Breaking up is hard to do. Even when you know it’s over. There may be fears, tears, and the occasional sock in the jaw. So how does a man call it off without causing too much of a mess? These guys discuss the different ways to write ‘The End’.
The man manoeuvre:
“Personally I think it’s much easier to get dumped than to dump someone,” says stand-up comic Ashish Shakya. “Breaking up takes courage so what most guys do is make the girl dump them instead. You just stop texting, stop calling and eventually she’ll ask you ‘Don’t you want to do this anymore?’ Then carry on until she breaks up with you. This is the standard operating procedure.”
It might involve a lot of drama and stress, but it’s the most popular method adopted to avoid ‘the talk’. “I’ve done the talk and it’s not the most fun thing to do. I’m not the sort of guy to play games so I opt for the talk,” Ashish admits, “But then she starts crying and suddenly I’m the a**hole. Women could win wars like this you know. Who needs muscles when you have tear ducts!”
The middle path:
Creative director at a TV production house, Varun Shashi Rao, suggests a more cautious approach. “I think it’s very important to gauge someone personally. Is she the type to burst into tears, or punch you in the face? If you don’t want a direct confrontation, tell her on the phone and then set up a meeting,” he suggests.
A public space like a restaurant may deter some women from creating a scene, but if she’s not the shy type, choose somewhere private, adds Varun. “Now the easiest thing to do is tell her how it’s not her fault, it’s yours. You’re going through the shittiest phase in your life and you’ve got to put everything aside and focus on your exams or your career. It’s tough to argue with that,” he says.
The hard part:
The toughest one, however, is the no-nonsense approach. Model Zainn opines, “It’s really hurtful to the other person when you start ignoring them or treating them badly to make them break up with you. It will only ruin the good memories.”
If a relationship is not working out, he says, “You need to man up and tell her so. Do it with respect and let her know that it’s time to move on. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a friend in her.”