The idea of a couple living together without marriage is becoming more and more acceptable in most societies. However, in many places, it is still a concept that has not gained enough popularity. Neighbors smirk profusely, parents dismiss it completely and everyone is constantly worried about when the wedding bells shall ring.
But the formality of a marriage is just not meant for some people. You see, marriage is a social and economic institution that has conditioned us to believe that love cannot be true without it. But nothing could be farther from the truth! I don’t need a piece of paper to tell the world who my life partner is. I’m happy with things the way that they are. So if you’re wondering if a live-in relationship is good or bad, read my story below to find out!
Pros Of Live-In Relationship – How It Worked Out For Us
Table of Contents
Let’s start from the very beginning. I’ll tell you the story of how I met the love of my life all the way to how we are now living together without marriage. I met Jane at an alumni event in London. We got talking casually.
I was watching her from the time she casually sat on the barstool next to mine and asked for a martini. Then, I realized it wasn’t her first drink. I was staring at her but as soon as our eyes met, she caught me abruptly looking away and smiled. I knew it! This was one of the signs a girl likes you.
That broke the ice and we got talking soon enough. It took us another drink to figure out that we were from the same engineering batch years ago. I couldn’t take my eyes off her and wondered how I remembered her only vaguely from back then. She was already drunk out of her wits and woozy as hell.
The morning after
When I woke up, Jane was lying next to me. My head was still in a whirl. It took me five seconds to return to my senses. We were in my hotel room. Had I just spent the night with a girl I had forgotten all these years and thought she had looked hot and inviting 8 hours ago?
I felt her weight shifting on the mattress and saw her waking up. We chatted for a bit while still in bed, and then, I asked her rather apologetically if I could drop her home. I whispered a sorry to her. She seemed unruffled as she stifled another yawn.
She asked me to relax and I really did when she said she had enjoyed being with me. I felt an inexorable pull toward her. I didn’t know what it was. I’d met women before but it was never this intense. She dressed and left in a cab after we quickly exchanged numbers.
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No strings attached
We started seeing each other after work most of the days. She had no strings attached and always helped me to loosen up after a long and hard day. She laughed easily and was a happy girl. We decided to split the cost for a weekend trip to Wales.
It worked out well without either of us feeling awkward and honestly there was no time for calculations or accounts. It was truly wild! Our relationship was so casual and easy-going that I never thought that I would one day be in a live-in relationship with the same girl.
When we got back, it hit me that one day she would hint about formally committing but that day never came. In hindsight, this is what actually sealed our relationship. Neither of us felt the pressure to legalize our current status or label ourselves.
Soon, we were living like other married couples. But differently. We were living together without marriage and it came to us so easily. We were both so comfortable.
In the early days of our relationship, we both scribbled out our own share of expenses and settled dues every night for things we bought and used together. Over the next few months, we just got lazy, and eventually, neither of us bothered. We were just glad we had each other. We just spent when we had to.
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Then the parents announced a visit
I stayed mostly over at her place. She continued to pay the rent, which I proposed we share, but she firmly declined. I paid for groceries and purchased meals. We, then, planned our first big holiday to Europe. As soon as we got the visa, my parents announced that they were coming over to see me.
It was October and we were so excited about Germany and Poland that for the first time in my life I forgot to envisage spending some time with my family. The reason was Jane. She had become my family without a ceremony.
I couldn’t reveal my state of affairs to my conservative Christian parents. They would never agree to me and Jane living together without marriage. I was their oldest son, unmarried and turning 33. They were already putting a lot of pressure on me with regard to marriage.
They would yap constantly about the things relatives say about still being unmarried and how that is shameful to our family. All that my mother could harp on over long-distance calls was finding a lovely girl for me. My younger brother was already married and they were expecting a baby. This put the pressure even more on me.
I felt so nervous
My parents’ impending arrival made the fuses in my head pop. Thinking about it made me break out in a cold sweat. It was Jane who took over and told me that we should tell them about us in person and not over a phone call.
I didn’t have the first clue how to do this. It seemed like a gargantuan task. The last time I felt this nervous was just before getting my MBA results. I had spent so many weekends and weeknights at her place that my house had been uncared for. My mother would suspect in a heartbeat.
I had to quickly get it spruced up. I received them at the airport and told them that I had met a nice girl. Their faces lit up but my mother was still skeptical. She had her difficult mother-in-law personality ready to claw out.
On our 25-minute drive home, my mother had also already decided names for our kids. I didn’t want to deflate their spirits, so I just kept quiet. The next chapter unfolded when I rang the doorbell instead of using my keys to enter.
My parents looked at each other from the corner of their eyes and shrugged. Jane opened the door wearing my shirt, which was too long for them to notice the sliver of her shorts under it. It was the most imperfect situation. Her hair was wound into a rough knot stabbed by a pen. I should have known that the dress code I was talking her into was falling on deaf ears an hour ago.
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How about a quick marriage ceremony?
My father nervously returned her greeting and got in. My mother meekly followed him. They barely ate and while nibbling at the blueberry pie that Jane had made, my mother proposed that we quickly decide on the wedding day and ‘close’ the matter.
They were so desperate to get us married! A vehemently disapproving Jane kicked me so hard under the table that I almost fell off my chair.
I explained to my mother later that we were both very happy and comfortable with the way things were and didn’t see the need to formalize anything. A legal stamp or certificate would not make things more permanent or damage-proof.
If as a live-in couple we couldn’t weather storms, we would fail trying so in the marriage too. I told her that there are many benefits of a live-in relationship and that we had chosen to stay this way. We had a slight debate about marriage vs live-in relationship but things settled down quickly.
We accept each other and don’t look for societal approval. We’d just be happy if our parents breathed easy. My mother’s eyes clouded over when I told her that we didn’t want kids. It was extremely heartbreaking to her.
She was also upset that I had not told her sooner about the situation of me and Jane living together without marriage. However, she didn’t persist. It was a lot for her already.
How the elders surprised us
My parents stayed with us for a month. We holidayed in Germany as a family of 4 and when they returned, it was nearly time for Jane’s parents to visit. By now, we knew the drill. They came, saw, heard and nodded in approval.
The world is evolving and the generation we feared would be loath to change is pleasantly surprising us at every stage! We are so happy now. We can finally enjoy the benefits of a live-in relationship along with our parents’ approval.
(As told to Eleena Sanyal)
FAQs
1. Can you have a committed relationship without marriage?
Marriage is a formal process and some people believe in it but it does not have to work for everyone. Love and commitment come from the heart and not wedding rituals. One can certainly enjoy a good, fulfilling committed relationship without marriage.
2. How long should you live together before getting married?
It depends on each individual and how long it takes for them to get comfortable and realize you want to take things to the next level. However, 6 months should be a minimum.
Final Thoughts
Choosing to live together without marriage is a personal decision that requires careful consideration and open communication between partners. While it may not be the traditional path, it can be a fulfilling and rewarding way to build a strong relationship.
It’s important to remember that the success of a live-in relationship depends on factors such as mutual respect, understanding, and a shared commitment to the partnership. By openly discussing expectations, setting boundaries, and working through challenges together, couples can create a loving and lasting relationship that works perfectly for them.
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Considering the numerous changes in our life-style, and our outlook towards life, every individual has the right to decide what works best for them. May be marriage seems to huge considering the nuances involved in it. And noone can deny this fact. So live-in seems much more comfortable and democratic in its operation. And it’s high time we understand this concept.
Awesome El … Does it again.. loved it…