[Cheesecake Factory]
Leonard: "I really think the best battle is the one on Hoth. It's a memorable scene."
Sheldon: "No, the Battle of Endor is much more sophisticated. The Ewoks are a brilliant representation of guerrilla strategy."
Raj, drinking a Coke: "No, Sheldon, you're wrong. The Millennium Falcon chase scene is unbeatable."
Howard: "Uh, you're forgetting that Han Solo really steals the show. No matter how much you argue about battles and strategies."
Penny, approaching with a notepad: "Hey, guys! What are you discussing?"
Leonard: "We're debating the best 'Star Wars' movie."
Penny, pretending to understand: "Right. Very interesting… And, Raj, my friend thinks you're a cutie."
Penny points to a staff member working at the counter.
Raj: "Oh, that—"
Sheldon: "Also, the final battle in 'Return of the Jedi' is a bit over the top. The Ewoks' tactics don't make realistic sense."
Raj, irritated, spits out his Coke, completely ignoring Penny: "What? Sheldon, how can you say that? The Ewoks may be small, but their strategy is brilliant!"
Penny moves away to the counter, where her friend asks her what Raj said and if he mentioned her.
Penny's Friend: "What did he say?"
Penny: "Oh, I don't know. Something about who's cooler in the universe of… I don't know, lasers and spaceships. Something like that."
"Really?" said the waitress, somewhat downcast.
.
Leslie walked into the diner casually, her eyes stopping for a moment at the table where Leonard and the others were seated.
"I didn't know you guys frequented this place," Leslie said with a slight smile, nodding at the group.
Leonard, trying to hide some nervousness, smiled back. "Oh, yes. We come here… quite often."
She nodded, adjusting her glasses. "Leonard, you still play the cello, right?"
Leonard looked a bit confused but answered. "Yes, I still play. Why?"
"We're in need of a cellist for a concert I'm organizing with some colleagues from the Physics department," Leslie said casually. "Would you mind participating? We could rehearse tomorrow night… at your place?"
Leonard, surprised by the offer, nodded quickly. "Oh, sure, that would be great."
"Great." Leslie gave him a discreet nod and began to walk away. "See you tomorrow then."
As Leslie left, Penny, who had been observing the interaction, raised an eyebrow and leaned towards Leonard with a mischievous smile.
"Hmm, you and 'Leslie', huh?… you make a cute couple."
Leonard frowned, clearly confused. "What? We're just playing together, that's all…"
Penny laughed and shrugged, leaving Leonard even more puzzled.
.
Raj lay in bed, sleeping soundly. The phone rang next to him, waking him up. He saw it was Sheldon calling and answered with a groggy voice.
Raj: (yawning) "Hello?"
Sheldon: (confused) "Raj, I'm facing a conundrum. There's a tie hanging on the door handle. What does that mean?"
Raj: "A tie on the door handle? Oh, that's a code. It means the person is busy with something personal."
Sheldon: "Busy with something personal? I'm trying to understand the protocol here. Be more specific."
Raj: "Wait, where are you?"
Sheldon: "I'm in front of Leonard's door."
Raj: "Oh, Leonard, you stud. Looks like he's doing well."
Sheldon: "Stud? I don't understand how this relates to the tie."
Raj: "Sheldon, the tie on the door handle is a sign that they're… involved in sex. It's a code for not disturbing."
Sheldon: (astonished) "Sex? So, the tie indicates an intimate occupation. This changes everything. What should I do now? Should I wait here or leave? Is there a protocol for handling this situation?"
Raj: "Oh Sheldon, you don't need to leave, just don't disturb them and everything will be fine."
Sheldon: "I see. So I should call him and let him know I got the message."
Raj: "N-no Sheldon, wait!" Before he could finish, the call was cut off.
Raj closed his eyes for a moment but quickly opened them again, clearly excited. He grabbed his phone and quickly called Howard.
Howard answered, "Raj? Do you know what time it is?"
Raj: excited "Dude, you won't believe it! Leonard… is with Leslie! Tie on the door handle, my friend!"
Howard: surprised "Wait… Leonard? Our Leonard? With Leslie?"
Raj laughing, "Yes! Sheldon was confused, called me about the tie, and guess what… Leonard is 'busy'."
Howard: "Oh, Leonard. You stud!"
.
Leonard walked through the company corridors with a confused look. He noticed many people looking at him differently, some with mischievous smiles, others with raised eyebrows.
Leonard, confused, "Okay, what's going on? Why is everyone looking at me like I just won the Nobel Peace Prize and the Physics Prize at the same time?"
Howard, with a mischievous grin, "Oh, Leonard, Leonard… Let's just say you had an 'epic performance' last night."
Leonard, even more confused, "What? What do you mean?"
Howard, seizing the moment, leaned in with a provocative gleam in his eyes, "You know, Leslie… the tie… the 'private concert' at your place…?"
Leonard: "Wait, you… how do you know? And you told everyone?!"
Howard, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, shrugged: "Of course! I posted it in the company group. I thought it was noteworthy. After all, it's not every day that Leonard Hofstadter does… well, anything interesting!"
.
Raj was climbing the stairs of Sheldon and Leonard's building, with his helmet in his right hand, wearing a dark beige jacket over a black T-shirt.
Penny was coming down the stairs carrying a laundry basket, and upon crossing paths with Raj, she smiled. "Hey, Raj! Man, you're looking stylish today! I like the jacket."
Raj smiled and replied, "Oh, it's just something simple. I like to feel comfortable, but… thanks."
Penny, noticing the helmet he was carrying, tilted her head curiously. "So… you ride a motorcycle, huh?"
Raj gave a smile. "Yes, I bought it a while ago. It's relaxing to ride around… wind in your face, you know how it is."
Penny laughed. "Oh, I remember riding a motorcycle when I lived in Omaha. Back then, I was dating a guy who had a Harley, and one time we got stuck in a snowstorm coming back home… It was crazy!"
Raj: "Sounds like you had quite an adventure."
Penny shook her head, still laughing at the memory. "Oh, yeah. But it was scary at the time. Thankfully, the weather here in Pasadena is much friendlier."
Raj smiled at the story, and the conversation continued lightly until he said his goodbyes and started to turn to continue climbing the stairs. Before he could walk away, Penny called out to him.
"Raj, wait!"
He stopped and turned back to her, curious. "What's up?"
Penny seemed a bit hesitant, fiddling with the handles of the laundry basket. "I just wanted to ask… about Leonard and Leslie. Are they… together? Like… a couple?"
Raj noticed her discomfort and smiled reassuringly. "No, relax. Leonard said it was just something casual." But in his mind, he thought: 'I can't say he got dumped.'
Penny let out a sigh of relief but tried to hide it. "Oh, I see. Well… good to know."
Raj gave a more open smile and suggested, "You two should talk later."
Penny, still a bit nervous, smiled and made a quick excuse. "Oh, yes, maybe… another day, perhaps."
Before leaving, she asked: "Raj… don't tell Leonard we talked about this, okay?"
Raj made a gesture of zipping his lips with his fingers. "My lips are sealed."
"You're a sweetheart, Raj." Penny thanked him with a smile and went down the stairs.
Raj watched her for a moment, sighed, and murmured to himself, "Ah, love… so complicated."