Our first date was everything a woman dreams of and more. He picked me up in his Mercedes, looking impeccable in a tailored suit that probably cost more than my monthly salary, but his manner was warm and unpretentious. We went to Bukhara, one of Delhi’s most exclusive restaurants, where he had somehow secured a private table despite the fact that the waiting list typically stretched for months.

Throughout the evening, Raghav demonstrated a level of thoughtfulness that impressed me deeply. He remembered that I had mentioned being vegetarian during our brief conference conversation and had specifically requested a menu that would showcase the restaurant’s best plant-based dishes. He asked about my family, my career goals, and my interests outside of work, listening to my answers with the kind of focused attention that made me feel like the most fascinating woman in the world.

“I have to admit,” he said over dessert, his smile both charming and slightly vulnerable, “I’ve never met anyone quite like you, Anjali. You’re brilliant, accomplished, and completely comfortable in your own skin. It’s incredibly attractive.”