After being able to rent designer wear and furniture, there is now the option of renting a boyfriend. Yes, you read that right. An app has been created, which offers this 'facility' in Pune and nearby areas. The creators claim that the idea is to ensure platonic and well-meaning companionship for lonely hearts but going by the physicality of profiles, it could well become something else. Apparently, these coffee friends are trained to spot signs of mental depression and after 'conversation therapy' will even recommend their clients to psychiatrics empanelled with the app owners. And while there are no 'girlfriends on hire', fearing that such interactions could end up in solicitation, isn't it rather odd that clinically depressed women are expected to be safe with 'rented' boyfriendsij If mental companionship is the real intention, why are all the 'friend/counsellors' chiselled and bare-torsoed in their profilesij Oh, and yes, they come at a price --- Rs 3,000 per hour for a celebrity boyfriend (TV show favourite), Rs 2,000 for models and Rs 400 the average, everyday men. The app maker insists that the relationship would be of a strictly platonic nature as the aim of the app is to enable people overcome feelings of loneliness but there are too many twists in the tale. 

What if the supposed boyfriend decides to take advantage of the client or vice-versaij Or what would happen if the client or the ‘boyfriend’ develops romantic feelingsij Even though it is being said that the boyfriends would be trained to provide support to those who are lonely there is always the possibility of them giving out incorrect advice which in the long run could have serious repercussions. Call a dating service for what it is but to couch it surreptitiously and prey on vulnerabilities of the very serious societal issues of loneliness and depression is disgusting and condemnable.