Chapter 13
The following day, Manisha woke up brimming with anxious excitement.
She spent the morning puttering around the house, helping her parents when called upon, trying to work off her nerves.
But by the time early afternoon rolled around, she’d worked herself into a frenzy.
Looking the part, she could handle. But how to act, what to look for…
it had been years since her last first date.
I need to talk to Manny, she said to herself as she tied off the belt of her Zimmerman wrap dress.
Deena had already played her part as the faux auntie on the matchmaking site, using her marketing skills to attract potential suitors for Manisha. Now it was time to seek advice from the real relationship expert, Manny Dogra.
Manny, her soon-to-be sister-in-law, ran a hugely successful breakup agency and had fallen head over heels for Manisha’s brother, Sammy, in just a week. With Manny’s guidance, she’d learn to differentiate between a great guy and the type Manny usually ended things with for her clients.
An hour later, Manisha arrived at Manny and Sammy’s home, where Manny excitedly greeted her before she even reached the door.
“Ish! Come on in! It’s just us—your brother’s out grabbing a few things,” she called.
Welcoming Manisha with arms wide, she pulled her into a warm hug.
The moment Manny’s arms wrapped around her, Manisha felt the tension in her begin to unravel.
An easy comfort settled in, the kind she’d felt the first time she met Manny.
Even though they’d only known each other for a few weeks, it felt like they were sisters from different misters.
“Love the dress!” Manny cooed, stepping back. “Come on, let’s head to the kitchen.”
As they strolled through the grand hall of their lakeside home—Sammy had recently moved into Manny’s place—Manisha marvelled at the blend of rustic charm and modern sophistication. The high ceilings and large windows overlooking Baskin Lake made the house feel like a ship sailing on the water.
“Drink?” Manny asked, moving to the fridge as Manisha slid onto a sleek black leather stool at the kitchen island. “I have an open Pinot here calling your name.”
“Yes, please,” she answered automatically.
“So, you’ve decided to date while you’re back in Baskin?
” Manny asked. “I think that’s fantastic!
I used to have this Bridget Jones?like fantasy of escaping to the UK to find myself a brown bloke before I met your brother.
” She handed Manisha her glass. “We’d explore the Indian food scene, enjoy the theatre, and share drinks with friends.
Please humour me and tell me you’ve had a romantic encounter that even slightly resembles my fantasy! ”
Manisha laughed lightly. “Of course I did, Manny. He was, um, an Indian lawyer. I’ll leave the juicy details to your imagination.
” In truth, he was definitely not Indian, and more of a law professor who had broken her heart.
She watched Manny crack open a Diet Coke and take a sip.
Perhaps she should’ve opted for one too before her date, but her nerves demanded a little wine to calm her.
“I knew it! Well, since you’re back, you might as well keep busy. Besides, most of the men in Baskin are underrated and make fantastic partners.”
“Even if you’re breaking their hearts for a living?”
“I said most, didn’t I?” Manny shot back with a laugh. “And you know what? I break people up because they really shouldn’t be together in the first place. Once their hearts heal, they usually thank me.”
“I believe it. Well, it’s just a few dates here and there for me. You know, to keep Mama Patel happy. No big deal.” Except she was trying to find the father of her future children.
“I wanted to ask you, Ish. What about London? You’re still planning to go back, right?” Manny probed gently.
Manisha felt a tightening in her throat. “Of course I am. Like I said, I’ve just taken a little sabbatical from my lawyer duties. You know how it is—working tirelessly for so long can lead to serious burnout.”
“Yeah, I get it. And if going on a few dates while you’re here helps keep Mama Patel from nagging you…” Manny replied, shooting Manisha a knowing look.
“Exactly.” Manisha laughed before her expression shifted to seriousness. “Manny, fill me in. What should I expect? With all those long hours at the firm, I never really had a chance to date.” That was half true. Work had made it tough for Oliver and her to see each other.
“I’m curious about what it’s really like out there. What are your clients dealing with? What sort of advice are you offering them? Deena keeps saying it’s a jungle out there, every person for themselves.” Manisha took a sip of her wine, hoping to alleviate the sudden dryness in her mouth.
“Honestly, the dating landscape is wild at the moment. It’s fantastic for my business but not so wonderful for anyone searching for that perfect match.
But you won’t have to worry about that.” Manny waved her off.
“I’ve got some casual, everyday tips and tricks ready to share.
” She went to the living room, grabbed a whiteboard that had been propped against the fireplace, and brought it into the kitchen.
Manisha’s eyes grew large as she examined the board more closely. It was filled with notes and scribbles, leaving her unsure where one idea ended and another began.
Was there more on the other side?
“I know it looks overwhelming,” Manny said, adjusting the whiteboard for a better view.
“You can definitely say that again,” Manisha mumbled.
“We’re just focusing on the basics for your first date,” Manny said, smiling encouragingly.
Manisha was taken aback, her mouth hanging open. “These are the basics?”
“These are the basics,” Manny replied, chuckling.
“Well, we only have an hour before my date with Paul,” Manisha quipped.
“If I can break people up in seconds, I can teach you Dating 101 in a flash!” Manny laughed, gesturing toward the board. “Alright, let’s get into the rules of dating. Number one: Make sure you show up for your date.”
