You are 30, male, single and absolutely bugged with all the well-wishers who want to party at your wedding. Read some sage advice from a guy who is fending them off, Like a Boss!
We live in a society where staying single beyond a certain age is a social stigma. If one comes of a certain age and is not yet married, something must be wrong! This arbitrary number has changed over the years. A few generations ago, child marriages—which are completely unimaginable and sound blasphemous now—were quite common. Gradually this number kept changing. A couple of generations ago it was the early twenties and it changed to mid-twenties in the previous generation and these days the magic number seems to be 30. Well, I am getting closer to this deadline and there is too much pressure.
The Society Attacks
Engineering has taught me many things (engineers would get it and people who aren’t engineers please understand that I am being sarcastic). One of them is the ability to get things done at the last minute. So, here I am approaching the deadline and asking myself “Can I complete the task within the deadline? And more importantly, should I?” To add to this confusion, people close to me have started using different strategies to try and manipulate me into saying ‘yes’. Here are some of the commonly used maneuvers:
Strategy #1: Scare Tactics
There is a standard warning sign for a 30-something single guy, “You should get married because soon all your friends will be married and you will be all alone and lonely”.
You should get married soon because the chances of finding a good bride is inversely proportional to your age.
Strategy #2: Emotional Blackmail
One important reason for a man around thirty to get married is to ensure that grandparents get a chance to see you settled while they are healthy so that they can celebrate their hearts out.
Strategy #3: The Pleasant Illusion
Marriage is a magical journey which fills your life with happiness. And, you are missing out and getting old.
Well, these were some of the most common ones. So, let’s address these, one by one.
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The Magic Shield
Defense #1: The brave gambler within
I tell my family that being alone and happy, in my book, is way better than being in a company I hate. Just because one might get lonely, should not be a reason to get married. Oh, and what about the diminishing odds? I think it’s a risk worth taking.
Defense #2: The open-hearted discussion
It took me some time to understand that grandparents have experienced a lot and they have very few things that excite them and make them happy; seeing their grandchildren get married being one of them. I took time and explained to them that I did not want to rush things. And yes, I reminded them that they are younger than they think they are.
Defense #3: The demystification
In my observation, happy marriages are unicorns; they don’t exist. This defense needs to be handled tactfully. I explain to those who matter that it is just a myth. It is really not the marriage that makes people happy. It is happy people that make marriages look fun. I think it is important to learn to be happy rather than expecting a marriage to magically make you happy.
Wow! Sounds like a lot of wisdom about marriage from a single guy, huh! Refute me if you must, but you know I am close to reality. But, you must know this - a defensive stance is just not enough. I do employ some proactive measures to safeguard my peace of mind.
Playing on the front-foot
So, we are done with how to play defense, but that stance is not always easy and not enough. Like they say “offense is the best defense”. Here are some tips to avoid being cornered:
Tip #1: Relax and act like a baby
Be lazy and refuse to take up any responsibilities. This will trick people into thinking that you are still a kid.
Tip #2: Avoid social gatherings and long conversations
Try not to attend any social gathering where questions about marriage could come up. If there are any gatherings you cannot avoid, try to find new people in the crowd you haven’t greeted, find them, greet them and keep moving. What do you do when you don’t find an easy way out? Use your imagination. (Psst., playing music on the mobile to simulate an incoming call can come in very handy.)
Tip #3: Use humor to divert
For example, when someone asks you why you aren’t getting married, say
“Oh yes, there was this person I wanted to get married to but she recently got married to someone else.”
And slowly when the tension starts to build, name a celebrity who just got married. Smile. Walk away like a boss. (Statutory Warning: Please choose your jokes as per your audience. Some people do not get jokes and you don’t want them to be left with misconceptions.) 
On a serious note, marriages should be about finding the right partner rather than rushing into things, because of a perceived deadline. Stay single or get married but keep in mind the ultimate goal—Happiness! ☺