“When do you plan to get married?”

“When do you plan to get married?”

In the last six months, the probability of me encountering this question has shot up three fold. Earlier it was only parents, but now the following have also joined in: my close friends, my not so close friends, my colleagues, my relatives and in fact anyone and everyone whom I know remotely is worried about me settling down.

My answer to this question depends on the mood I am in and also on who is asking this question. But every answer has side effects and leads to further questions and then an awkward situation. I hate that moment. But I am not able to avoid it. Let me present a few:

Scene 1: This is one office colleague who happened to sit the across the table during lunch one day. He is not even a friend of mine. I usually don’t speak to him unless he initiates some conversation. But this doesn’t stop him from giving his friendly piece of advice to me.

“So when do you plan to get married?”

“Mostly by next year”

“Early next year or the second half of next year?”

“Hmm…early”

“So.. have your parents starting looking for matches?”

“No.. not yet”

“You should start looking out man. It takes time to find the right person”

“Thanks. I will”

“Where do you plan to get married? Mumbai?”

Silence.

Scene 2: This is my relative whom I have never spoken to in my life. His son happened to be taking admission in an engineering college. He called me up for some advice related to engineering colleges. Very soon the topic drifted from education to my marriage.

“So when do you plan to get married?”

“Not in the next twelve months”

“Why? You are already settled in life. You have a good job.”

“So?”

“Your age is also 27.”

“So?”

“So you should get married. I guess your parents must be looking out already for matches”

“If they are, I am not aware about it.”

“Ohh…Btw do you know Komal?”

“Huh?”

“She is so and so’s daughter. She just completed her MBA. The family is good too. Baat chalau?”

Silence.

Scene 3: This time it was my TL.

“So when do you plan to get married?”

“Why are you worried about it?”

“All your friends are now either engaged or married”

“I ll get new friends then who are bachelors yet.”

“Please. Do you want me to find a good girl for you?”

“No ways.”

“I am serious.”

“So am I.”

Silence.

I know that avoiding this question is impossible. But why do people who have no connection to my life, ask me this? Why can’t they leave me alone?

I will marry if I want to marry. I will marry when I want to marry. But, for now, please leave me alone.