The matrimonial experience
Vinayaka M
The drama began. I was defending my own case as all the opposition was united to defeat me this time. It was the time to put forth my argument. I started with the standard statement by saying that I want to settle in life which I had learnt by watching daily serials in my childhood.
Suddenly, my cousins stood up to give a pep talk as if I need to lead Indian Cricket team in the world Cup finals. Finally, I ended up giving my consent for marriage.
I am a millennial kid. Your guess is right, I am an Engineer too. Like all the other millennials right now, I am in a searching spree. I am 2 matchmaking event old. Generally you say your age like this way, when you cross a certain age.
It all started when I received a call from my father asking for an OTP. Yes, my profile was being created in a matrimonial website. My little brother had filled my interests and hobbies under the aegis of my father. He was just like Lord Ganesh helping sage Vyasa in penning Mahabharat.
Using material data hand books, log tables and Steam tables was a cakewalk for me during my college days. But, analysing horoscopes and star tally charts these days are a nightmare. One fine day, a notification from the matrimony website popped up in my mobile. It was an invitation for the virtual matchmaking event in zoom. This particular application has an unique feature called “Breakout rooms” which allows to carry out one-to-one conversations. The matrimony sites uses this feature to arrange a meeting between bride’s family and groom’s family.
Let’s stop advertising the Zoom app and get back to our discussion on virtual matchmaking event. Organizers had arranged a mock session, a week ahead of the actual event so that all the participants would be familiar about the process. I was on a tenterhooks when the organizers announced that they are going to open breakout rooms so that brides and grooms can converse privately.
I had never conversed with a woman privately in my entire life, however, calls from customer care are the exceptions. Yes, again your guess is right. My branch was Mechanical in Engineering. Remember a well known character “Raj” from the TV show “Big Bang theory”? We are truly like two peas in a pod.
Finally, we had been assigned a breakout room. I started adjusting my screen brightness. Our family and Bride’s family exchanged the greetings. I was like a cat on hot bricks when my father asked me to look at the bride. Finally, I worked up the courage and said “hi”to the girl. This was the only word I uttered during the entire process. Despite of saving the travel cost, these virtual events come up with an added advantage. You would be saved from the terrible Uppittu and Kesaribath which would be offered to the grooms during the matchmaking event.
To conclude, these virtual events could never match the real events. But, do not forget to follow the guidelines issued by the government during this pandemic time.
(The author is a Production Planning Engineer at Collins Aerospace, Bengaluru. He writes for various organizations as well)
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