Indian Matchmaking (2020) s01e06 Episode Script

1
[playful music playing]
It was arranged marriage.
We met through
India Abroad, the Indian newspaper.
So I am his mail-order bride.
[both laugh]
[man] Yeah.
[both laugh]
So the funny story was
that he wanted to see movie Tootsie.
ThenGandhi was released.
So he told my mom that,
"I want to take her to see movieGandhi."
[laughs]
And he says His argue is, like,
Gandhiwas
three-and-a-half-hour long,
andTootsiewas an hour-and-a-half long."
[both laughing]
So my mom said, "Okay.Gandhiis fine.
Go ahead and see that movie."
[woman] What did you guys do
after you watchedTootsie?
[both laughing]
No, no, no.
[doorbell rings]
[woman] How are you?
Please come.
-Hi. Nice to meet you.
-[Vyasar] How's it going?
-Nice to meet you.
-[Mamta] Hello.
-You can keep It's okay.
-[Vyasar] Feel free to As you like.
-I'm Vyasar.
-Hi. Rashi.
Nice to meet you guys! Come on in.
[Sima] Things didn't work
between Vyasar and Manisha.
But I'm very much excited
that Vyasar is meeting Rashi.
They both have similar qualities.
They both have a sense of humor,
and they are jolly.
[Vyasar] So this is my aunt,
Mausee. She's my oldest aunt.
This is her husband, Jogendar.
At home, Jogi or Yogi.
Uh, and then, this is my mom, Mamta.
She's BabliMausee's
She's the middle child of the five.
Well, this is who I have with me.
This is my older
-[all laugh]
-This is my older brother, Raj.
Yeah, he's representing me.
[Vyasar] I'm definitely hopeful
in meeting with Rashi,
because at the end of the day,
all I can do is trust in Sima
and hope that Rashi is the one.
So I just finished veterinary school.
I graduated, like, three weeks ago.
-[Anita] Yay!
-Nice.
So I can treat everything
except all of you people.
-Awesome.
-[all laugh]
-[Rashi] So, any pets?
-[Vyasar] Uh, not recently. No. Uh
[Mamta] When Vyasar was growing up,
we always had dogs and cats.
We always had cats and dogs.
Mom had nine cats at one point.
People will find out I have
-[Vyasar] Classic crazy cat lady.
-"Can you go ahead
and hold her for a week, two
before she gets adopted?"
And that's how we got 'em, actually.
-[Rashi] So you got pets, unofficially.
-Unofficially, I have pets.
[chuckling] Yeah.
[Mamta] Do you guys want something
to drink or
We have green tea or chai.
-Do you want something?
-Some green tea would be nice.
-[Mamta] Green tea?
-[Vyasar] I got you.
[Rashi] I can help.
-You already have it running.
-[Vyasar] I already had it running.
I didn't know how many people
I'd have, so I was like,
"How many mugs do I have?
How much chai can I make?"
Yeah, my mom was gonna try to come,
but, um, you know,
my dad couldn't get off,
so she didn't want to leave him,
so just my brother and I.
[Vyasar] Well, it's good
to have both of you here.
I was really surprised when she got up
to come with me to serve tea.
You've barely been here
for five, ten minutes,
and already we're just going off
to chat.
It's just a whole other level
of cool to me.
So, I have a wide assortment of mugs.
Which one do you think
your brother will appreciate the most?
[Rashi chuckles]
I think he'll like the gold on that rim.
[Vyasar] Gold?
All right, solid gold. [chuckles]
[Mamta] You gave him Texas State Cup.
I mean, it's true to where we are,
and it's got gold,
-so it's a little blingy.
-[Vyasar] You gotta bling out, exactly.
And does the tea tastes better
because of it?
[all laugh]
So, I came to Austin with Vyasar
when he was one year old,
and I guess I'm a single mom,
so the family came five years later,
and it was the quality of life
that came into his and my life
while it was just here, you know?
Well, I can see you are a great family,
and you love each other.
-[Anita] For us, family is always
-We do okay.
[laughs] We do okay. Shh. I'm trying
I'm trying to bond here.
[Vyasar]
With Rashi, there's a lot more flow.
There was a lot more movement
to the conversation,
and it was really special.
It felt super nice and very warm.
[Mamta] That was like, wow,
there's more match with Vyasar
than I could think, you know?
That they were really so comfortable
like they were high-school friends.
And so, it's wonderful.
-You ready to get some lunch?
-Yeah! Let's go.
-[Jogi] Hope to see you soon.
-Yeah.
-Have fun, you guys.
-Okay.
