We begin by decoding the term ‘commitment phobic’ —someone who avoids long- term relationships or is averse to marriage. One thing that needs to be clarified though, is that not all flirts are commitment-phobic. Commitment-phobics love the chase but when it comes to the kill, they will just back off.

They are often incapable of staying in happy relationships for long and have many short-term relationships. First and the most obvious reason would be that he/she is withdrawn and wont give his/her 100 percent in a relationship. It could also be simple stuff like not introducing the partner to immediate family and friends.

Psychologist Deepti Makhija says commitment phobia is nothing but fear of taking up responsibilities. "Somebody who is not willing to take up responsibility is scared of committing. The only way to deal with such a person is to inculcate a sense of responsibility within him or her. Freedom is of outmost importance to people and they have to realise that freedom cannot be there without responsibilities.”

Preeti Shenoy, a 21-year-old girl who has been dating a guy for the past two months says living with a commitment phobic is not easy. "My earlier boyfriend was a commitment phobic. We tried working it out but to no avail. I gave him time too, but he just didn’t want to make the effort. After a point I had to set my priorities straight.”

Media professionalRaj Desai, 22, can’t seem to decipher what the big deal about commitment phobia is.He has been in five short-term relationships so far and says they work just fine. "I work six days a week and the work load is immense. I neither have the energy nor the energy to invest in a relationship. Gradually with time, commitment becomes an excuse to stay together even when the relationship is heading nowhere. I am better off like this.”