Close, no matter how far

Can long distance relationships really work? This is one question that often comes to the minds of couples who, due to circumstances, are forced to live in different cities or even different countries. We asked some such couples on their secret mantra for keeping their love life alive.

Megha Kapoor, 24, who’s pursuing a PhD from Delhi University, and her boyfriend have been going steady for six years. The last two years have been spent apart, however, as her boyfriend is working in Singapore. “It can get really frustrating at times when you are not able to meet him everyday, but then I have accepted this and we make full use of facilities like webcams, chats and Skype to ensure that we are always in touch with each other,” she says.

Simar Singh, 22, a software engineer, went to the US to pursue higher studies last year. His girlfriend Suparna lives in Delhi. “Our love is strong enough to keep us close, whatever the distance,” says Singh. Some couples actually enjoy being in long distance relationships, as it gives them time to have a healthy social life.

Neha Dubey, who works in an ad agency, plans to marry her boyfriend of four years eventually, but says that his absence from the city makes it easier for her to socialise with friends. “What generally happens is that you end being with your boyfriend most of the time and then start losing out on friends. This way, he is there with me, but I also socialise a lot as I don’t have a possessive boyfriend always around me,” she says. “Just as a tip, remember to keep him informed about your friends and places you are going to, to make him feel secure. This will keep your relationship alive.”

But maintaining a long distance relationship involves a lot of trust, else things can get really messy. Arundhati Chakraborty, who works with a Delhi-based NGO, broke up with her boyfriend after he moved to Bangalore.
“I just couldn’t take it. Whenever he was out, I would get suspicious that he’s with some other girl. I’d fight over everything. We decided to part ways,” she says. “Now I think I should’ve trusted him more.”