When are you settling down ?

Can you imagine how difficult it must be for an spinster in India? I cannot speak for everyone, but I can surely speak for my own experience.

Marriage is still considered to be a sacred institution that has been entrusted to mankind by God himself. Thus, every man and woman should either be married, or dedicate themselves to the service of God. Simply stated, every mortal must either get married, and reproduce – yes you got it right, sex and reproduction are legitimate only in wedlock and holy matrimony, or entrust your heart, mind, body, and soul to the service of mankind and the maker.

If you belong to that class of women who do not jump into matrimony when they attain 18 or 20 years of age, then be prepared to face a volley of questions from all quarters. I would like to summarize the unwarranted volley of questions that the Indian society (mostly married women) like to publicly throw at nubile Indian women, especially in social gatherings. Some of these most annoying questions can be as follows:

1.When is the big day coming?
2.When are you settling down ? (As if I am unsettled! )
3.Are the wedding bells gonna ring soon?
4.Do you know the lucky guy, and when is he coming?
5.When will we be treated to your wedding dinner?
6.Do you know how I wish to see you as a bride?
7.When is the Mr. Right going to become public?

The above list in inconclusive. When a bunch of Indian homemakers find themselves in each other’s company – all they do is match-making. The sight of a nubile spinster is more than enough to elicit the above questions and sadly, these women tend to believe that they are settled and that everyone else must settle like them. They know better! The lesser I say anything about this, the better.

In my opinion, marriage is the most unsettling thing. Generally, it is the union of two very diverse, confused, individuals (one from mars, and the other from Venus) trying to make sense of their attachment to each other. I bet it is a serious compromise (yes compromise, not consensus) of ideas, values, likes, habits, cultures – thus leading to a confounding amalgamation of ideas, values, and practices.

I am very curious to know how many people really think that marriage is settling down. And the guy will be my Mr. Right?? Why does society do this great injustice to unmarried people – telling them that life is all about marriage? Worse still, they tell you that always, always, the other side of the fence looks greener! Can anyone explain this irony to me – they are doomed, but they keep waiting for my big day? What? Epitomes of selflessness I guess! ! Indian Aunties, spare me please!