Another one takes the plunge, a previous one pops out new life

It's becoming an epidemic. And I feel I am the only one who is immune to it. No, it's not a virus that turns humans into vampires, it's a condition, the cause of which science has so far been unable to find the answer to, although many 'liberal' European countries seem to have discovered ways to avoid contracting it.

It alters people's thoughts, interfere with the neural pathways of the brain, changing one's perception towards life, work, friends. And the irony is, the patient readily, eagerly...even desperately contracts it.

Yep, I'm talking about the 'institution' of marriage. Everyone I know is getting hitched, jumping into the unknown abyss of matrimony after pledging forever and ever, till death do..... you know the drill. And as they say -- things will never be the same again.

A night out with the boys, group discussions on the topic of 'the new hottie in town', playing a rowdy game of cards, visiting the 'booze barn' on a cloudy afternoon after buying fried grams at a roadside food stall, hoarse voices belting out love songs on a full moon night with an out-of-tune six string leading the way --- all consigned to the dustbin of history, probably never to be repeated again. That's what marriage does, setting new priorities for people.

Even when we started going out for further studies, holidays were always a time when everyone came together to renew the pledge of allegiance, so to say. But this time, it was different. And how!

In a span of just one and a half years, almost everyone I know is jumping into the bandwagon, taking the sacred vow and immediately proceeding to the next step of creating babies.

And this year, well,,, it was good. To be back home, that is. I had my own thing going on on love (yaaaa), and the family...it was all good. But the get-togethers, the carefree days where the complete gang came together to laugh, sulk, plan, execute, get in trouble........that's just not possible anymore.

Planning together became a hazardous task. A particular time for an event could never be agreed on. Some had chores at home, like changing baby diapers. And night-outs were out of the question now.

And to make matters worse, another one decided to take the plunge this time too, obviously not learning from other people's mistakes. And another one who had earlier lost his independence had to quickly learn how to clean baby poop when a little rascal popped out of his better half two weeks before the due date.

But what's most worrying is that I'm afraid even I'm starting to open up to the whole idea of having a metaphorical leash tied around my neck for the rest of my miserable life, or even beyond. Talk about peer pressure. Scary!