India, Oct. 2 -- Is it possible to live and let live when you are committed to building a life together? In a culture that promotes being "one entity" as a couple, can one even allow oneself to follow a different growth path, which is not similar to your partner's?

Post pandemic, Bengaluru-based lawyer Dina (37), a client of mine has been on a path to downsizing her life. Ved (37), her entrepreneur husband, has seen his venture flourish since then. He wants to flaunt his success by supersizing acquisitions, making grand social gestures and maximising their lifestyle.

For Dina and Ved, the minimalist and maximalist attitude is indeed a drastic juxtaposition. For any reasonably successful relationship, being aligned on the kind of lifesty...