Singled Out

Name - Mariya Mubarak
Age - 23
Marital Status - Single
My single status has come under much criticism of late. Why? Because everybody believes it is high time I got hitched. My parents are on a mission, very determined they are. I have nothing against the idea of getting married but it is mystifying how much it seems to affect others perception about me. At any social gathering or family get together, the topic of me getting married invariably comes up. I am asked by at least one person "So, are you engaged?" to which I say with gritted teeth and a brad smile "NO" And then that person gives me stiff smile and I can almost read their thoughts which would probably be ranging from - "Ah! Something is wrong with the girl" "OH! She must be having an "affair" with a guy outside the community" "My God, the girls these days.." so on and so forth.
My mother, when I'm having the most general of conversations with her, she skillfully steers the talk to youknowhat. And, I with equal skill make an escape.
Yes, I will get married..sooner or later. I have even met prospective grooms and even genuinely liked one, BUT, just liking isn't enough isn't it? Or.. Is it? How does it work in an arranged marriage scenario? How come it seems so effortless in other people's case and not so in mine? There's got to be some spark, trigger, chemistry, or even the teeniest of signs right?
I hate to see my parents under so much pressure from family and society. Outside the social setup we are in, they wouldn't be in the same panic mode no? I have a truckload of questions, the answers to which elude me.