“That’s obvious,” Manisha retorted.
“Used to be. But I don’t just mean physically show up. The key is to be your authentic self and stay engaged. Put your phone away and eliminate distractions. Give your date a real chance. Meeting someone new can be nerve-racking for both parties!”
“Totally makes sense. I’ve seen plenty of couples glued to their phones or lost in their own worlds when they’re together.” Manisha’s thoughts drifted to all the times Oliver had been absorbed in his phone while he was cheating on her.
“Exactly! Being present is crucial. On to rule number two: Share your must-haves and dealbreakers upfront. Not the trivial stuff, like leaving the toothpaste cap off, but what you truly value and won’t compromise on.”
A baby, Manisha thought immediately. But what she said was, “Right. Like ambition, family, and giving back to the community…”
“Yes! All that should be on the table early on. If a guy claims he can’t stand his mom but still depends on her and has only done community service as part of his probation—”
Manisha burst into laughter. “Come on, Manny! Be for real!”
“That’s actually a true story from a client.”
“What!” Manisha exclaimed, shocked.
“But I digress. Now that we’ve covered what to do, let’s go into what not to do.
” Manny pointed to a different section on the board.
“First, don’t dominate the conversation.
Ask questions and show genuine curiosity.
You’ve got a lifetime to talk over each other, but listening for cues and being interested in the other person is essential. ”
Manisha nodded her understanding.
“Which leads us to the last cardinal rule: Avoid being rude or disrespectful.”
Manisha nearly choked on her wine at the word “rude,” recalling her recent encounters with Rohit. “I wouldn’t,” she managed to say weakly.
“I’m serious! Remember, it’s just as tough for men to make a good impression,” Manny continued. “Don’t be too quick to judge or dismiss. Give them time and space to showcase their best selves. It might take a few minutes.”
“Alright, I suppose I can be a bit too critical too fast sometimes,” Manisha admitted.
“We all jump to conclusions, but awareness is key. And that’s it! Oh, but most importantly, don’t forget to have fun!”
“Fun is my middle name,” Manisha joked, as she tipped back and drained her glass.
“Is it? I thought it was ‘Busy’!” Manny laughed. “There’s more if you want another?” she tilted her head to the fridge.
Manisha glanced at the microwave clock and jolted at the time. “Oh wow, time flies! I should get going.” She stood. “Thanks, Manny. I really appreciate all this.”
“Of course!” They moved in for a hug, when Manny added, “Did I say that I’m proud of you for putting yourself out there, even if it is just to appease your mom? I know it isn’t easy being this vulnerable.”
Manisha’s breath hitched, surprised to find that Manny’s words struck something deep inside of her. “I—Thank you for saying that, Manny,” she whispered. “I’ll be the first to admit that I’m really, really nervous.”
Manny pulled away and met her eyes. “You have nothing to be nervous about,” she said with a warm smile.
“Let me remind you, Isha is the one with that infectious laugh who doesn’t let anyone get away with nonsense.
She’s the first to make you smile when you’re feeling down, and trust me, she’ll always appreciate a good meal…
especially if it’s something homemade. And you know she loves it when you dress up, but she’s the first one to tell you that you don’t need to be perfect to be amazing. ”
“Manny…” Manisha broke off. She swallowed a lump in her throat, wiping moisture from her eyes.
“Manisha, why are you putting so much pressure on yourself ? This is supposed to fun, remember?”
If only she knew…
“I don’t know—it’s like you said. Being this vulnerable, with a random stranger…”
“Oh, that reminds me! I have something for you.” She handed her a vibrant tube of red Stila lipstick. “It’s my go-to confidence booster. And it’s very appropriately named ‘First Kiss,’ ” she said, with a flirty smack of her lips.
“You’re the best. Thanks again, but I really should get going!” Manisha insisted, tucking the lipstick into her purse.
They made it to the door when her phone pinged loudly. It was an email notification from the dating site. She clicked on it, just in case it was one of her dates changing plans.
Dear Admin,
I’ll admit I’m not usually one to jump on dating sites.
But I came across this poster and curiosity got the best of me.
Now, I’m definitely not the type to send emails to the back end of a website, but I have to give credit where it’s due.
The straight-up questionnaire? Brilliant.
And when I read MUST LOVE FOOD—well…that’s the kind of vibe I’m all about.
Keep doing what you’re doing because this feels refreshingly honest and original. Kudos to whoever came up with this!
—Sunil
“What are you smiling at?” Manny asked, her interest piqued, and leaned over to catch a glimpse of her screen. “What is this?”
“Oh, just the guy I’m meeting,” she fibbed, hastily locking her phone and tucking it away.
“And he calls you Admin?” Manny quipped.
Manisha laughed, feeling a bit flustered. “It’s a playful nickname that’s trending, don’t you know? Anyway, I really have to go.”
“Thank God I’m not single anymore,” Manny laughed, getting the door for her.
“Thanks, Manny! Bye!” Manisha dashed outside, ducking her head, and bolted for her car. Something about this Sunil’s words had a blush creeping up her neck.
“You’re welcome. You’ll be great, Manisha!” she called after her. “Just don’t forget your First Kiss!” The sound of Manny’s tinkling laughter followed as Manisha sped off.