I am a 22-year-old married woman. We live in a joint family. My in-laws are horrid to me. They hate me and make my life difficult all the time. I stopped talking to them a year ago. But we still have to stay in the same house. What should I do?

Borsha, Burdwan

Nothing. Just wait for them to die and in that hope keep smiling everyday: nothing will irritate them more (and perhaps drive them to an earlier death) than to see you behave this way. For instance, since you don’t speak to them, whenever you pass by them, have an atrocious smile; glee as if you’ve just been gifted a watch or some silly thing like that by your wimpish husband. This will drive them nuts. This is the only solution, love. There is no other.

I am 22. I love a girl who is 16 but she doesn’t know about it. She’s always on my mind and this distracts me. I wait for her outside school to catch a glimpse of her. After school, I follow her home. What should I do? Should I tell her friends and see if they help? Or should I just wait and watch?

Name and address withheld

No, why tell her at all. Just wait for Sonia Gandhi to make the announcement at the next Congress jamboree or better still since Manmohan Singh hardly says many intelligent things these days, he could make that announcement on August 15, 2011 from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Obviously you silly dolt, try and tell her. Or else she will never know and neither will you that she actually detests the sight of you.

I am 19. I have recently started going out with a girl I was in love with for the last seven years. But my sister hates this girl. And now she thinks I am avoiding her because of my girlfriend. I don’t want to lose any of them.

Name and address withheld

You can’t lose your sister: you are pretty much stuck with her. As for the girl you seemingly love, if you’ve tolerated her for the last seven years she is akin to your toothpaste brand so once again, you can’t lose her. Just stick to the girl. The sister will hopefully see sense and if she doesn’t, at least you have that girl’s shoulder to cry on.

HELP AT HAND

Alcoholics anonymous

10A, Nandan Road, Near Ganja Park, Calcutta - 25
Ph: 2419 1174
For free help on alcoholism
E-mail: aakolkata_ig03@rediffmail.com
(2p.m. to 6p.m. Mondays through Saturdays)
Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics)
Ph : 98309 93132
(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)

Pronam

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

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