Arranging marriages is a favorite pastime of people in India. When the girl/boy attain a marriageable age the hunt for potential groom/bride begins in full swing. All known/unknown relatives are informed about the availability of the girl/boy. Horoscopes and the photographs are passed on to all the acquaintances and several rounds of visit to the astrologer is made.
If both sides like the photograph (in my case it is just one, because I never got to see the photograph of the guy) and the horoscopes match then is the next big step “The matrimonial meeting” .
Nobody of the marriageable age living in India is spared of this process! It might seem funny for a spectator but trust me it is a very stressful and a torturous process! At least I can vouch for it 
A few months back I had to meet a potential groom (hereafter referred to as PG!). I was to meet this guy later in the evening and all morning the phone didn’t stop ringing with distant aunts calling to give me piece of advice (read warning/threat).
I was persuaded to wear a sari for the occasion specifically a light coloured sari (do not ask me why a light coloured saree, this request/demand supposedly came from the PG’s side!!!)
*Fast-forward to the meeting*
I walk in to a room holding a juice tray looking like character straight out of an old Hindi movie, I notice 15 pairs of eyes staring at me, I am still unsure who all those people were and why had they accompanied the PG. I placed the tray on the table and then sat on a corner chair with my heads down. Even with my heads down I could see my aunt glaring at me because I was instructed to serve the juice which I didn’t fearing I would drop the tray on somebody’s head!! Somebody who had accompanied the PG suggested that we both should have a word in private. I was shown the room upstairs while PG followed with the 3 ladies behind him. The PG insisted the ladies to join us too but the ladies were sensible enough to say that they would wait out!
PG : Hi, My name is P. I was working in Dubai till recently but now I am moving to Qatar. I have 3 siblings. My sister is married. She stays in Bangalore. They own a house in Bangalore. My brothers are younger to me they are yet to be married. One brother is a choreographer he teaches dance (I thought choreographers build rockets 
) and the other one is studying. I studied in Nitte. I am a civil engineer and I also have an additional degree from Dubai. I plan to stay abroad for another 10 years and then come back to India. I am a very simple person!
I simply nod my head when he says all this in one breath.
PG : Would you like to work after marriage?
Me : Of course.
PG : Great. I shall look for a job in my office!
Me : But you are into civil engineering. I am into to altogether a different stream!
PG : That is not a problem. You can do other office work.
Me : @!#$^&
PG continues : Would you have a problem if I said yes to you?
Me : I think it is too early. We just met 10 mins ago. We both will have to give this a considerable thought and then come to a decision.
PG : Of course, Of course! But let me tell you I can say what people are like just by looking at them. I can tell you are a very good girl.
I smile and say that I am flattered.
Me : I can never say anything about people just as I meet them.
PG : I can do it all the time because I have a good “SENSE OF HUMOR”!!
I am too flabbergasted to say anything!!
Had you been in my place what would you say???
{Most of the things above are true however a few minute changes are made to make them funny!}
