Wednesday, April 8, 2015

To Commit or Not to Commit (Love, marriage and the whole bandwagon)


Shudh Desi Romance – The movie was about a commitment phobic boy who meets a commitment phobic girl on his wedding day, makes out with her, and when he meets his bride, he realizes he is no way ready for a life time commitment, so he decides to run off.
The two, who have just met, fall in love, live together, and after a drunken night decide to get married coz that’s just what you do after you are in love. This time, karma might have had a role to play, and the girl decides to be a runaway bride. The running off goes on, until they finally realize marriage just isn't for them, and they live happily ever after.


One thing I can tell you for sure is that if you go in a group to watch this movie, you will come out with more than one point of view, and can go on with debates and discussions for hours to come.

I watched this movie, with a young, happily married couple and a single man who doesn’t have any intentions of marriage. We came out with so much to talk about. Is it right, is it wrong, why is such lifestyle being promoted, maybe it’s just showing the truth etc.

I for one, connected with a lot in this movie. Honestly, I didn’t know I had fears of commitment before watching it. That explains to me why I have been attracting commitment phobic men in my life. I have been attracting people of the same energy body as myself…and while I want to commit and be a bride (really! I do), I guess I have fears on a deeper, subconscious level.

I agree with the characters of the movie. Just because you love each other and life is beautiful together, is not reason to get married. Why does marriage have to follow love? Can’t two people just live together, and be happy. Isn't marriage an outdated concept? Do you really need to sign the dotted line to prove that you love your partner? Honestly, other than a legal child, I don’t see reasons to get married. A commitment is a commitment. If you love someone, a wedding ring, or a piece of paper are not necessary. If you need that as proof that you are committed, doesn't that prove lack of trust?

My married friend did not agree with me obviously. I can’t say he is wrong either. It is true that marriage is where you truly learn commitment, where you learn adjustment, where you put your love to test.
But my question is, what if your love fails that test, what happens then? You can’t just walk out anymore can you? Now you have to go through all the legalities and then get labeled, stamped, titled a divorcee. So why go through all that. I don’t think it would be so difficult and painful if they were in a live in relationship instead of a marriage. Of course the pain of separation would be there, but when the word divorce is not used, the world does not add to your pains. You don’t have to pretend to be strong. People are kind to you after a breakup, but feel sorry for you after a divorce. No one wants pity.  A lot of people I know will not commit to someone who is a divorcee; because they believe something is wrong with them. Perceptions, yes! But a divorcee has to live with it. Those same people will commit without a hiccup, to a partner who has had numerous break ups. (Perceptions, unfortunately!)

My married friend’s take on this? Well you don’t walk out. You work on fixing it, and if you can’t, then family and friends counsel you and convince you to give it another shot.

But are you happy together? I mean after giving it a few shots, are you not just staying together because it’s difficult to walk out? Because of the idea and belief that a commitment is more important that your personal happiness?

Obviously, I think I am right, and my friend is wrong, so I went back home to get the opinion of my wise old man. What did he have to say? Well he did agree that the concept of marriage doesn't make sense, but he also told me that marriage isn't as dreadful as I make it sound.
People get married for the wrong reasons, he said. What is believed to be love, is merely an attraction, that ends the moment the honeymoon period (undefined) is over, and then its two egos that have to live under the same roof. Before it was just the man with the enormous ego, while today, a woman has an ego just as big. Find the right reason for marriage and it will last, you will make it last. Find an understanding with your partner, a common ground, and recognize that you both are two individuals growing. Help in each other’s growth. We were made in pairs, and we need each other to grow as spiritual beings.

Interestingly it made sense. But it is all theory, isn't it. Some of my closest friends are divorcees, and some on the verge of it, learning to live under the worst circumstances just to avoid the title. Does that mean they didn't find an understanding or a common ground before getting into a marriage? Was it all worth it? Even if they did find that understanding, what if the marriage had an expiry date? No one said marriage is forever right? And then the D word comes into effect, breaking a person down completely. The strongest people I know have taken time to get back on their feet. Most have not learnt to trust again, while very few have finally found peace and love with another.

Doesn't it make sense to live in together and only get married when you are sure? There are many live in relationships that end up into marriage after years of being together. I guess that’s when they are sure. Ok, I know you now, and I know all your flaws and still want to live with you for the rest of my life. At least I am not in for any surprises.


I want to walk down the aisle in my white gown, towards a man I want to live my life with, but Oh the dilemma! You meet a dude, fall in love, and in a couple of months, decide on a wedding venue and one fine day you wake up next to a monster and wonder how you ended up here!

14/09/2013

No comments:

Post a Comment