I still walked her to the station — it was only polite

DATING PAST

I Had a four-year relationship which ended in my early 20s and I’ve been dating on and off over the past decade. I lived in Germany for two-anda-half years in my mid-20s. While it’s been good for my career, it has meant my love life has taken a back seat.

PRE-DATE NERVES?

Just a little bit, even though this isn’t my first blind date.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

I Was ten minutes late and apologised profusely. supriya was wearing a black skirt with a multicoloured blouse while I had on a smart shirt, blue chinos and blue suede shoes. supriya is very pretty but isn’t my usual type. even so, I was open-minded about our date.

EASY TO TALK TO?

at tHe beginning it was easy. at first, we stuck to safe subjects such as our jobs and our travels. I asked where she’d like to go most in the world and was surprised when she said it was Benidorm — I was expecting somewhere exotic. In the last 30 minutes of our meal it became clear she wanted to leave and it was awkward. Was it a train she had to get or was it that I had said something wrong? I’m an overthinker and it troubled me.

EMBARRASSING MOMENTS?

suPrIya has the loudest laugh. she easily drowned out the ambience of the restaurant.

DID SPARKS FLY?

to BeGIN with, I thought there was a flicker of something. But, as the date went on, it fizzled out.

SEE THEM AGAIN?

I asked supriya if she wanted to exchange numbers and she said she wasn’t sure if we were allowed to. It was a bit odd. I’d have liked to go on for another drink afterwards and perhaps then supriya would have relaxed more. Who knows? But it was clear it wasn’t going to happen.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE THOUGHT OF YOU?

I HoPe I’m a nice guy, someone who is down-to-earth with a good sense of humour. However, it was the end of the week and I was tired, so maybe she wasn’t seeing me at my best? even so, I definitely don’t think she saw me as the next mr supriya. But then, I didn’t see her as Hal’s plus one either.

WOULD YOUR FRIENDS LIKE HER?

INItIally, yes. But they’d find it hard to keep a conversation going with her. even so, I still walked her to the tube station. It was only polite.