The Delhi high court has observed that casting aspersions on the character of a spouse is the worst form of cruelty and amounts to mental torture. The observation was made while granting divorce to a woman recently. While in marriages, it has often been proved that aspersion about one’s character leads to torture and eventually breaking up of marriage, even youngsters think that critical remarks about one’s character can end a loving relationship.
Third year college student Sakshi Sharma talks about her friend who broke up with her beau because of his suspicious nature. “He never left her alone. Everytime she was out with us, he would call her incessantly. She would get really embarrassed. Initially, my friend took it as his caring nature, but gradually she realised that he was suspecting her as she has many guy friends,” says Sakshi, who believes that suspecting one’s partner is the worst thing in a relationship.
Some think that continuous negative comments about one’s character can lead to depression. Jyotsna Sharma, a management student, talks about her previous relationship because of which she went into depression. “My boyfriend was very insecure and would continuously call even when I was at work. Once he came to my office when I was in a meeting and yelled at me for not answering his calls. He even suspected that I was two-timing. I was fed up with his behaviour. This went on for more than two years,” says Jyotsna, who ended the relationship eventually.
Ritika Kashyap, a media professional says that remarks about one’s character hurt one’s self-esteem. “Self-esteem of an individual is of utmost importance and nobody has the right to make remarks that derogate the character of the partner. In a relationship like marriage or love, it becomes all the more important to respect the other as an individual,” says Ritika and adds that she is glad that the court has identified this aspect in a relationship.