Rina has known Piyush since her college days. Mutual attraction brought them close and love followed. They have been living together for the last 19 months now. Rina seems to believe that they are ‘made for each other’. But then, why has Piyush not asked her to marry him? What is it that is still holding him back?

Many young women find themselves in this situation these days. Our society has opened up enough for young men and women to be in relationships and even live with each other. But as a result of this opening up of our society, the institution of marriage has suffered. Commitment and marriage is not seen as the ultimate culmination of a relationship any longer. In fact, men are more wary of commitment than ever. So how do you get him to propose?

Here are some tricks for you to try…

• If you are already living with him, there are umpteen ways of showing him how great a wife you would be. Do his laundry, cook for him, and make him feel like a king. After all, once you get married, it will be his turn to do all that and treat you like a queen. Kuch pane ke liye kuch to khona padta hai na!!!

• One reason men shy away from marriage is the tension of handling the saas bahu nautanki at home. So show him that he does not need to worry about that all. Praise his mom, his sister and the rest of his family as much as you can. Try to be in their good books. This might actually help you in forging good relations with your in-laws. But even if you have typical ‘K-Kamp’ in-laws, all this buttering up will at least get you the coveted proposal.

• Tell him that someone else has proposed. The idea of losing you to someone else will bring out the competitive streak in him and if he has any testosterone to boast of, he would do anything to win!!! You can bring in an imaginary admirer, or even your chachi’s cousin’s son’s friend…

• Your motto should be ’No Ring means no loving’. Stick to the good morals your mom instilled in you. No getting close till you are getting close to the altar. This will usually work like a charm. If this doesn’t, the guy is not worth waiting for, coz the proposal may never materialize.

• No use pressurizing him. Don’t nag him about marriage. This won’t work at all. This will only go on to show what a nagging and irritating wife you will become. And if he’s anywhere close to popping the question, he’ll just change his mind. Do don’t go on and on and on about it. Let him take his time. Try to make his mind for him, without him knowing!

• You can make his mind up by doing something to show him how beautiful marriage to you will be. Take him to the fiftieth wedding anniversary party of your grandparents or someone else you know. Similarly, take him to all the weddings you attend. But don’t say anything. Just let him see that marriage can’t be that bad. Why else would everyone be getting married?

• Talk to him about kids. Without insinuating that you will be the partner, ask him how many kids would he like to have. Draw him out subtly. Ask him what would he like to name his firstborn son. His replies to these questions would be fairly indicative of what your position in his life is. That will help you both decide whether you should stick around each other or just leave!

• Last, but not the least, pop the question yourself. If nothing else works, you can just ask him to marry you. C’mon gal, you are a woman of the twenty-first century. Surely you can do this! You can do it simply or in style, depending on what kind of a guy he is.

Hope these tricks will help you get the proposal and the ring out of him!!! Happy husband hunting…