It's not always romance that leads a couple to move in together. In a city like Mumbai, practical matters have a hand in it too!

How many times have you heard your best friend talk about her plans to move in with her boyfriend? And the reasons could be anything but romantic. Says Anatara Sengupta a 27-year-old lawyer from Wadala, "My friend shifted in with her boyfriend a month back. She wanted to adopt a pet and realised that it would be great if she moved in with her guy as they could then take turns to look after the dog. Since her guy works at a call centre, he would be able to look after the dog in the morning when she is at work. The arrangement is actually working for them."

Moving in with your partner seems to be the best arrangement possible. Inspite of the nudge-nudge reactions from neighbours and friends, staying together has its own advantages. You get to spend quality time together, talk for hours endlessly, simply watch a movie or do things that you probably couldn't have, had you been staying apart.

Says Sadhana Patil, an advocate and a marriage counsellor, "A lot of people believe that moving in together always end in misgivings. However, it is a very practical decision. More than testing of love for each other, the couple can actually prove their viability for each other. Staying together does not just help them bond better, but also helps them become more productive at work and manage finances for future."

Let's divide the rent and the bills, honey!

Says 28-year-old corporate employee Aritro Roychowdhury recently moved in with his girlfriend of three years, "My girlfriend was already working in Mumbai when I shifted here from Shillong about five years back. Initially I rented my own apartment and was paying `10,000 but the amount kept increasing and reached `17,000. It's impossible for me to pay the rent plus additional bills of about ` 5000 every month. My girlfriend suggested that I move in with her, so that we could split the bills and the rent. Now, my expenses for the month are only `13,000."

Says clinical psychologist Seema Hingorrany, "With the steep rise of rent in the city, many couples choose to live together so that they can avoid spending a lot of money paying bills and rent. It is also a viable option to stay together, since you not only save money, but also get to spend quality time with each other."

Pet-ventures

Another reason for partners to move in together is that if you have a pet at home, you can easily take care of it. Says Hingorrany, "Having a pet at home is not easy, especially if you are staying on your own. Besides taking care of it, there are other things, like, taking it out for a walk, giving it a bath and also buying food for it. Dogs, especially, need to be fed properly and the food available for them is not cheap. Thus, moving in with your partner is a viable option as the cost splits between the two."

Hitch a ride to work

Often you come to realise that your partner stays comparatively closer to your workplace than you. Or maybe he/she has a car and can always drop you at work and pick you up as well, instead of you having to go through the daily grind of travelling in local trains. Says Aayushi Singh, a 32-year-old PR professional who stays in Parel, "My boyfriend works at Byculla, while I work at Nariman Point. From the time he has shifted in with me, we drive to and fro from work. At times, we also head out straight for dinner after work because both of us don't feel like cooking in the evening."

Emotional support

Staying alone in a city like Mumbai is definitely challenging. Moreover, the hectic work schedules that most of us have can be blamed for coming home late every day. Hence, it is always nice to have someone share an apartment, as it guarantees security.

Takes two to tango

With partners living together, you seldom need to wait for friends to start the party. Shailaja Verma, 29-year-old advertising professional says, "Just the two of you can enjoy conversations over coffee, catch up on movies, or simply be around each other. Coming home to someone and sharing your worries is a great stressbuster for Mumbaikars. More than love, it is companionship that will force you to move in together."

Sharing household chores

It's irritating to come back home and see the sheets lying in the same way you left them in the morning, the crockery to be kept after a house party and most of all, to cook. You have skipped dinner so many times since you didn't feel like cooking or were simply bored of calling in for food. However, with your partner for company, you know you don't have to do everything alone; you can divide the tasks among each other so that things are done systematically. It's also fun to come home and cook a simple meal together. In fact, your partner will also lend a hand to complete your presentation for a meeting.

BDST: 1249 HRS, JUNE-09, 2014