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Anu

Anu Krishna  |1794 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on May 05, 2022

Anu Krishna is a mind coach and relationship expert.
The co-founder of Unfear Changemakers LLP, she has received her neuro linguistic programming training from National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Programming, USA, and her energy work specialisation from the Institute for Inner Studies, Manila.
She is an executive member of the Indian Association of Adolescent Health.... more
BG Question by BG on May 05, 2022Hindi
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Relationship

Dear Anu,
I started a relationship with this guy, who I met on a dating app like a year back. I started to like him and everything was going fine.
We started talking and soon our conversations steered towards talking about our future. However, he suddenly told me out of nowhere that he is a divorcee. His marriage was called off at the altar due to dowry issues. He and his family are embroiled in a dowry case which is going on.
I was shocked and wanted to know the entire truth but he never came clear about what exactly happened. He told me that he cannot think of marriage and the future and wants to keep it casual.
I was heartbroken and we fought a lot after which he suddenly stopped talking. After sometime he started talking again and said that he wants me back. He always makes plans to meet in hotels and spend nights with him. I started to grow distant, stopped taking his calls and tried to push him out. I also started to look out for matches, based on my age. I am 32, but nothing is materialising there. I started missing him and recently messaged him again. I lied to him that I am getting hitched and he said ‘okay let’s meet and spend a night together.’
I really don't know. I am amused that all he is really interested in is getting into my pants all the time. I am genuinely in love with him and he says it again now also he loves me. But his thoughts and words are not in sync. I am just not able to get over him. I have been trying hard since I decided to move on. Some thing or the other brings me back to him again and again. I am becoming more lonely, depressed all the more coz the marriage thing is also not picking up and I have no one.
Please help.

Ans:

Dear BG,
What does it tell you about a person when he chooses to hide the fact that he is a divorcee and that too with a reason like dowry?

Doesn’t this ring any bell for you as a sign to the fact that he possibly can never be trusted when he can’t come clean with his life story?

And now the complication of being physically involved has added a dimension that makes you want to be around him even more?

The very fact that you have written to me is because you are revaluating your thoughts about him and GOOD, you must and ask yourself:

Is he really worth my love, time and energy?

Has he done anything to earn my trust?

If it’s a big NO, you know that this guy isn’t the last man on the planet and that just because you are unable to find a suitable life partner, you need to settle for this man.

No, you don’t need to settle and pine for someone who has not bothered to take your feelings into considerations and not much of thought as to: if she finds out about my past, how will she react?

So let me be the one to tell her rather than she hear it from someone else.

Instead, he chooses to defend his decision of hiding this and to top it all stops talking to you.

Why exactly is he playing the victim when he isn’t? Because, he feels that it isn’t his problem and that it is yours and that you need to be making all the adjustments IF you want a future with him.

Did all this give you a good perspective?

Do the right thing and Love yourself. All the best.

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Ravi

Ravi Mittal  |722 Answers  |Ask -

Dating, Relationships Expert - Answered on Jul 10, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 26, 2025Hindi
Relationship
I have a online friend of over 3 years now. We were very good friends for 2 years but he always showed his interest in me indirectly which I always ignored because A he was going good in his career, his caste was different, and that I was still unclear about my career, including I was just overcoming from a previous 3 month dating. My friend also came to meet me twice in my city but I didn't meet him. Later, after nearly 2 years, I asked him how he was to which he saw text and replied after a day because he was too busy in work. Upon saying that I was curious he teased me whether he was my boyfriend and I got angry on him. He called to mend up after 8-10 days, I didn't respond and he never called again. After almost 10 months, I texted him, we immediately connected, felt emotional, I was about to confess, he realised this and told me he was in a casual dating phase with his junior for one month, had kiss, no further intimacy. But he constantly had feelings for me. I told him it was always him and I never thought about any other man. He regretted and felt that he in a way cheated on me, but I assured him that we were not committed, and he didn't know about my feelings. Now I am stuck what to do. We are yet to meet in September this year. He calls me, makes me laugh, but sometimes I just miss him a lot and need his emotional availability to address my thoughts and doubts about us. All he has to say is that I like you and I love you. I don't understand he is the samne old friend who used to understand me without me saying a word. Now doens't want to undo knots in my heart. Even though he is not a cheater, mature, and loving guy, I am not feeling the same as before. I cried for the first time because of him in 3 years only the day he told about he girl. I have always felt calm with this guy but now, I am doubtful.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I understand that it must be frustrating and confusing, but I am sure once you meet in person, you will have more clarity. Make sure to tell him how you feel and about your concerns. And ask any doubts you have in your mind about his intentions. It is the perfect opportunity to connect and clear your concerns.
Best wishes.

