The curious case of Tinder

As a writer and a journalist, you are always on the lookout for stories, for experiences and love. And if this is combined to an extrovert like me, the opportunities are endless. Ahem. Quite the wrong start. Anyway. Of course, this is why even while we are busy at work, there are stories being shared, links popping up on our chat boxes even though the other person is sitting right next to you and well, a whole lot of social media sharing.

That’s when, Miss Paul, distraught with the never ending complexities of my love life, sent me the link of an article on the app, Tinder. Few years back, I would have been flabbergasted by the possibility of meeting someone by just swiping right on your phone screen (I admit even today, Tinder is the most judgemental app there is), but that day, I was interested. And more so, my friend with a boyfriend was excited to try the app from my phone, under my name.

And so it started, after what seemed like an endless time of swiping left, we swiped right. And it’s a match. Even before I could answer to the ‘hey’, Miss Paul is texting and thinking what to answer next. Within minutes, I’m bored, for the guy on the other end, already wants to know if I had dinner. Clingy much?

So then Miss Paul retired for the day and I continued with the swiping. After a few more matches and people to whom I’d rather not apply, came along this guy who starts off with a not-so-perfect one-liner. Now any other day, I would have thought that this was just random but hey, I was already smiling. And so the conversation started.

Now, as a journalist, there are only two things you really possess that can impress two kinds of people – your drunk friends as you get them entry to the best pub in town with your press card and your boss with your editing and writing skills. I wouldn’t think that either of that would help me on Tinder but then life has other plans right? So, that’s how we talk. With me editing this stranger’s Statement Of Purpose. He definitely did have a purpose, I for one, was on tinder and editing SOPs. Not complaining, since I was the one who offered to do it in the first place.

But then one thing led to other and the conversation was deemed interesting. A few days down the road and from SOPs, alcohol, sleep and food were the topics of discussion. And since randomness and I have a long association, I agreed to meet the guy for drinks. Let’s name him Tinder Boy, shall we?

A few drinks then, a movie and quite a few drunken encounters, of which I am more than just embarrassed, later, it’s been quite a while of knowing Tinder Boy (but hey, I already knew a lot from his SOP, his career history to be precise).

While Tinder Boy manages to find time, there have been quite a few others who popped up from the continuous swiping that had happened. One who didn’t want to waste a minute and start dating immediately, the other who persistently over the weeks has been messaging even though the replies come to him once in a week or so and the I’m-so-perfect Doctor. Dear doctor, when you are talking to someone who’s a journalist, who can be the next big thing after a crime investigation officer, it doesn’t take long to figure out that you have a girlfriend of 8 years.

And while I’m going to take a break from the swiping, it’s been a pleasure knowing Tinder boy. Numbers have been exchanged and I’m still getting to know him (and my friends are assuming that there’s a whole lot going on already), it’s one point to thank Tinder for.  So long, then.