Illustration/Sameer Pawar

Dear Diana,

I'm a 17-year-old. My mom's a horrible person. She yells at me, even abuses me and mentally tortures me. All this has been happening for many years now. I've tried several attempts to get out of the house on the pretext of studying outside but have failed. I've been depressed a long time now and my health has also suffered. I think it was the cause for my asthma in childhood. She makes me hate myself and my very existence. I've even contemplated suicide many times but couldn't do it because I don't want to but truth be told, I want this to end once and for all. I don't think I can stand it any more. Please help.

R

Dear R,

Have you spoken to your father about this and  told him what you're going through? I'm sure that if he has a listening ear, he'd be able to advise you on a sensible course of action.

Or an elder in the house whom you can trust, maybe? Maybe, they could even suggest places where you could put up, till you complete your studies? Trouble is, you are still a minor and legally, she could make sure you came back home irrespective of wherever you are. Take a family member you trust into confidence.


Ab main samajhdar ban gaya hoon..

Dear Diana,

When I was in junior college, I knew a girl studying with me. We were very close. She'd give me various hints that she loved me but I didn't understand it at that time.Today, I don't where she is. Now, I have and don't want to lose her.

Nitesh

Dear Nitesh,

Sadly, you caught on a little too late. Of course, good old persistence always comes in handy. As does your trusty phone directory. If you can pinpoint a city and then narrow down every instance of her surname to a particular area, you could possibly figure out where she is now and try to get back in touch.

Question really is, you can't even be sure if she has moved on from being infatuated with you. If there was love (or any other emotion) it may have withered away by now. Do check it out, though.


I've been avoiding him way too long

Dear Diana,

I was in a partnership with one of my friends who is quite senior to me in business for last four years. We had an excellent rapport but due to certain misunderstandings we fell out of business. I owe him a lot and also I have to pay him some amount, but after the split, I have not been able to face him. I am avoiding his phone calls and not once I have met him to clear the issues. I am feeling guilty about it. I only SMS that I will meet him in the future to discuss about it. What should I do?

Viki

Dear Viki,

If he's calling you, it has to be about something important or urgent that he wants to discuss. The least you could do is hear him out. You owe at least that much to him. It's not that you cannot repay him, just that you don't want to, because it would mean interacting with him.

Have you considered the possibility that he could be in need of money. Just because your partnership ended on a sad note doesn't mean your friendship has to. Call him up or set up a meeting at your earliest to clear up any misgivings you'll might have had.