These are unusual times, and much like the rest of the world, weâve never witnessed anything like this before. Upon scrutiny, the empty roads and clear skies give way to a different reality, and raise pertinent questions besides Indiaâs immediate health and economic concerns amid the nationwide lockdown.

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Relationships have metamorphosed in plain sight. Lovers who went on dates often, havenât met in a long time, and those who hardly got to see each other are now locked down under the same room. So what more has the lockdown done besides digitising romance and threatening peopleâs personal space?

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We got in touch with different couples spanning demographics to find out how they are working their way around the restrictions to balance their individuality and keep the romance alive under lockdown.

It took Garima and Ritesh almost 10 years of being âacquaintancesâ before finding their way to each other. The two had been âfriendsâ on social media since 2010 but never had a proper conversation until their share of messy breakups led to some much needed decluttering, and eventually made space for new associations. What started off with an innocent DM, quickly turned into an engagement in three monthsâ time, and within the next seven months, they were declared man and wife.

© MensXP Garima Chaklader Pandey

Itâs been a little over a month of being married and Garima confesses to loving this âupgrade to the relationship,â and Ritesh agrees too that, âMarriage has only strengthened what we already shared.â Currently, these two are loving this extended honeymoon period due to the lockdown. Garima admits that âIt would have been torturous without him in this situationâ and Ritesh is quick to confirm that âthings are tough since the lockdown. Our mental health and daily lives have taken a strong hit. I am happy that she is around and I am able to share everything with her at a time like this.â

© MensXP Garima Chaklader Pandey

When asked if the lockdown has affected their equation in any way, Garima says, âThat's the thing with Ritesh, he knows when to leave you alone! I honestly think I have a much harder time giving him the space he needs. I got to work on it.â Ritesh, on the other hand, is quick to point out that unlike others who claim to be bickering a lot more with their partners amid the lockdown, âThe frequency of our fights has actually been the same. The lockdown has had an insignificant statistical impact on our relationship!â

As for keeping the romance alive while they keep their individuality intact, Garima says thatâs a department her romantic husband takes care of much better. So Ritesh spills his secret formula, âWell, romance, you know, there is netflix, so chill!â *wink wink*

© MensXP Diya Elizabeth

Chirag and Diya like to call theirs an âarranged love marriageâ and though they may have been set up by their parents initially, fate had other plans in store. Diya wasn't ready to get married, but decided to meet Chirag for her familyâs sake. It took her a couple of more meetings to realise that she had fallen hard and fast for this charming man who constantly made her laugh. A short courtship later, they exchanged vows and became Mr & Mrs.

But here is the catch. Soon after their wedding, they turned into a long distance couple when Diya had to relocate to Karnataka for her job. Thus began their days of staying apart for months before they could meet again. Diya shares, âOn a regular day, weâre too busy. Our schedules donât exactly match, so we have to consciously make time to talk. We simply hate the woes that distance adds to the mix.â

© MensXP Diya Elizabeth

Talk about lockdown and their happiness is almost palpable. âThe lockdown has done us good. She managed to get home just in time. Being away for so long, weâd missed each other a lot.â Diya happily confesses, âSpending the lockdown together is keeping us happy as well as sane! We probably wouldnât have taken this lockdown well if we werenât together. The worry, the yearning, itâs too hard to even imagine.â

The lockdown has come as a blessing for these two after having stayed apart for months. But Chirag and Diya also make sure they âgive each other space and donât cling too much. We do our own thing but also ensure weâre doing a few things together as well, be it cooking or playing games.â Diya makes a quick note and adds, âItâs been 2 weeks since I returned home, and we havenât wanted to kill each other yet. So, itâs all good.â

© MensXP Joy

Joy and Sherryâs love story could have been yet another quirky, office romance for the books, but that was not to be. They were coworkers at the same company in Bangalore and despite the many stolen glances over time, never spoke to each other until a month before Joy was to leave the company.

