AS I wrestled my way through the crowd, a voice was heard saying: 'Mrs Lim, this way.'

I looked behind me and the voice boomed: 'Hey, you, Mrs Lim! Yes, you!'

A waiter grabbed my arm and led me to the table, like I was a lost child.

Lately, my newfound status also came with high expectations.

'Why are you clubbing every weekend?' an acquaintance asked. 'Shouldn't you be home...'

'Cooking Devils' Curry?' I shot back.

Next came: 'Where is your other half?'

I'm floored by this question more than any amount of alcohol I can consume.

The truth is, Mr Lim could be out with the boys at Orchard Towers, sipping wine at Dempsey, enjoying hiswhisky at Highlander bar, playingpoker or just tuning his guitarat home.

And I could be at Velvet Underground, Attica or some dive in Tanjong Pagar.

They say when you get married, you can kiss your social life goodbye.

And if one is seen having a good time with the opposite sex, it could mean that one's relationship has gone six feet under.

It seems that the kind of men whom (married) women should be seen with regularly at parties are gay men.

To play it safe, some of my girlfriends have ditched their male buddies and become fag hags. Not me, though.

So lately, I have been mistaken for a 'Mrs Koh'. Because MrKoh, a drinking kaki, - is single and adores women.

WHOSE RULES?

It makes you wonder: How do you decide what's acceptable in a social environment? Is there an unspoken rule of how, what and who we should party or be seen with? If so, who sets these rules?

If a beautiful stranger buys me a drink, should I turn him down or slam-dunk every tequila shot on thebar?

I asked Mr Lim, who said: 'Don't waste alcohol.' And he meant every word.

The free spirit in me lets him enjoy the freedom of sight. Most women would convulse if their partner turned their attention to a beautiful stranger across the bar.

Not me. A beautiful thing is meant to be admired.

It is for the same reason we go clubbing. To people-watch.

It doesn't make you less of a person. It just makes the night a lot more enjoyable.

So, to return to the question, how do you let your hair down if a set of rules stand in the way?

Well, you can't.

There is one golden rule: One should never drink and drive - really.

But I believe in running free like a wild horse until you find a soul mate to run in the wind with you.

'So where is Mr Lim? Where you going after this?' the waiter pressed on.

I called Mr Lim, passed the phone to the busybody and told him: 'When you are done, Ms van Miriah would like to have a vodka-Red Bull.'