Breaking the mould for love knows no bounds

Priyanka Chopra, 36, marries Nick Jonas, 26. At 37, Meghan Markle, a divorcee, takes a second chance to marry Prince Harry, 34. Sushmita Sen is reportedly in a relationship with Rohman Shawl, who is younger to her by 15 years. Times and tide are changing. Spontaneity, free will and bold choices are breaking the mould of convention and tradition that govern our psyche. These women have written the emerging new reality across the sky in bold letters with dare and determination.

Since time immemorial, older men have been linked up with much younger women. Milind Soman, 53, who married Ankita Konwar, 26, arouses curiosity but not censure. But this is not the case with older women getting married to younger men. The world has been unkind to such women. Initially derogatory when coined in the ’60s, the term cougar was later redefined in the US by feminists as women symbolising power.

Yet Priyanka and Nick have been trolled. Their age difference became an obsession for many. However progressive we may have become yet on certain issues our approach is regressive. What made headlines was their age difference. She the winner of Miss World 2000, an icon of glitter and glamour of Bollywood, and Nick with a whiff of youth, flamboyance and flair whose aura and audacity won the hearts of millions of girls.

Relationship norms are gradually becoming soft with issues pertaining to caste, religion and economic status yet women are expected to bottle up their sexuality, energy, slow down the enthusiasm and act their age. Couples bridging the age gap are a welcome shift as love knows no bounds. These new women have heralded freedom from oppressive restrictions, deconstructing gender roles and being celebs has aided this acceptance.

Will these relationships stand the test of time? It is every woman’s dream to become a man’s grand passion and be the object of his compliments. Similarly, a man too dreams of being a Prince Charming and feels powerful when loved exclusively by her. Once that is achieved what next? No one can answer. Will the relationship thrive once Priyanka’s lustrous looks get affected earlier than Nick as she hits age. Life for women becomes difficult after crossing the threshold of the 50s. But then the more harmony invested in a relationship, the richer the dividends.

Moreover, younger men these days don’t adhere to norms and mores. They are flexible, adjusting and ready to embrace the new age woman’s sexuality and strengths. Irrespective of the age gap, in marriage one has to constantly create interdependence and companionship, love and loyalty, liveliness and laughter that is what keeps you relevant and vital for each other.

Every couple hits a rough patch in life. At that time, they need to recall what brought them together in the first place and reignite the right emotion with electrifying energy. Age is just a number, absolutely immaterial to make or break a relationship. Irrespective of the age gap, romance always demands the willing suspension of disbelief.

Kudos to the women who broke the mould, set upon them since the beginning of civilisation, stood up for what they wished to be, did what they felt right, for in them lies the salvation of future feminine power.

THESE WOMEN HAVE WRITTEN THE EMERGING NEW REALITY ACROSS THE SKY IN BOLD LETTERS WITH DARE AND DETERMINATION