-But not too much fun.
-Take it easy, guys.
[upbeat music playing]
[Akshay] A lot of proposals
have been coming in from Simaji.
I had seen most of them,
and then I just said no,
because most of them wouldn't fit,
you know?
Some people I couldn't connect.
What are we going to talk about
after we get married, you know,
when you come back home from work?
It becomes very difficult
because it's kind of, like,
you know, a stranger.
What will we even talk about?
[Sima] Akshay's very much confused.
Like, yesterday, I sent
a very nice photograph of a girl.
He said, "Auntie, what is this?
I don't want this photograph.
She's decked up. She got ready,
and she has gone to a good photographer.
I don't want this.
Please send a casual photo of hers."
If the picture is not good at all,
then he says,
"Okay. I don't want to proceed."
He has to be flexible.
Mom, she is pretty angry with me. [laughs]
At least this year,
I'm at least trying to find someone.
-Hello.
-Hi. I got brownies and stuff for you.
-Oh, really?
-[Mansha] Yeah.
[gasps] Oh, my God. So, what is this?
Are you still on a diet?
-[Akshay] I have to be.
-Are you still?
Even if I want to eat, I can't eat.
Are you getting ready for the big wedding?
Uh, yes, kind of. On the way.
Ugh! I heard a bunch of stuff. [chuckles]
I can never see myself doing
an arranged marriage.
-Are you sharing with me?
-Yeah, I wanna, like, taste it.
I can't eat the whole thing.
Mom will kill me.
Eat. Take a bite. What?
Mom will kill you?
-Yeah, and it takes
-[Mansha] What are you, 16?
No, but then
Preeti Auntie has brainwashed you.
-It's not her.
-[Mansha] I know this.
No, it's not her. It's not her.
Do you think you're going to be, like,
married soon? Like, you're okay?
My Mom has said
by the end of this year,
it's going to happen.
So that means, "You have to be ready
by the end of this year."
Oh, my God. You never dated anyone.
[Akshay] In college,
I would spend most of the time
either in the tutoring center
or the library.
So, I've actually never had that feeling
that I'm waking up
or I'm, like, I'm in love.
[chuckling] I've never actually had
that kind of feeling about anyone.
I've had that kind of feeling
about things,
about movies, about work, about a project
that I've been doing on.
[laughs]
But it's never been about anyone else
[chuckles] in that way.
Why do you think
it's, like, not worked out?
Uh, different people, different reasons.
-Tell me. Tell me any.
-Like, one girl had all tattoos.
And she had a big one
on the neck and stuff.
What did it say?
Was it like a skull or something?
No, it was her sun sign.
So what do you want?
What is the right person?
-[Akshay] A little traditional.
-Little traditional?
[Akshay] A little traditional,
not extreme, because extreme is too much.
For you, you're looking for someone
who's modern but traditional.
[Akshay] Yeah.
I don't think I have high expectations.
I have had people tell me that,
"Oh, you have really high expectations.
How can you reject so many proposals?"
But I'm just like,
"If it's good, then I'll say yes."
[laughing] Yeah, right! Yeah.
Akshay has received 70 or 80 matches.
So many good girls have come to him,
and he cannot decide
exactly what he wants.
-You ready?
-I'm ready. Yeah.
[pop music playing]
Texture is fine, but this side,
when we zoom in and do anything,
it's gonna look really odd.
I think nowadays what makes dating
difficult is the fact that
the basic interpretation of a woman
who is independent
and lives life on her own terms is
that she cannot get married
because she won't know how to adjust.
They think these women are really cunning.
How do you say in India?Chalu.
-[man] This looks nice.
-[woman] Very nice.
[woman 2] Looks amazing.
So just because you're independent
doesn't make you non-marriageable,
or stubborn, or arrogant.
What is it to you? You know?
Breaking all the rules ♪
-[Ankita] This?
-[man] You like it?
I'm liking, but remember
the first few shots we took
[speaking Hindi]
-Blue.
-Yes. I want that.
[Ankita] My partner needs to let me be
the stronger woman that I am today.
It's time to be happy.
It's time to be equal.
Yeah.
[woman] Ankita, can you come please?
Coming in a second. I was just telling her
how much coffee we want.
Give me a second.
[dog barks]
[in Hindi] What's up, girl?
Do you want to go outside?
Hmm? Hmm? [kisses]
[Mallika] What's the plan for the day now?
-The matchmaker's coming?
-Yeah.
[Mallika laughs]
Honestly, I'm very nervous.
[in Hindi]
I don't know what I'm supposed to say.
I've never met one.
