money or marriage?

You will remember Cleopatra, our fabolous workplace princess? She raised such dust on this blog when she was mentioned that you must be have been blind or deaf or both to have missed it.

Well, Cleopatra is walking the floors as usual. Today, she is breathtaking.

A colleague steals a look as she is making herself busy with the photocopier. There is a low, inaudible buzz, which escapes many but not me. You see, in every environment, there evolves a language of sorts, comprising of looks, gestures, words and certain phrases. It is no different here. A slew of computer technical terms have been adapted to express certain sentiments; And these are usually said in the open because no one else understands. Very senior people have been mocked to their very faces without their not being any wiser of it. Of course, to hold the laughter is the ultimate test in control. I digress.

One guy stares longingly, lets out an exasperated sigh and lets out in an obfuscated english:
"This mama will never get a husband".
Clear case of sour grapes.
Without bothering to know whether she has ever been interested in getting married or not, a conclusion has been drawn and drawn fast.
This is a real good opening. Debate is just about to gain momentum. But she is still nearby, and she may get the drift of what is being said.
So, with one nod and facial muscle shift, debate is promptly killed.

As soon she is out, I re-open the debate.
Hey Dude, what makes you think she will never get a husband?

After a very lopsided debate (there are no women to defend her), this is the long and short of the whole saga.
[disclaimer: these are not necessarily my opinions]
- Successful women are proud.
- They are proud because they don't have to lookup to a man for financial support.
- Because they do not look up to anyone for support, they are not subservient.
- Or meek.
- Lacking in meekness and deference, they then challenge a man's authority.
- Will insist on dealing on the same terms. On occasion, they will make embarassing demands, for instance, ask the man to cook for his visitors. Or asking him to do the dishes. Or requiring that his own mother never step in the house.
- Which to some people, is extremely disturbing.
- More on the equal treatment, they will want to go out and drink, like men do. Till late into the night.
- They will easily cheat on you.
- Because they have seen the inside of a University classroom. Walked the notorious halls of residence. And know the whole tradecraft of cheating without being detected.

And because of all these crimes, no self respecting man will agree to be subjected to this humiliating treatment. A unanimous conclusion.

You are very mistaken if you think the debate ended.

It was also unanimously agreed, that women who resist men's charms, such as our Cleopatra ultimately end up very miserable because of chiefly the following reasons:

- Sex is an intuitive, necessary biological function. The only action to be got by scaring potential suitors away will remain in the mind, or with battery powered devices. (sic)
- Beauty and youth fade with time. Beauties of a certain time (and space) are left grasping at straws and end up with certain psychological crises if they realise there is no head-turning occasioned by their passing by.
- Due to (2) above, a phenomenon called "loneliness" sets in. I am reliably informed that this is the time that they start to actively rear cats.
- I am also informed, that for every super woman (cash, looks, brains), there is at least another who has only (looks), which apparently, is the only thing that matters at this dignified gathering. (a guy mentioned that he would not mind cash + looks, and was called something that is not very nice).

She walks back in. She walks over and engages one of the guys in conversation.
From the enthusiasm displayed by the guy, I have not one doubt in my mind he would take her without batting an eyelid if she offered.

My advice to guys: Get rid of your dreams. They are very expensive.