..Read more

Ravi

Ravi Mittal  |722 Answers  |Ask -

Dating, Relationships Expert - Answered on Jul 10, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 09, 2025Hindi
Relationship
I met a guy who was my realtor trying to sell me a property.the property was shortly purchased. Later on he took my personal number and started texting me in that. It was just a hi hello daily kind of thing. Soon it turned into 1hr calls at his office time and the calls happened every three days. He asked me to on a vacation with him and i agreed since both of us had a compatible thinking. Our conversations were casually flirty whenever it happened. Everytime i went to seey property he used to be there since it was his office too and made sure i was well taken care of. From few days i had started reciprocating his care for me. Recenty during a conversation i asked him to come to my city as our relationship status was not defined and i thought he wanted to spend some time with me as the vacation we were planning was postponed after a month. Yesterday during a conversation he told me he is married and i was shocked since he never talked about it and knew everything about me at this point from my family members. Now he says i did not want to hurt me and we are friends, we were taking the vacation as friends. But truth is i am hurt since i had just started reciprocating his flirtiness. I dont know what to do further as i know he has hurt me and he should not have flirted with me and should have told me he was married from beginning. He just said it never came in any conversations. I just confronted him as to why he did want to go on vacation with me when he has a wife. He just said he meant as friends and his marriage is complicated. Should i continue talking to him or end the so called friendship, because at one point i was sure he liked me, he praised me, called me beautiful, used yo stare at me when i was not looking.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I understand how confused and hurt you must be feeling. It was definitely wrong of him to lead you on, and never mention that he is already married. We don’t know the dynamics of his marriage, whether it is open or he is hiding all these from his. But I do get the sense that you do not want to be involved with a married person. So, going on this trip, even if he says it’s “as friends” can complicate things. I would suggest you think twice before continuing this “so called friendship” and also before going ahead with the trip plan. He might not care, but it can hurt you since your feelings are genuine.
Hope this helps.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11161 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 04, 2026

Money
I am 61 self Disciplined minimalist. I am now in SWP segment. 4% SWP and step up SWP are all okay and understandable but much worried on flip side which am often not thinking much. Considering next 30 years block 1. Inflation may also shoot up from 6% to 15% 2. Normally market crash once in 10 years assuming 30% crash 3. Recovery phase may take slow say 5 to 7 years 4. War natural calamities etc influence market once in 7 year 5.expected return may hit bottom from 10% With all this sequential risk, the worry is will my corpus empty earlier should I be with half starving and my SWP is good only in paper or any corrections needs to be done? Because when age grows, expenses can't be reduced, only rebalance the ratio from travel to utility like that So please guide me will my SWP corpus empty earlier, and should I do now as preparedness
Ans: Your concern is very valid and very mature. Most people focus only on returns, but you are thinking about risks like inflation, crashes, and long recovery. This is exactly what protects a retirement plan.

» The Real Risk – Sequence of Returns
Your worry is not wrong.

If market falls early in retirement and you keep withdrawing
Then recovery is slow
Corpus can reduce faster than expected

This is called sequence risk
And yes, this can impact SWP sustainability

But this can be managed with structure, not by stopping SWP

» Inflation Risk – Bigger Than Market Risk

If inflation moves from 6% to even 10–12%, pressure increases
Expenses rise continuously, but corpus may not match

Reality:

Inflation risk is permanent
Market crash is temporary

So your plan must protect against inflation first

» Is 4% SWP Safe?

4% is generally considered reasonable
But not “guaranteed safe” in all conditions

In your scenario (high inflation + poor returns):

4% may become slightly aggressive

Better approach:

Keep flexibility between 3.5% to 4%
Reduce withdrawal slightly during bad market years

» Biggest Protection – Bucket Strategy
This is the most important correction

Divide your corpus into 3 buckets:

Bucket 1 (0–5 years expenses)
Keep in safe instruments (liquid / low risk)
This funds your SWP
Bucket 2 (5–10 years)
Hybrid or balanced funds
Bucket 3 (10+ years)
Equity funds for growth

How this helps:

During crash, you do not touch equity
You spend from Bucket 1
Equity gets time to recover

This directly reduces sequence risk

» Dynamic SWP – Very Important Adjustment
Instead of fixed thinking:

In good years → continue or increase SWP
In bad years → pause increase or reduce slightly

Even a small 5–10% temporary cut:

Greatly increases corpus life

This is practical, not theoretical

» Rebalancing Discipline

Once a year, review allocation
When equity grows → shift some to safe bucket
This “locks gains”

This creates a natural buffer for future crashes

» Extreme Scenario Planning (Your Concern)
You mentioned:

30% crash
5–7 year recovery
High inflation

In such case:

Bucket 1 should cover at least 5–7 years expenses
This is your survival shield

If this is in place:

You will not be forced to sell at loss
Corpus will not empty early

» Expense Behaviour – Practical Reality
You are right:

Expenses don’t reduce easily with age
They only shift (travel → medical, lifestyle → essentials)

So plan should:

Keep medical buffer separately
Not depend on cutting expenses

» Mental Model Shift
Do not think:
“Will my corpus finish?”

Think:
“How do I protect withdrawals during bad phases?”

Because:

Markets recover
But wrong withdrawals during crash cause damage

» Final Adjustments You Should Do Now

Maintain 5–7 years expenses in safe bucket
Keep equity allocation for long-term growth
Use flexible SWP (not rigid)
Rebalance yearly
Be ready to reduce withdrawal slightly in extreme conditions

» Finally

Your fear is not overthinking, it is intelligent thinking
SWP does not fail because of market alone
It fails due to poor withdrawal strategy during bad years

If you structure your buckets and keep flexibility, your corpus can comfortably last 30 years and more without “half starving” situations.

You are already ahead because you are asking the right question at the right time.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |11305 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on May 04, 2026

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