I HATED dating apps and I hated the whole culture around them. The idea of spending a microsecond looking at someone's picture and from that alone, judging if they are worthy or not... it disgusted me. My blood boils just thinking about some hot chick looking at my photo and swiping left... swatting me away like a fly without getting to know me at all or truly seeing my worth.
When I've actually gotten dates off one of the apps, I also hate the idea that the girl I'm going on a date with probably has five other dates queued up after our's. So, while we're going out, she's judging me against the five or six other guys she's seeing at the same time.
To sum it up... when it comes to dating apps, my view is FUCK IT. I'm done with them.
So, why am I using this one now? Honestly... I'm not sure but something drew me to it. I honestly don't even remember downloading it but here I am, chilling in my studio apartment, on a Friday night making a profile for "The Ultimate Dating App."
All I know is that it somehow hooks into all the other dating apps out there. So, if a girl is on any one of the plethora of dating apps... she's on this app too.
Anyway, I upload a few pics where I look decent and put in some lame bio... describing what I do for a living, what I like, etc and off I go.
For the first ten minutes, I only swipe right on the hot girls... 8's or higher. After getting no matches, I start settling for 7's. After still getting no matches... I start settling for 6's... and maybe even some 5's. Now, before you accuse me of being a hypocrite... yes, I admit I am being quite judgemental here. That's just one more reason I hate dating apps! Look what they've turned me into!
Anyway, after a few more minutes of swiping... Boom! My first match: a slightly chubby Indian girl named Binita. And no, it doesn't really matter that she's Indian and to be clear- plenty of the 8's, 9's, and 10's I didn't match with were also Indians. This 5.5 just... happened to be Indian and I figured it was worth mentioning.
I didn't find her particularly attractive... but on the binary scale of would you or wouldn't you, I guess in her case I would. And to be fair... I'd probably rate myself at about a 5 or 6 so I guess beggars can't be choosers. If I dropped 20-30 pounds, I could probably upgrade myself to a 7 and then if I acquired some sense of style, I might even be able to reach an 8 or 9... but who has time for that?
Anyway, once I matched with Binita... something odd happened. The app didn't say, "you matched with Binita!"... it said, "You captured Binita! She is now yours to do with as you please!"
What the fuck? Was this not a dating app but actually a pokemon style game where instead of small monsters, you capture moderately attractive Indian girls?
Based on that pop-up, I was starting to suspect this wasn't a real dating app after all and just some kind of game. I doubt Binita is even real but hey, might as well play along.
So, like any other dating app, I now have a chat window open with Binita. But, instead of trying to come up with some stupid, clever pick-up line, I simply ask, "So... you're mine now?"
Immediately after sending the message, I get nervous. I mean, if Binita is real, then... that's a pretty weird message I sent her. On the other hand, who cares? Worst comes to worst, she'll just unmatch me. Anyway, she starts typing. Then stops. Then starts. Then stops. Clearly she was trying to figure out what to say.
Finally, she responds with... "Apparently."
Well... that's interesting. I follow-up with, "What does that mean exactly?"
Again, she starts and stops typing several times before replying with, "I guess it means I have to do whatever you say."
Okay... that's also interesting.
I have to remind myself that Binita is probably not real and this is probably just a game but hey, it could be fun to fantasize for a bit. If it is a game, might as well enjoy it.
So, I ask for more details, "You'll do anything I ask?"
This time she doesn't hesitate before replying, "Ugh... yes."
I guess she was starting to get frustrated, either by my repeated questions or at the realization that she apparently has to do whatever I say (supposedly).
I want to ask her to come over so we can fuck but... I don't know, even if it's just a game, I feel super weird typing that. I've never been one to "sext". Hell, I even had a hard time flirting over text so, this time I'm the one who starts typing. Then stops. Then starts. And finally send, "Come over and prove it."
After some starts and stops, she replies, "Can we please do another night? I already have plans."
"What plans?" I quickly ask.
"I have a date," she answers.
BITCH.
I fucking hate dating apps. I hate how girls are going on dates while still shopping around for other guys. And yes, I do the same thing. I know... I'm a hypocrite.
"Come over NOW," I respond.
"OK! Jeeze :(" she answers. Then adds, "Where do you live?"
Hmm... do I really want to give her my address? Fuck it, what's the worst that can happen? So I send my address and after a few minutes with no reply, I ask, "So are you coming?"
She replies, "yes."
Christ she was being annoying. Obviously, I could use a little more info like... where are you coming from? When will you arrive? Wait, am I starting to think this is real? I shake my head and reply, "When are you getting here??"
She answers, "Gonna take about 45min by subway."
Well, alright... I guess in about 45min, I find out if I'm playing a stupid game or suddenly living in an erotic fantasy. Though, if it were a fantasy, I'd like to think I could do better than Binita... oh well, to be honest... I haven't been laid in... a while. So, if it's Binita instead of my right hand tonight, I won't complain.
--
After 40 minutes of wasting time watching YouTube videos and just waiting around, I notice it's started raining outside. Pretty hard actually. For some reason that amuses me. Serves Binita right, having to trudge through the rain to see me. Why does it serve her right? I don't know... I guess the dating apps have made me pretty bitter towards women. Maybe I should see someone about that? Or, if this app is the real deal, that should be therapy enough.
After another 10 minutes, my phone rings and I recognize the number as my apartment building's front desk.
"Hey, there's a Binita here to see you," the doorman says.
Holy shit holy shit holy shit. It's real? I have a girl at my command?? Or is this Binita girl insane and just playing along with all this?
After no reply from me, the doorman asks, "Should I send her in?"
"Yeah," I croak out.
And two minutes after that, there's a knock at my door. I open it and standing there is Binita... dressed in a denim jacket, a black shirt, and tight jeans. Oh, she is also soaking wet from head to toe. Which probably explains why she has her arms crossed, hugging herself as though to warm up.
She has her head down staring at the ground with dark, wet hair hiding her face. Well, if the app is real and she really is at the beck and call of me, a total stranger, I can understand being a little nervous.
"Come in," I say. And she does, without looking up at me.
She takes a few steps into my apartment and returns to simply standing with her arms crossed, staring at the floor.
"Hi," I say.