^ I think most people find "meethi churis" to be infuriating because they'd rather you express your negative emotions directly as opposed to being sweelty condescending.
I do a variety of things. Sometimes I choose to be the bigger person and ignore them.....persist in being happy and unaffected.....because I KNOW that will piss the person off even more. Other times, I stab them back with a meethi churi of my own.
You can also just smile at them. Don't understimate the power of a smile. When a meethi churi is hurled at you...........simply look the hellion up and down.......then look them in the eye...........and SMILE in the most condescening and amused fashion. SMILE at the person as if he/she is a BLUNDERING **child who has just said something very very foolish. Follow that up with a smirk......a slight visible laugh......which you cover with your mouth. Then **SIGH........and shake your head in disapproval.......with a look of pity in your eyes...........................and then walk away. You don't have to come up with a clever retort on the spot. It's all body language :)
RV....wish i could manage responding in just one of the ways u've written... I was recently put in a similar situtation courtesy my nand. I live with my in-laws n we had relatives for dinner (Eid-3rd Day) . My nand was also invited for the dinner. She kept hitting on me indirectly when i was alone with mil and didn't for once look into my eye throughout the dinner. She kept talking to the guests (her cousin)....picked subjects i had nothing to talk about like the greatness of their own relatives. I was forced to keep shut; not that she held my tongue but coz i felt completely left-out... I was deeply hurt and remained silent all along. To top it all, she kissed me on my cheek in front of all the guests before she left for her home....I was hurt, disguisted by her show in front of everyone and her cheap blows while i was alone.
I went to my room and cried to sleep. Hubby tried to comfort me, but i was full of hatred for her. It is outrageous how people have special skills to qualify for a "meethi churi". She is 5 years older to me, has been married for 10 years, and i happen to be her only and eldest brother's bhabhi.....
I feel so bad even now, n i have to meet her today at dinner.