Swiping for Shaadi: Episode 11 - The "Groom-Hunting" Phase

No matter how comical and sharp-witted Sid was, his words served a huge impact on Anjali’s mind. She had cold feet, and was perplexed with her sudden decision regarding her life, but she had to take that next step – of course, hunting for an eligible groom.

Her first proposal arrived too quickly than expected as if her father had already planned her search process.

“Check out this boy and if you don’t like anything, then let me know immediately. I have three more boys next on the list. I can contact them soon. But don’t dangle me saying me that ‘Oh, he is a good boy but I don’t want to marry him.’”

It was true. A bitter truth. It was an unspoken rule in arranged marriages that you have to reject a person with a solid reason, a really brutal one. No constructive feedback is entertained!

“But what if the guy rejects me, Papa? Like the previous ones did?” She asked him innocently.

“If your heart is true, beta, you can find your dream man in the first proposal itself. So, stay true to your heart, face the truth, and have a clear conscience.” 👨

What Papa had shared was not just a father-to-daughter talk, but it was a century-old school lecture on moral science. She whirled her round eyes and wondered what he meant by facing the truth! Which truth! Wished he had a crystal-clear conscience when he mentioned it!

The family was supposed to meet them at their house in Agra. Alokji tried to intervene through his usual nagging remarks but Daadi did a perfect job of keeping him quiet. Shantiji was less worried about Anjali, but more worried about her daughter, Divya’s board marks.

“I am worried, Anjali beta. Divya is not as bright as you, but in today’s world, marks also count. She doesn’t have other likes other than grooming and getting dressed. I don’t know what she wants to become. I became a housewife because we didn’t have any other options. But in today’s world, we can find several opportunities and I genuinely feel that Divya should tap some of them. At least, get a respectable job and then tie the knot.” 😟

Anjali always thought that her Chachi disliked her modern lifestyle in Mumbai and views, but it seemed to be totally different. With an assuring smile, she said, “Don’t worry, Chachi. Divya is too young. Even I never thought I would get an MBA degree or develop an interest in photography. But gradually, I found my passion. Just leave it to the flow of life. Divya will soon be the bright child you always dreamed of.”

After consoling Chachi, she turned to her mother who always buried herself either in the kitchen or in the garden, “Mummy, I think you should start a YouTube channel on gardening. What do you think?”

Her mother flashed an innocent, toothy smile, and answered with a sigh, “Rehne do, beta! I am delighted in my little garden. If I start a YouTube Channel, your father will go crazy. And why does your generation have to announce to the whole world about what they like to do? Some things should be done in secret, only for yourselves.”

Anjali smiled bitterly, comprehending that her mother had understood the significance of Ikigai without reading any books. She wondered why her father was mad at her and the garden she had maintained with love. But no, if your partner doesn’t like something you do, how can you continue it? This is not love; it is a marriage with compromise. She inferred that day that her parents were in a typical marriage institution with no feelings of love and warmth towards each other. Serving meals to your husband on time or paying for the house’s utilities didn’t mean a marriage weaved with love and compassion. 💔

Then, she was in a fix. Was she taking the right step in stepping into an arranged marriage system? Will her marriage be in a situation like that of her parents? She thought excessively over the matter but checked her Chacha-Chachi for a while. Oh, the way Chacha cared for his wife; it made every woman in the neighbourhood go wild. Maybe, that’s the kind of arranged marriage setup she wanted to be in! 💘

Not all love marriages succeed, and not all arranged marriages fail, someone had said that. But who? Maybe, it was Sid, she wondered! He always came up with such philosophical thoughts that didn’t suit his image but fitted perfectly in the ignoble world we live in!

After a long, tiring day, Anjali was ready to meet her first proposal the next morning. Technically, it was the 11^th or 12^th one, but for her, it was the first one as she had decided to consider marriage seriously. Surprisingly, she had butterflies in her stomach (oh, the real, vibrant ones), and she was nervous about the acceptance-rejection thing. What happens if he turns out to be the nice guy she always wanted (also, better than Varun) and they both accept each other? Oh wow, she might even get married in the upcoming months and long will be the scary question of loneliness!

But then, she tossed the coin and perceived the other side – Rejection. She had gone through many, but she had hardly thought of marriage in a realistic direction, right? But if she gets rejected by that guy, it would mean going through the entire process of checking out the guy, evaluating their horoscopes, meeting the family, and if she is rejected again, then …..

Well, it would become a lengthy process. She cleared her mind of anxious thoughts and checked on the time. It was 1 am, and she had to reply to Varun which she hadn’t done yet.  

Sorry, I’m at home in Agra. Can’t meet. Let’s plan some other day.

What if he really was interested in her and wanted to meet her over a cup of coffee and talk about their prospective relationship?

She shut the thinking part of her brain and prepared to go to sleep with a heavy, confused heart. 🤷

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