Finding “the one” through an arranged marriage is rarely simple. For Vikas, a 28-year-old data analyst from Haryana, the process became so overwhelming that he chose to manage it the way he manages work: using an Excel sheet.

Vikas has been looking for a bride on matrimonial platforms for about five months, after his parents encouraged him to explore the arranged marriage route. As profiles piled up and conversations overlapped, keeping track of who said what and when quickly became a challenge.

To stay organized, he created a detailed spreadsheet that records the names of the women he talks to, the dates of their calls, comments from both parties, and the current status of each match. The tracker also includes short comments such as “no vibration”, “good conversation”, “no tracking” and “values ​​aligned” to summarize its impressions.

A practical joke that struck a chord

Vikas shared a short video of the tracker on Instagram with the caption: “When life gives you an arranged marriage, create a tracker. Weekend tracker.” The clip quickly went viral, garnering attention for its mix of humor and brutal practicality.

In another video, the data analyst explained how demanding work schedules make the initial “conversation stage” especially difficult in arranged marriage settings.

“We get out of the office around 11 or 12 at night. It’s a lot of work and we spend the weekends detoxing. When should we look at biodata and when should we talk?” he said

His comment resonated with many young professionals juggling long work hours, family expectations and the pressure to make life-defining decisions efficiently.

From personal hacking to shared template

Vikas also revealed that he has shared the Excel template with friends navigating similar arranged marriage processes. According to him, several of them found the tracker really helpful in clarifying what could otherwise seem like an emotionally and logistically messy process.

What began as a personal productivity hack soon became a relatable snapshot of modern arranged marriages, where choice is plentiful, time is scarce, and emotional bandwidth is limited.

Internet Reactions: Relatable, Funny, and Divisive

The video sparked a wave of reactions on Instagram, ranging from humor to deeper reflection.

One user commented: “I’ve never understood how one person can talk to 10 people at the same time. No wonder the arrange marriage setting doesn’t work for me.”

Another joked: “Haha, looks like your arranged marriage tracking sheet will be successfully closed” soon.

A third user noted, “On the third it’s in the final stages…” hinting at how the process often boils down after several conversations.

Not everyone was convinced, however. One commenter questioned the whole approach:

“How is it different from dating multiple people at the same time? I understand that you don’t want to spend too much time with one person to decide. But 2-3 meetings at most should be enough to check the vibe. If you meet several people at once, one will always be better than the other.”

Mirror of the modern combination

Whether seen as clever organization or emotional over-optimization, Vikas’ Excel tracker has struck a nerve. It highlights how arranged marriages today increasingly resemble project management exercises, complete with timelines, status updates and decision matrices, especially for young professionals navigating careers alongside family expectations.

In an age where even life partners are screened, pre-selected and vetted, perhaps it was only a matter of time before Excel entered the scene.