Would you like to try this particular cocktail of love?

~Ingredients

2 open-minded individuals of the opposite sex (not necessarily)
1 cup much valued 'convenience'
1 cup 'never-say-die' love
2 oz individual space

~Method

Get hold of an apartment.
Place the individuals in it.
Mix the ingredients well.
Simmer gently 24 x 7.
Minus the paperwork.

Your deadly live-in concoction is ready!

This, in a nutshell, is also the story of Salaam Namaste, the Preity Zinta-Saif Ali Khan starrer that hit screens a couple of weeks ago.

Nick is a creative, passionate, carefree chef. Ambar is a strong-willed radio jockey-cum-medical student. They meet. The chemistry's instant, leading them to wonder: Could this be true love? They decide to find out, by moving in together sans paperwork (read marriage).

While the Nick-Ambar story takes place in Australia, let's find out how live-ins work in real life, here in India.

Text: Blossom Menezes
Images: Dominic Xavier

With inputs from Merril Diniz