-Never met who?
-A matchmaker.
You're not going marry her!
[laughs]
[Anil] She's going to be asking
about your expectations, dear.
[Ankita] When I was younger, 24, 25
was when the entire process started.
My parents would have a conversation
and say that, "Hey, you know,
our daughter's now eligible
to get married,
and we're looking for guys for her."
My certain relatives
from different parts of the country
would tell my mom that, "You know,
boys are looking for pretty girls,
so we don't know what to do."
Or, "She should go to the gym.
She should lose some weight."
So I rebelled and how.
I fought with them.
I told them I don't give a shit.
I don't want to get married
ever in my life.
But they stayed,
and they didn't leave my hand at all,
and I accept it now.
Whether love comes to me automatically,
or whether they find love for me,
it's all gonna be for the better.
So I made a list,
what all I want in my partner.
He needs to have a mind of his own.
He needs to be 5'6" and above.
Uh, 29 to 33.
And he would look like a combination
of David Beckham and Abhay Deol for sure.
[Mallika laughs]
What if he is bald?
Cool. If I like him, sure.
He should be like Will Smith.
-Like Will Smith?
-[Mallika] Yeah.
So what are your top three?
Definitely, you know,
the boy should be on his own feet.
-I also want that.
-I just want someone who can take care,
and be a loving person,
and can look after you well. That's it.
No, in what way? Look after me?
[Rashmi] Every way.
I can look after myself.
A man's support is a man's support.
-[Anil] But in this case
-But partners need to be equal.
-Equally strong.
-Yeah, it could be
It's not about a man's support
or the woman's support
Not the man's support, yes.
It's the partner's support.
Exactly.
[Rashmi] Ankita is super-intelligent.
-She is very gregarious.
-Uh-huh.
I think she's ahead of her times.
She's not wrong,
but are we ready to accept
that sort of a thought process?
I think this generation is like this now.
Rebellious.
Or what we consider rebellious.
It's a revolution ♪
[doorbell rings]
-Hello!
-Hi.
-Ankita.
-So nice to meet you in person.
-Sima Taparia from Mumbai.
-How are you?
-Hi. How are you?
-Very well.
-[Ankita] Please come in.
-[Anil] Come, please.
Sima, did you say
you got married 35 years ago?
Yeah, in '83.
And you said you got married
at nineteen-and-a-half.
[Ankita]
Papa is doing his math now. [laughs]
[Sima] I am '63 born.
I'm not trying to flatter you,
but I mean honestly,
-the way they said No.
-[in Hindi] She'd be old.
You must be somewhere, 35 or younger.
You can't be older than 35-36.
[in Hindi] That is why Anil dressed well,
so he could charm you.
[in Hindi] Okay.
[all laughing]
-[Sima] What do you do?
-[in Hindi] First generation,
we have recently started
this garment business.
-Mallika and I-
-[Sima in English] You manufacture or
-We design and manufacture, both.
-[Sima] Very nice.
[in Hindi] So, what kind of a person
are you looking for?
What's your criteria?
[in English] I don't know if I have
a criteria, but "likes," definitely.
Someone who's pleasant.
Likes to travel.
Definitely, 'cause I like to travel a lot,
but understands that
it's important to be home.
Hmm.
Because my family is so tight,
I really feel that I feel at home
when I'm with a friend also
who's from the same background.
I'm very open to meeting people,
and I'm really open to understanding
where people are also coming from.
And I love dogs.
I love animals in general.
So should be compassionate
towards them.
No hard and fast rule.
[in Hindi] It's not necessary
that he should like what you like.
[in Hindi]
No, I mean, at least should be similar.
[in English]
You're asking my preferences.
-These are my likes.
-Yeah, okay.
[Sima] Ankita's a very strong-headed girl.
She cannot fit
in some traditional Indian family.
She needs someone who can accept her
as she is.
In India,
my clients are mostly traditional.
So, I have to broaden my search
and call someone
who has a different kind of client base.
So now, what next?
-One of my associate is here in Delhi.
-[Ankita] Right.
-Her name is Geeta.
-[Ankita] Okay.
So we both will work for you.
Like, I will take her advice
and what options she can give,
and that way, then I can give
the biodatas to you.
[Ankita] Okay.
Any more thing you want to ask?
Anything for your sister?
Someone who is just caring.
-Someone who loves, who's caring?
-Caring, yes, absolutely.
And for happy family life.
And someone who gets me a lot of gifts.
[laughs]
[Sima] Okay, okay. That I'll keep in mind.
The first point is, he should pamper
his sister-in-law.
