Happily Never After

Heart – the most powerful organ in the human body; the centre of our existence also happens to be the most fragile; prone to getting broken, shattered into smithereens when the one you love also happens to be the one that hurts you the most. What do you do in such scenarios? What do you do when you know you’re in a relationship that makes you feel stifled, remorseful and despondent? Many moons ago, people would stay stuck in the rut pretending all is well due to various reasons but not anymore. With changing social mores, independent personalities and freedom of choice, many youngsters and some not-so-young couples are breaking the vows. The year gone by is a testimony to the fact. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that 2016 has been a year of break ups, some acrimonious and some dignified, some expected and some completely shocking... Does the concept of `Happily Ever After’ exist anymore? RITZ takes a look at what’s going on in the ubiquitous splitsville around the globe.

- Vanaja Banagiri

It’s so strange that couples who stay committed to a relationship for eons, setting an example and sometimes a trend, decide to go their separate ways once they seal it with holy matrimony! Mary Jane "Mae" West, American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades, nailed it when she said, “Marriage is a fine institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.” Hmmm... Institution? Is that what it is? Looks like the answer is yes! How else would you explain what happened to the world’s most popular Hollywood icons Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, hailed as a super couple who started the trend of portmanteaus,theirs being Brangelina? Obviously, morphing two names into one didn’t ensure merging of two lives. In fact, nothing seems to guarantee a lifetime of togetherness. George Clooney, the couple’s good friend was just as shocked as the rest of us by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's split. His reaction pretty much sums up what we all felt. "That's a sad story and unfortunate for a family. It's an unfortunate story about a family. I feel very sorry to hear that." Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder went to the extent of saying, "If Brangelina can't make it, is there really any purpose or meaning of life?" It does feel that way because their romance lasted 12 years converting every naysayer into a believer but their marriage went kaput in a mere two years and had the entire world mourn at the demise of their faith that this one would last a lifetime! Alas, that was not to be. In the month of September this year, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences! Really? Didn’t those `differences’ rear their ugly heads during their relationship prior to marriage in which they reared a large brood? Several other Hollywood marriages didn’t survive the test of time this year.