'Waiting for a leap year? It's just sexist'

TREND: After proposing to her boyfriend on a non-leap year, Katrina Mirpuri was shocked by the stigma it still held

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LAST March I married my partner Steve. I proposed to him in May 2022, and we had the big fat Indian wedding of our dreams. It was an experience that we'll cherish forever, and it was me who popped the question.

When the story of my proposal comes up, people's reactions are usually the same. They seem interested and slightly confused in equal measure. "Oh wow, that's amazing, what made you do that?" they'll ask with raised eyebrows.

I can see the curiosity, and sometimes judgment, in their eyes. Is it supposed to be a feminist statement? Was I trying to be edgy? Not really. I just wanted to.

After we announced our engagement on social media, people would ask Steve "So, how did you propose?" I could see their hunger for the big story where Steve turns into Prince Charming on one knee. When we explained how it went down, we were met with further questions, the main one being, why?

Other responses included "But that's his job, not yours!" and "You've stolen his limelight". The news of our engagement quickly became tarnished with the opinions of others. We had to be armed with explanations. Of course, not everyone reacted this way. My closest friends and family were ecstatic.