By Malik Nazir

The other day, a simple stationery purchase left me deeply troubled. A customer at the shop asked for Nikah Nama papers. The shopkeeper handed him a simple set priced at Rs 300. To my astonishment, the man felt insulted by the modest cost and demanded a more “expensive” version. He finally bought an ornate boxed Nikah Nama for Rs 2000 with an air of pride. The irony was that he was unemployed and financially dependent on his father.

This small incident reflects a much larger sickness in our society — an obsession with exhibitionism. Even in the most sacred and personal aspects of life, like marriage, we have allowed showiness to overpower simplicity and purpose. Today, engagements and weddings have turned into spectacles of wealth and vanity.

From lavishly packed gift box

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