Chapter 87: The Priya Situation
June 2010. Wednesday afternoon.
Raj walks into my shop with a woman. Mid-twenties. Professional clothes. Confident stride.
"Stuart, this is my sister Priya. She's in LA for work."
The memory hits like a freight train.
Priya. Leonard. Dating. Disaster. Raj caught in the middle. Friend group fracturing. Drama for months.
"Nice to meet you," I manage.
"Raj talks about this place constantly." She's browsing already. Picking up trades. "He says you're the reason he can actually talk to women now."
"That's—exaggerated."
"Clearly not that exaggerated."
Leonard walks in ten minutes later. Sees Priya. Does a double-take.
"Oh. Hi."
"Leonard, right? Raj's roommate?"
"Yeah. You're—Priya?"
"Guilty."
They're talking. Chemistry's immediate.
No. No no no.
My memory's screaming. This is the bad timeline. The one where Leonard dates Raj's sister, it implodes, everyone picks sides, Raj loses his mind.
I need to redirect this. Fast.
"Priya," I interrupt. "What kind of law do you practice?"
"Corporate. Entertainment contracts mostly."
Perfect.
"You should meet David Chen. Entertainment lawyer. Does work for Marvel. Just moved to LA from New York."
"I—okay?"
I'm texting David before she can object.
Me: You free? Need intro to entertainment lawyer. Cute, smart, single.
David: Always free for cute and smart. Where?
Me: My shop. 20 minutes.
He shows up in fifteen. Suit. Briefcase. Looking professional.
"David, Priya. Priya, David. You're both lawyers who work in entertainment. Discuss."
They shake hands.
And something clicks.
They start talking. Contract law. Industry gossip. Shared frustrations about clients.
Leonard's watching. Confused.
Raj is oblivious. Just happy his sister's making friends.
I pull Leonard aside.
"Can we talk? Outside?"
On the sidewalk. Cars passing.
"What was that?" Leonard asks.
"What was what?"
"You just—matchmade my potential date."
"She's not your potential date."
"I was about to ask for her number."
"Don't."
"Why not?"
"Because she's wrong for you."
"You don't know that."
"Leonard. Trust me. Priya's great. But she's not your person."
"And David is?"
"David's a better match. They're both lawyers. Both in entertainment. Both—" I search for words. "—compatible in ways you and Priya aren't."
"That's—you can't just decide that."
"I'm not deciding. I'm observing. And my observation is that you and Priya would be a disaster."
"Based on what? We just met."
"Based on instinct."
"Your instinct."
"Which has been pretty reliable."
He's frustrated. Picking at the brick wall.
"What about Penny?"
"What about her?"
"You told me to pursue Penny when she comes back. But she's not back yet. And Priya's here now."
"So wait."
"For how long?"
"As long as it takes."
"That's not—" He stops. "Why are you so invested in this?"
Because I know the future and you dating Priya destroys friend group dynamics for six months.
"Because you're my friend. And I don't want to see you make a mistake."
"A mistake."
"Yes."
"You're being controlling."
"I'm being helpful."
"Those aren't the same thing."
We stand there. Traffic humming. The sun's too bright.
"Leonard. Please. Trust me on this. Priya's not right for you. Give it time with Penny."
"And if Penny doesn't work out?"
"Then you find someone else. Not Raj's sister."
"Why not Raj's sister?"
Because that creates impossible complications when it inevitably ends badly.
"Because friend group dynamics. Dating within the social circle is complicated enough. Dating Raj's sister while living with Raj? That's a powder keg."
He's quiet. Then: "You really think it's that bad?"
"I really think it's that bad."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"I trust you. Your instincts have been—yeah. Good. So. Okay."
Relief floods through me.
"Thank you."
"But you owe me. If Penny doesn't work out, you're helping me find someone."
"Deal."
Inside. Priya and David are exchanging business cards.
"Coffee tomorrow?" David's asking.
"I'm only in town through Friday."
"Then coffee today. I'm flexible."
"Okay."
They leave together. Already talking.
Raj is beaming. "My sister's making professional connections. This is excellent."
Leonard's watching them go. Expression unreadable.
"You okay?" I ask quietly.
"Yeah. Just—you were right. They look good together."
"They do."
"Still think you're controlling."
"Fair."
After everyone leaves, I'm restocking. Hands busy.
My memory let me prevent a disaster. Priya and Leonard never start dating. Never implode. Never fracture the friend group.
But I just manipulated my friend's romantic life based on knowledge I shouldn't have.
Is that ethical?
I decide it is. Preventing pain is different from causing it.
Sometimes the best intervention is the invisible one.
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