Roopa’s dreading the ‘Meet the Parents’ dinner ahead. She’s hoping her dad will be held up at the Mela meeting, at least that would be one less embarrassment to worry about. Then it’s too late to worry because Aidan’s at the door. Roopa steals a quick kiss before her mum appears. Aidan laughs, it’s like being a teenager all over again. Roopa begs him not to judge her by her parents – they are so conventional. Then she reminds him again not to drop her in it and to remember ‘he was never at Glastonbury’. Rita joins them and introduces herself. Aidan immediately launches into a charm offensive and has Rita eating out of his hand in minutes. He’s definitely trying to make a good impression and its working a treat.
They have some nibbles while they wait for Pradeep. When he eventually arrives Pradeep complains that he got a really hard time at the Mela meeting because Sway had to change the stage location. He was only thinking of the animals! They finally sit down to dinner and Pradeep asks Aidan about the set he and Roopa will be doing at the Mela. He’s pleased that at least Aidan doesn’t care the stage has been moved. Pradeep’s hoping that there won’t be too much loud, shouty music. Aidan reassures him that their stuff isn’t shouty. Pradeep’s relieved, he wonders what happened to the days of gentle, folksy music that soothed your soul. Roopa scoffs, she hates folk music but Aidan goes right up in Pradeep’s estimation when he confesses to liking a bit of Christy Moore. Pradeep jumps up and puts a Christy Moore CD on which luckily Aidan recognises.
Pradeep has warmed to Aidan and asks him about his holiday. Aidan lies smoothly, describing the gite in Provence that his parents have a time share in. He’s so convincing that Pradeep is ready to book a trip himself. After Aidan has left Rita and Pradeep are almost gushing in their praise of him. The good impression is quickly smashed though when Sean pops in to return Roopa’s sleeping bag. The one he borrowed at Glastonbury, because she didn’t need it as she was sleeping in the campervan … with Aidan…
