“Dating apps are for hookups, not relationships,” – that was my mantra for the longest time. I’ve always been an old-school romantic at heart, dreaming of serendipitous encounters straight out of a Bollywood movie. I imagined meeting my future partner at a wedding or bumping into him in a bookstore. Swiping through profiles on an app? Never in a million years.

 

But life has a funny way of proving us wrong. After a heartbreak that left me questioning everything I thought I knew about love, I decided to give dating apps a shot. Not to find “The One”—oh no, that would be ridiculous—but just to talk to new people. So, I downloaded Bumble, fully prepared to delete it within a week. And let me tell you, I did. More than once.

 

I installed and uninstalled dating apps countless times. I never took them seriously, never agreed to meet anyone, and always kept my interactions virtual. I told myself I wasn’t looking for love; I was just passing time. But then, one day, I swiped right on someone who would change my life.

 

When my now soon-to-be husband and I matched, there were no fireworks or immediate “aha” moment. We exchanged a few messages, but the conversation didn’t exactly take off. It was casual, sporadic, and nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, somehow, we kept coming back to the chat. And then, one day, something clicked. We started talking—really talking—and suddenly, we couldn’t stop.

 

Even as our conversations became more frequent and meaningful, I hesitated to meet him. I had built a protective bubble around myself, and the idea of stepping out of it was terrifying. When he asked me out, I panicked. I lied and said I had work. I wasn’t ready.

 

Here’s where he surprised me. Instead of pushing or guilt-tripping me, he simply said, “No problem. Let’s meet when you’re comfortable.” That one gesture—his patience and understanding—meant the world to me. It stood out in a world where so many people seem to confuse persistence with pressure. For the first time, I felt genuinely safe and seen.

 

A few days later, I decided to take a leap of faith. I asked him out, and he said yes. Our first date wasn’t just good—it was amazing. It didn’t feel like a first date at all; it felt like catching up with someone I’d known for years. We laughed, talked about everything under the sun, and even shared a few vulnerable truths. By the end of the evening, I knew this wasn’t just another “date.” It was the beginning of something special.

 

Fast forward four years. My soon-to-be husband and I have been together ever since. We’ve built a life full of love, laughter, and way too many inside jokes. We’ve lived together for three of those years, and now, we’re about to take the ultimate plunge—marriage. As I write this, I’m preparing to marry the man I once hesitated to meet, the man I swiped right on without expecting anything.

 

Looking back, my journey with him feels like a testament to the unpredictability of love. It didn’t come to me in the way I’d imagined or planned. It came through an app I almost didn’t download. It came through a connection that took its time to grow. And it came through a person who respected my boundaries and never tried to rush the process.

 

So, can swiping right lead to “The One”? For me, the answer is a resounding yes. But it’s not just about swiping right on the app; it’s about swiping right on the right person. It’s about giving people—and yourself—a chance to step outside your comfort zone. It’s about being open to possibilities, even when they don’t align with your original expectations.

 

Of course, not every swipe leads to a love story. Dating apps are a mixed bag, and it’s important to approach them with both an open heart and a healthy dose of caution. But if my story proves anything, it’s that love can find you in the most unexpected places—even on a dating app you were convinced wasn’t for you.

 

So, here’s to taking chances. Here’s to staying true to yourself while staying open to new possibilities. And here’s to swiping right on love—wherever and however it finds you.

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