Once the waitress steps away, I continue our chat. ‘That sounds both exhausting and rewarding. I’m really happy for you two. How’s Chulbul coping with everything? It must be hard for her, no? You guys must come and stay with me in Delhi whenever you decide to take a little break.’

‘Offer accepted, dude. Chulbul’s doing okay. Some days are tough, but we’re both figuring this new phase out together. Parenting is teamwork, just like marriage is. But wait, this actually makes me want to know if and when you’re tying the knot!’ He winks.

‘Well, there is someone I’ve been seeing. I wanted to tell you about her in person, that’s why I haven’t brought this up over the phone. Her name is Nia. I’m hopeful that marriage is on the cards for us, but for now, we’re moving in together, which is also a big move. Nia has professional commitments here in Mumbai and since I can practically work from anywhere, we’re looking for a flat here. I’ll be partially based out of Mumbai now. Maybe someday soon I’ll have a little family of my own as well,’ I say wistfully.

‘Wow, that’s amazing news, dude! We can all hang out together now. When am I meeting her?’

‘Soon,’ I reply. ‘But there’s something else that I wanted to talk to you about.’

Vedant looks at me expectantly.

‘I, ahem, I’ve signed up with a new AI-powered app that promises to find you a suitable partner. It’s in the beta stages, and the actual chances of finding a “soulmate” are super slim … the thing is, I’ve been feeling kind of guilty for wanting to try it out. But I’m just not so sure about Nia, you know what I mean?’ I mumble. I’m not confident he’ll understand what I mean.

‘I understand, man,’ he says sincerely.

And suddenly, I feel better. The weight I’d been carrying in my heart feels lighter. Vedant always gets me.

‘Everything happens in its own time. And the truth is, when you know, you know. But if you’re not so sure about your current relationship, then there’s no harm in trying this app out, or any other medium for that matter,’ Vedant continues.

‘Thanks for the reassurance, dude.’ I smile. His words have brought me much comfort.

‘What does Nia do by the way?’ he asks.

‘She’s a model and a social media influencer.’

‘That sounds, umm, interesting.’ He frowns, looking a little sceptical. ‘Anyway, I would love to meet her sometime.’