Once out, they decided to hang out and ended up exchanging numbers. One thing led to another until the two of them not only got into a relationship, but also found themselves moving-in together. Joy and Sherry have been together for a year now and claim that on most days âit still feels like an adventure. Kabhi bhi kuch bhi hota hai.â

© MensXP Joy

However, these two are especially stoked about the lockdown and Joy is quick to chip in why. âFor us, itâs been a year of working in shifts with even our weekly offs clashing. So, this lockdown situation has actually worked in our favour. For the first time since we started dating, we are finally getting to spend so much time together.â

But when asked if the lockdown has had any severe impact on their equation over the last two weeks, Sherry confirms, âWe do have fights, but then again thatâs just our frustration of sitting at home. Otherwise, we donât think we have any complaints.â

They admit that balancing their individuality and romance amid the enforced lockdown has not been an issue at all. âWe give each other enough freedom to do the things we personally like, and though not every day is the same, we do manage to work things out amicably most days.â

© MensXP Needhi Dhoker

Needhi and Akshay were set up by their mutual friends and hit it right off after their first meeting at a cafe. That was five years ago, and today these two admit to have had âone hell of a journeyâ together. Interestingly, one may call Needhi and Akshay the âaccidentallyâ locked-down couple, and here is why.

Needhi happened to be visiting Akshayâs family when she was caught in the lockdown with no way of getting back to her place as planned. Itâs now been 20 days since the two have been living together with Akshayâs family, and Needhi admits to actually liking this little âsneak peek into the future.â

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These two share a pretty easy-going relationship, love spending time together, while respecting one anotherâs need for space. However, when asked how the lockdown has impacted their relationship, they come up with a ânothing has changedâ in unison. Needhi shares that this has rather been a lucky turn of events, âWeâre actually getting to spend more time together. Between working from home and managing the house, we also make time for each other. Thatâs something we didnât get to do before since we live pretty far.â

Akshay agrees and adds âwe have been able to tolerate each other so far. We both spend quality time together but also know when to leave each other alone. Between our daily schedule we ensure that we have dinner together and have hearty chats with ample flirting added to the mix. Itâs been a great few days.â

The lockdown has actually worked to Needhi and Akshayâs benefit because not only has it allowed them to spend more quality time together, but also helped them grow closer.

© MensXP Sarah Malik

A product of the classic Indian âarrangedâ match-making, Dr Sarah and Dr Tariqâs story ought to begin in their courtship period, post their engagement. Theirs wasnât the usual exchange of texts and lovey emoticons. Instead Tariq and Sarah bonded over email exchanges sharing their dreams, hopes and insecurities. When the day of the wedding came, it was like two friends formalising a life-long friendship, so love wasnât far behind.

What followed was four years of an adventurous ride, and just over a month ago Sarah and Tariq welcomed their baby girl into this world. But as luck would have it, before Tariq could take Sarah and their baby home, the lockdown was announced. Now, while Sarah spends the lockdown away in her maternal home, duty calls Dr Tariq to the pandemic-fighting frontlines.

© MensXP Sarah Malik

The two of them have hardly met since, and thatâs been a difficult transition for the new parents. But Tariq fondly says, âWe canât meet each other quite as often as weâd like. But this enforced distance has made us grow more fond of each other and we make the best use of whatever time we do get to spend together.â 

However, Tariq credits their âYin-Yang-like equationâ for having survived the last two weeks without major hiccups. Sarah agrees, âEveryone believes our relationship is special, I am no different. I try my best to instill some planning and seriousness in his easy-going attitude and he helps calm my nerves when I get too paranoid about trivial issues. So, at the end of the day, things balance out pretty well.â

© MensXP Sarah Malik

Recalling the initial period of the lockdown Sarah says, âthe sudden lockdown came with its set of uncertainties. We have to be extra careful because our daughter is only six-weeks-old. I do miss him not being around with us and also fear about his well-being amid the virus outbreak. But, I see it all improving in the weeks to come. Letâs hope for the best.â

But until then, both Sarah and Tariq are relying on technology to stay connected and keep the romance going. âTogether or apart, itâs this feeling that someone is there for you no matter what, keeps the romance alive. Also, in this era of technology, with video calls and WhatsApp, one can always stay connected and in touch.â

Five couples, five distinct stories. Yet, all this lockdown seems to have done in most of their cases is to give these couples a chance to move away from their circumscribed, fast paced lives and reconnect at a more deeper, personal level.

Thereâs healing here, while for others itâs been nothing short of a discovery. As endless conversations make way for quiet understanding, leaving behind plain old love and clarity in its wake, perhaps itâs time for all of us to pause and really look at all those personal relationships which make our lives worthwhile. And if thereâs only one thing we can take away from all this, it ought to be that life is transient, and so are the people who make it, and we must make the most of what we have while it all lasts.

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