It's rarely just a date.

When a woman chooses to step out with a guy she met on Tinder for a drink, dinner or both, it's never just a date. It's either the blossoming of a new romance, an evening well spent, a tale worth sharing with her girlfriends, or a major bore.

And sometimes, it's a massive horror she's glad to have been done with.

Delhi women reveal horror stories of their Tinder dates

3 women from Delhi shared their experiences on a first date, and each one is more toxic than the other.

"By the time I arrived, he was already quite drunk"

"We'd met on Tinder, and ever since we first 'matched', he'd been extremely keen to meet for a drink. I've always taken my time before meeting someone - it's better to vet them beforehand, atleast that's what years of dating in Delhi has taught me. However, he was particularly pushy. Every time I'd make an excuse, he'll try and make another plan for the very next day. We finally met one evening, at a bar in Connaught Place. It's a central location, and tends to be quite crowded on most days - one of the reasons I prefer meeting new dates there. By the time I arrived, he was already quite drunk. Not completely inebriated, yet quite high. When I told him he should head home, he got quite angry. His pitch got high, and people started to look at us. I sat down just to get him to calm down. I'm horrible at handling drunk people and I just didn't know what to do - he was making me feel vulnerable and scared."

"Things only got worse as the evening progressed. He kept on drinking more, and I kept on waiting for an opportunity to leave. He was behaving completely different than what he'd been like on Tinder. He wasn't polite, warm or respectful. It was shocking, almost like meeting a whole different person."

"Eventually, when he went to the bathroom, I found my window and left the place. I was shaking with shock - I could've never anticipated the evening to go this bad. But it wasn't over. Before I realised, he was back in front of me, asking me why did I run off. He wasn't sounding as drunk though - maybe the alcohol was wearing off by then. I told him I wasn't interested, and starting walking away. But he chased me and before I knew it, he was on my knees, crying and begging for another chance. I couldn't even believe it was happening to me - this guy went from angry drunk to crying desperado, all in the span of one hour. Eventually, I had to ask other people around me to intervene - they dragged him away and I went to my car."

"That evening is etched extremely clearly in my head. I've never been more shocked, or scared in my life. That guy looked capable of doing anything and was obviously an A-grade liar. You can't trust the people you meet online, that's for sure. I still use Tinder but I don't go for too many dates anymore. This is Delhi and you never know what's waiting for you."

- Anushka, 29 (name changed on request)

"He became a different person when we sat in the car"

"I'd had a crush on him for the longest time, and when I finally saw him on Tinder, I knew I had to swipe right. When we 'matched', I was elated. He too liked me, and our conversations were just perfect. He was funny, charming, and the right amount of flirtatious. I was dying to meet him, and took initiative to ask him out for dinner."

"We met at Sevilla at The Claridges. It's my favourite restaurant in Delhi, and the setting is perfect for the first date. Everything went amazing - the food was great, and the conversation was even better. I couldn't believe that I was actually on a date with him - I'd been hoping for this moment ever since I first saw him in college. Everything was going well. I was totally clear that I liked him, and wanted to meet again."

"But he became a different person when we sat in the car. He was driving me home, and his behaviour in the car was extremely weird. He'd reply in monosyllables, and looked particularly irritable. I couldn't understand what happened - when we left the restaurant, he was in a great mood."

"When I asked him if something was wrong, he snapped saying I needed to stop overanalysing him. I went numb. Fearful of ending the evening on a bad note, I decided to stay quiet for the rest of the drive. If only I knew that the drive won't last long."

"Suddenly, he stopped the car, and asked me to get down. This was at around 11:30 at night on a dark, dingy, secluded lane in Delhi. I was in tears - I told him he had to drop me home, or somewhere safe. But he wouldn't budge and started screaming at me. He accused me of ruining his mood and said he wasn't interested in dropping me home. Before I could realise, he got out of the car and pulled me out. I resisted, but couldn't match his strength. He left me on the road and left."

"It's been over a year since that night, but I still can't forget how scared I had felt. I don't know what got into him that night - I don't think I ever will."

- Neha, 27

"Things were fine, till of course they weren't"

"I'd always been slightly skeptical of dating apps. How does one select a potential partner just on the basis of a few photographs and a short bio? But having been single for over a year, I finally gave in to my friend's urging, and joined Tinder. Honestly, it just seemed like the most convenient way to meet a guy, especially in Delhi where going out as a single girl is a bit tricky."

"He'd already swiped right on me - it was an instant 'match'. We started chatting soon after, and he was quite a gentleman. It went on like this for a couple of weeks. He never asked me to meet him, and that worked for me because I was a bit hesitant too. But to get to know him well, I had to see him in person."

"Our date happened in the Lodhi Gardens. He wanted to break convention, and an evening walk was perfect for conversation. Delhi during the winter season is stunning, and a breezy walk around sunset sounded quite romantic, actually."

"Things were fine, till of course they weren't. Amidst an otherwise engaging conversation, he suddenly stopped and went and stood behind a bush. It had gotten dark by then and I got a little anxious. When I asked him why he'd stopped, he started calling me towards him. I hesitated, and he kept on insisting, making weird expressions on the side."

"When I didn't move, he opened his zip and flashed me. I was in shock. I'd only heard about these things happening to woman, and it was always because of some random man on the street. Certainly not a guy there were out on a date with. I screamed at him, but he didn't stop. I ran as fast as I could, and that's the last I saw of him."

"I'm not on Tinder anymore. I'm sure there are some wonderful guys on the app, but I don't have it in me anymore."

- Avantika, 26 (name changed on request)

*The opinions expressed in this article are of the narrators alone*

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