Take the bite, swallow and smile and say “Thank you very much…we are delighted that you considered us and our daughter worthy of this..we will consult within our family and let you know later on”..
the best way is to not react. Smile and say that “this was quite a surprise, I am not sure what to say. Although I feel honored but this is not the matter where I can say yes or no about without talking to my husband and certainly not without talking to my daughter. Aur sunaa’ain kiya haal chal hain?”
Bite on the samosa, smile and offer them a pakora as well.
You aren’t expected to say yes right away. If they expect you to say yes without even asking your daughter then something is wrong with the picture altogether. Just say you’ll ask your daughter and get back to her and try to hold a poker face meanwhile. Try not to show what your decision would be eventually.
Then, after I picked my jaw up off the floor and contrived to smile at them, I would say: Aap nay bari achi baat kahi hai ham say. Lekin, fil-waqt, hamnay is baat pay ghoar nahin kiya hai. Pehlay, hammay apnay ghar waalon say mashwira karna hoga aur phir apnay beti say uski ray’ee mangni hogi, keh woh is waqt shaadi kai liyay tayaar hai bhi ya nahin. Us ki marzi liyay baghair koi faisla nahin kiya ja sakta hai. Yeh bil akhir zindagi bhar ka muamla hai, jald baazi munasib nahin.
And then I would offer them another samosa/namkeen and more tea
Do not offer them something sweet, they’ll consider that to be like doing moonh meetha and you don’t want that at all!
Drat - I gave the same answer as TLK and Nomi! I guess better late than never.
Why thank you! That does make me feel better
I expected more of something like you saying I’m as pretty as them two but this will have to do for now. hugs
Tell them that you need to think about the issue and that it depends upon how your daughter feels…because marriage is an issue that will affect the children more than the parents…as it’s their life. Then you tell them that since you and your husband would allow your children’s decision to be of greater importance…that it’s a possibility that the answer may be a “No” and that whatever the outcome…you hope that it wouldn’t affect the friendship. *So basically you’re telling them it’s something to think about/discuss with your child.
***THEN…you get back to the guy’s parents and let them know that your daughter was flattered and that she has a lot of respect for (the family friends) but she has always seen their son as a brother and respects him as a brother. Then again…you tell the family that you hope the friendship will not be affected…your give some compliments about their son (how wonderful he is)…and wish them the best. Baat khatam.
A marriage rishta was sent for me but got rejected the similar way… My parents excuse was: my daughter is young so we are not thinking about it… 2nd time it got rejected after 2yrs by saying, “our daughter dont seem to be a compatible match for your son, she requires someone with a master degree”