Me; The numbers are still few to rejoice MRC. Arranged marriages are still arranged based upon all the wrong issues. A marriage has more to do with whether the people are reasonable adults. I agree. So why not start by treating them as adults and letting them choose their partners?? I prefer that people choose their own and make mistakes of their own and face ot on their own rather than have parents do it for them. Hope to read your post soon

I hate to keep harping on this, but once again I feel like your writing takes me right to where the action is. I really enjoyed “The Day the Ice was Broken” as a story, but surely agree that it certainly seems like an awkward situation compared to dating–getting more serious–proposing–joy of agreeing to love each other forever process–that our culture seems to support most of the time.

I loved your reply to Mohan about height and I am glad that it came to you at the time, not later, as I am prone to do also. Your title is very well chosen for the story. When I saw, “The Day the Ice was Broken,” I immediately thought, “How soon until the two hearts melted together in love? Is that an apt figure of speech to follow your FOS?

Your “Difference” is one of your many gifts.

Great job, Shail!

Sigh, that’s the way things are done over here Bob. Micro seconds is all we get in these types of arranged marriages. Parents and other elders get to make all the decisions based on factors that have nothing to do with whether the two individuals going to tie the knot are compatible with each other. And what’s surprising (and totally baffling to me) is that you will find a lot many who still swear by the efficacy of this system!! What of me? My answer is a big and resounding ‘NO’! I would rather that individuals are allowed to ‘grow up’ make their own choices and if they end up making wrong ones, take responsibility for their actions. After all we all make mistakes, even the older generation does when it comes to choosing a partner for their child. If that mistake is acceptable why is it not acceptable for the younger generation to make mistakes and learn from them?? Beats me!! At what point in your child’s life are you going to ‘let go’? At what point are you going to accept that he is an adult and capable of thinking for himself??
Of course there is another important thing. Everything depends on what you define ‘marriage’ as. If it means just a woman moving over to the man’s house to blend in and take care of his parents, bear him children and do the housework, then this method of arranged marriages is ok. But it is long since we have moved ahead and are asking more of marriage, a union of body, minds, and emotions. Compatibility levels are different for each of us. Just because a man/woman comes from a certain background or family cannot ensure that the marriage is a successful one. But when the numbers of those staying under a single roof and not divorcing even at the cost of extreme suffering is counted among the numbers to prove how marriages in India never break and are for keeps, what else do you expect?? As long as that belief exists, people will swear by arranged marriages.
Let me pre-empt that question you want to ask at this point Bob. You want to know if my views are the exception or the norm. Take a guess my friend!
BTW thanks for the compliments!

Vivek, ek mistake tho chalta hai. Akismet will remember you always from now on.