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MANGALORE: "I’m 24/M in looking for a live in relationship, plz free to call me 91-889.’’
"I m post graduation student. I m interested in live in relationship. Any girl student from (names of colleges in that area) or other college interested in live in relationship can contact me at...’’ These are some of the web postings under ’Looking for Fun’ in a website specifically from one region. ( Read: Living it up away from home )

Cohabitation or live-in relationships, a common phenomenon among working professionals in metros, has crept into Dakshina Kannada district, among students of mostly professional courses. About six years back there were a few cases. At present it has become so common that people have accepted it as a part of life, unless it involves their own child.Anita, a lecturer, said: "When I first came here, I was shocked. Now, it’s too common. It is common among the faculty too."

The students too shrug it off. Rashmi, a medical student, says: "We don’t bother about who goes out with who. It’s their life. Anyway it’s not illegal.’’ The reasons for the relationship range from exercising their new-found freedom, to combat loneliness and from the mundane ’to just have fun’.

The trend starts in the second year, with the first year of education devoted to getting to know the person. "When they really know well, they move out of the hostel or one of them rents a house to avoid publicizing the relationship,’’ says Seema.

While majority of these relationships end in break-ups or both mutually go separate ways, some do get married after they find compatibility. But such cases are rare. "Some girls know the consequences when they enter the relationship and end it after they finish their education. Many are broken in 6-7 months. There are girls, whom I have seen, who got emotionally attached and they end up depressed,’’ says Seema.
(Names have been changed to protect identities)