The Ball Of Wax

Even in 21st century India, people think twice before moving into a live-in relationship in non-metros. Even in a city like Hyderabad, if you decide to live in, getting a good place to stay in a tough ask. People look at you as if you are a highway robber and owners with a closed mind do not rent you out their apartment. Under such conditions, Sumeet and I moved in together into an apartment in Hyderabad. The flat was obtained after a thorough 15-day search around the city of Hyderabad. The flat was merely passable. The owner of the flat told us not to let the neighbors know that we were not married.

Initially, I, who was a girl, had cold feet and was anxious about shaking things up because our relationship was new. When you do not live with a person, you just get to see a part of him. However, when you move in together, it's altogether a different ball of wax. When you start living with the person, you come to know every single detail about the person and you can either get on like a house on fire or be put off. You have to bear the melancholy moments, mood swings and annoying habits. You are trying to talk and he or she is tuned out, staring at the TV, computer or phone.

Then there is the pile of clothing on the floor, ready to be washed. Not eating any vegetable except potato is one of the annoying habits I am used to now. The year I lived with Sumeet changed me. Change is always good. It breathes new life into you. I used to go to zillions of parties, work overtime as I was a workaholic and hang out with friends. But, after we started staying together, I tried finishing my work on time, as I wanted to be with him. He became my best friend and a partner on whom I could throw any responsibility. I could share anything and everything with him without thinking twice.

His friends became my friends; and after office, we loved to spend time together. At times, we just sat on the terrace, in the moonlight for hours on end. I was so content with him that I was fine spending less time with my friends and colleagues and more time with him. I did not regret missing those parties which I frequented before I moved in with him. All this did not really feel like a sacrifice. Waking up beside him and having dinner with him gave me joy. Being a part of his gloom when he had a heavy heart, cheering him up in his dismissals gave me happiness; the moments when we made fun of each other were the small tiny things I found my love in.

He was no longer just a boyfriend. He was slowly turning into more than that. We accepted each other with our flaws: and respected and understood one another. We talked out our worries and sorted them out ourselves. We were like best friends in need; we were like lovers deep in love and equally content in bed; we used to try varied styles and positions to keep the spice up. So it was a perfect blend of friendship, emotion, love, lust and respect. In a live-in relationship, there is always a chance that small fights can turn into big arguments, as it is a human tendency to take for granted and fail to appreciate someone close.

Your friends could start telling you that you've changed; only some real friends will understand you and support you as they are happy to see you becoming mature and taking life seriously. But, between those disagreements, you realize the worth of your beloved. It is important for both of us to make small sacrifices for each other to be happy together. It is equally important to understand each other. In this way, we spent one year together. Those moments of togetherness will always be cherished. Our dream lasted but one year. After that he had to move.

He had to move to Bengaluru for work and all those moments of joy ended. Emptiness surrounded me; and I experienced the same pain that I had dreaded before getting into a live-in. When I came back home after office now, I do not see that smiling face waiting for me. I do not have someone whom I can count on to serve dinner If I am not well or someone just to hug me and be with me when I am low. It was a gorgeous phase that strengthened our relationship and helped me be more patient and understanding.

I just want to tell Sumeet that even if it is in another city shortly I love him to the moon, back and that one-year will always be close to my heart, and whenever I think it in future, it will be a beautiful trip down memory lane. Our BALL OF WAX had broken leaving us wanting more of each other.