I am writing this anonymously because I am now happily married, and this part of my life is something I’ve buried forever. It’s a secret that no one knows, and I guess writing it here is my way of letting it out one last time.

It all started back in 2010. I was working in Kolkata as a manager in a well-known multinational company.

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I had graduated from IIM Kolkata and joined through campus placement. My direct report was the Vice President of Marketing, a woman I’ll call Mrs. R. She was about 47, an alumna of IIT Delhi and XLRI, incredibly intelligent, confident, and graceful. She looked much younger than her age and carried herself with the kind of calm authority that draws people in.

I was new to the corporate world and, despite my academic background, I struggled to adjust to the politics, pressure, and unspoken rules of the workplace. I made a few careless mistakes in my first few months, but Mrs. R was never harsh. She was kind and patient with me, always guiding me like a mentor.

Eventually, she asked me to assist her on a project for a few months so I could gain more hands-on experience. I was excited I saw it as a chance to learn from someone I deeply respected.

As the weeks passed, we grew closer. She started inviting me to dinners and social events, and I got used to her company. I later learned that her husband had passed away several years earlier, and she lived with her daughter who was studying at IIT Kharagpur.

Her daughter was home for the holidays when I first visited their house. Mrs. R and I began spending more time together outside work, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t start developing feelings for her. She had this warmth, maturity, and charm that drew me in. I was 24 and had never been in a serious relationship before, so her attention made me feel seen and valued in ways I hadn’t experienced before.

One day she told me she was going on a short vacation to Sikkim and asked if I’d like to come along. She made it clear that I shouldn’t tell anyone. I was nervous but excited it felt like something big was about to happen. On the flight, I was tense and unsure what to expect. But once we reached the hotel, she smiled and asked if I’d be comfortable sharing a room with her.

When I said yes, she laughed and told me she had started to feel something for me. She also said that if I felt uncomfortable because of our age difference, I could stay in another room. Without thinking, I told her that I loved her.

That trip changed everything. We spent three days together, and it was the first time I experienced real intimacy. She was patient and affectionate, teaching me things I had only imagined before. We made love often in the bed, the shower, the balcony and it felt like a dream. I was young, naive, and in awe of her. She told me how lonely she had been since her husband’s death, and I wanted to fill that emptiness for her.

After we returned from Sikkim, our relationship continued in secret. We met at hotels, had dinner dates, and even stayed together at her house when her daughter wasn’t around. She gave me gifts, expensive clothes, gadgets, and constant affection. I believed I was in love. We even started discussing marriage.

Then things changed. Her daughter found out about us, and at first, she acted mature about it. She even joked about it during one of our vacations, saying she couldn’t believe her mother was dating someone her own age. But as time passed, she grew distant and angry. She began arguing with her mother and eventually told her that if she ever married me, she would end her life.

That broke everything. Mrs. R called me one night and said we needed to end it. I begged her not to, but she said she couldn’t risk losing her daughter. I was devastated. The breakup crushed me completely. I fell into depression, switched jobs, and moved to Gurgaon to escape the memories. For a long time, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I even went to therapy to cope.

A year later, my parents arranged my marriage, and I agreed. I’ve been married for several years now, and my wife is wonderful. We have a peaceful life. But sometimes, when I’m alone, I still think about Mrs. R not because I miss her romantically, but because that chapter shaped me deeply.

I’ve learned that relationships born from loneliness can be powerful but also dangerous. What we had was real in its own way, but it was never meant to last. She taught me about love, loss, and boundaries. I’ll always be grateful to her for ending things gracefully and never reaching out again.

To any young man reading this: don’t get caught up in something you’re not ready for, especially with someone who carries the weight of a different life stage. Age and experience change everything, and what feels exciting can quickly turn into heartbreak. I was lucky ours ended quietly. Not everyone gets that kind of closure.

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