Done. [chuckles]
[chuckles]
[flute music playing]
[in Hindi] Let one of us order food.
Who will do that?
[woman 1 in Hindi]
She is fasting, and I am a frugal eater.
[woman 2]
I will be doing microblading eyebrow,
permanent eyebrow, permanent lipstick,
permanent just everything.
Did you undergo any skin treatment abroad?
-[woman 2] No, none at all.
-No?
[woman 2] No, I have yet to start.
My mom meets her friends over lunch
every week,
and every week what they talk about
is my marriage.
Literally, every week.
[in Hindi]
So what is the latest, Preeti?
[in Hindi] I hired a marriage consultant
called Sima Taparia.
[woman 3 in Hindi]
How many girls has Akshay seen till now?
Till now, Akshay has met
some five to six girls.
My son met at least 20-25 girls,
and in the end, did a love marriage.
[woman 4]
My husband's elder brother saw 100 girls.
[Preeti in English] Akshay is 25.
The mother usually starts preparing
for her son's wedding much earlier.
That is really hitting me
because now that, you know,
sometimes I get panicky.
[woman 3 in Hindi]
So how many proposals have you lined up?
[in Hindi] No, just two of them now.
Next week, he might meet a girl
from Kolkata.
[woman 3] I see.
[Preeti in English]
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
[woman 4]
The girls from Kolkata are generally good.
It's really hard for me to see
when everybody else's kids get married,
and Akshay is still reluctant
to get married.
It makes me sad.
It's high time
that Akshay should also take the decision.
[woman 5] Yeah, when you see a girl,
and that's a click, you know?
You know that this is the one.
[in Hindi] It becomes automatic.
I feel Akshay has not felt that yet.
[in English] We are just waiting for that.
[in Hindi] When I was looking
for a daughter-in-law for my elder son,
I started looking for a girl
from a business family
so that she could adjust herself
to our family.
Yes, they adjust very easily.
When Pooja and I sat down
for a discussion, I told her,
"Look, these are the rules of my house."
[in English]
I don't interfere in anybody's house.
Nobody interferes in my house.
[in Hindi] I told her, "Aditya likes this.
He does not like that.
This is how it should be."
Gradually, she adapted to all this.
Immediately after his marriage,
he told me to shop for his wife.
He told me to change certain things
for her, tweak a few things.
I have discovered that sons see
a part of their mothers in their wives.
I also got my elder son married
at a proper time.
Just the younger one's marriage
is stalled.
[women laugh]
That's why this matter irritates me.
[woman 3] Finally,
it all depends on your destiny.
Oh, my God!
[laughing]
My mom's stress level is going up and up,
and then down sometimes when I say,
"Okay, this girl is nice,"
and then up again.
That's not a good thing. I feel bad.
[laughs]
[Preeti in English]
I have higher BP issues and, you know
palpitation issues, and then Akshay says,
"You don't get worried now.
Then you'll pop the pills,
and then again you'll take tension,
and sometimes you'll start crying,
and then you shout at me."
Yeah, it has happened.
[in Hindi] It will happen.
[in English] I'm sure the right person
is around the corner.
Yeah, hopefully.
[woman 3]
Your job is to keep on searching.
Don't get stressed. The right thing
It's like she said, God has ordained
[upbeat rock music playing]
So welcome to Spin. You guys are
gonna be playin' over here.
-Can I get you something to drink? Food?
-[Rashi] Can I just get a water?
-[Vyasar] Water is great.
-Sounds good.
-Thanks, man.
-Thank you.
-We playing?
-We can play a little.
-All right.
-I'm really bad.
-The rules are here if you need them.
-Sweet! That's good to know.
We don't play by no rules.
[both laugh]
[Vyasar] Given this is my second match,
I really want to concentrate
on positivity, good vibes, big smiles.
Okay, okay, here we go.
[both laugh]
Now we're just goofin' around.
[Vyasar] Because the biggest hope I have
is that I just find the person,
find the person to build that house with,
find the person to to make it work.
-One year ago
-[Rashi] Okay.
-[Vyasar] Did you see yourself doing this?
-No, I didn't see myself doing this,
the whole matchmaking thing, even
-three months ago, really.
-Right?
I mean, what made you
what made you wanna do this?
[sighs] I mean, I knew
I wanted to get married for a long time,
but I didn't know
what that would look like,
and I figured
I'll meet someone organically.
We'll go through the process,
fall in love, get married.
-Yeah. It's the dream.
-Bing, bam, boom. That's how it works.
Didn't work like that.
I met someone organically. I fell in love.
