It’s the wedding season in India, where the majority of weddings (up to 90%) are arranged. This a source of fascination to many foreigners, and they want to know how it all works. Ravi, a young Indian guy (married, with a baby daughter) offered to explain to his German colleague Gerd. He related how his parents had chosen a suitable bride for him (same community, similar education, family background etc), how the young couple had been introduced, agreed to the match, and were then married after meeting five or six times.

Gerd: OK, I understand all that. But what about love?

Ravi: Well, in the West love comes before marriage. In India it’s different, we say ‘pyaar ho jaega’ – ‘love will come’ – after marriage.

Gerd: Yes, OK, but when? When will love come?

Ravi (thinks for a moment): Love will come….after about three years.

Gerd: Hummph. In a Western marriage, that’s about when it goes….