In the last few weeks, in this space, we discovered many shades of marriage like different chapters in a book. From psychologists and counsellors acting mediators between conflicting spouses, the art of balancing careers and families, to exploring contractual agreements before tying the knot; we travelled along the crests and troughs of a couple's conjugal life. This time we thought of that special companion who wakes you up every morning, nudges you with his snout to take him for a walk, sit by you at the breakfast table, wait longingly at the door when you leave for office and wag its tail

Marriage is often seen as fix-all - dreamy singles think it will make them happy, restless men and women think it will make them feel complete. We take apart the five most popular cons that mar marriage. I won't be lonely Being lonely or having company has nothing to do with getting married. Many loners remain so even after marriage. A long-suffering woman shared her woes, she said that though she was married, she was always lonely. "I never felt that we shared anything. When I spoke, he heard but never listened. On holidays, I never felt that we were together." Those who are lonely and feel

Women are more attracted to social networking websites than men, who prefer visiting entertainment, betting, games and music sites, a new study has revealed. The study conducted by psychologists at the University of Bath looked at the differences between what the genders enjoyed doing online. It revealed that women are more attracted to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and are also more likely to make travel reservations online too. The study, which included the web activities of nearly 500 first year undergraduate students from six universities, showed that men prefer

If you find the idea of one night stands appealing, then this is the perfect read for you. Unaware of the risks of casual rampant sex, you might fall prey to endless risks and sexually transmitted diseases. From safe sex to STD screenings and your current partner's sexual history, today we're telling you why one night stands are not such a great idea. Here are 5 major risks of one night stands - 5 risks that every adult must be weary of. And do your friends a favour - share this must-read list with them too! Depression is linked to one night stands. Other than sexually transmitted disea

Couples in Kerala want their weddings to be something which will stay on everyone's minds, and nothing is too expensive, when it comes to the celebrations. Tulips imported from Bangkok, crystal glassware, matching decor and trousseau, sky lanterns... right from invites to take-away gifts, couples in Kerala, or rather their families, are leaving no stone unturned to make their wedding an out-of-the-world affair. Let's take a peek into what's in this season... Innovative invites The current trend is to have a little box instead of the usual card, says Pavithra Menon, a wedding planner. The wo

Men and chivalry come together but guess with women talking a lot of economic independence, it's making them forget their basic etiquettes. This is not some male bashing exercise nor is it a feminist piece but the days of men showing basic manners with women are all over! A male colleague shares an ice-cream with a female colleague and since the ice-cream is Rs.65, it is assumed that the money will be shared between the two. For Rs.35, the male colleague reminds his woman colleague twice when she is going to repay the money! Yes, this is a real case scenario between colleagues. Even if the m

Fart and burp in front of your beau to have a better relationship It was recently reported how singer Cheryl Cole was accused of breaking wind as people think she's too famous to hold it inside. Cole was quoted saying, "I know they're thinking, 'Cheryl Cole thinks it's OK to fart on a plane as she's special,' and it's so not true." Though Cole was accused by public, it is often noticed that couples feel hesitant to fart or for that matter burp, in front of each other. It may be one of the most embarrassing moments for you but it is very important to be able to "free" oneself in front of the

Both men and women who enjoy a pint are 60 per cent more likely to sleep with someone early in a relationship, statistics show. According to Christian Rudder, a Harvard graduate who set up dating website OKCupid, this applies to both gay and straight people. After analysing the profiles and interactions of hundreds of millions of users, Rudder found that beer-drinking was the most useful indicator of whether people are likely to have casual sex, the Daily Mail reported. Only the "beer test" works to predict a woman's possible interest in casual sex, according to the OKCupid data, but the s

Happily Ever Afters aren't perfect but they aren't impossible either. Our experts help you navigate some common matrimonial landmines Universally, all marriages have their spells of good and bad and more often than not, share the same kinks in the chain. Be it pesky in-laws or intolerable cleanliness issues, living with someone day in and day out can have its moments of insanity. The trick is to not let them get the better of the relationship. Marriage counsellor Sonali Raisingh and clinical psychologist Ranjan Shah list the most common problems marriages face and how to deal with them. Pare

There was a sweet silence in the house. Kids were away for a vacation and the domestic help was out of sight. I was busy arranging the champagne glasses to celebrate the romantic evening, my wife surfed TV channels in the meanwhile. The moment of 'cheers' was not far away when she shrieked "Arvind, do you remember how much we loved this TV show?" Anurag was the new husband she had married after she divorced Arvind years back. This inadvertent forgetfulness left the rest of the evening hostage to an awkward silence. Second marriages in India are ridden with complexities hard to rationalise