Twenty Five plus something

Let me take you through the world of a girl who just stopped looking like other girls to all sundry and important around her. The girl who no longer is a”simple” girl but a “single” girl and needs to get her act together. Ladies and gentleman I introduce you to someone who just crossed over to the other line of her twenty’s in this country called India.

The scene of this movie begins right at her home. Home, where every nook and corner vibrates with the discussion of her growing up and project” matrimony” that needs to be undertaken. Cooking suddenly becomes the most important chapter to be taught for the harried mother. The correction of the latch of her cupboard is postponed indefinitely as the poor girlie has to soon pack her bags anyways. All rights to television remote are given while little siblings snigger after cracking her marriage joke. The confused girl at all such moments gets surrounded by the clouds that make her hazy and more perplexed.

Scene cut to office lunch table. The professional office meant to have an alienation with her personal life has every table on the cafeteria questioning about her big plans. “ At your age I had a kid but my sister also talks like you” tells one. “25 is just the right time” come the words of wisdom followed by personal regrets of someone who took the step at big and old 27 and can’t plan kids easily. Kids, innumerous roles, responsibilities, ageing and here goes the endless banter over a woman’s ticking biological clock. And the girl is surrounded by hazy clouds of perplexity.

Friends are the next scene on the big screen.”I would know in a second” says a close colleague. “Click is the word which just happens” preaches the just recently engaged acquaintance. “Date for at least six months “recommends a best buddy. “ What if you never fall in love with the one “the buddy explains in an animated style. “You choose safely “counsels her dear girlfriend. Face book turns red and white and fellas ping on Gtalk asking for developments half expecting you to reveal your in-progress marital status. And the award winning is the one when she is asked to be as open and as careful as she is for choosing just the right pair of boots. Do I mention the clouds of haze that visit her after every such discussion!

And how do I forget the wedding, visiting, super concerned and sensitive relatives especially the aunties with potbellies and hairstyle of seventies whose favorite line is “are you looking for someone for your daughter, its high time you see”. “The next is your number” , the famous playful teasing followed by a silly grin. And here follows the Pandora ’s Box of advices and discussions. The courtship period that should be allowed or not be allowed. The right way to look for someone or what’s more important to look at. “Take care of family and qualification and rest would follow” says the one who has seen it and done it all. “No siblings” as the perfect imperfect situation to amount of travel done abroad. ” I tell you they lose morals” is retorted by “they are smarter”. “Too smart are not adequate marriage material ji.” tells the one in green , no red , no blue saree or whatever . And the same clouds visit the perplexed girl all around her.
And you if you thought that was it, then I must make you meet the doctor who looking at the zit on her face gives a prescription and quips “I understand it’s the face of a girl of a marriageable age” nodding with a look of genuine understanding at the parents who are made to realize the staring fact for the umpteenth time.

Advices galore and she tosses between her sheets wondering about the time when just a flower or a phone call from the latest crush was enough a reason to fall in love and dream. In midst of this chaos and madness is lost what she really wants. Is marriage not a promotion of love which was to be consuming, irrational, and spontaneous and stupid she ponders to sleep for another day/movie with different scenes but the same hazy clods of perplexity all around.