The ballroom of Maharaja Palace in Lucknow glowed under the light of huge chandeliers, spreading their shine over the crowd. Guests were dressed in their best, smiling, talking, and showing off, while the music of live instruments filled the air.

As I stepped into the grand hall with my family, but my heart did not match the mood of the place. It was beating fast, not out of joy, not out of excitement, but from a strange uneasiness. Tonight was not just a party. It was a gathering where families watched, judged, and decided. Where matches were made, and lives were tied together.