She broke my heart. I spent a year
figuring out how to get over that,
and here I am now.
And it's like, all right
Now, it's like figuring out
how to do things a different way
or figuring out how to do things
just other ways.
[Rashi] So this has been your medium
in trying to just branch out
-and see what the world has to offer.
-Yeah, see what's out there. See what
'Cause think about it.
I would've never met you
-if not for this matchmaking opportunity.
-That's true.
I don't even have an animal to take
to your veterinary office.
That's true. [laughs]
I haven't had a serious relationship
like you.
I've been so focused on my career
up to this point
that I've kind of avoided
the whole dating scene, which is my fault.
Do you feel like
there's a lot of pressure on you?
I think the only pressure is
eventually finding someone
-just because I know I want to.
-Right.
It's also, you know,
Mom's in the background, like,
"Hey, it's time.
Come on. Start looking."
So my mom wants to see that happen
in her lifetime hopefully.
-So, what were you like in high school?
-I was about the same. Less well-spoken.
I was also very, uh 
I remember being a very emotional child
-in high school.
-Oh, yeah?
I cried a lot. Like, in public.
Oh. Oh! Sensitive.
[laughs]
I don't remember why, though.There was
a lot of crying in general, I think.
It might've been just the school.
Just stuffing my face. No big deal.
It's a fine face.
Thank you. Appreciate it.
[laughs]
[Rashi] I was nervous,
but the conversation was amazing.
You know, we talked
about nostalgia things.
We talked about the Nintendo 64.
We talked about family in India,
where we live, and everything.
It was kind of a wide range.
It was really nice.
I was I used to tell myself
a couple months ago,
if I end up meeting the woman
I fall in love with and marry
-because of a matchmaker
-Yeah.
It will not be the weirdest thing
that's happened in my life.
I'm feeling fucking great. [laughs]
I'm having a great day.
Rashi, she's such a fun person.
Not the whole thing.
I feel that with the first match,
Sima was seeing what I could do
with a real challenge, right?
Not to go with aGoldilocks route here,
but if we're getting three beds,
the first one is too hard.
The second one is supposed to be too soft,
but I don't know. We'll see.
-So, in the veins of serious questions
-Okay.
Since I know you're not leaving
until Sunday morning
-Uh-huh.
-Do you want to go on a second date?
-Let's do it. [laughs]
-All right.
-A high-five.
-I always high-five.
-All right.
-Always high-five.
Hi, Sima! Lovely to see you. Please come.
[singing in Hindi]
[laughs] Come. Come.
[in Hindi] How many years has it been?
Has it been four, five years
since we met?
-Is it that long?
-I think so.
We mostly talk on the phone, that's all.
Yeah.
We went to lunch that time.
I think that's where it began.
-Is that as long as four years back?
-I think three or four years.
Oh, wow!
[Sima in English] Geeta is
a work associate of mine
that I have known for years.
Geeta's clients are less traditional,
and she knows more people in Delhi.
Maybe she can help me
find a match for Ankita.
[Geeta] How's work?
[Sima in Hindi]
It's going great. Business is booming.
[Geeta] Yeah?
Every day I get two new biodatas.
Even yesterday, two new clients came.
Achha. Nice.
But still, it's difficult to match people.
[in English]
They think we have a mine of biodatas.
[in Hindi]
Give more. Simaji, give more, give more.
That's the thing.
Everyone wants everything.
So how will it be possible? Tell me, how?
[Geeta in English] Yeah.
Look, you're a matchmaker,
and so am I, right?
And the one thing I tell them
is first figure out
what is the reason
you want to get married.
[in Hindi] Please, just drop that.
-[in English] But that
-You cannot ask this question.
-Sorry.
-Why?
They have to marry because parents
have told them, "You marry,"
or they think the trend is going on,
so they have to marry.
[Geeta]
So, Sima is more a traditional matchmaker
because she deals more
with the family aspect of matchmaking,
and it works in the area
where she works out of.
I think it works fairly well for her.
And I guess the rest of the world
is a little different
and can understand
from where I'm coming from.
If we ask them that question, Sima,
we will be helping them.
Once they get an answer for themselves,
they'll come back to you and me
and say, "You know what? I think this
is the real reason I want to be married."
Yeah, yeah.
My approach is more holistic
in the sense
that I look at a person's personality
rather than just taking on board
what the parents
or family have to say about their child.
But for the happiness, they have to
little compromise. That's the thing.
But, Sima, isn't marriage a compromise?
-It is.
-That's the name of the game, right?
Adjustment, compromise, and patience.
