“Kuch Kuch Nahi Hota: Why Gen Z Isn’t Saying ‘I Do’”

Hi, my people,
Shaadi season is almost here! My calendar towards the end of the year is already filled with weddings, haldi invites, and sangeet dance practice plans. And yet, even with all this love in the air, there’s a whole bunch of youngsters who have a very different take on marriage.

There was a time when marriage was the ultimate adult milestone, you studied, got a job, got married, had kids, in that exact order. But now? The timeline has blurred, twisted, and in some cases, completely disappeared. Today’s bachelors and bachelorettes are rewriting the rules of love, commitment, and partnership.

I was talking to my mother-in-law the other day, yes, we get into these deep conversations sometimes about how much times have changed. The way young adults think about relationships now is completely different. And it’s one of those things where you really can’t decide who’s wrong or right.
But having said that, I truly feel everyone should experience companionship at least once because when it’s with the right one, it’s beautiful.

The conversation got me wondering, why are so many young people running away from marriage?

Probably some of them grew up watching their parents stuck in unhappy relationships, fighting all the time, leaving scars that aren’t visible but did permanant damage… They saw relatives who stayed “for the kids” or because of family pressure. For them, marriage became a symbol of compromise, not comfort. Some went through bad heartbreaks and lost faith in love altogether.
And then there are those who simply don’t see the need for a partner because they’ve realized that “settling down” isn’t the ultimate goal anymore.

They would rather be single than settle and that’s not fear, that’s clarity.

But also i feel technology has made meeting people easier and staying committed harder.
Swipe culture means constant options, and constant options mean constant doubt. When everything feels temporary jobs, trends, even filters permanence can feel… unnatural.

Marriage, for a lot of Gen Z, feels like a potential loss of freedom. They’ve seen how quickly personal dreams can take a backseat in traditional setups. For few, choosing not to marry isn’t rebellion it’s liberation. For those, who dont have any underlying issue attached with marraige or commitment, who truly enjoy thier own company, i think its fine, but for those who are afraid, i really hope they meet someone who will help them take that leap of faith.

Because I can’t help but feel they’re missing out on something which is amazing.Being in love is magic, period. In all the practicality of modern love, we’ve lost the innocence of those old-school moments that “dupatta fas gaya uski watch mein” kind of magic.

Suddenly, being in love is considered cheesy, even borderline cringe. But come on we all still feel a little something when we watch DDLJ. When Simran runs and Raj holds out his hand…. kuch kuch hota hi hai yaar. tum kab samjhoge :p.

Gen Z isn’t wrong they’re thoughtful, aware, and independent. They want love that’s equal and real, not forced and traditional. But maybe, just maybe, in protecting themselves from heartbreak and difficult emotions, they’re missing the soft side of love, the messy, magical, filmy kind.

Because at the end of the day, we all crave the same thing to be seen, understood,loved and to be able to laugh out loud with someone, to feel special. Whether that comes with a ring or without one… that’s up to you.

Gen Z might not want the “7 pheras” or the pressure that comes with them, but deep down, everyone still craves connection. Maybe it’ll look different, two people building a life together without a label, or maybe even choosing to walk alone for a while.
Because at the end of the day, whether you say “I do” or “I don’t,” we’re all just searching for that one person who makes life feel a little less ordinary. So while Gen Z is out there dodging mandaps and saying “commitment issues,” I’ll be over here humming old Bollywood songs, clutching my heart, and rooting for love, in whatever form it chooses to exist.
Because trends will come and go, but the butterflies-in-your-stomach kind of love? That never goes out of style.

pyar hua, iqrar hua…pyar se phir kyu darta hai dil..Kehta hai dil rasta mushkil maalum nahi hai kaha manzil…

Love & Ice creams
Sneha Singhvi