Match Point

Somewhere someone cleared her throat and began to talk into the mike. The session was about to begin and the first talk was on 8216;8216;health and fitness and precautions to be taken when planning a family.8217;8217; The speaker launched into details of sexual health8212;clearly an awkward topic to kick-start a marriage meet with. Parents began to squirm in their seats, as the eligibles buried their heads in booklets. After the third speaker finished speaking8212;on what it takes to keep a marriage going8212;the actual business of interaction began. This was, of course, preceded by a formal announcement: 8216;8216;First, the girls8217; side will get a chance to meet the boys8217; side.8217;8217; The scramble for 8216;8216;a suitable boy8217;8217; began. 8216;8216;What does that mean? Do we just approach the boys directly?8217;8217; an anxious mother asked the organiser.

8216;8216;Numbers M34, M23, M98, please meet F15!8217;8217; came the next announcement. The initial awkwardness at being part of such a meet seemed to dissipate. Parents began the matching of names and numbers, a pen at hand, ready to tick the 8220;right8221; name. Men and women walked past tables sizing each other up. Two astrologers were also at hand, in case things speeded up.

M13 8216;8216;software engineer based in Boston8217;8217; was clearly in demand. The only hitch was that he had not turned up. The man in the white T-shirt had disappeared. Half an hour into it, and things were obviously not moving for me. Around me, though, I could see tentative matches being made. For some, the sumptuous snacks included in the Rs 100 registration fee proved more of an attraction. Besides one could get a better view from the buffet table.

8216;8216;Excuse me, have you registered here?8217;8217; asked a hesitant voice from behind. I nodded to M50, a marketing executive of 8216;wheatish complexion, single, with own house8217;. 8216;8216;It8217;s quite awkward going to girls8217; houses, so I thought I8217;d check out this meet,8217;8217; he said by way of explanation.

Then came the buzzer round. 8216;8216;What are your expectations? Why are your parents not here? Are you in a hurry to get married? Can you cook? Are you willing to stay with your in-laws? Can you help me in my business?8217;8217; I took his e-mail address and promised to keep in touch. 8216;8216;Have you registered here?8217;8217;8212;this was from a pair of silver-haired parents on the look-out for their 23-year-old son. 8216;8216;My son has his own business and he will move to his own house in two years8217; time. We are very broad-minded. Can you cook?8217;8217; I pointed out the obvious age difference8212;their son was younger. 8216;8216;Oh! It was nice meeting you,8217;8217; they chorused, moving on.

Three hours into the swayamvar and no sign of Mr Right yet. I took another round of the hall. Nothing eventful occurred. Perhaps, I thought, I should seek divine help. I approached the astrologer. 8216;8216;Don8217;t worry,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;You have very good yog, your time will come.8217;8217; I smiled. The sky had cleared. Maybe he was right. My time would come.