If he is more than a friend and less than a boyfriend, it's not 'complicated', it's a situationship

Such complications are responsible for turning relationships into 'relationshits'. Photo Courtesy: Twitter/royshubham011

So, you are exchanging romantic glances, sending flirty texts, and going on lunch and dinner dates. But, despite these 'in a relationship' vibes, you're not quite in a relationship with the man you're attracted to. Simply because you both are still at a stage where there are no strings attached, no expectations, no responsibilities, and no accountability.

If you're going through this stage and are struggling to figure out whether to call it 'complicated' or call him your 'half boyfriend' or just say that you're 'seeing' each other; there's a solution to your relationship-defining woes. According to an article by Carina Hsieh for Cosmopolitan, your state of limbo can be called 'situationship'.

Also read: If ghosting and breadcrumbing weren't enough, we've now got the concept of 'half girlfriend'. Thanks, Chetan Bhagat.

Basically, it's a catch-all term for those relationships meddling between 'hooking up' and 'in a relationship'. But don't confuse it with the friends-with-benefits arrangement. "If 'friends with benefits' is platonic friendship with sexual benefits, a situationship is a hookup with emotional benefits," writes Hsieh post coming across this term while overhearing a guy complaining about how his current relationship status is giving him anxiety.

Also read: How to say goodbye to a toxic partner.

While you may feel that all this beating around the bush is a very obvious stepping stone to getting into a relationship, the unfortunate part is that it's almost become the way modern-day relationships function. Because we're all so scared of loving and we're all so wary of making commitments that we prefer taking the easy way out and get into situationships.
 
And that's exactly when the complications start hampering the so-called arrangement."Situationships are problematic by nature. The hope of something more is always there, dangling like a carrot over every late night 'U up?' or shitty 3 a.m. meme you read too far into," explains Hsieh.

Also read: The confusing language of modern day romance.

There's no denying the fact that thriving on ambiguous boundaries and unsaid things instead of solid, clear-cut communication as in the case of a legitimate relationships, is a pain in the behind. After all, the guesswork can give you anxiety like nothing else.

So how about coming out clean about your feelings instead? It's worth giving a try, we say.