Dear Diana,
Except for my dad, everyone at home treats me like an outsider. I've never been a brat. I don't know what's wrong. My mom behaves as if I am totally useless and my brother says I am very mean and selfish (which I am not!). I've been in a relationship for the past 22 months now. I really love her but she treats me as if I am totally stupid. She says she loves me, but fights with me all the time. I give her all my available time, but she still is upset with me.She keeps insisting that I've betrayed her by having an affair (I am not having an affair with any other girl!). She says she won't leave me but I'm sure she hates me. She says, "Jab tak chalega chalne do (as long as it can, let it go on)," regarding our relationship. I just don't know what to do.
Name withheld on request
Dear Friend,
Are you still unemployed? If you are, it could explain your mom's frustration and your father's disinterestedness. It's okay if you've never been a demanding kid, but have you ever been a shrewd one? The people in your life have certain expectations from you and when they see that those expectations will remain unfulfilled, they tend to get uppity about it, hoping that it will provoke you to action. Most of the people in your life have given up hope. About your girlfriend, I think she's a chronic worrier and a bit insecure (I really don't see why!). Don't worry too much about her.
Who's stupid now?
Dear Diana,
I'm 18. A friend I dearly love is interested in another girl, who I know to be a really irritating character. Everyone in our friend circle know this. We've tried putting some sense into his head, but it hasn't worked. This girl is very beautiful but is one of the stupidest people I know. Also, she has one of the worst attitudes I've seen. It is rumoured that she changes boyfriends as frequently as people change socks. How do I make him understand that he's making the wrong choice?
Ritika
Dear Ritika,
Sometimes guys don't fall for the girl with the brains. Call it being choosy but the same holds true for girls too. The guy might be an airhead but if he's hot, nothing else matters. Your friend obviously can't see beyond her beauty. So what you could do is to let him continue trying to woo this girl. If she's as irritating as you say she is, he'll see the light soon enough. If he's way past smitten, there's little you can do. He has already chosen to turn a blind eye.
I could just kill him!
Dear Diana,
My boyfriend doesn't understand me at all. He taunts me when I wear something nice and says that it looks ugly on me. When I wear something really hideous to spite him, he says that the dress was tailor-made for me. And he does this quite often. I feel like killing him for doing and saying such things! I know he's kidding but one can never say, no? Is this what he really feels about me?
Hassled young girl
Dear Friend,
This guy sounds like fun. I'm sure he's just kidding around and really intends to have fun at your expense but without an iota of malice. People usually crack such jokes at people who understand that it's done in a good-humoured way and as such, should be taken in that spirit. Don't break your head over something as trivial as this. This isn't what he really feels about you.
