I am an Indian girl raised in Kuwait with a mixed influence of the conservative as well as liberal way of life. Overall, I am a moderate when it comes to cultural values. Most of my friends are married some just newly weds, some who have been together for years before getting married and some who have a couple of kids behind them and yes I am still single!
While having dinner with one such group of friends a while back, a single male friend questioned all the married guys - "You are married, are you happy?" The answers varied from "I will tell you when my wife's not around" to "yeah I am happy when she is not around" Simply put these men felt being married has robbed them of their freedom and space. How does this compare to all those men who say their quality of life has improved since they got married and are actually happy.
Isn't that a tough one. But what's even more amazing is the way moral committments have slipped in the last decade or so. Now married men and women fine it 'OK' to have romantic liasions out of marriage. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend is common with husbands or wifes fully aware of these outside flings and having no objections since they are free to do so as well.
Hence the question - Is committment for real? For me marriage as I see it is true love, committment and happily ever after and for me it remains unchanged over the years. Years that have seen divorce as a normal seperation as a method of avoiding divorce and yet enjoying the freedom of being single and unattached. Today true love is anyone but your spouse, committment is not forever and the happily ever after is better left undiscussed!
While people who are single seek desperately to find true love, the married are doing an about turn or amusing themselves on the side with casual fun relationships. Is this for real? Yes it is I have seen numerous examples!
Why then should one get married, why then should one commit to the idea of a never ending relationship? Beats me! But one thing is for sure, I believe and respect the institution of marriage. And I am hoping and praying whenever I do enroll its for ever and ever and ever....
