I am a 19-year-old girl. I want to be a model but my parents think it’s a murky world and I’ll go astray if I take up modelling as a profession. They want me to get into a college and complete my graduation. Then they’ll get me married off. I’m completely at a loss as to how to deal with my parents. I’ve tried telling them about my seniors who have already made it big as a model but nothing seems to strike a chord with them. According to them, I’m still too young to decide on my own. Please help!

Name and address withheld

There is nothing to help. Modelling is for the intellectually innocent. Why do you want to be a clothes hanger when you can be a complete woman? Besides, modelling will last about two years until some younger thin malnutritioned type appears and dislodges you. My advice is study and do something with your life than strutting around for lecherous men!

I am a 32-year-old man, working for a multinational firm. My work involves a lot of travelling and this has created a gap in my conjugal life. My wife wants me to give up my present job. She says she can’t stay on her own when I am out of the city. She’s just not being able to cope with her loneliness. However, I’m not in a position to quit my job right away as I have just started out in this company. How do I pacify my wife?

Vivek Khaitan, via e-mail

You can’t pacify your wife physically and that’s what I think she wants. The next best thing is to take her with you: in more ways than one if you know what I mean. If not, then encourage her to have an affair: that way she’ll be off your back and you off mine! Get it son?

My husband has created an oppressive atmosphere at home. I’m not allowed to visit my parents’ house frequently. He also gets mad at me if I am not at home when he comes back from work. He’s even physically abused me a couple of times. I want to get out of this stifling relationship but I am worried about the impact it’ll have on my five-year-old son. I am in two minds about my next move. Please help me.

Sandhya Chatterjee, Calcutta

It will have no impact if your son is five. It’ll if you wait and then leave when he is 10. So get out of the house now and start life afresh. When your son turns 10, you too will be older than you are now and things like attracting men will only get tougher so cut your losses now and run.

My boyfriend is extremely short- tempered. Of late, this has become a major problem in our relationship. He starts abusing me even in public. I’m madly in love with him and don’t want to break up. I have tried to reform him but my efforts had little effect on him. Of late, even his friends have started avoiding him. Is there a way to change his behaviour? Please advise.

Piyali De, Durgapur

Dump the rascal. Or better still push him into some furnace at the Durgapur Steel Plant: at least that way you won’t have to suffer him. No, on a serious note, there is no point in being involved with someone who is abusive. He’ll never change so better you change him!