Marriage!!!!

You know it's a normal day when you log into facebook and at least 5 people you know have changed their relationship status to engaged or put up a photo of themselves with their soon-to-be significant others and a save the date. A very normal day. And sometimes, the normalcy of it all makes you want to pull your hair out and scream as loud as you can.

A few months earlier, there was a function at home. I dressed up real nice and was felt really good about it. I regretted my decision not five minutes from then. Not only did most people take the attention away from the reason of the gathering, they also uttered the words 'looking nice' and 'time to get married' in the same sentence. I don't understand the logic of associating looking grown-up and looking nice with marriage. But apparently, that is how it is.

I'm 25 years old. And ever since I turned 20 and was in last year of college, I was told that I should start looking at getting married. And the voices only seem to get louder in strength the older I grow. It's never ceases to surprise me how people can skip my entire list of achievements, my education, my career and jump to the point of marriage. Like that's all I am good for. To get married and produce kids. Most people never ask 'so what is your next step in life?'. It is always a 'when are you getting married?'. I've even been told that too much studying is not going to help me in my marriage and I should learn some household skills to help me. Because of course, it is only the responsibility of the girl to manage the household, isn't it?

When I smile and reply that I am not ready for marriage, they look at me up and down and then whisper loud enough for me to hear 'what is wrong with her?'. Because of course I must be gay to not want to be getting married. Or having a secret affair that I don't want to tell my parents about. 

Our entire life is all about being taught how to be independent. Learn to live life without relying on others. And the moment you have a taste of freedom, they want to take it away from you and tie you down. 

I am all for marriage....when I want to be married. But stop asking me to get married because I am a certain age, or I am earning a certain figure. Or worse, because everyone around me is getting married and all the good guys will get married. Age is just a number...and so are the number of people asking me to live my life according to them. With all due respect, it's my life. I am 25 years old. Happy, single and content. And that is not abnormal.