Hello,this is about a very close relative who has suddenly found that her husband,a highly placed government official,has fallen for an attractive news reporter,and is bent upon marrying her at any cost. He confessed that he has not been doing a right thing but is feeling helpless in the matter. He is forcing her to sign for mutual divorce as well,but the wife has refused point blank. They have a kid,just 4 years old with a medical issue,and his care requires both the parents to be together.The lady doesn’t work and is totally dependent on her husband’s income and house. Kindly advise some remedial actions for the lady.

Anu, I saw your podcast on Rediff Are you being forced into marriage? My cousin is deeply in love with someone from her college. Both are 21, recently graduated. My uncle has clearly refused to accept them and is planning to send her abroad to live with our great uncle in Canada. We are a conservative family. Once she reaches Canada they plan to marry her off because she is being emotionally manipulated by our family. I know because I went through something similar. I couldn't contact my boyfriend and he was sent away to another city to look for a job. I waited for him but we couldn't communicate. Thankfully my husband understood and gave me time to accept him. I don't want to take that risk for my sister. I really want to help my cousin as her Canadian visa has already arrived. The boy belongs to a poor family and doesn't have a job yet. He has two elder sisters who are also dependent on him. He is a loving, hard working guy but they will need a few years to be financially independent. How can I help my sister? Please help.

Hi Madam, I am seeking your advice regarding my brother’s situation, as our family is going through a very difficult time. My brother was in a relationship with a girl who is 14 years younger than him. Their relationship began when the girl was very young — possibly in her early teens, around the time she was studying in 8th standard. What seemed like an early-age attraction eventually continued for more than 10 years. The girl’s family was aware of their relationship, but our family came to know about it only later. After nearly a decade of being together, my brother told us that he wanted to marry her. This came as a shock to us, and initially, our family (my parents, my sister, and I) did not agree to the marriage due to several reasons — including the significant age gap and the emotional immaturity that often comes with such early relationships. For two years, we tried to convince him to reconsider his decision, but he was determined to go ahead. Eventually, we accepted his choice, and the marriage took place. Unfortunately, after the wedding, they never lived together — not even for a single day. Soon after the marriage, the girl left to prepare for exams for about eight months. Over time, she completed her master’s degree and seemed to have developed a new perspective on life. Later, she informed him that she no longer wished to continue the marriage, saying she had lost her feelings for him and wanted a divorce. My brother still loves her deeply and wishes to continue the relationship. He is even ready to accept all her conditions, including her desire to work. However, the girl remains firm on her decision to end the marriage. Both families have now consulted lawyers, and while the girl’s family is pressing for a divorce, my brother continues to hope that she will change her mind and return. He is now 39 years old, and our family is very concerned about his emotional and mental well-being. He has become withdrawn, unable to move on, and still lives in the hope of reconciliation. Our aged parents are deeply distressed, seeing him suffer and unwilling to accept reality. We sincerely seek your guidance on how we can help him let go of the past, accept the situation, and rebuild his life with peace and positivity. Thank you for your time and advice.