Sachin<\/a> is a research scholar at IIT Kharagpur. Quoting his words, he believes he\u2019s primarily \u201ca story-teller\u201d, and \u201cresearcher on the side\u201d. Comments and feedbacks are welcome at adv.sachinkumarpp@gmail.com.<\/a> <\/sub><\/em><\/p>\n Shaadi Mandi, a bustling town in the heart of every Indian family. It is no ordinary market; here, grooms are the products and the bride\u2019s families are the consumers. At the grand entrance of the mandi, a glowing neon-lit sign read:<\/p>\n \u201cA Happy Boy- The Key to Girls\u2019 Happiness\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Inside the mandi, hundreds, thousands and lakhs of grooms are displayed with their price tag & special features (NRI (With an active accent!!!), Bureaucrat- Limited Edition, Ph.D. holders- Only with a scholarly look, etc\u2026<\/em>) attached to them.<\/p>\n In front of one of the shops in the mandi, Mr. Manav, a retired School Headmaster was standing with a folder full of his daughter Vanitha\u2019s degrees, certificates, and model portfolio edited with the right amount of filters (so as to make his daughter more fairer\/ clean skin)<\/em><\/p>\n Seeing a prospective customer, the owner of the shop (keeping a fake smile)<\/em> enquired\u2026 \u201cHello Sir ji\u2026. How are you\u2026. How can I help you???\u201d (the fake smile is still on his face)<\/em><\/p>\n Mr. Manav responded, \u201cI would like to buy a groom!!!\u201d He said meekly.<\/p>\n The shop owner responded (keeping his fake smile on)<\/em>\u2013 \u201cArey sir, you are in the right place\u2026. Sir ji, tell me\u2026 you are\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI Am Mr. Manav, former Head Master of Govt. Higher Secondary School for Boys.\u201d<\/p>\n Shop Owner: \u201cManav\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Manav: \u201cOh Achaa\u2026 , Manav Sharma.\u201d<\/p>\n Shop Owner: \u201cSirji, you are not only at the right place but also at the right shop. We specialise in General Caste Shaadi \u2026. Sir ji, we have the best of the best boys with us\u2026 come inside let me show you\u201d (all this while he had his fake smile on)<\/em><\/p>\n Before the shop owner offered him any chaay, he asked with a superior tone (maintaining the fake smile on his face)<\/em> \u201cSirji, Aapka budget<\/em><\/strong> kitna hai????\u201d<\/p>\n Sharma ji responded by saying \u201c50 Lakhs Liquid Cash, 1 acre agricultural land in Ambala)\u201d<\/p>\n Shop owner, in a ridiculing tone, scoffed and said, \u201cBAS itna hi!!!?\u201d (his fake smile is beginning to fade away)<\/em> \u201carey sir ji, Isme kuch nahi hoga, you will only get a mediocre part-time employee with some moral issues\u2026. You may check the fourth & the last aisle, that\u2019s where we keep our over-aged, and still entitled collection<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSir ji, just show me your daughter\u2019s profile\u201d (now without any smile)<\/em>, he asked, drawing a deep breath, and a small pause. <\/p>\n Mr. Manav readily pulled out the folder, and handed it over to the shop owner. <\/p>\n \u201cArey sir ji, your daughter is fair-skinned, slim and educated<\/strong> as well\u2026 I have some B. Tech- MBA (pvt. Sector employee) in the second aisle.\u201d (Now the fake is coming back on his face)<\/em><\/p>\n Mr. Sharma wandered across the second aisle, thinking \u2018(with all her degrees, certificates and values\u2026 none came for her rescue, rather it was her skin tone and physicality that\u2019s valued in this mandi\u2026 )<\/em><\/strong>\u2018. With a heavy heart, he wandered across the tens and thousands of grooms\/ products across the second aisle.\u00a0<\/p>\n He stopped in front of a podium\u2026 he called the shop owner, the shop owner responded (with his fake smile)<\/em> \u201cAhhh\u2026 what a terrific choice sir ji\u2026. He is a good product, with minimal maintenance like Rolex on Diwali<\/strong>, only 25 Kilos of dry fruits<\/strong> to his family on all festivals and only an Audi Q3 on his sister\u2019s wedding\u2026 <\/strong>this is your guy,<\/strong> sir ji\u2026. His requirements are really minimal.\u201d<\/p>\n As the shop owner was convincing Mr. Sharma, a loudspeaker announcement echoed:<\/p>\n Here, in Shaadi Mandi, Products are the Kings and not the customer, remember- \u201cA Happy Boy- The Key to Girls\u2019 Happiness\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Mr. Sharma, speaking to his inner voice, said- \u201cThis feels wrong. Should I end my subscription to this mandi?\u201d Suddenly, the voice of the shop owner brought him back to reality\u2026 \u201cSo, sir, cheque or cash? Jaldi boliye\u2026 There are others in line\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Sharma handed over the cheque and booked the \u201cProduct\u201d from aisle two for his daughter.<\/p>\n (to be continued)<\/strong><\/em><\/sub><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thelawblog.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/the-great-indian-wedding-sale-where-products-are-the-kinge280a6-a-satirical-tale-of-the-shaadi-mandi.-make-sure-the-products-are-grooms-with-brides-fathers-waiting-with-dowry-to-buy-the-.jpg?w=1024\")