Raj arrived at work, and began the task of studying stars. That task no longer satisfied him. It seemed like an exercise in futility. What was the point of learning about stars that mankind would never be able to travel to? It was like looking at a travel brochure for a destination you would never reach. Lunchtime could not come soon enough.
Finally, lunchtime arrived. Raj saw Leonard, and took a seat by him.
"Hi, Leonard. Sorry I left on such short notice," said Raj.
"It's okay. You left a note, and I understand why you wanted to get away," answered Leonard.
"Yeah, I feel like a sinking ship, and I didn't want to drag anyone else down with me," Raj explained. "Maybe I should stop wasting my time trying to find a girl. Maybe I'm meant to be single for the rest of my life."
"You may be right," interjected Sheldon. "Neither Orville nor Wilbur Wright got married or had children. The same is true for Coco Chanel, Henry David Thoreau, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Simone de Beauvoir, and Queen Elizabeth I."
"Don't give up so soon," counseled Howard. "I didn't really think I would ever get married until I met Bernadette. And now I'm living the good life."
"You say that now," countered Sheldon. "Let's see if you feel the same way when Halley is as old as Raj."
"Sheldon!" Leonard scolded.
"No, he has a valid point," Raj groaned. "My parents got divorced after decades of being together. You never think it will happen to your parents until it does. Maybe couples have expiration dates like jugs of milk."
"A fascinating topic for future research," beamed Sheldon. "I will get right on designing a survey to predict the longevity of a couple's relationship."
Leonard turned on Raj. "Congratulations. You've sent Sheldon off on an ultra-bizzaro tangent and put us behind schedule on our top secret project. I hope you're proud of yourself!"
"So do I," Sheldon elaborated. "Now I have a academic purpose beyond CalTech walls."
"Now I know I made the right choice moving out," Raj muttered, standing up and walking away.
"Aren't you going to finish eating?" asked Howard.
"You guys can have what's left," Raj responded. "All three of you deserve it more than I do."
There is more to come...