Dating and dating apps

I got onto dating apps in my early 20s quite facetiously—almost like an internal joke with myself. “Love is right around the corner, but you’re too young to find it without having your own share of experiences and being tied down too fast. Make it wait a little. It’s dying to come to you,” I thought.

Joke’s on me now. I thought I was the one making love wait. Hah, the naivety of youth. Youth and its promises are wonderful—and highly delusional. I mean, where does all that confidence come from? Especially for someone like me, who lacks confidence on most days. No, wait—I think the right way to put it is that I have realistic optimism.

Anyway, as I inch closer to my 30s, with several experiences, learnings, and the bittersweet flavours of reality in my mouth, online dating (and dating, for that matter) no longer seem like silly specks I can just dust off. They’ve become heavier things I now turn back and reflect on.

The hoarder and collector that I am—someone who operates on nostalgia and savours memories—decided to do what I do best: write about it. Because having all these experiences and nothing to show for them would feel like such a waste—and frankly, quite anxiety-inducing.

So here’s me, kickstarting this series of anonymously documenting some of my experiences, hits and misses, and learnings from modern online dating. For relatability? Humour? Something to be facetious about 10–20 years down the line, when I’m (hopefully) married? God only knows. But if you’re reading—enjoy the ride.