It’s a universal truth that Desi (Indian) parents have an extraterrestrial superpower: They’re always right. In fact, the accuracy of their predictions could bankrupt the world’s best fortune tellers.

From what food you should eat to who you should marry (arranged marriages are making a comeback in Singapore), their advice is a finely tuned blend of wisdom and cosmic intuition.

Take my friend Meera, for example. A successful professional in her early 30s, she confidently declared that she would “never go into an arranged marriage.” But after years of romantic failures, she began to fall under her parents’ influence.

Her mother’s farewell speech on the subject: “Wait until you’re 30, you’ll see things differently!” – came back like a boomerang and hit him right on the nose. Now she’s ready to meet “a nice boy from a good family” and her mother’s smug smile shines brightly in her WhatsApp calls.

‘You’ll see when you grow up’ mantra

Desi parents operate on the principle of “you’ll see as you get older”, a gem of wisdom that applies to everything.

Now let’s not fool ourselves. Today, arranged marriages are not the order of old. No one brings up biodata and horoscopes on a first date (at least not openly). But the idea that your parents actually know a thing or two about compatibility is gaining ground.

And desi parents are savoring this as the ultimate “I told you so” moment.

‘Eat this, it will be good for your health’ (or is it?)

A big part of the superpower of Desi parents involves their deep knowledge of food and its supposed benefits. It’s like having a personal nutritionist who is always available and doesn’t charge a fee.

“Eat more oil, it’s good for your bones,” they say as you spoon some clarified butter over your rice. When you question this, they will tell you: “Your father (grandmother) lived to be 96 on this diet.” In the meantime, you hope your cholesterol will mercifully improve.

But all this wisdom is controversial when it comes to feeding prospective grooms or brides. As if a successful match is only possible if the candidate can endure lethal doses of mithai (sweets) and masala chai!

The magical art of knowing your destiny (without asking)

Desi parents have a mystical insight into our lives that even the stars cannot compare to. Who needs a crystal ball when you have a parent who knows you’ll be an engineer (despite your childhood dreams of being a trapeze artist)?

The irony is that even if you are somehow a trapeze artist, they will claim they knew it all along. And when it comes to marriage, they have an uncanny ability to determine the extent of compatibility.

Since our kindergarten days, we have a mental list of “good boys” and “good girls” at the ready. Your father might “accidentally” mention that “Mrs. Singh’s son has a stable job and cooks.” Matchmaking tips are as subtle as a storm but undeniable.

Why are they never wrong?

Desi parents operate at a level of precision that most of us can only aspire to. There is no hesitation when they decide something like a stable marriage is the key to a stable life.

You can present them with statistics, the results of scientific studies, or even the wisdom of Google. But nothing can shake their confidence. “Statistics can be misleading,” they say. “I know because I lived it.”

Modern change: Self-arranged marriages

But now, in a plot twist no desi parent could have predicted, today’s young bachelors are literally taking the concept of arranged marriage into their own hands.

Instead of meeting potential partners at family gatherings, they now browse “profiles” on apps like Tinder or Coffee Meets Bagel. This is a charming hybrid where they arrange the match themselves, then fall in love; essentially self-arranged love matches where one is carefully scrutinized for one’s own judgment (and a few strategic selfies).

To our parents, this might seem like outsourcing the family business to a dating app, but it’s the latest development. “Arranged marriages are in fashion, Amma!” “I just handle the promotions myself,” my friend Priya says, swiping her phone left and right.

In his view, these “self-regulated” apps are modern matchmakers, complete with several filters to screen out unsuitable leads.

Consider the irony: Our parents spent years studying families and horoscopes, but we decided that apps and algorithms worked the same way—no need for a family meeting.

But when these self-arranged matches turn out, desi parents don’t care. They smile proudly and say: “See, we told you this was the modern way. Both arranged marriage and love marriage!

After all, a new era begins in arranged marriage; A time when children choose the candidates, but parents can still enjoy the satisfaction that they were right all along: Love is beautiful, but a well-orchestrated match is timeless.