Can best buddies walk the aisle?

Do friends make good spouses? They know you in and out, understand you and like you. Some of life’s most cherished moments are spent with a good friend. But can your best buddy also be a good hubby or vice-versa?
Hear fashion designer Ankita Verma who married her childhood friend recently. “Initially, I did not think it was a good idea to marry a friend.We were ‘Tom and Jerry’ kind of buddies. Fighting, screaming and shouting always. But things changed for the better post marriage. Life has become a joy ride, as I am with someone who knows me completely and understands my dreams, wants and desires.”
If you say, that your partner should be your best friend, then why can’t your best friend be your partner, asks businessman Anand Jain. “Friends give you a feeling of comfort. Marriage is big decision, and when you have already known the person for sometime, the process becomes easier. The best part is that we don’t complain about each other’s group of friends, as we hang out with the same group,” he says with a smile.
Agreeing with Jain is Pratik Singh, an industrialist who jokes, “A known devil is any day better than an unknown one.” He adds, “Our families share a special bond. And that’s how we met. Having spent such good time with Nidhi, when my parents asked me if I wanted to get married to her, I was ready to take the plunge.” But it was not the same with his wife Nidhi Singh, who was a little hesitant at first. “We were always the best of buddies, but marriage was never on my mind. So when our parents proposed this, I was uncertain about it. But now, our friendship has evolved to a different level. We are parents to a beautiful girl and I am blessed to have a husband like him.”
So, do things change after marriage? “Getting married to a friend has been the only good decision I have made till date. Having been friends for almost a decade, Bhavana and I shared a very special relationship. Nothing has changed post marriage, expect the physical relationship that we share now,” says Hari Mehta, a businessman.
While many are happy marrying a friend, there are also others do not agree with the idea. “I do not wish to be with a person who knows everything about me. I would rather be with somebody, with whom I can explore and enjoy the phase of discovering the opposite person,” says Sonali Saxena, advertising professional.
Friendship is all about having fun, spending some good time together and being there for each other in time of need, but love and marriage is beyond that, feels relationship counselor Rekha Dalal, “You can be close friends but to be in love, you have to be romantically attached to each other. There needs to be a connection. There is an intimacy factor that comes in. To keep the flame of marriage alive you require more than just friendship.”
We agree.
madhavi.shah@timesgroup.com