Four times meetings arranged for marriage went hilariously wrong

Sometimes things work out well, and there are times where the most bizarre and hilarious things happen. Here are some of those unbelievable arrange set-ups gone hilariously awry.

"Why don't you both talk?" is the most cringe-worthy phrase one can hear, followed by the smug and sanctimonious expressions in an arrangement made by parents and assorted relatives. Thankfully, that scene is slowly changing wherein set-ups continue to be arranged, but the actual meet-ups take place sans family, in a neutral environment.

Meeting-a-prospective-life-partner-for-the-firt-time-at-an-arranged-marriage-meeting-invites-awkward-and-sometimes-funny-experiences-Shutterstock

Sometimes things work out well, and there are times where the most bizarre and hilarious things happen. Here are some of those unbelievable arrange set-ups gone hilariously awry.

* What are you smoking, son?
Radhika Gupta, a 27-year-old lawyer, was certain that she did not want to meet her future husband in front of her family, much less his. So they decided to meet at a coffee shop of choice. They met, ordered their respective beverages, when she noticed that in the midst of the conversation, he started to nonchalantly roll a blunt. Right in the middle of the coffee shop. Without a care in the world. Like it was most normal thing to do. Flabbergasted, she asked him if he realised what he was doing in broad daylight, and he replied with a deadpan expression that this was "medical marijuana"!

* Little too close for comfort
After being coerced by her parents to meet this "lovely boy just this one time", Shreya Santhanam reluctantly found herself trudging to meet him at a well-known neighbourhood restaurant. Much to the 24-year-old research scholar's surprise, she found herself enjoying the evening, and thought to herself that maybe her parents were right after all. When they were ordering their main course, a lady dropped by at their table, and was introduced by name only. She had assumed that this was a friend of his, and was taken aback when she invited herself to the table. As the evening progressed, she began to get the distinct feeling that they were ex-lovers and began to feel like the third wheel, till the lady mentioned that she loved screening her brother's future girlfriends because she was very protective of him.

* Where's the mute button when you need one?
Businessman Ashish Shah, 31, thought he had met the woman of his dreams as she walked in and greeted him with a warm embrace, like they were old friends. However, in the course of the conversation, she started making these random hooting sounds and would loudly swear mid-conversation. At first, it was funny, but then it became painfully obvious and not to mention embarrassing that she was doing it on purpose just to get a reaction from me and those around us. He was going to give her leeway thinking that she has Tourettes, but turns out she didn't.

What embarrassing meet-ups have you encountered? Send in your comments.

(All names are fictitious)

By Simran Mangharam. The writer is an expert on relationships and co-founder of www.floh.in, a curated network that helps singles find a life partner.