6 FEET FROM LOVE: FUTURE OF DATING AFTER LOCKDOWN
No hugging, no kissing, no handshakes — will romance after lockdown blossom on the virtual space alone? Or will people take additional measures to vet their matches before meeting up in person? Anita Gautam, a psychiatrist, says, “The hesitation around meeting new people in the physical world will linger for some time... Physical distancing may lead to more breakups as people seek new relationships based on shared interests and compatibility.”
HANDSHAKE? NO, THANKS
Comfort about physical intimacy is a concern. Delhibased professional Rahul Verma says, “Asymptomatic people carry the virus, but don’t show any symptoms. So, how do you know that the person you are meeting for a date doesn’t have the virus?”
QUALITY CONVERSATION
Stripped of the ambience of a restaurant or pub, the quality of the conversation on a date comes into focus. “The term protection will be used for masks now, and instead of going to restaurants and pubs, couples would prefer staying indoors. Hence, quality conversations would come into play,” feels Tanvi Jain, a journalist who hails from Kanpur.
ROMANCE WON’T DIE
With quality conversations, romance will never die. And the most important thing to look for in a partner is compatibility. Tanya Mukherjee, a Delhi-based urban planner, says, “Everybody thinks this is a bad time for dating, but I think it’s a great time. You can actually sit down and get to know someone. It’s romantic.”