Not everyone follows the tradition. Neena Bhayana didn't. She says divorce isn't common in Indian culture. Shanthala says marriage is more than a bond between man and woman. Neena says in India, the extended family is called a 'joint' family because mom, dad, children, grandparents and sometimes aunts and uncles all live together. She says under that roof, children are the focus. Parents devote all their resources to them, and that includes money. Children often repay their parents later in life,like Shanthala plans to do. She plans to eventually return to India to take care of her parents and in-laws.

But in any culture, traditions change. Eighteen-year-old Neesh Shah says his parents know they won't be living with him some day.

Source: WJBC