Monday

Culture

My Shaadi from Hell

“You’ll never catch me on Shaadi.com,” I always used to tell my friends. That was a lie.

I figured that there was really no risk in it because everyone always says that putting yourself on Shaadi.com is a great idea. Personally, I’ve heard of good stories from people who used the site, and it’s been around for more than ten years, so I figured that it was really worth trying out. It was either that, or I’d have to listen to my mom and Masi in Bombay about setting up some meetings with guys and parents next time we visit India.

Keep in mind now that I was born and raised in the US. My parents moved here a few years before I was born. I would say that I’m a good mix of East and West; I go the mandir every so often and clubs in the city when my mind needs some ease. But I would consider myself a good girl. I know I’m attractive; I’m tall for a Desi girl (who would’ve thought that) and I don’t have horrible blonde highlights like some chicks do…I don’t understand WHY people would do that! Anyways…back to the topic of discussion here.

 

I joined Shaadi.com and filled out my profile as factual and honestly as I could. I don’t think my skin color is a “wheatish” color, but that seemed like the only good choice. Anyways, I was maybe on the website for a month, sadly breaking the hearts of a few guys from the Motherland who ‘expressed interest’ in me. I thought to myself, Alright, if I’m paying to join this website, I might as well make use of it.

 

I clicked a few selections and bunch of guys showed up who was apparently a “match” for me. Now remember, I go to college in New York City, so I’m not looking to date or talk to someone from California or Texas – but then I saw this one guy and he was really cute. And his profile was very short – maximum four lines. He said he was “very laid back and fun loving guy,” and that he disliked drama. Whoa, that sounds like someone I could get along with, I thought to myself. [I don’t like drama either as you can tell.] He said that he could be described as, “talkative, funny, [and] passionate.”

 

Yes, you’re right, he sounds like a decent guy. There was only one problem – he lived almost ½ way across the country. I said, “What the hell,” and ‘expressed interest’ in his profile. A few days later, I saw that this guy accepted my ‘expressed interest,’ and he sent me a message asking for my email or cell phone number.

 

What the hell am I doing, I thought to myself, as I replied back with my cell and Email address.

 

Later that night I got a phone call. It was him. For the sake of this story, we’ll call him Mr. X.

 

Mr. X and I chatted for a bit, but I had to rush off to class, so I asked if I could call him later. I did. We talked. Four hours and 23 minutes to be exact. We slept. He called me in the morning. We talked close to six hours throughout the entire day. And we started to text message one another a lot.

 

Am I attracted to someone I met online? I kept asking myself. He seemed really nice and had a nice family. Through the time that we spoke to one another, there was a lot of flirtation between the two of us. He’d say certain things, and I’d reply back with little smiles and winks. The chemistry was obviously there. We even talked about what it would be like to have a long distance relationship – he said he’d come to visit me. That’s when I thought that this might be a really, really good thing. Mr. X was making the effort to come and visit me for a weekend. I was happy. I thought that this could possibly end up working out for the best.

 

Anyway, I don’t know what happened, but three weeks into talking and before his trip to New York City, he sends me an Email saying that he doesn’t think that “this” is going to work out between the two of us, he started talking to someone else, and basically said I wasn’t pretty enough for him.

 

This is when I wanted to rudely write back to him, “Um…who are you calling ‘not pretty enough?!’ Last time I checked, I was voted Homecoming Queen and senior Prom Queen! You better realize who you’re talking to! Up until now, I’ve possessed both “P” qualities: pretty and popular!”

 

But I didn’t. There was no need to stoop down to his level. I simply wrote back, “If I were you, I’d grow the balls to at least call a girl and tell her you don’t want to talk to her anymore, rather than Email her.”

 

So now when everyone talks about their really good experiences on Shaadi.com, I can be like, “Hey, there was this one time…you won’t believe what happened…”

 

Ladies, a guy can seem really nice and why wouldn’t he want to…he’s looking for a wife for life. Just be careful and make sure you know exactly who you’re talking to because you never know what type of person they’re going to turn to really be!

 

Well, that’s all on my end! I need to start preparing for this design course I’m taking over summer! I get to intern at a fashion house so maybe I’ll share some inside secrets with you.

 

Till next time…

 

Hugs & ciao!

 

Mali