Dear Anu, Off late i got in touch with my ex girlfriend. We planned to get married but it did not happen. We both are suffering from abusive spouses and underwent a lot of turmoil for last three decades. We both find solace in chatting and talking to each other. Should we continue to remain as friends?

Ans: What is your question exactly…whatever arrangement you have currently seems to be working for you, isn’t it? You’re a family unit, if not a couple and you have access to your kids too. If you’re craving a physical relationship with her as well, she has to be willing; she’s not. Maybe if she’s willing to attend couples’ therapy with you then you can salvage your relationship despite the divorce. But like I said, it takes two hands to clap. If this is all she wants, leave good enough alone and don’t rock the boat.

Ans: Dear Saibal,
Obviously after meeting after ages, the spark will be rekindled and your existing lives with your spouses are not going to look any great.
Ask yourself:
What will I risk by indulging into a connection outside of marriage?
How much of a connection do I want to have with my ex-flame?
Will I be able to keep to only a friendship?
Will my ex-flame also be able to draw the line where and when necessary?
Are we both going to be able to be mature about this and strictly maintain a connection that is healthy?

Also, it's okay to find peace by talking to one another; but don't get dependent on it. Find a way to seek that within relationships that are for keeps...otherwise, the focus will shift to maintaining the relationship outside of marriage and there will be less attention on the marriage. Then sooner than later, you will both find your marriage even more dull and boring.
I do not understand what you mean by 'abusive' partners as you have not provided enough data for me on this to use in my response to you...
Also, I am unaware if there are children involved in this equation on both sides...If YES, tread carefully as you do not want to be rocking the boat on that one...Children getting impacted at whatever age can be very tedious on them!

Bottom line: if both of you are mature about this friendship and not use each other as emotional crutches, then you know you are in the right place. Growing in any relationship and providing the space for the other to grow is a pillar that you should work on. Now you know, what you are looking at, right?

All the best!

Ans: Dear Anonymous,

It is normal for some people to have a soft corner for their ex-partner, but that's what it is. Just a corner; and it is barely ever romantic. It's nostalgia. But you cannot let them have your whole heart, because that isn't fair to your spouse. If you have lingering romantic feelings for your ex, it is best not to pursue a conversation with her. You have a happy married life, and so does she. Why ruin it for something that you left in the past? It might have been a mistake, but it is already done.


Plan to spend more quality time with your wife. Put in more effort to bring back the spark in your marriage. You live in the present and try to build a better future. Dwelling in the past has never gotten anyone anywhere.


Best Wishes.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,

It's amazing that you are supporting her through the breakup, but aren't we forgetting that you broke up too? I'm sure it must have been hard on you too. It is not your job to help her move on from a relationship that she chose to break. It's unfortunate that people have hurt her in the past, but again, the onus is not on you to fix it. You tried fixing something you did not break and that's awesome but don't break yourself in the process. If there were unresolved issues, the best course of action would have been to work on them first and get into a relationship later.

You have done as much as you can, but if it is too much for you, or you simply don't want to continue talking her through the breakup, you can stop right away. You don't owe your ex-partner your unconditional support. Please understand that.

Best Wishes.