Shaadi

When I signed up with shaadi.com, I was not at all serious. I still find it very difficult to digest the idea of marrying someone through matrimonial columns -- be it online or otherwise. But ever since I started getting responses, I have been scanning the website rather seriously. And believe me, there is a galaxy of women out there who, in real life, would make you fall on your knees and plead, "Will you marry me?" If one of them comes along, I will readily tie the knot. If not, I can always say I was against the idea of marrying through matrimonial columns.

This afternoon I was looking at the profile of a girl -- good-looking and all. Educated too. But there was a rider: "We want a non-smoker and a teetotaller. SC/STs please excuse." Since I am a smoker and I also love my drink, I found myself disqualified to click on the 'contact her' icon. But I wouldn't have clicked in any case because the "SC/STs please excuse" pissed me off. It is just not politically correct. Ok, none of us are politically correct when it comes to being practical, but there are subtle ways of putting things. I only hope that Mayawati or any of the leaders of the Dalit parties don't read the profile, or else tomorrow you can expect the matter being blown up into a political issue.

The profile, needless to say, was posted by the 'parent/guardian' -- for that's the generation which did not let education alter its biases. It is so much fun to read profiles posted by 'self', as in the girls themselves. Some of them are really irresistible.