Marriage-Love/Arranged?

Why this archaic topic? Well, for one I don't think people are ever gonna get bored discussing it in near future and at most marriages this is the first question that comes up. For all those who come from the west where gay marriages raise eyebrows, this may seem abnormal! We claim to have moved on, become more forward but the inevitable question almost always pops out first when someone announces their wedding. Sometimes I wonder, why is it all that important? At least in our generation we believe that happiness is what matters in the long term and nothing else. The older gen thinks otherwise. Family matters to them .Good family(most importantly from same caste/background) almost always equates to a good boy/girl. Why I cannot comprehend? I have seen so many anomalies to that equation. If a Hindu marries a Christian or a Muslim the world has turned upside down. I agree that few things may be issues later on, but if the couple have decided yes, then who can stop them? On the other hand since most of us come from close knit families values like these matters so much to us that going against parent's wishes is very difficult.
After getting married "the right way" as society calls it, but according to me the easier path, the road most often traveled, I cannot but admire few good friends of mine who have stood against all odds in getting married to who they want. Maybe if my parents opposed to me marrying the guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with I would have done that too. Frankly society is just an alibi which people use when they wanna show their discontent towards something..Its a blatant fact that in our society whatever you do is under speculation. Any marriage hall will have the typical "madisar mami" complaining about almost everything there....be it food, decorations, saree, jewels, guy's height, girls weight whatever.. They just have to talk...So why care about them and their views on your marriage?
And the argument continues.. ..both sides are strong enough that they don't give up their cause...But I can at least say that society is changing a bit and people do realize that its after all your life and you better live it the way you want to.......but then you can live it within the "norms of the society and family"...but then you can't bend rules that much.. but then...See I cant even finish this blog logically.........