Live-in relationships.... for better or for worse

Indians are supposed to be one of the fast changing people who can readily adapt to the western civilization.... atleast that's what can be said about those living in the cities. From fast-moving cars to cellphones to social customs, we have been evolving ourselves into the western way life very rapidly and hence our thinking has also undergone major changes.

For instance, in earlier days arranged marriages used to dominate but later love marriages started taking a strong hold... and have been ever more in dominance than arranged marriages. After this, another concept has overcome people's minds i.e. LIVE-IN RELATIONSHIPS or staying of a boy and girl together in one apartment without marrying...

Actually no-one, can fully condemn or appreciate it because both the sides have their own justifications..
The people who support it say, that it gives the boy and the girl an appropriate chance to understand each other and work out compatibility between themselves. Since the youth of today is so busy in earning its livelihood and stature that the boy and the girl hardly get adeuquate time to know about each other, otherwise and hence when they stay together, they understand each other much more. This doesn't even restrict their freedom because they are not committed to each other... they are just friends who are staying together and if they feel they're compatible, they go ahead with any marriage plans.

Then there is this other side, which is totally against such an idea and dismisses it considering it as hogwash. They feel that staying of a boy and a girl together is against their culture, religion and values and this only encourages unwanted sexual behaviour amongst the two and when they are not bound or committed by any sacred marriage vows, they tend to be free and hence never learn the meaning of commitment and hence call such an idea as a sin.

Well, as for me, i have mixed ideas as i am unable to support any group with full heart. On the one hand, i feel that live-in relationships are not entirely wrong because it does give a lot of time to couples to understand each other and prevents the mistake of marrying a wrong person and thus marring ur happiness.... Also, it enables the fresh blood to understand the responsibilities that they would have after marriage and hence makes them responsible enough to take all of them on their shoulders slowly and steadily.

But on the other hand, i also think that living with anybody (unknown) can also initiate sexual intentions and if one is not careful, the entire episode can be a big disaster. The boy or the girl should be very careful because here they would be dealing with another individual and hence they have to very careful while choosing their flat-mate. A wrong judgement can be catastrophic. They shouldn't forget their values and customs and should always keep in mind that unless they are also mentally bound in a strong, they should just keep their relationship within limits of friendship alone, i.e. to say they should proceed to the next level only if they think that they know each other very well and won’t find any troubles in staying with each other for the rest of their lives.