Participants:
Sandeep Poudyal, Single
Daxika Bhandari, Single
Vinayak Tamang, Committed in a long distance relationship
Nivesh Thapa, Single
Nigma Gurung (name changed), Committed in a same sex relationship
Why love?
Sandeep: Sharing everything with your friends isn't always possible, you need a significant other.
Daxika: You need someone to be with you, it's important.
Nivesh: Love's useless, it's a distraction and a waste of time.
Nigma: It's great to love someone and be loved equally in return.
 ALL IMAGES: ANUP PRAKSH Nivesh |
Reasons to stay single:
Vinayak: For the freedom; you can flirt around and party, without feeling guilty.
Nivesh: You can focus more on what essentially matters in life.
What's the perfect dating spot?
Daxika: Chobhar is beautiful, especially for watching sunset.
Nigma: Finding a perfect place in Kathmandu is rather difficult; it's got to be your own room.
Sandeep: Phone is good enough for me.
Vinayak: Actually every place is perfect when you're with your love, but my bedroom is just right for some cuddling.
Public display of affection, you views:
Sandeep: If you have it, flaunt it.
Vinayak: As long as you have your clothes on, it doesn't matter. But you need be careful about where you do it. Once, my girlfriend and I were making out, in an alley near her house, and an old man threw a bucket of water over us.
Nigma: I'd say try getting a room if you can, if not, go ahead and enjoy.
Facebook mushiness, genuine romance or hogging attention?
Nivesh: Personally I feel people use it to make others jealous. You show you're 'In a relationship' and write about your love life in status updates.
Daxika: Showing off, definitely. It's an attempt to seek attention from each and every person.
Vinayak: Well, it's to show others how much you love your girlfriend. And one good way to woo her back in case you've enraged her.
 Sandeep |
How important is virginity?
Sandeep: You've got to be in equal terms; if you're a virgin, she's got to be one too and if you're not, she's also not supposed to.
Daxika, Nivesh: Pretty important.
Vinayak: Virginity is not as important for guys as it is for girls, there's no pain - nothing; we don't have to lose it with a special person.
What is your first reaction when you see a gay couple?
Daxika: It's perfectly fine, it's their wish.
Nigma: It's overwhelming to
see another person dare to come out of the closet.
Does love come with a price tag?
Nivesh: It depends on who you're dating. But you spend mainly on recharge cards.
Nigma: Yes, pretty much. But it's not like when you're single you tend to save. It's just that you spend more on each other when you're in a relationship.
Sandeep: Certainly. When I'm with a girl, it'll be awkward if she pays, so yes, it will be heavy on my pockets.
Do you believe there will, ultimately, be a true love?
Nigma: I don't know about true love but looking at me, people should know that love can happen between any two people and in any form.
Sandeep: There is true love but you write your own story.
Nivesh: Yes, it will happen once, be it before marriage or after marriage.
 Daxika |
How painful are breakups?
Nigma: Breakups have always been painful for me.
Vinayak: Breakups can sometimes be painful, receiving it or even while initiating it. But mutual breakups are the best, lesser commotion and easier to move on.
Nivesh: No, they aren't that painful, in any case, there are many fish in the sea.
How do your parents react to your affairs?
Daxika: It's best if you inform them beforehand, then you can be more comfortable and enjoy more.
Nigma: I don't share my love life with my parents.
Sandeep: No I don't tell my parents. They will not understand; it was love after marriage for them, and it's the opposite for us. So i'd rather stick to their impression that I am a 'decent' guy.
Vinayak: My parents, fortunately, are more than liberal. In fact when my girlfriend is around, she comes to meet my parents.
Girl and boy best friends?
Daxika: I prefer guy-girl best friends than the same sex best friends.
Sandeep: When a girl comes in our school (only boys), it's as good as seeing a star in stark daylight; you will obviously have more than friendly feelings for her.
How about age gaps in relationships?
Nigma: My girlfriend is four years elder than me but it just doesn't occur to us. As long as the couple is fine with it, it doesn't matter.
Vinayak: After a certain age you would have matured, so the age gaps don't matter. I know an eighty year old man who married a thirty year old woman and they are perfectly fine.
Sandeep: Definitely not, it's like marrying your little sister!
Nivesh: They younger one will seek more attention and more love, it's just unequal.
 Vinayak |
And long distance relationships?
Daxika: If your love is true, it will work, no matter what.
Nigma: Tough, but works!
Vinayak: Keeping a long distance relationship requires a lot of hard work, but it does have the potential to work.
One way to freak out and to impress the opposite sex?
Daxika: Girls are supposed to be all neat and proper, so I think dirtiness can freak a guy out. And to impress, just be yourself, he'll like you for who you are.
Vinayak: Scratch your crotch! And impressing her almost entirely depends on how you talk with her. If she's the bubbly type, transform yourself into the bubbly character and if she's the introvert type, change into an introvert. Not complete pretension, but just connecting on what both of you have common.
