Can engagement pull away friends?

We make a group of four and like any adolescent and fresh college goer excitingly named our group name as MAGN. The first letter of the names gave this group such a name where G for sure was me . It's been seven and half years now that we know each other and we know everything. I remember how we used to be in college and how we all have in Darwin's term-Evoluted for better..mmm..

Amongst us, Amita and Neetika were nerdy kinds, always in books or in the library, Mona and I were li'l chilled out ones but because of them we too started visiting the library sometimes and eventually developed interest for those costly foreign author books. The ultimate destination nevertheless used to be the canteen where we couldn't stop ourselves sipping tea and enjoy samosa's, momos or bhelpuri. Chatting and laughing, Nicknames to last bench games, Cultural rehearsals to love proposals, professors mimicry to girls fight, Project views to exam screws...we did it all till dawn. Indeed they are my Best friends for life. We have supported each other during some pretty tough times and handled lots of disagreements. After classes/practicals that used to last till 4 or 5 every evening,all girls used to rush to their homes but we used to keep sitting in the college either in the canteen or in the lawns else in the rock gardens chatting endlessly. Obviously we all were singles and 50 % were ready to mingle. Never did it occur to me that it would be Amy first. I always had in my mind that Amy and Neetz would go for arrange marriage given that the personalities they were. I remember how simple we were except for mona who always were a babe and had the best dressing sense and so canny amongst four of us. :) I was a complete tomboy..infact a boy. My mom always treated me like a chota-bacha and therefore my hair was always cut short into a typical boy-cut style. I enjoyed it too since I was away from all the nitty-gritties that gals used to have and had a single free and creative soul plus no one dared to say anything to menot even Harpal Singh!!!

Harpal Singh : He was my classmate from class IV to VIII and this incident happended to me in VII class if my gray cells work properly. I was monitor of the class and there was some inspection in school. Classes were suspended and I had to mind the class so as to have pin-drop silence in order to earn some praise from the class-teacher. I was trying to be at my best but certainly Harpal was not! He was boisterous that day and wasn't ready to be in control. Whenever I passed away from his desk, he started talking with his bench mate. Whole class was silent of my fear but he was the odd one out. I asked him to stay quiet but he ignored. I wrote his name on the black-board and asked him to go out of the class. I dont remember exactly what happened but we indulged into haatha-payi. After some verbal scores he held me with my collar that left me stood aghast. I had to come back stronger as now it was about my pride and position in front of class. I dont know what came into my mind but I held his turban and unfolded it. To which he started crying and became harmless. I know that was cruel of me but I had to go for self defense. He never said anything to me ever may be he got scared!

After graduation, all four of us got separated professionally and got busy with our lives. Still we were bonded from heart and always tried to meet on weekends or other. I knew if anyone was ever going to marry first it wouldn't be me. and its trueee!!! Amy just got engaged last month and Heavens, I cant believe it still!!! The feeling is not sinking but it will :) I can see how life's changing..priorities,preferences,likes,dislikes...

It's a great feeling to see your buddy getting married to the person she loves..yeah it's a love-marriage!!!! Who wouldn't be happy after being the part of entire process of ups and downs and finally coming out with flying colours to finally approve the relation with parents. All's well that ends well.

I googled arrange marriage and here comes the result in wikipedia," Factors considered in arranged marriage match-making in India" Following are some bullet points:

1. Caste


2. Reputation


3. Vocation


4. Wealth


5. Religion


6. Horoscope


7. Diet


8. Height


9. Age


10. Language


11. Miscellenous
    

But "Love" was not in the list anywhere.. Does it not matter to parents at all? What is it then?

Anyways,things are going smoothly and she's all busy in shopping for wedding. Now, all that she talks is either about her fiance or about them. Oftenly, our plans of going out gets cancelled at the eleventh hour because suddenly Mr. Right takes the lead and we are left to just -Understand. Her shopping list got longer and her companion got changed. Now its no girls thing but a boy is rocking the charts. Hmm.. I may be sounding like a jealous or a selfish woman but I am getting used to of such habit as few other female friends of mine getting into the same practice.

Whats my problem? In no way I m a perfect person but what I feel is one has to try to be little considerate and should have/give her/his own space. All of us have got just 24 hours a day. But

Its a matter of prioritizing our life to the things that are really important.

Isn't she doing the same? She is acting correctly on her priority list and being a true friend I should be in all peace to that.

It leaves me wondering: Does life takes a head spinlike this? It's amazing to see how one suddenly change their preferences and move towards the only soul left..Am I being too sarcastic? I m just wondering if I m overthinking things.

After all the thinking process I came to a conclusion: Friends must realise that their relationship with their engaged /married friend has to change too. Their engaged friend is going through a lot of changes and should spend the good part of their time with their partners and be given the time to bond together in pre and post marriage scenario,even if it is a love marriage. Every wife wishes to feel special and wants her husband's attention and not feel ignored in front of his friends and similarly each husband wants his wife to shower him with the attention that only a wife can and make him feel all important and the most important part of her life rather than just going out with her friends..

So I guess, If I happen to have this much of understanding I must be called a good friend :D and yeah,

~ Congratulations
Much excited for the Wedding!!

P.S : As I complete writing this post I get the invitation for a night stay at her home.I knew it!! Yay!!