Yeah. So you were telling me you have a
Yeah, I have a biodata, Geeta.
[in Hindi]
So now you'll help me because
I can't figure out
what should I match with her?
[in English] She's Ankita.
She's smart.
-Good heart.
-[Geeta] Nice. She's got a business.
[Sima]
She wants a independent guy, a tall guy.
Um, she wants that who loves traveling.
Looks-wise, she's okay,
but she's not photogenic.
So when you meet her, I mean,
she's smart, and she carries well.
You know, at the end of the day, Sima,
a beautiful girl may not even be
the right person
for most boys because she could be
beautiful in face and cold as ice.
Once a boy has agreed to meet her,
I'm sure they'll figure out
that her personality outshines her beauty.
So it'll be nice to see
what happens, Sima.
-Yes, yes.
-About time we did something together.
[both laugh]
She's okay for boys that are '85 born,
five years? Five?
Eighty-five, I think,
will be a big age gap, no?
-Five years?
-Five years.
I recommend five years.
You recommend,
but people, they will not agree.
No, they do. They do.
Ah, we'll see.
[woman] So, what's happening?
[Ankita]
I've never met a matchmaker personally.
-Really?
-So I'm quite, uh
[clicks tongue]
[laughs]
-[man] It's like a manual Tinder.
-It's like Tinder Premium.
Tinder Premium. Exactly.
But with families involved.
-Yeah. What do you
-Families also have to swipe right.
[all laugh]
But, guys, I really wanna know, honestly,
what kind of a guy should I be with?
-I don't know. I mean, I feel that
-Not the kind you've been with before,
-for sure.
-Thanks, Nischita.
[laughs]
[Ankita] My friends don't like
any of the guys I end up with.
They never approve of them.
I think I end up with douchebags,
because, uh
[laughs]
I feel I can help them out in some way
in becoming better human beings.
But now, I won't settle for it anymore.
I've settled enough.
[all laugh]
[Ankita] I feel that I'm very, very near
to finding the one for me.
-[Geeta] Hi, Ankita?
-[Ankita] Ankita.
-Nice to meet you, please come.
-Nice to meet you.
So, if you could tell me a little bit
about yourself, it'll be wonderful.
I love dogs.
I'm extremely family-oriented,
because I've grown up in a family
where, uh, we've been taught
togetherness is always really important.
Right, right.
Just remember one thing, Ankita,
when you get married,
friends, your family, your parents
all take a back seat.
It's not important for anybody else
to like him
because you've got to put your focus
and your importance
into your new relationships.
You could get married to a boy in Delhi,
and say three months down the track,
he says, "You know what, Ankita?
I've got a great opportunity in Timbuktu."
Are you gonna turn around and say,
"You know what? I married you
because you were in Delhi.
I have my friends, my family here.
But what will I do in Timbuktu?"
I think conversation is really important
at that point in time because
[Geeta] At that point in time,
is conversation important,
or is going with the flow important?
Conversation
along with going with the flow,
because, uh, while we are a "we,"
we are also "I's."
And I'm really career-oriented.
"But let's talk,
and let's go with the flow,
and understand how we can work this out
where not only you but I benefit as well."
Life is never equal.
Absolutely, but I've spent so many years
building myself, right?
Doesn't matter. I spent 20 years
living in one country,
and I gave it all up like that.
So it is our duty as a woman
to understand that in a marriage,
the woman gives
the emotional side of herself
much more than the man does.
[Ankita]
I was told Geeta would be very different.
I was told that,
"You would get along with Geeta."
Well, by the end of it,
you narrowed down the conversation
and your thought process,
and you made
women feel like inferior objects.
[Geeta]
I want to open your mind right now.
I can see the fit for you people,
but you don't see it.
I felt really sad. I felt disappointed.
But I really do want to give it a shot.
So I feel, in certain ways,
I need to be open to everything,
but I will be nervous.
I have a few men that I could recommend
for you to meet.
Would you be open to meeting them?
-Absolutely, and that's why I'm here.
-[Geeta] Yeah.
[Sima] Hi, Akshay, how are you?
-Hello, Auntie. I'm good. How are you?
Fine, Akshay.
[in Hindi] So you have probably seen
60 to 70 biodatas.
Or more
It could be more too. [laughs]
[laughs]
[Sima] Right now,
you have three very good proposals,
so I think, Akshay, you should proceed.
[Sima in English]
I have sent Akshay some new matches.
All the girls were from a good family
and beautiful,
but still he's not ready
to meet with any of them.
So really, it has frustrated me a lot.
Or what else is there to look?
If you know
or have some advice or something.
