the rows and rows of hard covers on the shelf. Or the clothes that look like something out of Gossip Girl. Or the expensive looking bicycle mounted on the wall. Incredibly enough, it is the bed that tips Penny about Natasha's financial condition. The only bit of furniture that her new roommate brought with her. (She doesn't use curtains. Penny doesn't ask why.) When Penny sits on it, her butt feels like it has died and gone to heaven. The bed is firm but not hard, and the silk sheets feel smooth against Penny's recently shaved legs. Natasha is hanging up the last of her clothes and has her back to Penny. She's an Indian like Raj, only a bit fairer. Penny doesn't know how she can afford this as someone who just graduated and doesn't start working till next week, so she asks. Not as bluntly as Sheldon might have, but nevertheless it comes out a bit ruder than expected. Natasha isn't fazed. "My parents paid for it."
She's in corporate law. Penny cringes when she remembers the "Penelope Ross College Fund". She has no idea what her parents did with it. She was supposed to be a mechanic. But then she turned 16 and her boobs had a growth spurt and all she wanted to do was hang out with the cool kids. (Her dad still complains that the tractors on the farm don't run as smoothly, now that she isn't around to take care of them.) Once again, Penny resolves to be better. But how much better can she be at The Cheesecake Factory? Shaking off the grim thoughts, she offers to introduce Natasha to their neighbors.
Fortunately Howard isn't there when they arrive. And as they travel together, neither is Raj. Penny is reminded of herself when Natasha heads right over to Sheldon's whiteboard, ignoring Leonard. But unlike her, Natasha actually understands what's written on the board. She asks questions and Penny is surprised when he actually answers instead of being nasty. She and Leonard shrug at each other, unused to Sheldon speaking with strangers without insulting them.
It is on this scene that Raj and Howard walk in, holding take-out containers. Predictably, Howard tries to impress her.
"You didn't tell us you have such a hot friend, Penny." Leers at Natasha. "A pleasure, mademoiselle." He says in a slimy accent, taking her hand.
Natasha jerks her hand back. "Firstly, do not touch me. I have an aversion to strange people invading my personal space. Secondly if you're attempting to have any kind of sexual contact with me, it's not on the table." Turns towards Penny. "I like our new neighbors, but if this is the kind of man they break bread with, I no longer wish to spend any time with them." She gently closes the door behind her.
The room is silent. Leonard and Raj are staring at Howard wordlessly. Howard is open mouthed in shock. Girls do reject him, but not before he has said at least 5 sentences. Penny wonders why she has never done that. Sheldon looks on, unsure. He has never considered that his association with Howard could make him seem like a sleaze too.
Someone knocks on the door. Natasha opens it to find the sleazy guy standing there, along with Sheldon.
"I'm sorry for my behavior." The apology seems sincere. He stands there wordlessly, unable to explain his weird behavior to a stranger.
Sheldon chimes in. "And I can assure you that I'm nothing like him."
Natasha considers the men before her. One of them is her neighbor, and having a good relation with her neighbors when she's in a strange city would be beneficial. The other one does seem sorry.
Sheldon continues. "If you would like to join us for dinner, we're trying Korean food today. And we can introduce you to Raj as well." She hesitantly agrees.
In silent support for Penny, the guys have stopped drinking around her. Which means Raj has been communicating with hand gestures and head nods. Even an occasional smile. Penny, who introduces Raj, is about to say that he doesn't really talk much, when Natasha starts talking with him in a language that none of the others know, but guess to be Hindi. And to the eternal surprise of the others, Rajesh Koothrapalli actually talks back. Not in the awkward, stuttering sentences that Penny has gotten used to either. This is a side of him she has never seen, enthusiastic and pleasant; babbling away about God knows what. And from the little giggles Natasha is letting out, charmingly funny as well. Natasha is the one who notices the staring first. She tapers off, looking uncertainly at Penny.
"Wow." Leonard voices all of their thoughts.
Penny expects Raj to squeak and shrink back into himself. Instead, he says something to Natasha, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh." She says. "That's one I have never heard before." There is no meanness in her tone, simply surprised acceptance.
"Yeah." Raj says, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"So why don't you write it down instead?"
Howard answers for him. "His therapist thinks it will be counter productive. If he thinks there is a way that he can communicate effectively without speaking, he won't feel the need to actually speak at all." His tone is subdued, eyes never leaving the carpet.
"But he's speaking just fine with you." Leonard says, still amazed.
"Maybe a familiar language makes him comfortable." Natasha guesses. Says something to Raj. He rolls his eyes and replies, a small smile on his face. The others are still staring.
"Excuse me, but if I'm to keep to my schedule, we need to begin eating." Sheldon says, and the tension in the room breaks.
Natasha raises her eyebrows at Penny, who mouths "Later."
Howard huddles under his covers, unable to sleep. Never before has his behavior been pointed out to him in such a humiliating and straight forward manner. And he had seen the look Sheldon had given him, the careful calculation in his eyes. If even Sheldon thinks associating with him is going to be a problem, other people will certainly think so. And, says a snide voice in his head, isn't it high time you grew up and sorted out your issues?
Howard doesn't want to lose his friends. Not even Sheldon. For all his obnoxiousness, he is one of the brightest minds Howard has met and it's a privilege to know him. Howard decides to ask Raj for his therapists' contact number.
