I am a 21-year-old man. Ever since I was young, I have dreamed of being tall. I even tried exercising and took various kinds of health supplements. But all this was to absolutely no avail. Nothing made a difference to my height. This makes me feel really depressed. I am suffering from a serious self-esteem problem. Please help me.

Name and address withheld

Short? Look at Napoleon, look at Sarkozy, look at Mamata Banerjee: they are all short and doing incredibly well. Even Sushma Swaraj is short as is Rahul Gandhi. Salman Khan is short as is Rani Mukerji so what are you complaining about. For that matter, I too am not very tall and I have never ever let it come in the way. One of my friends who is ostensibly happily married and yet cheats on his wife, is also short and he gets more lucky than us bachelors. As for height, so was Lal Bahadur Shastri. Be tall in your deeds. You aren’t competing with camels, son, only with human beings. So stop exercising and instead focus on what you are good at.

I’ve been married for five years and I recently caught my wife cheating on me. I have refrained from filing for a divorce because her mother requested me not to. However, I have been having intense affairs and physical relationships with completely random women. Loyalty hardly holds any value for me anymore. I am disillusioned about love. I am only 31 and have a really good job. Do you think I am wrong?

Name and address withheld

You are not wrong at all son. You are only doing what most adulterous people do: pass on the guilt. I think you should keep doing what you are doing and live happily ever after in this ‘open’ marriage. What could be better. You have a choice of both a buffet and an a la carte menu so why should you ever complain. The issue here is can you sleep with a clear conscience and if you can, then go for it. You have a world to conquer and here’s wishing you all the best.

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
(2p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays)
www.india.al-anon.alateen.org

Narcotics anonymous

(Kolkata area helpline)
Ph: 9836223071; www.nakolkata.org
Email: info@nakolkata.org
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)