QUESTION:  I am Priya, a 25 year old woman. I have been in a ‘live in’ relationship for the past 2 years. I’ve concealed the relationship from my parents and relatives. Of late, my parents have been putting pressure on me to get married. They are very willing to take into account my preferences in selecting my spouse. I want to get married to my live-in partner but he is showing no willingness to enter into a commitment. How can I deal with the guilt of betraying my parent’s trust? Can I consider getting into a marriage with another person? Will I not be deceiving him, if I do so?

COUNSELOR: Priya, I can understand your dilemma especially given the situation that your live-in partner is not willing to enter into a marriage commitment. For many young adults an intimate relationship is a means of testing out the grounds for marriage for a longer term commitment. I’m not certain if you and your partner discussed any terms when you had entered into a live-in relationship, which would have given me a better insight into your partner’s non-committal attitude.