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Even as social media continues to be flooded with loveinthetimeofcorona posts a recent survey by extramarital dating app Gleeden which recorded a 70 per cent increase in subscriptions in India in the past couple of weeks raises the question is love enough to get us through this time The survey found that both men and women who are working are more likely to cheat in this phase Around 563 per cent of the users from Mumbai were working professionals mdash third highest after Chennai and Pune In order to continue with their extrovertedoutgoing nature people are moving onto online dating apps to shoo away boredom especially in this time of social lockdown it statedWhat does the lockdown mean for married couples especially working professionals who are suddenly spending much more time togetherTogether but apartWith or without the Internet adultery hasnt been limited to a crisis It stems from various factors ranging from unmet needs to lack of compatibility and respect These could be exacerbated in a time like this admits Jenisha Shah clinical psychologist and therapeutic movement facilitator at Mpower The Centre Mumbai Theres no denying the fact that the crisis we are in has uprooted our lifestyle Although it may seem like spouses have more time together being in each others presence may not necessarily lead to bonding Couples are overwhelmed with changes mdash in work routines the partners 247 presence family expectations etc As there are limited ways to recharge oneself it can lead to temptations of infidelity suggests Shah who is also a marriage counsellor Nikhila Deshpande a relationship counsellor has also noticed a mismatch in the levels of expectations among couples she has been speaking to Couples in urban households are dependent on support staff for a lot of work In the absence of that several clashes can emerge over who will take over these chores Frustration is bound to buildShalini BharatSeeking thrillSolene Paillet marketing director of Gleeden says that logging onto the app is like going out to a bar talking to someone interesting you meet Its exactly the kind of metime that people need However Shah says that according to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry the definition of infidelity now includes a romantic andor sexual relationship which begins with online contact and is maintained through electronic conversations But subscription to an extramarital app may not necessarily amount to cheating as intent does not always lead to action People could be subscribing to seek a thrill as external gratification is limitedNikhila DeshpandeDeshpande also says that those logging onto such apps may be looking for some temporary companionship and fun and that longterm relationships cant develop on such platforms Lockdown or not those who want to will find avenues to cheat she addsSolene PailletVirtual so not guiltyProfessor Shalini Bharat vicechancellor and director centre for health and social sciences School of Health Systems Studies at Tata Institute of Social Sciences notes that if its virtual partners may not feel guilty as its not physical Gleedens survey shows that there is an increase in people using the app from their phones rather than desktops because of the discreet features in the former Earlier it was easy for people to overlook potential dissatisfaction and find distraction in work hobbies and friends Now that the escape valve is gone any problem between them is out in the openadds PailletNandini SardesaiFarreaching impactDivorce lawyer writer and social entrepreneur Vandana Shahs phone has been ringing off the hook since the lockdown started with mostly women calling up to inquire about their rights if they want to walk out of their marriage We dont realise that our marriages are based on the premise that the husband and wife dont spend much time together she says adding that she gets complaints of women having to cater to all kinds of kitchen fancies of their husbands while managing work and children during this timeVandana ShahWhile some men may be helpful a large section of them refuse to adapt and help out with housework That can add to the pressures women are already facing This coupled with financial worries will have a farreaching impact on our relationships explains Nandini Sardesai former head of the sociology department St Xaviers CollegeWhile Bharat agrees with this she is also hopeful that in some cases there might be a rearrangement of house labour There are talks of many men learning to cook or clean Men are finally getting to see what really goes behind running a home70Rise in subscriptions on Gleeden in India in the past few weeks563Of users from Mumbai are working professionalsA couple of changesWhile there is no rule book here are some things couples can do to get through this difficult phase Listen Slot a time in the day only for each other and listen without judgement or comment This could also be noscreen time Share Talk to each other about your feelings highlights of the day and validate your partners anxieties Create a flexible schedule Irrespective of office work plan and share house chores Discover Try to bring out something new in each other to add an element of fun in the relationship Help Seek professional counselling if required Jenisha ShahCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news