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KHARKIV, Ukraine – A tired Ukrainian couple arguing is trying to make amends for their on-and-off relationship by handcuffing their hands for three months and documenting their experiences on social media.
Online car salesman Alexandr Kudlay, 33, and esthetician Viktoria Pustovitova, 28, started what they call their “experiment” on Valentine’s Day and have since gained thousands of followers on Instagram.
“In terms of physical comfort, with each passing day, we are getting more and more used to it. It just gets easier,” Kudlay told Reuters at his apartment in the eastern city of Kharkiv.
He came up with the idea after Pustovitova said she wanted to break up with him.
“We used to break up once or twice a week. When during another fight, Vika said once again that we had to break up, I replied, ‘Then I’ll tie you up.’
Pustovitova rejected his idea at first and hung up the phone the first time he suggested it, but eventually changed his mind. For almost a month, neither of them has had a personal space and they do everything together, from shopping to cigarette breaks.
“I decided that it will be an interesting experience for me, that it will bring into my life bright new emotions that I have not experienced before,” said Pustovitova.
“I love him, so I made the decision to do it.”
Now they post pictures of themselves on Instagram that portray an idyllic coexistence, with captions that emphasize the importance of mutual respect and understanding. They have also appeared on talk shows on Ukrainian television.
As for their relationship, “some tension has arisen,” but the couple say they have found new ways to deal with the discord.
Alexandr Kudlay shaves while Viktoria Pustovitova stands next to him at his apartment in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 5, 2021. REUTERS / Gleb Garanich
“The fights between us didn’t go away, we kept fighting. But when we get closer to a dead end and there is no understanding between us, we just stop talking instead of packing our things and walking away,” Kudlay said.
The public’s response has been a mixture of praise, skepticism, and simple curiosity. Comments on Instagram range from “Lovely couple” to “Can someone explain why?”
Among the burning questions is how the couple goes to the bathroom. The answer: the other has to wait outside with one hand in the bathroom. They take turns showering. – Reuters
