The continuing story of Raj and Katherine
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In the New Year Katherine returned to California and resumed her relationship with Raj. They would both attend the Sunday lunches most weeks, although some weekends they would do their own things. When it was Raj's turn to host the Sunday lunch Katherine would help out as hostess.
As the year progressed Katherine gradually became an unofficial member of the social group. Both of them were content with the relationship as it was, they both maintained their own homes even though they would spend each weekend together.
One day in the summer Amy was in the library looking up some old journals when she bumped into Katherine.
"Hello Amy, do you need any help in the library."
"No thanks Katherine, I have found what I was looking for, your colleagues were very helpful."
"Would you care for a cup of tea? I would like a word in private."
So Amy followed Katherine to her office and two cups of tea were made.
"So Amy, how am I doing with Raj?"
"Well whatever you want to do with Raj is none of our business, but as one of Raj's best friends I can say on behalf of the rest of our social group we think you are doing great together."
"That's good to know, you have all been together for a long time, it is hard to be a newcomer in such a close-knit group of friends."
"There was a time that I was the newcomer to the group, I can relate to what you are going through."
"OK, I have some questions I would like to ask you about Raj and his past relationships, if that is OK with you?"
"Ask away, I will answer the best I can."
"Could you tell me about Raj's past marriages? I know that he has been married in the past but Raj is reluctant to go into details. If our relationship is going to progress any further I would like to know about his past, I wouldn't want to make the same mistakes."
"Well the main mistake was rushing into marriage too quickly, something that you haven't done. Poor Raj has always had trouble with female relationships. When I first met him he suffered from selective mutism, he couldn't even talk to unrelated women unless he was drunk. When he finally got over that problem he always had problems with any girlfriends. Bernadette and Howard were the first of our social group to get married, then it was Penny and Leonard. After Sheldon and I got married Raj must have been really feeling left out. So he got his father to find an Indian lady for an arranged marriage.
This was Anu, a hotel manager living in California. Then when Anu's work took her to England Raj followed her and they got married straight away. It lasted 7 months before it all fell apart and Raj came back to California by himself.
Raj had a dog called Cinnamon, a veterinarian called Shuchi helped to treat Cinnamon when she was sick and they fell in love and got married. Then a year later Cinnamon died aged 13, a good age for a dog. Raj claimed his wife killed his dog and the relationship fell apart.
Finally there was Ramona, Raj knew her from earlier when she was a Ph.D student and Postdoc at Caltech. Then she went off to Harvard where she must have got married, but when this marriage broke up she returned to Caltech and started a relationship with Raj. We tried to persuade him not to rush into things but they quickly got married. All was well for six months before Ramona dumped Raj and returned to her ex-husband. Poor Raj was in a real state after that, his selective mutism returned."
"Oh poor Raj, thank you for telling me this."
"What you do together is your own decision, I just hope knowing more about Raj's past will help you. Anyway, I had better get back to work. Just to let you know that Penny, Bernadette and I sometimes go out for girls lunches, next one is on Saturday if you would like to join us. We can tell you lots of embarrassing stories about Raj's younger days :-)"
"Thank you Amy, that is very kind of you..."
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A few weeks later Raj and Katherine went away together for a week, they went to Florida for Katherine's nephews wedding then stayed there for a holiday. On their return they moved in together at Katherine's house.
Then one day Raj was in his office at Caltech when there was a knock on the door
"Come in" and Ramona entered
"Hello Raj, I am back, I am sure that you want to get back with me"
"No, go away" and then Shuchi entered
"Hello Raj, good news Cinnamon has been restored to health so we can get back together. Who is this?"
Then Anu entered "Hello Raj, I am back from London, what are these ladies doing here."
"I don't want any of you here, Katherine come and help!"
Katherine appeared "excuse me ladies, you are all in the wrong place..."
Then Raj woke up "Oh Katherine, it's really you, what a strange dream I had!"
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Two days later it was Halley and Amy's joint birthday party
Raj and Katherine entered holding hands
"Happy Birthday Halley and Amy, we have some news, we are engaged to be married!"