Is it just me or has it become the epidemic of our generation that the minute one of your girlfriends gets married, her life long quest becomes trying to set you up with someone – because of course, marriage is such BLISS, etcetera, etcetera.

Now, in itself, that’s quite a noble cause. It would be nice to meet a “normal” guy for a change – more often than not however, that someone is their spouse’s lame best friend who you wouldn’t normally approach with a ten-foot-pole (sometimes not even a 20-foot-pole). Someone whom you and said girlfriend (pre-married-bliss days of course!) would avoid like the plague.

Now, the excruciatingly fun part is how to intricately maneuver yourself out of such situations, without offending your friend’s husband (who is now suddenly in the inner circle and offering you unsolicited guy advice) and of course your dear friend (who has now become an expert on guys who are “marriage material”).

Enter exhibit A, we shall call him Joe. Now Joe is, at first glance, an okay guy. No evident personality flaws, pleasant conversationalist, shirt tucked in, and no blackberry! So far so good. I let myself hope for the best. I start to smile. I unconsciously start to twirl my hair.

I’m just about to turn on my charm when I glance down and glimpse loafers with NO socks! The kiss of death. Yuck. I start to withdraw. I soon tune Joe out completely. I’m getting more and more annoyed by the second. The only thought that comforts me is plotting revenge on my friend. Maybe I’ll invite her sister-in-law out the next time we go for coffee! Yes, I start to smile again; a big smile that catches the attention of poor old Joe. He winks at me. Haram …