New Delhi, India (BBN)-If you are 22 years of age or above, marriage is definitely on your parents' mind. It doesn't matter if it is not on yours.
Health, education and employment of children are imminent worries for parents but marriage is the perennial concern. And that explains why every time you deviate from the 'norms' defined by your mother, she goes, "Who will marry you if you behave this way?”, reports the Hindustan Times.
So as you approach the marriageable age (not the legal one but the one your parents have in mind), pressure starts mounting on you. To add to your misery, distant chachis and mamis run into you inevitably at every marriage function you attend only to ask, "So, when are you tying the knot?"
Parents resort to different methods to convince you that a better half is the only missing piece in your life.
Here are some of the things that parents say to get you married-
"SHARMA JI'S SON ALREADY HAS A SON"
And that's when the neighbour's son, your erstwhile friend, becomes your biggest enemy for getting married early.
"WE ARE GROWING OLD. WE WANT TO SEE OUR GRANDCHILDREN BEFORE WE DIE"
Right! At 50 they are too old and waiting another couple of years is not a possibility for them. So they won't stop even if you do get married. They want grand children now.
"WE WANT TO GET DONE WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE RETIREMENT"
Dear Mom and Dad, we appreciate your concern. Let us take the responsibility and you can just relax and enjoy the wedding, whenever it happens.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?"
You are educated and you have a job. Next life goal: Marriage!
"THERE'S NEVER A RIGHT TIME"
Every time you try to explain them that this might not be the right time for you to get married, they will give you this philosophical answer.
"THE BIOLOGICAL CLOCK IS TICKING"
If you are above 25 years of age and a single woman, you must have heard this several times. From parents to friends to well wishers, everyone reminds you that your chances of having a baby are diminishing with age.
"WE HAVE ATTENDED SO MANY OF OUR FRIENDS' CHILDREN'S WEDDING. IT'S OUR TURN TO HOST A WEDDING RECEPTION"
Wedding receptions are the most important element of the great Indian wedding (sometimes more important than the wedding itself) and people just love attending as well as hosting them. And your parents can't wait to beat their friends in the wedding party-hosting game.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. YOU SHOULD GET A WIFE"
Well, they don't understand that if you don't have time to take care of yourself, you will most certainly not have time for a wife!
"YOUR COUSIN WENT FOR A FANCY HONEYMOON. YOU CAN ALSO GO IF YOU GET MARRIED"
Funny how they believe that going to Switzerland for a honeymoon is the best reason to get married.
And, if all else fails, emotional blackmail comes handy-
"WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR YOU; CAN'T YOU DO THIS ONE THING FOR US?"
This is the toughest to crack and most of us fall prey to this trick, even if we don't know how getting married is a way of paying back for all the things our parents have done for us.
Lo and behold guys and girls, for the story doesn't end there.
Did you think that getting married would get them off your back? You are wrong!
When you are at the altar pledging your vow to your better half, your folks are already dreaming of grandchildren!
BBN/SK/AD