Forced Marriages over the INTERNET

Life is an open book, so they say. I wouldn't go into the technicalities of this debatable phrase like how much open; see through, translucent, open enough for a sneak peek or opaque. Privacy advocates and prosecutors have existed in all annals of history and society, my preference is to be with non-aligned ones. But, before you all label me a drifter and close this page for good, I would try my best to associate this initial composition of mine with the sensational and indigenously concocted heading.

Set a side your life's privacy, now on Internet Broadway even your dreams are vulnerable to peeping Toms a.k.a (Also Known As) Matrimony Portals. I was just going through my routine surfing and checking my mail when I was taken aback when they claimed to have found a dream girl for me and in fact she was waiting for me, your dream girl is waiting for you was the exact phrase. Whoooaah!!! Never new that an insomniac could dream and if ever I had dreamt of a girl, how did she come to know about it and why is she waiting for me? I hope dreaming is not an offence punishable by sandals.

Going through the portal I found that Shinny and Albin Das have tied knots and there are around six hundred thousand more victims like them. Why on earth do we require internet to add fuel to raging fire of population explosion in India ? The portal has 7.5 million members, I have no doubt that majority amongst them would have fallen to the first impression created by photographs of Ashas, Ruchitas….. eclipsing the fine print which asks you to register your profile. One point that I found very confusing was their claim of being ISO certified , going by success stories, I am sure people are confusing that certification pertains to enlisted men and women and not the portal. Even in love marriages you can't boast of your partner being certified by International Standards Organization (ISO). Matrimony Toolbar, seemed somewhat interesting. I thought that some sorts of tools were being offered to fix up an estranged matrimony relationship. After all they contributed on equal footing, to create it at first place. But they were one step ahead; toolbar offers you to find a new match with searching options like divorcee, widowers. The world is really becoming fast, repair is out replace is in.

Now coming to the word, forced, of the heading. To bring some sense into the senseless lead line let me take the liberty of terming matrimony pop-ups as new age avatars of orthodox parents that an average youth encounters in Indian homes. Avatar may be a high-tech one but attributes are same i.e. incessant and relentless nagging for getting married and of course under a subterfuge of dream girl or boy. That too, at a point of time when you are up to something very close to your heart and require utmost concentration. For instance, how bad you will feel if some pop-up keeps bugging you while you are going through this masterpiece of literature.

In no way I am campaigning against the institution of matrimony. Since, it is made in heaven let heaven tell me when I'm ready for it. And for heaven's sake let me surf net on my own terms.

Just rib tickling quotes or jugular veins

"A criminal is a person with predatory instincts who has not sufficient capital to form a corporation."
~Howard Scott.

"I'm spending a year dead for tax reasons."
~Douglas Adams.

"I always arrive late at the office, but I make up for it by leaving early."
~Charles Lamb.

"The definition of a consultant: Someone who borrows, your watch, tells you the time and then charges you for the privilege."
~letter in the Times newspaper

"Few great men would have got past personnel."
~Paul Goodman.

"When I asked my accountant if anything could get me out of this mess I am in now he thought for a long time and said, 'Yes, death would help'."
~Robert Morley.