What the experts say

"Though couples realise the institution of marriage is inherently flawed, not many view live-ins as an alternative. There is always of fear ostracism, resulting in an inability to break away from norms," says Arpita Anand, a psychologist based in Delhi.

Arpita works with couples in troubled relationships as well as with those facing marital problems.

Is the emotional trauma more in a marriage or in a live-in?

"Due to the legal and social implications involved, a divorce is much more traumatic than the break up in a live-in," Arpita says.

Are there any negative points associated with living-in?

"At some point in time, one of the partners could start expecting more out of the relationship than the other, and that can mark the beginning of problems. This expectation could be in terms of time spent together, being involved with the other person's family, etc," says psychologist Samindara Sawant.

Problems could also arise with regard to children, which can prove to be a complicated decision for the couple. Sometimes, only one partner wants to have a child. In other cases, both partners may be willing, but the issue could be whether to marry or have a child out of wedlock.

Other problems can arise due to finances, sharing of household chores, dealing with society, and so forth. Of course, these could arise in a marriage too, but the problems are compounded in a live-in relationship.

Here are Samindara's tips for those of you who plan to take the plunge:

~ Be very sure about your decision, as you are likely to face a lot of social pressure.

~ Set your priorities straight, such as career, family, etc, because when you live together mundane things could make the relationship rocky. For instance, if you are a career woman, make sure you are not expected to do all the household chores, or else this could be a point of contention.

~ Be vocal about your expectations from each other and from the relationship.