Matrimonial mish-mashes - Part IV

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Howdy, folks! :-) I am in Kerala for a well-earned 2 week vacation. Last time's trip guaranteed a long post with pics too...this time I am going to be more modest for lack of time.
Not boring you by dragging MM series too much...but just thought I'd jot down a few pointers in the matrimonial (search) journey till now...some lessons learnt along the way...
For the uninitiated - Part I, Part II and Part III are here....



Most Psychotic Suitor (so far): My folks had sent through a couple of pics of me wearing casuals. The guy demanded (through his folks) to see a photo of me wearing a bindi instead. I was like ??? but still complied, thinking he meant a picture of me wearing traditional dress (since bindi is something people wear along with that). A week later, he responded saying he wants a picture of me wearing the kum-kum/sindoor bindi in particular. Whaaaa....?
Folks I'm glad to tell you that proposal was dropped with immediate effect. Seriously, what criteria do people measure their partners with?!!!



Most Amusing Comment (completely well-intentioned): When I told my uncle and aunt of my exact age (on being asked), my aunt said: "Oh but you dont look that old at all. You look 18-19 at the most. Noone would guess or say looking at you that you are getting late for marriage"!!!
And then she looked expectantly at me...waiting for a thankyou!! I didnt know whether to laugh or cry!! LOL



Most Memorable Meeting: Not that I've seen some hundreds of people so far, but this remains memorable coz it was the first meeting I ever had with a prospective "suitor", plus I ended up making a friend out of the whole sordid process. It was touted to be THE wedding...since the horoscopes matched perfectly, the guys' folks and my folks hit it off without the guy or me even contacting each other once. To top it all, some astrologer predicted engagement within 4 months!! Yup...no pressure at all.
Guy: "Will you please let me know who that astrologer is? I'd like to give him a piece of my mind."
Me: "Dont worry, we can together arrange for his assassination!" :D
The entire thing got called off after we met once though...the pressure to say 'yes' was hanging like a Damocles sword on our heads and the rest of the world seemed to have decided - all except me and him. What about the whole idea of getting to know the person as a friend first? We mutually and amicably parted ways...and to this day I remain grateful - particularly so, to have a strong case to cite as an example where I can stand up to my parents and tell them to chuck the astrological mumbo-jumbo out of the window - beacuse that need not be the deciding factor.



Scariest moment : Seeing the proposal of a 36 year old divorcee...who has polio and cannot walk...but can horseride, swim and goodness knows what else...and is "otherwise" physically fit (HIS words, not mine)!! I rejected his proposal through matrimonial website and he again showed interest in me - THRICE! Eeeyikes! Sheesh - how the hell do I consistently end up attracting all the wrong guys???


Most disappointing moment (more like a dose of reality): The same proposal where the guy's parents had been all enthusiastic about the proposal dropped it like a hot-cake when they came to know of my parents' separation - without ever meeting me even once :- I guess it takes all kinds to make up this world...


Most ridiculous pick-up line: "I am interested....in you.... to marri " accompanied by the picture of a guy easily mistaken for Tamil actor Vadivelu. No more comments.
A close second would be all the guys who write paragraphs explaining their achievements...and in the end quietly claim they are 'modest'. Amen!






Bottomline?
I was sitting at this restaurant for dinner with my folks. And noticed the table next to us...with a family waiting for their food. I observed them in silence for a few minutes. The dad was engrossed in typing out a long sms, the mom had placed her head on the table as if nursing a headache, and the kid was sitting alone playing with a toy car - each lost in their own world.

Made a mental note to myself and a prayer - let this not be my family scene ten years from now...not even on the worst hair days.....


Sigh....aaaand....yes, the journey continues! :-)
Keep watching this space for more!