Let’s start with a story.
“Once upon a time there was a boy and girl. They were both madly in love. The boy proposed, girl agreed and they both lived happily ever after.”
FULLSTOP!!!
The practicality and the probability of that happening in India India
A really odd picture to imagine, don’t you think???
Anyways, let’s get back to the practicality part of Indian love stories.
Scenario 1 :: the best case scenario
A girl and a boy are madly in love. They both inform their respective parents. The first thing parents say “We trusted you!” or “You back stabbed us!” After many such sentimental blackmails will come the first question “What’s his/her caste?” Trust me, I am talking about the most forward middle class Indian family here.
“What’s his/her family background?” “Veg/Non-Veg?” “Father’s occupation?” “Siblings?”
Only after that, would come the sensible questions like “Age?” “job?” blah blah.
Now let’s say their families finally agree. But still both families would be locked in an ugly battle of gaining the upper hand all throughout the marriage (read lifetime).
Scenario 2 :: Both the girl and the boy have been in previous relationships but had to do arrange marriage.
In this case they both will amicably settle the issue of previous relationships. No matter how many they have had the girl will settle with one ex-boyfriend and the guy might settle with one or two (max) past girlfriends. The questions will still come, but they both will definitely keep them to themselves.
Scenario 3 :: Only one of them have had past relationships and it’s the “first love” for the other.
Just for the sake of lesser complications, we will let the girl have one ex-boyfriend and “first love” for the guy.
The girl asks somewhat naughtily “so, don’t lie, how many girlfriends have you had in the past?” “None!” comes a calm reply
Guilt creeps into her, hesitantly she persuades the boy to tell the truth, but to no avail. She thinks “What if he asks me? What will I say? Should I tell him before he asks? No? I will not tell him! No, I should not keep a secret! But he doesn’t seem interested, maybe he will not ask!” But then comes the inevitable “How many relationships have you had in the past?”
“NONE!!!” comes a flat reply. Obviously, she panicked!!!
Scenario 4 :: It’s the “first love” for both boy and girl. Theoretically, this should have been the simplest. (It will be, in a longer run but!)
They both have been happy with their life and are currently in a very peaceful state of mind. The problem (obviously) comes when one asks first and the tries to play safe.
The girl asks “So, any past girl friends I should know about?” “Nah!” comes a casual reply.
SILENCE!!! (Oops!)
Girl thinks “why is he not asking me the same question?”
Boy thinks “Why did she ask me that question?”
Girl : “Does he think I have been involved in the past?”
Boy : “is there something she wants me to know?”
Girl : “I should clear my stand. No, that would look too obvious. He should ask first.”
Boy : “Should I ask her? No, that would throw a wrong impression. But she asked me, why can’t I?”
Girl : “Or is he trying to hide something? Did he just lie to me? Is it why he is not asking me the same question?”
Boy : “Did she have a boyfriend? If so, I would want to know. No…Would I?
And they lived happily ever after…
