By Nihal Tharoor-Menon

 

Asking a beautiful stranger out in the daytime OR my successful failure

 

One of my New Years resolutions is to find the courage to introduce myself to beautiful women in the daytime.

 

I pride myself in being able to strike up conversation with girls on nights out.

 

With the right amount of alcohol in my system and in a context where it’s socially acceptable, introducing myself to girls doesn’t particularly scare me.

 

I know some people have great success on Tinder and the like.

 

I consider my strongest asset my chat and – without sounding crude – I know I can punch above my weight when I’m not behind a screen.

 

However, in the last few months I have found myself less and less in these social settings.

 

As work piles on, the opportunity to go drinking and to meet that special someone narrows.

 

So I promised myself that this year I would unshackle myself from social conventions and British reserve and do the unthinkable – chat up a girl in the daytime.

 

Easier said than done.

 

It’s January 2^nd and I am in Brixton Costa Coffee trying to run off some campaigns.

 

The brand I’m working on is none other than Tinder and a stunning girl sits down on the table right next to me and begins working.

 

Okay. This is picture perfect. Time to put your money where your mouth is.

 

I have two shoddy scamps for Tinder in front of me. That’s my in.

 

After ten minutes of internal battle I lean over and say…

 

Excuse me I was wondering if you could give your opinion on which of these you prefer?

 

Boom. Conversation started.

 

She prefers the first.

 

Her name is Natalia and she’s working on something for a court case on Monday.

 

Oh, are you a lawyer?

 

No, I am the defendant.

 

Oh I see… a quick swerve past that one.

 

Turns out she is a professional dancer and fitness instructor from Poland and has lived in London for seven years.

 

The conversation dies down and we return to our work.

 

But now I’m far too distracted to finish this bloody Tinder campaign.

 

I’ve got to close and leave.

 

I have to run, Natalia. But I assume you’ll be celebrating after your case next week. I’d be happy to take you for a drink…

 

(smile) um I have a boyfriend.

 

It could be true. It probably isn’t.

 

I know I should feel disappointed but actually I’m full of life. That was in a way the worst-case scenario and it was fine.

 

She didn’t splash her coffee in my face. The people of Costa didn’t point and laugh at me. The world didn’t collapse in on itself.

 

Who is to say I can’t do it again? And whose to say the next girl won’t say yes?

 

I think of Hegarty and his tennis instructor.

 

Fortune favours the bold. Now that’s a mantra I’m going to take to heart in 2016.