The Great Indian Arranged Marriage: What Happens When Boy Meets Girl

Meeting your potential partner for the first time usually makes everyone apprehensive and edgy. It's a tedious task, more so in India, where fixing a rishta' is almost like a festival and a marriage alliance happens not just between two people, but two families. So, like any other Indian festivity, the first meeting between the prospective bride and groom's family is an amazing sight to watch. Here's a list of some of the typical things that are bound to happen in a meeting like this:

1. The Filmy Chai' Bringing Ritual

It sounds like a scene coming from a 90s flick, doesn't it? But trust us, this still happens. It's successfully used as a tool for the groom's parents to see how sanskaari' the girl is, and for the boy to secretively check her out.

2. Irritating Little Kids And Other Younger Relatives

These are the ones who are responsible for embarrassing (and irritating) the couple the most. They annoy not only the couple, but every living person in the room with their stupid name-calling and antics.

3. Making The Couple Sit/Stand Together

Another very filmy thing which is too common in a setting like this is making the poor couple sit together. While the couple is busy wearing fake smiles and mentally murdering everyone present there, the thousand relatives that are gathered there find it very cute.

4. People (Especially The Girl's Parents) Showing Off Humbly'

Okay, agreed! This might not happen always but still the folks with bucket loads of cash in their bank accounts make it a point to put all their modest' belongings on display.

5. Wide Display Of All The Cuisines Of India

Twenty plates on one small table and this is just the starters menu we're talking about. Food which can easily be distributed among 50 people is decorated on the table for a meal of 15. For that one person present among the whole lot who doesn't care about anything but food, it's a win-win situation. "Never say no to food" is their motto, after all!

6. The Precious 15-Minute Interaction Between The Bride And Groom-To-Be

The best as well as the funniest part of every rishta' fixing meeting is probably this. The girl and guy are sent off teasingly to talk and get to know each other (and deciding whether they can bear each other for the rest of their lives). Ha!

7. Mediator Aunties

These are the chachis' and mamis' who have nothing better to do in life other than being matchmakers and finding the perfect partners for all the eligible candidates' in their family.

8. Over-Excited Groom's Mom

This is that one and only woman who is dressed up like it's already the wedding day. Also she is highly excited over the prospect of finally finding a bride for her boy. She talks animatedly to everybody and is usually the one who initiates the standing-and-sitting-together-of-the-couple regime.

9. Constant Talking And Discussion

This is an inevitable part of a marriage fixing ceremony. All the people present there are busy discussing details; the younger ones are excited about the wedding, the elders more concerned with serious stuff. The women are as usual occupied in checking out each other's clothes and jewellery.

10. The Awkward Conversation In The End

Okay! So the meeting went well. But when it comes to decision-making, both the families need time to think. The conversation that takes place at the end of the meeting is kind of awkward for both the sides and usually ends with "We'll talk about it and tell you over the phone".

Photo: Bohra Bros Productions (Main Image)