The Ground Rules

When my parents started to probe me about what kind of a suitor they should begin looking for when I turned 15, I knew I had to run away or learn to make excuses to dodge the bullets.  I was only 15!  But at last, my parents also wised up and found a way to corner me.

One fine afternoon, I come home from college.  My mom made my fav Indian meal with all the trimmings.  I am the eldest of 5.  My favorite dishes are normally not made because the siblings get their way with almost everything and because I let them get away with it.  Anywho, I'm almost done eating my rice when the whole family suddenly pops into the kitchen.  They strategically placed themselves in areas to block off my escape attempts, if I dared to make any.  Then comes in my father.  *Cue the dreadful music*  Comes over and asks me mid-bite what kind of husband I preferred.  I choked on my rice.  They finally got me.

Before answering my dad, I had my mom come sit next to me for moral support.  I told them that before they looked for anyone, I wanted to set ground rules so that everyone is clear about my arranged marriage business.  We came to an agreement that my parents can find "potential rejects," as I used to call them, but in the end, it would be my call on who I liked and wanted to have to annoy me til the end of time.  Big downer on this agreement was that my parents want a guy from my Caste.  This is where the fun starts.

The caste system is a social hierarchy that is used in India today.  I am a Patel.  There are seven different kinds of Patels, hence 7 Castes because we fall in every category.  Most families changed their last names from Patel to something else because of the amount of prejudice they faced when first immigrating to the U.S.  So, while it is possible I could have a different last name, most likely though, I will be a Patel forever.  Coincidentally, I belong to the tiniest caste there is of Patels.  The name of my caste is "Matiya Patidar."  I shorten the name and just call everyone from my clan a "Mut."  Not to be confused with the breed of dog... just saying...  Anyways, the caste is so small, you have to make triple sure you're not related to the person you're being introduced to.  *Crickets chirping in the background * 

Is this starting to sound like an adventure yet?

Welcome to my Spice World

This is my first step into the blogging world.  Thank you to all my friends at work for showing interest in my stories and urging me to do this.  Anything to put a smile on your faces.  Ok, so the main idea of this blog is for me to tell you about how it's going in my crazy world in my mom's hunt for my husband.  She's very dedicated to finding "the right one."  I know the notion of an Arranged Marriage is extremely foreign and dumbfounding for many of you.  I hope this blog works to delight you in seeing how much goes on in the act of creating a marriage. 

I am no ordinary girl by any means.  I've worked my life so far to be a good blend of the east and the west.  Problem with this is that some find me "too American, and independent" while others think I'm "too much of a FOB for them"  FYI: FOB= fresh off the boat.  It's an Asian thing.  Anyway, before getting off point... I think I decided to also start this blog to get feedback from you all out there.  I think I'm a pretty nice, sweet, and spicy girl.  I dont look ugly, am the opposite of clingy, and I dont need you to buy me anything, except for flowers... cant a girl just get flowers??  Anyways, point is, if I am all these nice things, why in the world is my love life such a challenge?  One of the answers is the men (or boys) I meet.  And I shall introduce you to them using nicknames my friends and I gave them.  I warn you right now, do not eat or drink when reading some of the blogs that will follow- you will choke at some point.  Ya, they can get THAT bad.  But not everything is disappointing