[in Hindi] How is this supposed to work?
[Sima]
We already had this conversation before.
[in Hindi]
Look, you won't find everything.
After meeting, you can take your decision.
[Akshay in English] These three girls,
everything looked nice,
and they looked good,
but I am also not interested.
So it just, like, nothing happened.
That's why I say
it should happen organically.
[in Hindi] If the person only has
intellect and nothing else,
then you're at a loss.
Yes.
So let's say
she's not at the same caliber as you,
maybe a little less.
Well, I don't think it's a big deal.
Okay.
And of course looks also count.
It's not like it doesn't matter.
Looks also count.
Well, definitely the pressure
has increased, month on month.
I know that I have to compromise
on some things,
but I'm just responsible for myself,
so I don't want to rush into things.
Everything is there.
[in English] I think
[in Hindi] You should move forward.
Because Mom is [laughs]
Mom is very worried.
[funky music playing]
-Hi. Kshitij?
-Hi, Ankita, how are you?
-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you too.
-How many, two?
-Just two of us.
Two? Please, come.
[Sima]
Geeta has presented Ankita and Kshitij.
They are both smart business people.
They both love to socialize
and are open-minded.
But most importantly,
they have very modern views on life.
And I think
that he will be a good match for her.
-This is our food menu, ma'am.
-Thank you.
-That's our drinks menu, sir.
-Thanks very much.
-What do you wanna have?
-What do you want?
-What do you wanna have? Let's see.
-Uh I don't know.
Why don't you pick the drink
you think I'd pick for myself?
-Okay.
-Let's do this.
Okay, I'm gonna order a gin.
High five!
You played it safe.
Actually, I can drink
the entire gin bottle as it is. It's fine.
Okay.
-Should we do it?
-Yeah, why not?
[laughing] It's a joke. No.
[Ankita] First impression about Kshitij
Um
"Hey, good-looking." Yeah.
So you're the co-founder for a
-A denim-wear brand.
-Denim-wear brand.
-What's it called?
-It's called "There!"
-What?
-"There!" Right there.
-"There!" Nice.
-Yeah.
And when did you start that?
We've been online since 2018.
Oh, okay. Wow. It's very common
and very similar to mine.
Yeah, very similar.
Very similar, yeah. So my startup
went online in 2018, April.
2018 April, and we were 2018 Feb.
-And how's it going since then?
-It's picking up.
It's the garment business,
so it takes time.
E-commerce is a tough business.
-It is tough.
-[chuckles]
Agreed, agreed, agreed. True.
Have you been doing
the matrimonial process for long now or
[sighs] I think since I was 25, 26.
Four years now.
-Four years?
-Yeah.
Haven't found anyone? Clearly not.
I mean, clearly not,
and that's why I'm here,
but I did connect with someone
back in the days,
-but I think we just outgrew each other.
-Okay. Nice.
What about you?
Have you ever dated anybody?
-Yeah, my last relationship was in 2017.
-Okay.
-Thank you.
-Thanks, man.
-Long?
-Uh About eleven months.
I don't think it was that long
as it was, you know, very intense.
Towards the end,
she was far too controlling.
It was more like, "You ought to do this.
You got to listen to me.
And you gotta consult me
before you do anything."
And, you know, sometimes in life,
you need to take independent decisions.
-You can't always
-Correct.
So, that for me was a learning
that you know what?
-Don't go, like, all out so soon.
-Mm-hmm.
You know, take it step-by-step
and let-things-flow-naturally
kind of a thing.
Uh-huh. Got it.
-Hopefully, our
-Cheers.
Cheers, man. Thank you.
The conversations were great.
We were having a ball.
Uh, he seems like
a really nice, innocent guy
because the way he opened up
about his relationships to me.
I think in every relationship,
there's always a lesson element,
and you learn a lot.
It is. Even with friends,
it's a lesson that you learn. So
Oh, yeah. For sure.
I think the worst are those people
who don't really come out of, um,
relationships, you know,
by learning something.
Yeah, and then we take it
to the next relationship
and make sure
they inflict it on that person
-Exactly. That baggage.
-That baggage, yes.
The baggage that they carry forward
with them. That's the tough part.
Yeah, that is the tough part.
[Kshitij] I had a great time.
I think being in the startup world,
being in e-commerce,
she understands what I do.
I understand what she does.
Positively, I think
the kind of way we connected
and how we could actually just talk
so openly and freely,
I think that was the biggest thing for me.
Oh, shit! Look what I did.
I saved your name as mine! [laughs]
[laughing]
Can you imagine me calling you tonight?
