Less talk more action

"I wish I would wake up one day and find I'd been married to someone for six years" said Lata Mehra, one of the protagonists in Vikram Seth's voluminous novel, A Suitable Boy. I must say I've felt the same many times during my own journey for a suitable boy.

Like Lata's fictional life, 2014 has so far brought a continuous stream of suitors into my life and like Lata, I've narrowed it down to three options - who I have been seeing over the past six weeks. I can't remember a time when my evenings have been this occupied by dates, since I made my debut on the singles scene. There have been so many potentials that I've found myself talking to them solely so that I can set them up with other single girl's I know.

It's tiring but in the whirlwind of it all I have found myself too busy to be introspective or indulge in any 'pity parties' with other single friends or smug married types (something that was otherwise becoming a far too regular occurrence). So, I feel like someone has pressed 'play' on the movie that is my love life. At the moment I can't say I'm any closer to getting that ring on my finger but I've had a wonderful start to the year and hope my journey continues this way.

Faith is restored.

I think I'm dating a sociopath

At first I thought it was amusing. We met online, he quickly requested taking it offline. I asked for his name, he didn't respond. I refused to speak with him. He gave me a name for himself and a new one for me. So began the story of Sebastian and Matilda.

For their first date, Sebastian took Matilda to a trendy new establishment, greeting her with a Parisian double-air kiss. Matilda, not used to a blind date beginning that way, sensed that there was something different about Sebastian. From the moment he pulled out her chair, sat across from her and told her she was pretty, she knew he wasn't the average Indian guy.

He was thoughtful, asking her questions about her life, while being careful not to reveal too much about himself - other than what was necessary to continue the charade he was carefully creating. During the course of the evening, Matilda discovered that Sebastian was a highly educated and extremely confident lawyer, whose father had passed away when he was a teenager. He was cultured and well read and they talked for hours about the great works of Tolstoy, Seth, Aristotle and others. As the date came to an end, walking back to the station he sheltered her from the rain with his umbrella. On parting ways he suggested that they should eat together next time. Sebastian and Matilda would be meeting again, no question.

Matilda was in high spirits, "finally, I meet a man who knows what he wants", she thought to herself.

A few days later, Sebastian sent Matilda a text asking her availability for dinner the following week and for three of her favourite types of cuisine, in order to help him choose a restaurant that would be of her liking. Now Matilda is vegetarian and being the considerate gentleman that he is, Sebastian chose a vegetarian restaurant for their second date. Matilda was, unsurprisingly, impressed by this gesture and pleased that a man was courting her in the old-fashioned way. While they ate together Matilda subtlely tried to find out more about the mysterious and charming Sebastian. Alas, by the end of the evening she did not know his real name, where he lived or where he worked. She felt disturbed by this and pressed him for more information but he skillfully avoided revealing any details. By the end of the evening the only new insight she had gained was his fondness for French couture. As they parted he asked her to think of something she likes doing for their next date, kissed her twice and disappeared in a flash.

On the way home, Matilda realised that her initial excitement has been replaced by concern. Sebastian is egotistical, full of superficial charm, deceptive, practices intense eye contact and unable to be open. Is she just a character in this sociopath's game?