Ah, the age-old debate about what women find appealing. While it is true that not all women will find the same display of emotion appealing and that not all emotion-driven displays will have a positive response, it is important to remember the context of Nikhil's essay: he was expressing his feelings of concern and nervousness and ultimately ended up receiving a positive response.
In essence, Nikhil's point is that expressing emotion, even if that emotion does not directly result in a positive response from the woman, can still serve as a connector between the two people. This can be interpreted in many different ways. For example, maybe the woman found comfort in the fact that Nikhil expressed his emotions openly, even if they were less than pleasant; maybe she realized how much she cared for him through his expression of emotion; or maybe the fear and concern he expressed in his break-up talk made her feel bad for him and thus more connected to him.
Regardless, what Nikhil's essay should be commended for is stressing the importance of emotional openness in relationships. Especially in a break-up talk, it is important to express one's feelings honestly and openly, as it helps build understanding and connection between two people, regardless of whether or not the feelings are mutual. It's wrong to think that this connection isn't always going to be appreciated! And who knows, maybe if Nikhil had done this sooner, his break-up talk would have gone differently.