You must have the power to axe your date and not the other way round. Once you’ve frozen on who you think is worth spending money on, let the others know with poetry and passion. Tell them how your aunt has just been detected with a minor bout of insanity and you want to take care of her. If you want to make it very dramatic, then talk about a younger relative who’s just been widowed and it is important for you to spend time with her in order to distract her from her enduring grief. If you really want to win major brownie points, then talk about your ailing dog!

Now to the day itself. Roses are three times more expensive than books so don’t waste your time at a florist’s. Just buy her a book of love poems and or better still Andrea Bocelli’s Amore CD. Remember you did keep multiple dating options. Spread them out like peanut butter all through the day. Ask someone out for a romantic walk in the nearest park (where Sushma Swaraj is not taking a walk) and give her the spiel that you wanted to begin your day with her and end it with that widowed relative. Then invite someone to lunch: not to some fancy place but to your college canteen and tell her, her looks remind you of your youth and you wanted to share your childhood memories with her. Then it is time for tea and then the eventual date!

Now as far as the evening is concerned, make sure you’ve dressed right. Women love to believe that men have made an effort. Take her to the restaurant but leave early if you want to make some headway (no pun intended): do not go for a drive because every other clown is doing that. Take her wherever.

The morning after is critical: send each of them a hand-written note soaked in aftershave and tell them how yesterday was so special. And then start planning for next year. Identify targets and then go for them.