What makes a marriage work? This for some appears to be one of life’s unanswered mysteries.

Whilst there is numerous literature available to guide one to the path of a blissful marriage some people find different ways to make their partnership work A 44-year-old business owner who asked not to be named said he become at adept at telling little white lies just to keep his wife content.

“My wife is like a vulture. She doesn’t let me go out anywhere until I give her a full itinerary. I have to lie half the time. I tell her I am going to play football if I want to go to go out with my mates. She thinks my friends are a bad influence on me, so she doesn’t let me hang out with them.

“She doesn’t go to any do’s at my family’s house, but she forces me to go to her family’s house all the time.

“When she buys presents for her family she goes to place like Monsoon. But when it is someone in my family, she goes to Primark.

He didn’t think marriage was supposed to be 'this much stress'.

“My best friend was joking saying I should get a second wife. I told me him not to be so ridiculous. Then I would double trouble! But I won’t ever be able to divorce my wife so maybe this is my only chance at happiness.”

A 28-year-old woman has revealed what she must endure to make her marriage work.

“I married a super rich guy. And he's really good looking. I love my lifestyle and quite frankly I'm not ashamed about telling my friends. No one thought I would get as good a rishta as I did.

“I know my friends joke about me being the trophy wife, but I don’t care. Doesn’t everyone want a trophy to show off?

“But I will say this, it feels like a full time job being married to him.

“My husband is successful and holds a senior position at work. I know that's very attractive to women.

“I have to make sure I look damn good all the time. I never eat what I want to as I have to stay slim. I have to make sure I'm perfectly waxed all the time. I'm always exercising.

She says the not eating thing makes her a little miserable.

“He doesn’t want me to ‘the typical Asian wife’ so I hardly ever wear traditional clothes, and I’m not allowed to watch any Asian channels or listen to Bollywood music.

“And I have to make sure the house is spotless all the time.

“Honestly, it's exhausting.

“I wanted to go to my cousin's wedding in India but I'm afraid if I'm going away for a few weeks, he'll have an excuse to cheat on me.

“I want to have a baby, but I am worried about my body changing shape and that my husband won’t find me attractive anymore.

“But I guess no marriage is perfect.”

Forty-twoyear-old Najma has told us about her tips for maintaining a strong marriage.

“Marriage is of course hard work. But I spent the first couple of years training my husband. “My mum gave me some great advice. She didn’t want me to be under the thumb like she had been throughout her marriage. My mum said I should control my husband from day one. It hasn’t been easy.

“It’s like training an unruly dog. But it has paid off.

“I have mastered the art of nagging. It sounds manipulative, but I consider it a means of survival.

She says she is even teaching her teenage daughter the same thing!

“He doesn’t send money to his family anymore.

“He used to go out with his friends in the early days and come home drunk. After I locked him out a few times, he quickly learned.

“He used to go to casinos with his friend’s and lose silly money.

“Now I control the finances and the bank accounts.

“I give my husband £50 a week, and he has to make do with that.

“Now he only sees his friends when we have get togethers with their families.

“He thinks I am too controlling, but this is for his own good.”