Salaam Namaste
Hey guys that's not Preity Zinta calling from the movie Salaam Namaste, but its me your page maker Savita. An indian way of greeting friends nowadays is just ? Salaam Namaste '. I am sure most of you must have seen this movie. I am not here to give a review on this Yash Chopra flick, but to chat about the concept that was dealt in the movie.

Ya, you guys got it right! It is live-in relationships.

A hot topic that will not lose its warmth till near future. Are live-in relationships practical? Are they right? Will the society accept it? Are the teenagers comfortable with it? Are they happier lives when compared to marriages?

Oooohh!! These many questions in just one breath come in our minds, when we hear of live-in relationships.

Let me just brief you what exactly is a live-in relationship. It is a situation where two people who love each other live together without getting married. They live together with the idea that it will help them understand each other better. According to such live-in couples, marriage brings in with it, lots of expectations and responsibilities, which otherwise don't exist in live-in relationships. Further these couples feel, in a live-in relationship, you can always be the person you are. In the sense that, a person loses his or her individuality once he or she is married. In short, liberty and independence is what all live-in relationship is about.

Live-in relationship is a kind of compatibility tests that quite a few youngsters experiment with, to understand compatibility and chemistry between two people. It is not a legalized relationship, meaning there is no legal document assuring the relation. It can be called quits anytime, as one feels like. Though it is not marriage, but still it is a very important decision, it is sharing every bit of your living. Afterall, it is spending ample of time with your supposed to be love. The very beginning of live-in relationships is a gutful thing. It takes a lot to take the step and even ask your partner for a live-in relationship.

May be it is the right decision for people who live far away from their families and don't want to live alone. But finding that right person is also very essential, since none of us would like to ruin our lives for just an experimental marriage. Oh, yes! Another name that can be given to live-in relationship is an experimental marriage. A wedding without a ring. Ha ha ha.

This live-in relationship is a kin where you accept the person as it is, without any moderations to his lifestyle and behavior. Remember, it is the person you like and not the body. Of course, there might be some petite compromises, but for the comfort zone. The level of practicability is very high, for the reason that the decision is against our dear ones that is family. While there is no responsibility on one in a live-in relationship, but you are responsible for yourself and your life. In a live-in relationship, one is deprived of guidance and support of the elders. You do sometimes have your friends supporting you but that doesn't complete it. One more important thing is that you no more be a girl or a boy. Well don't let your minds wander; I mean you have to do every job. Leave the notion that this is a ?girl's job' and that is ?a guy's job'. Last but not the least is that once you live with your beloved, your sexual needs arise, you urge for sexual pleasing. Now that imperative step shall be taken with proper preventive measures and keeping in mind the surety of the relationship. So, live-in relationship is not a cakewalk, it is another important turn given to our lives.

How many would hold up the statement that ?Live-in relationships are right.' We would have deliberate discussions on it but would never decide upon to say right or wrong. It is a very situational and one to one differing opinion. Some people are comfortable with it and some not. Everyone have his or her own point of view. Your view about live-in relationship will to a larger extent depend on how you want to build your relationships. What is the basis of relationship? Decisions are all about prioritizing things and relations in life. So to take the right stride, one should have the priorities accurately set.

Still, if one makes his or her mind to get into a live-in relationship, one thing that bothers them a lot is how will the society react to it? We all know all societies in the world have always opposed new ideologies and it is equally difficult to appease them of any such decision. Hence, one has take into consideration all these matters in taking that big step forward.

If a survey is done, on ?Are teenagers comfortable with live-in relationships?' At first instance, most of them would say they are pretty cool about it. But when the same question is posed to them personally, they would think hard and hard about it. The foremost doubt that would come in their psyche would be ?Do I really love him? Is it love, or just infatuation?? Sometimes, questions like these help in solving relationship queries. People actually think about the relationship. And if you are serious about someone, then do you have the guts to go against family values and prove it to them that your decision and choice is right? Not many possess the fortitude to do that. Now that doesn't mean that you are scared, it only shows that you don't want to hurt your dear ones and agree to forgo your love for them.

