They want to date, mate, but shy away from tying the knot. And author-columnist Shobhaa De is trying to find out why.

"Like people watch stocks, I watch marriages. I watch marriages all the time," laughed De at the launch Monday night of her new book "Spouse" at the Taj Mahal Hotel.

"I look out for what's happening in marriages, how couples are faring, who's doing what. And what's really surprising to me nowadays is that a lot of young people don't think that marriage is important.

"And I wonder why. Why don't young people want to get married any more? Do they see it as a burden? Don't they think it's a relationship worth cherishing."

To deliberate on the issue, publishers got four celebrity couples on stage with De - quizmaster and television producer Siddharth Basu and Anita, heart surgeon Naresh Trehan and his journalist wife Madhu, public relations guru Dilip Cherian and wife Devi, cigar baron Chetan Seth and Manya, and builder Navin Ansal and his interior designer wife Raseel.

Together, amid flowing cocktails and heavy networking, they discussed the whys and wherefores of marriages.

"I can tell you one thing," said Manya Seth, "I grew up after marriage. I am in my second marriage and this time around, I really grew up."

Laughed her husband Chetan: "Oh, but I was completely grown up when I got married!"

The couples, old friends all, laughed and joked about the various nuances of marriage - from whether couples should work together to how important is sex.

"I certainly couldn't handle it," grinned Dilip Cherian. "I really look up to people who can spend all their time with their spouses. I would get a bit hassled."

When sex came up, everyone grinned and giggled. "I rate in 10 out of 10 in terms of importance in a marriage," laughed Navin Ansal.

Quipped wife Raseel: "Yes, but only if you're having it with your wife!"

So with so much fun and frolic, De had just one advice for all the people who are yet to marry - don't slam it until you've tried it.

And for all the people who have tried it - keep trying!