Yesterday, I was roaming around city with a friend when I noticed a girl sitting alone in a café. She was working on her laptop with a cup of coffee beside her. I casually told my friend that she looked cute and asked whether I should approach her and start a conversation. He encouraged me, and that’s when I realized..this was going to be my first cold approach.

(Also, my phone battery was at 2%, so I had a practical excuse to ask her for a charger 😅)

I went up to her and asked if I could sit there if she didn’t mind. She said yes. We started talking, and I asked whether she had come alone. She told me she was studying humanities and was working on an assignment that she needed to submit the next day. She seemed calm, polite, and genuinely pleasant to talk to.

We spoke about her background and studies, and I kept the conversation light with some wit and a genuine compliment. I asked about her plans, and she mentioned that although she’s from Mumbai, she really likes the vibe and people in Pune. The conversation flowed naturally, and it felt nice, easy and comfortable.

I asked her name but didn’t ask for her Instagram or phone number at first. Honestly, that wasn’t my motive. My goal was simply to have a conversation and get comfortable talking to someone I didn’t know, something I usually find difficult.

When I went back to my friend and told him about the conversation, he asked, “Did you get her number or Instagram?” That’s when I went back and asked her for her number. She asked for mine in return and saved it in her phone.

I thought we might talk later, but she never reached out and that’s completely fine. The purpose of the approach was never about getting her number. It was about stepping out of my comfort zone and having a genuine conversation.

Overall, it was a great experience. At first, my breathing was fast and I was nervous, but after a few minutes, I felt comfortable. What I’ve realized is that moments like these really boost your confidence. I had always thought approaching someone would be extremely difficult, but it also depends on the other person as well bcoz it's common in western culture but not in India. She was polite, genuine, and open, which made the interaction smooth,even though she was busy with her assignment.