At some stage in proceedings, arranged marriages aside, a proposal of marriage has to be put by one party and accepted by the other, whether obliquely or formally. As a smart Love Stories reader, you should know that assumptions ought not to be made, based on unspoken understandings and expectations.

Those receiving a proposal are under no obligation to make up their minds on the spot. They can exercise their prerogative of reserving their answer. But others, especially women for whom the words ‘Will you marry me? spoken by their chosen are long awaited, may be forgiven for taking the view that they had better say ‘yes’ in the next breath or else he might change his mind.

However, what has to be said is that it courts great risk to treat an honourable proposal of marriage casually or in a teasing way. When ‘no’ is the response, people should be let down gently. When the woman proposes, the same procedures apply. He should formally accept her proposal before the couple are to consider themselves engaged to be married.

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