Excerpts from Mamboy's Diary: Meeting prospective spouses - Episode 1

    Mamboy after serious consideration decided that he would be going by the arranged marriage system. His decision was also aided by the fact that he did not find any success by any other means. He was supposed to meet up with Girly who works at Infosis Mysore and it was the first time that he was going to attend such a ceremony. Mamboy even though hesitant initially decided to attend the ceremony so that the amount paid to the broker does not go wasted. His hesitance also meant that his preparation levels were too low even by his own standards


    The "INTERVIEW" was arranged in a hotel by Girly's parents. They met up at the hotel and after some formal introductions sat down for the process to begin. Mamboy and Girly were seated on a separate table while the entire families from both side sat at the other table with watchful eyes.


    It was the time to order breakfast. Mamboy thought for a moment and said to himself that he hadn't had "Rava Idli" for a long time and decided to try it out. Girly was fine with a juice. Mamboy started having his "Rava Idli" which was tasting great and was almost done with one when he realized that the main purpose of the meet was not having the awesome "Rava Idli". Girly seeing no response from Mamboy decided to make the first move by calling out to him by his name. Mamboy wanted to respond to the call but just then remembered that he doesn't remember her name (the typical "Oh shit" moment). Mamboy asked out for her name and the rest of the conversation follows....


Mamboy: This is my first experience of such a meeting (interview). I don't really know what to ask you. I want you to start


Girly: Ok, What kind of a girl are you looking for?


Mamboy preparation had backfired. Even though Mamboy was pretty adamant about his VLSI design specification, he hadn't thought much about this question and didn't know what to say but did try his level best


Mamboy: I don't have specific requirements (with a big smile)


Girly: What? You don't have any requirements. She need not be good looking.?


Mamboy: Need not be...Ah wait i have just 2 requirements


Since Mamboy had not thought about the requirements, he was trying to generate requirements on the go. Mamboy was good at doing this @ his company meetings and thought the same would apply over here


Mamboy: My first requirement is that she should be working. I am not saying this for the sake of you earning money but i don't want you to waste time watching mega serials and reality shows at home.


On hearing this requirement, Girly's smile got a bit reduced. His requirement was not unjustified as he had pretty bad experience with the bonding between his mom and mega serials and would kill S.Narayan (Director of a few mega serials in Kannada) if he got the opportunity to do so.


Mamboy: My second requirement is that she should not get angry


On hearing this Girly spit back the juice she was having into the glass in surprise


Girly: Not get angry???? I am very short tempered person.. Don't you get angry?


Mamboy: on very rare occasions


Mamboy wanted to get out of the session but he still had one more "Rava Idli" on his plate and he did not want to let it go.

Mamboy: What are your requirements.?

Girly: He should be caring, loving, understand my feelings, He should not object to what i say/do.


Mamboy at this point of time wasn't sure whether she was describing her husband or her dog. He interrupted in the hope that the requirements end.

Mamboy: Wait. All these are cliches. How will u get to know that he has all these qualities in the first few meets?

Girly: hmmmmmmmmmm. (wondering why this guy is using logic) . haan yes i cant. (biiiiig pause)


Mamboy: But still u take decision right after first meet

Girly : YES!!!!

Mamboy : Do u have any ambitions in life (not that i have many)

Girly : No no. I want to marry.

Mamboy: (Waaw what an ambition)

Mamboy's mom had been very worried by the course of the events. She hadn't let her child speak to a girl for such a long time and she did doubt Mamboy's capability that he could talk to a girl. She had been looking at them (Mamboy and Girly) all the time through the mirror right next to their table. She couldn't control her curiosity any more and reached out to Mamboy's table

Mamboy's mom : enamma ivnu enaadru maataadna. illa sumne kootidna. avna baidu maataadsu ..... (Did he speak anything at all or did he sit quite. Scold him and he will talk)


Mamboy could not imagine what an impression his mom had created and that too at the first meeting. He could not say anything more and decided that its time to leave

Mamboy: Mom, We have spoken.. You carry on


Mamboy's mom: What did you speak? I couldn't hear a single thing


Mamboy did not know whether to curse his fate or burst into laughter. He managed to control himself till his mom left the table

Girly : What are your hobbies?


Mamboy: music, movies and cricket. What about you?

Girly : I go to malls and shop a lot

Mamboy : Ah???

Girly : I like shopping a lot. I also watch all the movies.

Mamboy : Any more questions?

Girl : No. 

Mamboy : Then wait, let me finish off the idly

Mamboy and Girly joined the main table along with the others. Girly's father had ordered a juice. Seeing the tiring look of Mamboy he decided to offer it to him instead. Mamboy accepted it without any hesitation and was happy that it was over.

Girly and her parents left and that was the last time Mamboy heard from them !!!


Mamboy is still wondering what went wrong?