Marriage: Mirage or Sacred Bond

Marriage: Mirage or Sacred Bond?

Marriage has always been celebrated as one of the most profound human commitments, a tapestry woven with threads of love, respect, trust, and companionship. Yet, in the present times, the fabric of this institution appears to be wearing thin. Promises made under the canopy of stars often turn fragile once daylight dawns upon the realities of life. What was once thought of as a lifelong covenant sometimes becomes no more than a short-lived contract.

The Mask Before the Vows

It is often asked: why do people conceal their true selves before marriage? The answer lies partly in human nature and partly in societal conditioning. In the courtship phase, individuals tend to project their best selves—sometimes out of fear of rejection, and sometimes out of a desire to impress. Like actors on a stage, they polish their dialogues, hide their flaws, and exaggerate their virtues. This is not always deliberate deceit, but often the consequence of wanting to be loved without conditions.

Yet when the curtain falls and daily life begins, the masks slip away. The reality of habits, tempers, values, and priorities emerges, and what seemed tolerable before suddenly becomes intolerable. In many cases, truth comes out not as a gentle whisper, but as a jarring confrontation.

The Battles After the Bells

Fights in marriage are not new, but their frequency and bitterness seem to have increased. A clash of egos, the struggle for dominance, and unmet expectations breed resentment. The modern age has only added fuel to this fire. Social media and the alumni networks of the past, once a source of nostalgia, sometimes become distractions—encouraging individuals to seek thrills and companionship outside their present bond. What was once considered loyalty is now easily traded for momentary excitement.

Children, tragically, often become silent spectators in these wars of the heart. Their voices are ignored in the quest for personal freedom or pleasure. A playground should echo with laughter, but too often it resounds with loneliness.

Love as Transaction

The sacredness of marriage, once sealed with trust, is now often entangled in transactions. Money, status, appearances, and possessions silently dictate the terms of togetherness. Respect and affection, once considered the foundation of a household, sometimes take a back seat to financial calculations. When love becomes conditional, it loses its essence.

A Short-Lived Union

It is no surprise, then, that many marriages today are short-lived. What begins with fireworks ends in ashes. The rush for independence, the unwillingness to compromise, and the erosion of patience have made it easier to sever ties than to mend them. Society, too, has shifted its gaze from “till death do us part” to “as long as it feels good.”

Yet amidst this sombre reflection, one must remember that marriages still hold the power to blossom. Where honesty replaces pretense, where respect outweighs ego, and where love is nurtured through small sacrifices, marriage continues to be the most beautiful garden of human existence.

Marriage is not a stage to perform,
But a hearth to shelter from the storm.
Not a mask of glitter, borrowed and bright,
But a lamp of truth that burns through the night.

If love is weighed, it will surely fall,
Respect and trust must anchor it all.
A bond not fragile, nor fleeting in flame,
But a journey of souls that whisper the same.