'My colleague and I like the same girl...'

Dear Diana

Dear Diana,
I have been working in a trading company and like a girl there. She works as the receptionist. I am comfortable with her and we can talk for hours on end. We have our lunch together daily. I have no clue whether she likes me as she has not given me any signs yet. Now there is this new guy at my workplace. He is quite a casanova. He has been openly talking about how he fancies her. He has been asking me to find out if she is interested in him. I don't now what to do now as this smooth operator is likely to strike first. I don't know how to tell him that I love her. I can't bear to see him talk to her. What's more is that since last week she has been stepping out with him for a sandwich during lunch hour. Have I lost her to him? I regret not expressing my feelings to her.
- Shaurya


Illustration/Amit Bandre

Dear Shaurya,
This new recruit at your workplace appears to be a smooth operator. You may have tried to play cautious and get to know her feelings, but this man seems to have beaten you in the race. This guy has floored her, no wonder she has been going out with him for lunch. But this does not mean that you have lost her. You still don't know if she cares for him. Perhaps she thinks of him as a buddy. What you need to do is to drop hints that she has forgotten her old pals. If she cares for you, from her reaction you will be able to gauge whether she cares for you. She will then explain her position vis-a-vis this new recruit. If she does this, do not waste time in expressing your feelings for her. But on the other hand, if she continues to be with this new guy, then it is clear that this man has floored her completely. It will hurt you, but the lesson to learn is that when you like a girl, express it before someone else comes on the scene.