Reasons that lead to situations like live-in relationships are many, migration being one of the main causes. With increase in migration of youngsters for higher studies and job, their loneliness calls for a partner. They need psychological support, so a steady move is made towards searching their soul mates. For some find them, others in a dilemma of whether it is infatuation or love. Since last five years, Hyderabad has seen a lot of migration. And yes, we do have live-in relationships here also. Deepak, a Bcom student, lived and enjoyed his life till he met Prasanna, his classmate and now his live-in partner. Both were madly in love with each other. But as it happens in movies, the families came to know about it, they disapproved of their relationship on the basis of caste. For few days, the lovers tried following the decision taken by their families; but very soon they realized they couldn't live without each other. So they walked out and today are living together without marriage. Until, they stabilize in their careers, they decide not to get married. Yes, at times they are compatibility problems, but ?Where don't you have problems?? believes Prasanna.

Another cool couple is Soumya and Ronak. This couple has actually lived every minute of their lives together. Soumya was one of the brilliant students in her medical college and Ronak was no less in his field of engineering. So where did they collide? Well, a very unusual love story I would say. Both of them sincerely went to this one Café Coffee Day, on Saturdays after college. There they saw each other and imagine whom were they introduced by, none other than Ronak's girlfriend. She was a common friend. After two-three meetings Ronak realized that he didn't love his girlfriend. He was just going around with her because she was ?the bomb' of the college. So, he left her and started dating Soumya. Now, love was in the air. Soon they left their respective colleges and homes. They managed to get admission in one Degree College and started studying two different courses. As the luck followed them, in a little while they landed working part-time in one of the MNC's. So they spent every moment of their lives together except for their classes. Hats off to this cool and determined couple, today they are a happily married and financially secure with no regrets in their minds. They lived in for three long years and then got married.

The coolest of all would be this. Just read it and you would say the same thing about them. Lakshmi and Ramesh are the lovebirds here. They wanted to get married but their family opposed it because they thought Ramesh is not financially stable yet. Once he is stable, the marriage would be done. Both knew, they couldn't live without each other, so the funda they applied here was Lakshmi got married to Ramesh's elder brother. But, she remained loyal to Ramesh. The deal was that till Ramesh gets a job, Lakshmi would remain married to his brother. After getting a job, she would divorce the brother. This deal stroked with the consent of the elder brother. Now that is what I call live-in marriage.

This is happening in the high society also. News is that one of the MP's son has moved on to live-in with a well-known telugu actress's sister. This is big time news man! Not all live-in relationships end happily. One of the worst live-ins I came across were these two people who met in a party. They liked each other in the very first moment. They danced the whole night together. After the party, they continued meeting each other regularly. Both were from affluent families, but either of the families didn't agree of their relationship saying it was just a crush. Both went ahead and started living together. For days, they enjoyed life till the dodgy day came. No cash was left, none could decide upon the situation so they tried getting a job. The girl got it. She was the sole earner for many months. The guy enjoyed on her money. One fine day, this guy saw this girl with one of her colleagues having lunch together. As the male psychology goes, he didn't like it and so on the return of the girl home, he abused her of having an affair. The matter became worse and intolerant. The girl was frustrated and one day in fury she hit a wooden stick on the guy's head. The guy died bleeding to death. Presently, the girl is in the Mental Care Institute for she lost her mental balance when she saw her love lying in blood. Till date, she keeps on saying, ?I love him a lot?. A hurried decision lead to gruesome lives.

Are live-in relationships happier than marriages? To a certain extent I would say yes. You don't have people advising you round the clock. There is no pressure or burden on your head. You are a free-bird. It is a life without expectations. But, don't you think there are times, when you miss family and you feel there should be someone to tell you how can a work be done in a better way. This again depends on how happy and comfy are you with the person you are living with. In the end, it is the magic that should click between the two, be it in a live-in relationship or marriage.

The big question here is, Is it right to go against parent's will? Are we getting too influenced by the alien culture ? the western culture? Are live-ins meant only for the fancy of teenagers? Where is India heading, which is always known for its customs and moral values?

Besides all this, basis of any relationship is its sustenance. I am sure most of you will agree with me. Because, we simply don't get into relationships for the heck of it. Though, still the point of involving in a live-in relationship is uncertain, one thing is for sure lovers can create heaven on earth. You never know, a relation started on a live-in note could finally end in marriage; since you can't live without that person.