Singledom

When I visited my parents, I rarely hang around outside of the house long enough to meet the neighbours. And when I do, I rarely keep eye contact with them, much less greet them. Most of them moved in after I left the house more than 15 years ago, and I never really knew them that well.

But on one fine evening, while I was about to get into my car, the missus next door was on her way into her house and our eyes met. After all these years, I decided to be polite, and flashed her a smile.

She seized the opportunity of a lifetime, and managed to ask me what seemed to be the world's most important question to her. A question she's been dying to ask me all these years: "Wah! Are you still not married? Time to get married lo."

Luckily for her, I was already partially inside the car and drove off without a second glance back at her. Patient... I told myself.

Last year, a friend's mother sent me an sms wishing me Kong Hei Fatt Choy: "Tot want to visit u and ask u if you got any special girl yet? Am I busybody? Tot want to introduce a fren to u. Is it ok?"

I texted her a strongly worded reply (I forgot the exact words - but it was blunt). Nonetheless she still couldn't help it but wanted to have her last word "Aunty wont disturb you again. Wish you all the best and hope when u find the right girl u remember 2 invite me ok?"

Everywhere I visited during the course of my work trips, people often ask ask me this "are you married?" question. Is marital status a critical measure of one's success and happiness?

Now, where is my knight in shining armour to save this poor unmarried soul?