The engineer in me is itching to analyse how AILENA has been programmed to match two people. What could Asmitha have used? Did she copy what we’d planned for our project? How can I figure this out? I open the app and explore its features, but I’m disappointed to note that nothing seems to have been copied from our project. Asmitha has certainly worked very hard on this idea and refined it. So, all my aspirations to sue her take a backseat. I’m rather inspired to work with her and become a part of this project instead. I’m still mulling over what can be done, when I get a chat notification on the app.

Neer: Hello! I miss you already. How’s your day going? I said NO to her. It felt so good to break up.

I’m quite surprised by Neer’s messages. He reminds me of Nirvaan. Only Nirvaan could’ve done such a thing. He used to do everything I told him to do! Or maybe men are actually naïve enough to let go of the old for the new. Maybe Nirvaan was like any other man, and now so is Neer.

Me: What! You really broke up?

Neer: Yes! I did.

Me: Wow.

Neer: Yeah, well. Anyway, how did your day go?

Me: My day went well. I went for a long run in the community park, then picked up my favourite burger on the way back and spent the afternoon watching a Christmas movie on Netflix with the family. But wait, how are you coping? Breakups are hard.

Neer: Don’t ask. I’m banking on you to fix me, baby!

Me: Haha! Now I’m a little more convinced about being here! Let’s try giving ‘us’ a shot.

Neer: Thank God! Do you ever come to India?

Me: I’ve … umm … only gone back for my visa renewal, so I don’t really think I went back in the real sense. I might have to come for my next visa renewal this March.

Neer: Don’t you feel like coming back home sometimes?

Me: Don’t have any reasons to.

Neer: Family?

Me: None.

Neer: Then come just to see me sometime?

Me: I can’t promise that right now.

Neer: All right. What do you do for a living?

Me: I’m a senior product manager at a software firm. How about you?

Neer: I’m a serial entrepreneur and investor. I’m a hot thing in India’s startup scene right now.

Me: Wow! That sounds inspiring.

Neer: Does it? Honestly though, I can’t imagine doing anything else. On a different note, have you ever been in love?

Me: Once. Many moons back. He was the first guy I ever fell for. You?

Neer: Ditto. The first girl I fell for in school.

Me: Why did you guys part ways?

Neer: She abandoned me. You?