ayandrali dutta loves to cook for one and not because this delhibased journalist and menu curator who turns 40 soon is single dutta a consummate cook slaves over her single meals as much as she would if she was cooking up a storm for her friends not for her a bowl of dal and chawal or instant noodles just because shes home alone she will take the pains to cook a threecourse dinner set the table plate it and sit and enjoy her meals at the table with herself for company i have been single for a long time now and i am my own best company so naturally i like to take care of myself she notesit boils down to choicedutta is part of the many growing single by choice people who take their singlehood and its pleasures seriously not for them the selfdoubt of life without a significant other or playing the waiting game for the right one globally singlehood has been rising its only catching on in the traditional family and communityoriented societies like india and south korea the world of singledom has been abuzz with the south korean concept honjokphotographers businesses like fashion and food in south korea have taken note of the rising singles and been adapting to their demands it notes the rise of oneperson households journalist ankit tuteja 29 is consciously single to make room for his career he says todays generation by and large has a limited attention span they want to pursue different things at their own end which leaves them with barely any time to focus on settling down in lifesinglehood has had a big impact on society family structures are changing apartment buildings are being built differently companies are restrategising to sell to this categorypassion over partnersthere is a soaring number of singles today 32 million americans are now living alone and that number is high in europe and japan in his book going solo sociologist eric klinenberg calls it the worlds biggest social change in the last 50 years in 2017 south korean photographer nina ahn shot to fame documenting the honjok life in seoul in a cnncom interview she had said we live in a generation where simply working hard for a bright future doesnt guarantee happiness so why not invest in me timetuteja timelines the origin of me time to 67 years ago he feels that dating apps have changed the way people look at relationships many people are now more comfortable with the idea of open relationships than a fulltime commitment he adds marriage settling down the indian euphemism for marriage is not in their dictionary and the concept has seeped to smalltown india prachi singh 27 moved out of her parents house in ranchi to a rented apartment as she wanted her own space theres an unsaid pressure to staying within the family fold i just wanted to experience life away from that says singhbusiness magazine editor hari govind nair 34 has decided