I am 18 years old. My mother always humiliates me. She never gets tired of finding faults with me. We argue all the time. To add to my woes my father too flies off the handle every time he catches us in an argument. My younger sister tries to pacify him but the funny thing is that she is the reason behind my plight. She has a habit of complaining against me and that makes my father furious. He becomes restless and thrashes me, even threatens to kill me. It has become difficult for me to stay in the house.This is also affecting my studies.Please help!

Name and address withheld

Just elope darling! Rush to Mumbai and join the films. You could also join some political party closer home. Last I heard, many parties are looking for real young people, so you would fit the bill. Look there is no point in blaming your younger sister. All younger siblings are pains you know where but then you have to live with them. A person like you can’t even leave the house in a hurry. Where on earth will you go and which scandal will you create? Just chill at home, get yourself some fine ear plugs and all will be well.

I am a 25-year-old man in love with a girl from another religion. Understandably, our parents are against the alliance and have been trying to bring an end to our relationship. We have persevered, somehow. Could you help me with a solution that would put an end to this anxiety and the continuous fear of losing my love? How can I marry this girl without disgracing our parents in anyway or hurting their sentiments? Please advise.

Name and address withheld

Look son, your parents ‘will’ be disgraced. So let’s put that issue to rest. Now comes the critical issue, do you really love this woman so much as to piss your parents off? Do you really want to marry someone who your parents are going to hate causing her great anguish in the process. And can you not find a single woman from the same religion given how stupidly conservative your parents are? Think about all these things son and then decide. If you still want to go ahead, then marry her and stop wasting my time in all of this.

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
(2 pm to 6 pm, Mondays through Saturdays)

Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics)

Ph : 8420738682
(2 pm to 6 pm, 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 am to 6 pm, 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 am to 6 pm, Mondays through Fridays)

Pronam

38/1, Beltala Road, Calcutta - 19
Senior Citizen’s Emergency
Co-ordination Control Room
Ph: 2419 0740