I am an 18-year-old boy. I am the class-topper and enjoy studying. However, I hate my school. The teachers expect a lot from me. They rebuke me with harsh comments for the smallest of mistakes. Once they even suspended me for a week for a very trivial issue. Recently they abused me in the morning assembly for something equally minor. What should I do?

Name and address withheld

Just change your school and it should be easy to do after you’ve slapped one or two teachers. You can always rope in the TMC who in addition to changing the name of West Bengal have precious little to do so they can take up your cause along with that of the river Teesta and all will be well. There is so much you can do son so please do not be despondent!

I am a divorcee with an eight- year-old son. My son does not even know what his father looks like. Two years ago I fell in love with a man who has a five-year-old son. He is in the middle of a divorce. He gets to be with his son only during vacations and is very committed to him. But he hardly communicates with my boy. I have tried my best to bring them together but sadly nothing has worked. However, I share a great relationship with his son. I am planning to eventually marry this man and he wants that too. But I don’t want this situation to linger. How do I solve this?

Name and address withheld

There is nothing to solve. Your lover just doesn’t like your son and this is typical male behaviour: they hate to come to terms with the fact that some other man could well have slept with their women! So my advice would be take a call on how much you love this man and how much you love your child and go with whoever wins in your mind. My hunch is you will go for the man and hope to hell that some day he begins loving your son. This is how women justify their second marriages.

HELP AT HAND

Alcoholics anonymous

10A, Nandan Road, Near Ganja Park, Calcutta - 25,
Ph: 2419 1174
For free help on alcoholism
E-mail: akolkata_ig03@rediffmail.com
(2p.m. to 6p.m. Mondays through Saturdays)

Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics)

Ph : 8420738682
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www.india.al-anon.alateen.org

Narcotics anonymous

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Self-help group of recovering addicts

HelpAge India

1800-345-1253
Free helpline for the elderly for social, legal, economical, financial counselling and also access to government schemes and policies

Lifeline Foundation

Ph: 2463 7401/ 2463 7432
Free helpline for the depressed or suicidal
(10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturdays)

Sparsha

AE-36, Rabindra Pally, PO: Prafulla Kanan, Calcutta - 01
Ph: 2591 0334, 2591 3852, 6529, 9856
Free tele-counselling and one-on-one counselling on personal relationships and HIV/ AIDS
(10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays)