An office trip to Bangalore for a crucial two-day project found me unexpectedly free after completing my tasks on the very first day. This unexpected downtime presented an opportunity, and it came in the form of a familiar face at the office.

There, I met a woman I’d only spoken to over the phone during our time together on the same team. While our conversations had been friendly, we’d never had the chance to meet in person. This Bangalore encounter would change that.