The Umpteenth Prospect

[eternal_ot]

Opening the door with my spare keys I was greeted by fake smiles and their enthusiasm unnerved me a bit. Usually, I get the “we didn’t even noticed you enter” treatment. I rushed to freshen myself. When I came back to serve myself dinner, I became aware that they were nudging each other. One look in their direction and I knew the subject matter.

Comments

[penpusher]

The whole "arranged marriage" thing is a bit puzzling. On one hand, the parents are attempting to find someone "worthy" who is willing, but also a family that is of "the right stature" which I guess is another element that is important. I don't know how mobile the caste system is, or if people even still refer to it, but I suppose people don't even have contact with people from varied castes so maybe it doesn't matter

[eternal_ot]

I agree with you that it is total chaos as far as the list of things you have to tick to get married are concerned. Caste is still (sadly) a major criteria for many in arranged marriage and there is also horoscope matching which is prevalent. It pretty funny to observe as long as you yourself aren't involved.

Yeah! The horrors of not even seeing your future mate before you get married did exist. Thanks to education and liberalization things have changed :) Yet, there was one guy whose parents refuse to let the guy and girl (me) meet alone :P

You pretty much nailed the scenario. Pleasing everyone is not easy and most of the times people end up compromising for the heck of it.

Thanks. I eventually married a guy I re-connect via Facebook ( school mate) and thankfully either side of the parent didn't object to the alliance. The pressure for kid has already started as we are almost nearing our second anniversary.I'll rant about that in some other entry...;)

Thanks for stopping by and commenting <3

[bleodswean]

This is simply amazing to me! Everyone has a role in this "play" and you are the only one who seems to be allowed to improve a bit. (By the way, a perfect response to the prompt here!)

Your writing is tight and you show a mastery over how much/how little information to impart. This piece flows well.

[eternal_ot]

Isn't it weird? Ah! yes that's exactly the situation and its good if you click with the first/second guy/girl you meet but as the number increases so does the frustration.

Thanks a bunch! This really makes my day. *Hugs* Good to see you stop by <3

[adoptedwriter]

I have a high school friend whose parents arranged her marriage back in India when she was about 20. They did the same for her sister. I can't imagine...

Glad you can be strong and have a voice.

[eternal_ot]

I personally feel 20 is too young to get married. Thankfully both my parents married late and wanted me to be independent before I take the plunge.They started panicking when I was nearing 30 and still didn't seem too keen to get married.But, yeah, I too have friends who married early.

Thanks :) It was frustrating and I did feel a bit alienated from my parents during that phase. Otherwise they have always been very supportive.

Good to see you here <3

[i_17bingo]

I, thankfully, didn't have parents who meddled in my love life. It turns out they were just as anxious about it as the busiest of busybodies, but they just kept it to themselves.

[eternal_ot]

Lucky you :) I think its the birthright of Indian parents to be meddlesome ;) or even if they aren't the society blames them for not looking after their kids (no matter how grown up the kids are)

Good to see you here <3 Thanks for stopping by :)

[halfshellvenus]

but when it comes to matrimony they will trust any Ram, Shyam or Sunder any given time.Hahahaha! Well put, and it does seem odd that getting to know and like someone and dating them is not okay, but seemingly random pairing up is the norm

[eternal_ot]

Hehe...I couldn't help but marvel at the irony. Oh! It was a torture of different level especially when your own parents don't get you and thanks to those friends I didn't go crazy with self-doubt.

Mostly parents are held responsible for getting their kids married before they reach a certain age (which is wrong I feel) and people are now open to kids choosing their own partners. The problem lies when there is no partner and arranging it feels like a business deal.

" The problem is, the loved one in question usually doesn't see those bad qualities, or doesn't know about them, or chooses to overlook them! " So true.
I guess to each their own. Some of my friends found their mate via arrange marriage and are happily married. Some are also divorced. Same goes for love marriage.

Marriage in general is unpredictable :)