You'd be like, "Why am I calling myself?"
Kshitij was really sweet,
and I knew that I could take it forward
with him.
Really nice meeting you.
Pleasure meeting you, too, yeah.
See you again.
[Ankita]
I don't know about Geeta at all.
I'm confused on that front,
but in this moment, I feel happy.
[playful music playing]
[Preeti] My BP is high.
Look. Look, Akshay. Frame it.
[in Hindi] My BP gets high because of you.
[Akshay] I hate being the one
causing stress to my mom,
but it would even be the worst case
and more stressful
to everyone in the house
if I'm marrying the wrong person.
Nand Lal, give him breakfast.
Okay, what should I cook for the dinner?
[Akshay in Hindi] Anything you like.
I'll order something.
-[chuckles]
-[Akshay] Sorry.
Yeah, that's great.
"I will order, but I will not marry."
[laughs] What is this about marriage?
What else?
Yes.
Don't get married. Order everything.
Get everything ready-made.
You are bringing everything back
to one point, marriage.
Everything comes to marriage, son.
[laughs]
[in English]
When Akshay's all alone with me,
I'll chew his brains,
so he keeps on hinting,
"Don't start the marriage thing."
What is the point of worrying about that?
Worries come. You won't understand.
You don't have a son. We have a son.
I used to think that both my sons
would get married between age 23-25.
-It's happening that way, no?
-No!
One is married. Fifty percent done.
[laughing] What happened?
[Preeti in English]
After getting some very good proposals,
now I have given him a deadline
that, okay, Akshay, now
this is the last chance I'm giving you.
Better finalize one of the three girls.
If he doesn't finalize,
me and my husband are going to finalize
the girl for him.
That is what I have decided.
[in Hindi] You must decide fast now.
-Now, you get married
-Why are you stressing out?
and get someone to take care of you,
and she will prepare your tiffin.
She will give you breakfast.
[in English] You have to decide.
[in English] I'm only 25!
[in Hindi] It's not that big of an issue.
[in English]
Enough of your tantrums, Akshay.
Now, it's better you decide fast.
[in Hindi] Should I say yes, then?
To the girl of my choice?
[laughs]
Who is your choice?
I liked all three.
I liked the one from Udaipur.
I liked the Delhi girl.
I liked girl from Kolkata.
Select one out of those three.
One-two-three, speak.
Finish it.
[tense music playing]
[pop music playing]
Ooh, baby, I ain't sad ♪
I ain't in step, in step, in step ♪
[Vyasar laughing]
[laughing]
All right, guys. Here we go.
My God, it's on the cookie.
[laughs] It's really awesome. Do you want
some more water or anything?
-[Vyasar] I'm okay.
-I'm okay. Thank you. Appreciate it.
Yeah, I mean,
okay, so we're born as creatures
of never being happy. [laughs]
So, I'm always comparing myself
to other people, you know.
"Why amInot married?
Why didn'tIget that scholarship?
Why didn't Iget that?" You know?
That thought scares me.
[Vyasar] I definitely get scared
about that kind of stuff.
[Rashi] Exactly.
I think vulnerability is It's scary,
but it's a very important thing to have,
because it makes you open to other people.
Um, it's hard for you,
because you have to open yourself up
to them.
Most people don't talk about these things
before a marriage.
I pride myself on being open.
It's hard, and it's difficult.
-Right.
-And it makes you very prone
to feeling emotions
that you don't want to,
butc'est la vie.That is life.
You need to You can't just be
I don't want to be stuck.
These are wild things
to try to figure out.
What's Tell me, like, a moment
where you felt the most vulnerable.
-Um
-Because that shows a lot about a person.
[Vyasar] The biggest reason I think
I'm afraid of expressing my emotions is
I'm terrified.
The story that I share is very much
a big one
and is emotionally-loaded.
[sighs]
I think that because
it's such a huge part of my existence,
the story has to be shared
with a person who I'm thinking
about sharing my life with.
I think if they react strongly to that,
that's fair.
I think if that's a deal-breaker
for them, that's fair.
This is the stuff
that takes time to work through
that you have to take time 
to feel comfortable and ready to share.
After my parents' divorce,
my dad really wasn't in the picture
for a big chunk of my life.
I don't remember much of that time
because I was super-young,
but I remember
Mom would always tell me,
"When you get angry,
you remind me of your father,"
and which was a really
terrifying thing to hear as a child
because he did bad things.
My father went to prison
when I was very young
for conspiracy to commit murder
against his ex-wife.
[dramatic music playing]
[dramatic music continues]