Making a podcast to exorcise your past demons is hard! We sit down with author extraordinaire and observer of society Mahesh Rao for a freewheeling chat about love and marriage. What's it like going undercover on a dating app? What's the best way to share dessert on a date? How do you plan a life when no-one is arranging one for you? And finally, we get some much needed therapy of our own. 

Mahesh Rao is the author of The Smoke Is Rising, Polite Society and One Point Two Billion. His new novel, Half Light explores desire, sexuality and class in contemporary India. 

Boys and Girls is produced by Radhika Viswanathan and Samyuktha Varma. Our lead producer is Menaka Raman. Music and Sound by Joel Sakkari and Mixing and Mastering by Yashwanth Vinay. Original music by Joel Sakkari. Thanks to Anjali Sankaran for singing on our theme song! Many thanks also to Inder for singing in this episode. Show artwork by Adrija Ghose and Pooja Saxena. Our Executive Producer at iHeartPodcasts is Katrina Norvell. Boys and Girls is produced by Vaaka Media and IHeartPodcasts. Like what you hear? Follow us on Instagram @boysandgirlspod and subscribe to the Vaaka Media newsletter The Inner Ear on Substack by clicking here. Find us at vaaka.in !