'Will I find someone who respects my beliefs?'

Illustration/Uday Mohite

I would like to marry someone who respects my religious beliefs, but haven't found anyone yet. Am I being too rigid about this?
That depends on what those beliefs are, obviously. Speak to family and friends about them, and meet more people. Also, try and figure out what it is about these beliefs that makes it hard for you to find someone who feels the same way.

I dated a girl for two years, during which she never mentioned the fact that she had previously been in two relationships. When I found out through a common friend, I confronted her and she said she hadn't mentioned them because they were not pleasant memories and she wanted to erase those ex-boyfriends from her life. However, I accused her of lying and decided to end the relationship. It has been six months since we ended it, but I think about her a lot and wonder if I overreacted. What should I do?
Is withholding information the same as lying? I'm not sure, unless you asked her specific questions that she deliberately gave you wrong answers to. The thing is, even if she did, when it comes to someone's personal life, it is entirely their prerogative to share or withhold information, simply because a relationship does not imply that she owes you anything in any way. If she wanted to keep her past to herself, she had every right to. She chose to be with you, which is what ought to have mattered. Her ex-boyfriends belonged to the past, and she wanted them to stay that way. If she said the memories associated with them weren't particularly pleasant, what would you have gained by reminding her of them anyway? If you feel as if you have made a mistake, you have the option of reaching out to her and telling her how you feel. It's not too late to understand that people have the right to maintain secrets. I'm sure you have a few too.