Matrimony

You know how each age-period has its own hot-topic-of-discussion; Like, I remember when I was 8 we constantly blabbed about amusement parks; At 15 we talked about the Mavara BBS; And at 18 -obviously- we analyzed and anatomized all the popular guys of the time. But if you’re 25, single, female, and from Iran, there is one and only one topic that will be discussed on and on and on and on … : marriage.

This holy gracious word: Marriage. Just repeat after me: Marriage, Marriage, … . Whenever I miss my family in Iran I do this exercise - marriage, marriage, marriage, …- cause it’s almost equal to talking to them on the phone (and it doesn’t matter who calls; my aunt, my second cousin, or the nice car mechanician). Here is a demo of 99% of the calls:

-:Hi Lulu, How’s your mom?

L: Good thanks.

-: So, have you found the right person yet? When are we coming to your wedding?

L: Heh! So how are you?

-: Good. Well (Here comes my favorite part. The part I want to knock myself out with a bazooka) you’re going to find a nice doctor in the hospital.

The problem is that you can’t even take refuge in your friends. Marriage frenzy is even hotter there; not only they talk about ourselves getting married, but they review the history of all the engagement, marriages, breakups and divorces of all the people we know and some people we don’t know (yes! Really!).

But there is one place and only one place that you are safe, that you can go to, that you can take refuge in. Trust me, there will be no mention of marriage, not even a hint, not even a movie that would encourage marriage, or any bodily emotions or nonverbal communication that would suggest marriage, or any rings to be seen anywhere. And that’s your boyfriend’s home.