The Arranged Introductions

Read the previous two blogs first for the thread to make sense :-)

What followed the typical arranged marriage scenario is that we have progressed to arranged introductions by families/friends, which is still quite prevalent in the communities these days. I personally have been through a couple of these torturous ordeals over the last few years, let me set the scene.

My dad: Uncle so and so, told me about this boy who is from a very good family, is educated and they (his parents) are looking for a girl.
Me: (Unenthusiastically) Yeah.
My dad: I invited them for tea next weekend.
Me: WHAT - but dad I don't know the first thing about him.
My dad: Yes putt (dear) that's why I invited them so you can get to know one another.
Me: Oh My God dad
My dad: Don't OMG me, you are getting older and I have to think of your younger sisters too.
(Major guilt trip)
Me: Fine
My dad: Fine - make sure you wear something nice, and maybe you should go to the gym this week.
Me: (Outraged) What do you mean !! (In my head - Like one week at the gym is going to make a difference, I really should start exercising more)
My dad: You know you've put on a few extra pounds, it wouldn't hurt for you to look your best.
Me: (Mouth gaping, stomping out of the room)

The weekend of the dreaded event rolls around and the entire family, and I mean entire family is busy "getting ready" for our most honorable guests. Cleaning, cooking and prepping. They arrive - the whole tribe (and I mean whole tribe mum, dad, grandparents, siblings, spouses of siblings, kids and the man in question), and I am pushed to the back of our tribe so I'm last to say hello to everyone. I glimpse him, he catches my eye and I just smile thinking - there's no bloody way!! My siblings have the same feelings and as soon as we desert our guests to go and prepare tea in the kitchen they can't help but laugh until tears are rolling down their faces..... so mean !!

Anyway, things with the parents progress nicely, they sit and talk about the old days, and back home and all the people they know, hoping to find more mutual acquaintances. What they do for a living, what their son does, all the while the son just sits there smiling. Tea is served and then my dad makes the dreaded announcement:

My dad: Why don't you two youngsters go and talk amongst yourselves and get to know more of one another.
Me: (Turning bright red) smile.
My dad: (With eyes gestures to my other siblings) Let them go into the living room you should join us here
Me: (Completely deserted.... walk slowly into the living room wishing the couch would just swallow me up)

So a little context about myself - I'm not a vain person or overly obsessed with looks. But, when I sat with Mr. Potential life partner, there were no sparks setting the couch on fire or anything. The conversation was boring and routine and I had no desire to get to know him better. So arranged introductions are better then arranged marriages but usually the people doing the arranging don't have a clue about you. The best part about these introductions is after they've left and your entire family says "So, what do you think?" "Is it a yes".

They're absolutely stark raving mad, if they think you can judge a persons character in a quick 10 minute conversation. As you can tell I'm not a huge fan of meeting a potential this way, it hasn't happened too often thank goodness but when it does it always leaves me feeling so completely lame.