Diamond is forever.
When I informed my friend that my younger sibling would get married, she told me that I should have asked something from my soon-to-be-married sibling, and she or he was obliged to grant my wish.
In Asian culture, where seniority is so important, the oldest ones should have married first, followed by the second, and so on. And, of course, the youngest ones were the last to get married.
It doesn’t mean the younger ones couldn’t tie the knot before the older ones. They could, only after asking permission from the older siblings. And it doesn’t come for free; some money or something valuable must be put on the table.
This is an old tradition that some people believe needs to be done to avoid bad luck for the older sibling who is unlucky to be stepped over by the younger sibling. One of the ultimate bad luck in this case is becoming forever single.
My family didn’t hold and practice that tradition. I knew trying to extract some money from my sibling in exchange for my permission would fall on deaf ears.
I was in a better position compared to my siblings. I had a good job at that time in an established oil and gas company. How could I ask for some money from them?
However, when my youngest sister would get married, I forced her to buy me something. She had already landed a well-paying job in a big international mining company. I assumed the money was fine to her.
She hesitated in the beginning when I asked for a diamond ring.
“I even don’t get a diamond ring from my future husband,” said my sister.