There is a reason why there is an expression: “You snooze; you lose (or the early bird catches the worm).” If you waste time and don’t act in a proactive manner, you may lose out because someone else got there first. I absolutely think two shidduchim can and should be redt and agreed to at the same time, with the first person to respond being the first date. I personally have no problem with someone going out with one guy on Saturday night and a different guy on Sunday. Telling Sunday guy that you are not available until next week, might result in his not being available either. And if Mr. Saturday Night turns out to be a
no-go, why lose out on someone who might BE the ONE, just because some rules in the present (but not in the past)dictate that it is “not done.”
BTW, I have no idea what happened to the girl in that story. I am acquainted with the boy’s family. He is married now, B”H seems to be happy. Obviously it was bashert for him to marry the girl he married.
I can see Sacrilege’s point, but I think that my position, if followed, would result in people taking far less time to drag their feet in making a dating decision. The reason the rules relax a lot as singles get much older, is that they realize how much time they wasted following stupid rules (not talking about halacha here).
BTW, I also sincerely believe that once someone has gone out with someone three times, they should NOT be considering anyone else until the budding relationship has come to some conclusion. One date does not make a relationship, but seeing someone more than a couple of times means there is SOMETHING there, and the potential should be respected and allowed to develop unhindered by other shidduchim.