But they fall into the category of great friends and lovers who delve, together, into unique scientific disciplines. Their specialties overlap yet are quite distinct as are their interests. Charlie is more prone to figuring out a problem in his head--and writing a book--while Amita sees a potential for emergence, "a game taking on a life of its own."
The most telling aspect of Charlie and Amita's relationship--the thing that makes them a sci-fi geeky couple--is Larry's quote after Charlie and Amita try to go on dates and talk about "normal" things (movies and such).
Dr. Larry Fleinhardt: That there's something else you have to talk about [strikes me as odd]. See, where you see two people unable to talk about politics or movies--
Charlie Eppes: Hey, movies, I - I can - I can talk about - I just saw the penguin movie.
Dr. Larry Fleinhardt: --I see two extraordinary minds that can communicate on the purest level a man and woman can interface on. [Pauses to think.] Okay, second purest.
Charlie Eppes: Geek love.
Dr. Larry Fleinhardt: Hey, no better kind.
Larry's point, which later proves correct, is that rather than the mundane, domestic events proceeding the extraordinary and sublime, the relationship can work the other way round. Charlie and Amita do become a functional couple (they can discuss house-hunting as well as the cosmos).
The potential for both is indicated early on before Charlie and Amita are "steady"--but they have been working together for awhile.
Amita wants to help a young Indian woman and doesn't know how. Charlie says, "Why not ask your grandmother? She seemed to have good ideas." Charlie is talking out loud--he isn't trying to tell Amita what to do--but his suggestion gives her an epiphany, and she kisses him.
Geek love-to-real life: it's possible!
