I am a second year student of engineering. I am a good student and I have very loving parents who have my best interests at heart.

However, my parents do not allow me to go out with my friends (even if they are all girls). The reason they give is that I am a girl and it is not safe to go without any “adult” supervision. I am a 19-years-old. Since I could get married in the next couple of years (an arranged marriage, with which I don’t have any problem), they say that if anyone sees me outside with my friends, then rumours may arise and affect my future and spoil my family's reputation. There has been a case where there were rumours that my cousin had an affair just because she was seen with a guy, which wasn’t true. I am baffled as to how to handle this situation. I just want to hang out with my friends once in a while.
Anvita

A. I am so sorry about your situation. While your parents have your best interests at heart, they need to know that when a parent supports a child, trusts him/her and respects his/ her freedom the world has no choice but to do so. Maybe your parents are themselves under the pressure of being judged by people and are afraid for you and do not wish that for you. Well I believe that someone your age must be allowed to go out and have fun. However you could try to make friends near your home or maybe hang out with your cousins, etc. As far as people who gossip are concerned they are never going to stop. They can barely tell the difference from reality and a fake situation, just to suit their need to gossip and pass time. I wish your parents would just trust you and let you live your life fully, watch films, eat out, shop, etc., with your friends. It’s a relationship in the world which everyone must experience. It’s beautiful and fun to have friends in your life. They change many things for you and do make life better. Also sometimes putting your foot down is necessary. Many a time when we give in to things people think it is okay to expect things from people. Your parents will always feel right about what they are doing because they will always tell themselves that they are protecting you. You could probably explain to them that this is a trapped life for you and you do sometimes want to live like a normal girl of this century. That they should trust you. And if you do break their trust they could then put you under restrictions. I hope you and your parents find a middle ground in this situation, but personally I feel you deserve to let your hair down sometimes, as long as you don't harm yourself or them and reading your problem makes me feel like you do understand and respect yourself and your family a lot.
Q. I am a 24-year-old from Chicago. I have made one of the most stupid mistakes in my life. For the first time I felt something for a guy, who was younger than me. He was a close family friend. I knew from the beginning that things wouldn’t work out so I tried to end everything before anything started. However, he kept insisting that things would work out. I tried breaking up with him several times, however he convinced me not to every time. He informed his family without my consent. We were not even sure about anything. At least I wasn’t. However, I forgave him that time.
When it was time for me to inform my parents about our relationship, my parents were against it. They didn’t give their permission. So we tried ending the relationship. He was completely different in the presence of his family. He shared every single thing with his sister. He even shared our conversations and emails. His sister, who is an aunt (maami) to me came over my house with all the evidence to prove my involvement. I couldn’t say a word when I had to defend myself. the next day he came to my workplace to ask for second chance. What do I do?
Anonymous
A. My dear, I am sorry that you must feel violated that someone shared your private, personal emails or texts meant only for him with someone else. It is not a nice feeling. Also you seem uncomfortable being with this person for very many reasons right from his age, or him not keeping your relationship quiet till you were sure, to sharing your personal chats, to your parents not liking him. I am sure you are a nice person but that coming in the way of expressing yourself may not be wise. If you are upset with someone you should be able to communicate it with someone, especially in a relationship as intimate as dating or seeing someone, etc. What is the point of being nice, because that is not what you want him to know? You want him to understand your relationship or you and respect your decisions and privacy, whether it is your decision to end it or keep things private. There is so much drama involved and so many relationships going through unpleasantness. The only thing you have tried to do is break up with him, and are aware that it is not going to work out. Are you sure you want to constantly go through this? If you want to be in this relationship the two of you need to handle it better, speak clearly, understand each other and communicate clearly. Clear things, speak it out, and keep it simple and straight and honest. Uncomplicate matters. If being friends helps you better do so. Learn to keep things happy and simple. It’s all that matters at the end of the day.