get the men to go down on their knees...

When Beyonce Knowles urged men to pop the question to their paramours, it was only natural that women world over went crazy over the song. So popular as an anthem it became that the epitome of singledom, Carrie aka Sarah Jessica Parker from Sex and the City , finally got the elusive Mr Big to put a ring on her precious finger.

And if a recent survey is to be believed, then six in ten brides force men to go down on their knees by resorting to underhand tactics. And no, we are not just talking about the usual tricks in the bag. Forget the 'I'm preggers' rumours, because honestly in this day and age when contraceptives are selling like hotcakes, no man is going to be stupid enough to buy that.

The more recent ones include bullying the boyfriend by threatening to leave him, sending yourself flowers from an 'unknown admirer', simply flirting with an ex or using the all-powerful, 'You can look, but you can't touch' technique.

According to relationship expert Gomathy Iyer, it is important to keep your self-respect and dignity intact when it comes to a relationship. Says she, "Young men these days are quite wary of commitment. If you have been with someone for a long time and they still refuse to commit, it's best to move on. There is no point trying to push and prod someone to make a commitment if he is not willing to give you one. Resorting to underhand techniques is unfair, because in the long run, both parties will be unhappy. However, if it's just a small nudge that is needed, then go right ahead."

Women in the city seem to agree. Says ad executive Sanghamitra Kumar, "If I were in a relationship for more than two to three years and my man was still not showing any signs of wanting to marry me, I would definitely do something to get him to go on bended knee. Nothing serious, just something like telling him that a colleague totally digs me and has even spoken about marrying me. Seriously, guys at some point forget that a relationship is actually supposed to get somewhere. If a rude jolt or a little poke is what is needed, then so be it."

For designer and entrepreneur Divya Pandurangam, it solely depends on the situation she is in. "I don't know if I would 'manipulate' my way into a guy's heart. If I know that I'm ready to make a commitment, then instead of tricking someone into popping the question, I would sit him down and tell him exactly what's on my mind," she says.

While the women are still divided about trying the tricks, the men seem to have a completely different take on how to find out if they are being played or not. Actor Ganesh Venkataraman sums it up best, saying, "For me, it's all about validation. Honestly, it's very difficult to understand a woman's mind, but if I am with someone who has a set of insecurities about the relationship, I would try to explain my point of view to her. There are some guys who use the 'I need to settle down' excuse, just so that they can wriggle out of a commitment and there are also those who have genuine reasons. I guess it's all about reaching a common ground."

"If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don't be mad once you see that he wants it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it"