We lived together for a year before getting married! #shethepeople

"I never thought I would find love on a dating app until I met Vishnu on Bumble. We were both working remotely from our hometown, Trivandrum. Our first date went so well that we were sure we were going to be friends, at the least. After dating for a couple of months, we both felt like we might have found ‘the one’. In January 2022, I had to relocate to Haldwani for work and Vishnu came along to help me settle in. During his stay, we both realized that living together was vastly different from just dating or being in a relationship. So, we mutually decided to take the leap and live together for some time. We were open about our dating relationship with our families right from the start. However, when we told them about our decision to live together, it was a different story. They were furious. After the initial hesitation and much convincing, they finally understood us; but they still had concerns about how society and extended family would perceive our choice. They were worried about what others would think and how they would react to our unconventional approach, as Live-in relationships are not looked at in a positive light. Despite all this, the journey started with living together in Haldwani, which helped us get to know each other on a deeper level. We learned about each other's likes and dislikes, habits, and how to find a middle ground when it came to even trivial things like meal planning. It also helped us understand our emotional requirements, expectations, and personal space/time needs. Overall, living together before marriage was the best decision we made. It helped us see the real versions of each other without any pretence and it helped us make a well-informed decision about our future together. After living together for a year, we got married, ready to start a new chapter in our lives as lifelong partners." #shethepeople