Men’s rights activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj has ignited a discussion on dating norms in India by sharing two screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation between a man and a woman. The screenshots capture their interaction leading up to a coffee date and later, the woman’s request for money after a shopping spree at a Noida mall.
In the first screenshot, the man suggests meeting for coffee, to which the woman agrees but asks for Rs. 10,000 to prepare for the date. She justifies this amount by listing expenses like waxing, manicure, nails, pedicure, dress, shoes, and makeup. After providing her UPI ID, she remarks, “Free dates aren’t exciting these days.”
In the second screenshot, the woman asks for “help with Rs. 5-6k,” claiming she overspent while shopping at the Mall of India. When asked about her expenses, she mentions shoes and shirts.
When questioned about the additional money, the woman explains that she needs it for travel until she receives her salary, stating her account balance is now at Rs. 800.
The exchange has sparked outrage on social media, particularly on X, where the screenshots have garnered over 1.5 lakh views.
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Dating in India ain’t for beginners…. pic.twitter.com/vpFfaZAI7z
— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) June 18, 2024
Commenting on the situation, a user named CA Ankit expressed dismay, saying, “And the sad part is that so many boys/Men are ready to bear these expenses.”
Another user described the situation as resembling a business deal, stating, “This so-called dating feels like a business deal.”
Some users criticized the women for taking advantage of vulnerable and lonely men, with one user commenting, “The women are leveraging weak and lonely men for their expenses,” and another adding, “That’s not dating, that’s begging.”
