Landing Page
So recently I came back to India and probably in the worst of times. I landed here right in the middle of the second wave of the COVID pandemic. And although it is a grave concern, for maintaining the theme of this site, I will talk about another disturbing issue. With lockdowns being announced in metropolitan cities, mental health especially for extroverts is getting hugely affected. More so, for singles, the dating life and associated dopamine have seen a big drop. Thankfully, that changed when I met the muse of the post. The first look in itself captured it all, she is like cuteness personified. From the childlike bespectacled eyes to her Harry Potter T-shirt and quaintly done dim-lit room. Even she recently returned to the country after around a decade in Singapore. and is staying at her parents’ house in Delhi. So our only feasible way to meet is to sneak into her place post everyone has slept. I dropped by her place and as luck would have it, her brother was awake and around the entrance area. I guess for the first time in my dating life of over a decade, I waited outside a girl’s house. As he was making dinner, so she came out after a few minutes and we went for a midnight stroll in her neighborhood. It was definitely ‘a walk to remember.’ We went to her place after twenty minutes and hit it off from the outset. She is an introvert and a patient listener, so I went on with my tales and insights. At the end of one such monologue, she told me “I got it five minutes back, but seeing your enthusiasm, didn’t want to interrupt you.” I just wish I could have been so thoughtful about others’ happiness. Time with her just flew by, from talking about hilarious dating encounters to crazy qualms of mothers of the Indian matrimonial pool to her angst against the US, we didn’t even realize when it was 4 in the night already. Coming to the MBA concept of the ‘Landing Page’. It is the final goto point where the advertiser wants the consumer to reach to close the deal. For example, an e-commerce website would consider an advertisement successful if the consumer purchases the product advertised. In this case, the point of sale of the good on the e-commerce website is the landing page. An analogy can be drawn in the modern dating context of the digital era. It’s the successful culmination point of all the dating shenanigans (texting, Instagram likes, coffee, etc.). It can be your place, date’s place, or any place with privacy where the two of you can be yourselves. I’m not a fan of the wine-and-dine ritual. The risk of COVID, pollution, noise, overpriced drinks, long commutes, and the pressure to make a good impression all make it unappealing. Bars, cafes, and restaurants often charge three to four times the MRP of items, justifying it as part of the “experience economy.” But what’s the logic in overpaying when the real experience is simply each other’s company? If the company is good, the setting doesn’t matter, and if it isn’t, no fancy location can change that. Plus, formal impressions often prove farthest from reality. Throughout my life, I’ve been independent, living alone in Gurgaon, Mumbai, and even abroad. At IIM Ahmedabad, I stayed in a co-ed hostel surrounded by girls’ rooms. However, post-pandemic, I’m temporarily back at my parents’ place, reflecting on how much simpler connections can be without the frills of extravagant outings That brings me to the bewitching Harry Potter fan. So is this it? Have I finally found the Sorcerer’s Stone? Is she the patient listener that was missing all my life? Well, she is working on Singapore timings so has to get up quite early. Her next workday was spoiled because of the late night till 4 and her work and mental health have a higher priority for her. Also, she had her skepticism about me being a philanderer and getting bored with people quickly. Anyway, the night was a much-needed respite for me with fun, laughter, her warm presence when cuddled in my arms, and her legs wrapped around mine. Later, Sidhant