Living together!

Don't be surprised if you heard that this seemingly a western practice is not alien to India, that too in what is touted as 'the' traditional Chennai! My wife and I came to know of a couple who are living together. They have a five year old child from this relationship.

Neither me nor my wife thought ill of this relationship. In fact, this is only a problem of the middle income class, the torch bearer of countless traditions. They try to live their lives in whatever time that is left between these traditions. What a life? Anyways, neither the supper rich nor the lower income class care about these traditions. They have their money and day-to-day life to chase for, respectively!

We were only wondering what would happen to the child's future in the Indian setup. In India you cannot declare someone as your partner without a formal ritual. A ' life partner' is not a legal relationship! At least, you must have registered your marriage.

We were wondering what challenge one might face. Be it the legalities involved in the dependency, inheritance, guardianship, traveling abroad for fun or education; as we discussed more, what appeared or we thought as a problem, is not really a problem. At least, all these problems can be solved with proper documentation of legal nature.

It so appeared that except for the social stigma attached to this relationship, there are no other problems. Or are they?

Skewed – won’t get queued

Why is that, we, as a nation, hate queues and the token systems. Be it Saravana Bhavan or a cinema theatre, uh-hem! we won’t queue up, unless and otherwise some ruffian stands by with a stick in his hand and foul language in his mouth! We then get disgusted and queue up immediately!

However I must agree that this is one place where caste, gender, social hierarchies, political-leanings are forgotten. We rub and elbow each other, smell and get saturated with each other's sweat. Why?

The Doctors' clinics are no different. Our paediatrician does not have a number display, like hundreds of his brethren. Whenever we are there, someone or the other will say that their kid is really ill and they must be allowed to go first as if the rest of us usually go to our paediatrician for a dancing lesson! Today, one lady was pestering the attendant to let her go first , when he mentioned that others too are waiting for long with their small babies (some of them crying non-stop), she behaved as if she’s been unfairly denied her chance.

Why do we do that? Why we are so skewed and won’t get queued?