Though some are turning towards cohabitation or live-in relationships, they eventually get married, unless they want to part.                                                                                             

Bubbly says:

Marriage is a sacred relationship where two people are bound together for a life long journey. And when one lives in India, a country renowned for its culture, heritage and tradition, to think of live-in relationships is blasphemous to say the least. Live-in relationships don’t work; rather they are not designed to work. It is simply an emergency measure taken by immature individuals who are afraid of commitment.

Moreover, marriage is a ceremonious ritual as far as Indians are concerned. It involves meeting old friends and relatives, meeting new friends and relatives and bonding on a grand scale. Every marriage brings great joy not just to the bride and the groom but to the entire society they are a part of. Whereas a live-in relationship can only bring great ire and sorrow to everyone, including the ones in the relationship on most occasions.

And to those who ask what the big difference is between a live-in relationship and a marriage, it is commitment and responsibility to your partner, family and society on the whole. Most importantly, the progeny, he/she would lack respect for society on the whole which in turn would alienate him/her. The future of a progeny will be in question from the outset if he/she is not from a conventional set up.

I am not trying to generalize cohabitation or live-in relationship as a vice for the society. It simply lacks confidence and trust that a marriage can establish between couples. It is true that cohabitation or live-in relationships offer much more independence, but it can turn out to be a bane than a boon in so many ways. Marriage is not just some old tradition or custom. To marry is not to think alike, but to think together.

Bunty thinks:

Trust is the edifice of any relationship. Live-in relationships requires trust in an immeasurable quantity and quality. Love is the fevicol in a marital connection. Live-in arrangement demands nothing else.

It is a myth among the so-called-cultured individuals that live-in relationship is an insecure bondage with no strings attached.  In its purpose, it is as much a love affair as marriage, sans the pretensions and extravagance that a fat Indian marriage brings with it. God, if he exists, knows how much of money and labour is lost in the look-at-my-jewels, say-my-slippers-are-exotic marriages. If not for the society why would anyone indulge in a show-off wedding for nothing? If it is celebration of life, why does the money squandering and taking snaps with utter strangers matter?

Live-in relationship is not a mockery of the family system, it is just more personal, quiet and in many ways than economic way of establishing a happy family with one’s love. It is different from pre-marital sex, in as much the line goes –‘ It aint pre-marital sex if you have no intention of marrying.’ It is just acknowledgment of love in a simple and elegant way.

Even though I do not believe in marriage and know that live-in relationship is a better way of projecting love, I know why it wouldn’t work in the Indian society where love gets sanctified and recognized under the watchful eyes of people other than the couple involved. If you are tired of the fanciful marriages and all the hullaballoo it creates, settle for a live-in relationship with your gal/guy, but never be surprised if your daughter/son grows up watching those touchy movies and melodramatic television serials and questions your passion, integrity and your responsibility towards his/life. I know, I am centuries ahead of my time, at least, as long as I am in India and follow her never ending ritualistic way of life.