February EDITION

No pressure, singles!

In India being single is almost taboo. Reach the age of 18 or, at the most 20, and families are already planning the Big Fat Indian Wedding for their kids. For those from liberal families, you have another 4 to 5 years before the pressure builds up. But, the big debate continues. While many modern-day men and women want to settle down in their careers and lives before finding a partner, the old school advocates the idea of early marriage. The earlier you marry, the easier it is to make compromises, to adjust and settle down – or so they believe.

While the old and new schools continue their debate, the country has seen a slow growth of youngsters procrastinating or completely forgoing marriage in the name of being modern. They do not want to surrender to a life of domestic drudgery. And this change has become easier than ever before. Now, several businesses cater specifically to singles. From super fun dating apps (I am personally envious about this one, I never got to swipe right), to a singles night out, solo dinner experiences to even holidays and travel tours for singles, being single has never felt so good or right before.

It’s completely okay to be single, but I believe one must be single for the right reasons. Don’t choose to remain single to prove a point to anyone, be it the annoying aunt who is constantly pestering you and your family about finding you a bride/groom before you get too old, or before all the good ones are married away.

Yes, you may be financially independent, but marriage isn’t always about financial dependence. It is also about building emotional dependence. Again, a lot of people are worried about losing their identities. You may think of entering a relationship as a sacrifice, believing you’d be losing your sense of independence and freedom. In a good relationship,worlds grow, not shrink. But if you have chosen the path of singlehood, then make sure it’s based on a strong foundation of self-worth and personal development.

Every February, the pressure grows on everyone – singles and couples alike. For the singles, we have great interviews by experts on embracing singlehood the right way. For those in love, do read up on our romantic picks and choices. Gracing the cover we have actress Mrunal Thakur, who is currently the envy of every actress in Bollywood. From her choice of roles to her working relationships, she is currently the reigning queen of the silver screen.

With yet another content-packed issue, we wish all the readers a love-filled month and like I said earlier: Singles, no pressure, please!