Article#36: Marriages are made in heaven

When I was a kid, I used to wonder how marriages are made in heaven because I could see marriages happening on earth itself. Later, I understood the meaning behind this proverb, but never believed that there’s a reason for everything until I experienced it. Well, in this article, I am going to narrate my match-making consultation story with some spice added wherever required to make it interesting. 

In India, Marriages play a vital role as they involve bringing two families together more than two individuals. Maybe that is the reason we have lot of pre-checks before each and every step when it comes to a marriage. The horoscopes of boy and girl needs to be verified at both the ends, photo exchange happens, everyone in both the families should like the photo, then they go for match-making consultation wherein the guy’s family visit the girl’s house to see her in person and discuss on the further proceedings. I was at this point few months ago. 

It was the first time I was about to visit a girl’s house along with my family. I was little hesitant, little shy, little confused on what to talk about.  My Aunt started saying to my mother, “I need a kanchipuram saree for his marriage”,  I was like, What?  My Uncle was saying, “We need Kakinada Kaja for all the 10 days during the marriage celebrations”  I felt Really?  My Grandmother came to me and said, “It seems you have grown up so fast, I still remember the little Giridhar, now you became so big that you are going to marry!” I said in my mind, “Don’t you want me to grow up?” My Grandfather said, “Always stay happy in your marriage and give us babies soon” I told him, “We are just going for consultation. I didn’t marry anyone yet” My mother said, “We will be happy if the girl takes care of you whether she looks after us or not” I felt, “Oh no, too much emotion” My father said, “Learn to accept failures and get ready to say yes for everything. Otherwise life becomes difficult” I said, “oh experience matters, Thank you. But it's not done yet” I could imagine what was going to happen in the surroundings when everything takes place as expected. 

Finally, we visited the girl’s house at the time it was planned based on the horoscope. They received us well with a plate full of snacks and drinks. Everyone from my side were busy starring at the girl and talking to her if she knows how to cook, if she can sing at the moment. Of course, it’s the vice versa, the girl’s family started asking me many questions about my place, my job, etc. At some point, I felt odd on looking at their observations. Some people were looking at me as if they never saw someone outside their family or as if I was an alien. In the meantime, the moment arrived that I had been waiting for. We were asked to talk privately.  

Although I was waiting, I was still not sure on what to talk. Both of us were so shy that our first minute passed by asking each other to take their place first.  I started with a question, “How are you doing?” “Fine, how about you?” “Doing good. What do you like?” “Swimming” “Yeah even I like Swimming” “Hmm” “Hmm” “How is your day?” “Not bad so far” “okay” “okay” In between, a little girl enters the place saying, “Uncle, are you going to marry my sister?” Uncle? Before I could respond, the girl’s grandmother enters the room asking, “What’s cooking? When you talk everything now itself, you don’t have anything to talk after marriage” We were just smiling at each other. Then the grandmother asked us to stand beside each other. We were so hesitant, but before we could take our positions, she clicked a picture of ours and a selfie with me. I couldn’t understand what was going on. 

All the discussions were done and we started from the place. Exactly at that moment, a group of ladies from the neighboring apartments surrounded me talking to themselves, “Hey it’s their new son-in-law, how smart he is”. I looked at them as if there exists an old son-in-law. 

We came to our home and then started the discussions because we have to confirm something towards the evening. Everyone in my family were fine with her including me of course although I couldn’t get to know anything about her except swimming. Evening, we told our decision and received a positive response from their end. They started talking to me on phone. Her brother started calling me brother-in-law.  Her grandmother who seemed to be so much impressed by me said, “I have a small request for you” I said, “you are too elder to me, give an order” Then she said, “If you don’t mind, I want to listen to you saying ‘I love you’ to my granddaughter” I was surprised. I was calm for a while and said, “Not now please” 

Everything went well and we were all very happy. But not sure the very next day we got a call from them saying that they want to back out from this marriage with an apology. We tried to know the reason, but couldn’t get it. 

Then I realized Marriages are indeed made in heaven. It’s not that they take place just like that. Everything happens for a reason. We may or may not know about it, but we will get to know in future the good cause behind such things. What do you say?