Age is nothing but a number

Turning another year older is inevitable. People grow older. People grow wiser. People grow more mature (or do they?). The same question still remains: when are you getting married?

Okay, hold up. Let's backtrack. Coming from Malaysia, that seems to be the main question coming out of everyone's mouth the minute you turn legal. And by legal, I mean, the minute you "grow into womenhood," if you know what I mean. (This is from a woman's perspective. Men, excuse me while I rant, but please feel free to add your comments in the appropriate area below.) Even if it's used in a joking tone, a teasing tone, a serious tone, a questionable tone, whether you're single, whether you're heartbroken, whether you're just dating, whether you're booty-calling, whether you're busy, whether you're bored, whether you're in a relationship, whether you're in a non-relationship relationship ... the question still remains: when are you getting married? It seems that this question isn't only subjected to the Malaysian society, but it is the common global question.

Remember a time in your life when you met someone for the first time. Beyond the exchange of names, occupation, number of family members, the beautiful (or not so beautiful) weather, and/or the outfits each of you is wearing, what the topic got brought up? If you guessed relationships, then you're right!

"Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?"
"Why don't you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?"
"What happened between you and your boyfriend/girlfriend?"
"What is your boyfriend/girlfriend like?"
"How long have you guys been dating?"
"How did you guys meet?"
"WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET MARRIED?"

(And trust me, if you're stuck in a dead conversation and you're thinking that you and that person don't have anything in common, just start ask these questions. Your conversation will surely pick up and they will end up as one of your friends.)

The older generation usually bombards the younger generation with this question. The younger generation usually quickly responds with some form of answer. The older generation say they are concerned. The older generation say they are just wondering. But what if the reason they ask is because they don't want you to feel left out when the time comes when you will start feeling left out of the race? Oh, believe you me, there will be the time when you will start feeling left out. There will be that inevitable time when you're at that age where everyone around you is getting engaged, or getting married, or having babies ...

You may think, 'so what? I'm still young at heart. Age is nothing but a number.'

So, if age is nothing but a number ... when are YOU getting married?


- TATIANA AZMAN -