Re: How did your rishta come about?
It's great to know that some parents don't approve of 'showing' the girl to anyone and everyone. My parents have also been very supportive that way, alhamdulillah, and I'll be honest it's such a relief. In fact sometimes my cousins/aunts tell me of rishtas that my parents have declined and I have no prior knowledge of it. My thing is...if they don't approve of it...I don't need to know if it even happened or not.
And I know that it gets a little tough for parents when most of your friends and cousins are hitched but you know what, history shows that it's worth waiting for the 'one' rather than experimenting and later regretting that you ever though about it. The best you can do is pray for your 'kismat' and leave the rest in Allah's hands.