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Love Guru

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Relationships Expert - Answered on May 30, 2022

Love Guru has been answering relationship and romance related questions on Rediff.com for over 13 years. She won't mince words when telling you what the problem is and what you can do about it. If you want a fresh perspective from an unbiased, objective-thinking individual about your relationship woes, Love Guru could just be the person you need to need to hear from.... more
Anonymus Question by Anonymus on May 30, 2022Hindi
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Relationship

Hello Love Guru.
Let me start with, please do not disclose my name/email.
That aside, I fell in love with my now wife about 3.5 years ago now but she feels like I betrayed her. The problem I created for myself.
When my first girlfriend broke up with me by cheating on me the day she moved away she accepted everything. This was someone who I back then thought was the one and the relationship went on for 5 years. I was down in a very bad way!
I struggled to come out of it for a couple years and during that I found out that I enjoyed any attention given to me by any beautiful girl. Even if the attention was just temporary flirting.
During my single days, while I was struggling with money and keeping a good job I found a girl who I knew from back in the day and she started flirting with me on day 1 which made me smile a lot.
A few weeks after that was the first time I met my now wife and somehow, I knew very quickly that I wanted this beautiful and powerful woman be the one I marry.
What I did stupidly is I thought harmless flirting is a non-issue and continued (only flirting and met three times in six months for food and drinks).
FYI, this girl knew that I wasn't interested and this was just fun and that I had started to feel love for someone else -- there was no physical intimacy of any kind with this girl. We were just going out to dates once every two months and would talk on phone at times.
The moment I realised that things were moving fast with my now wife, I stopped everything and just focused on my wife.
The problem is, I never told my wife fearing she wouldn't understand as she has a very narrow view of a relationship between man and woman.
Then one day, three years later, my wife decided to check my old drive and found backup of my old phone with about 5-8 pictures of the previous girl and me sitting in a restaurant, taking selfies and laughing.
My wife after this reached the conclusion that I betrayed her. My wife knows there was no physical intimacy, she knows she was just a friend but she still feels that I have betrayed her.
Since then she has moved to her parent's house and she refuses to come back with me. She says that she has no faith in me anymore and that I might do this again. She says that I was happier with that girl than I am with my wife.
What do I do? I don't want to lose my wife.

Ans:

I think this is a massive overreaction on her part.

You met a girl at the side a few times when you were dating your wife. So what?

Yes, I do think it was stupid to hide it from her and you should have come clean, but also what were you hiding exactly? It was a harmless meet-up with a female friend and nothing came of it!

Tell your wife to take her marriage a little more seriously and these silly circumstances a little less seriously and come home already!

If she’s this stuck-up about such small issues, I think she needs therapy.

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1757 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 19, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 19, 2024Hindi
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Relationship
Hi Anu, I am 47 year old. I have 2 kids one is in adolescent in age and other is 8 y.o. I and my wife are very much comfort and enjoy sex life since inception of our marriage. But, from last 7 years, i am in relation with a beautiful girl, whom i met as a sex worker, when she was 24. Her only source of income is her work (i.e., sex work). She is astonishingly beautiful. I went mad after since the day i met her. thought i could not do sex at first time, i did it in the next time and till now we mated just 7 times. She is epilepsy patient and she is very serious about her family. She has to look after her mother, a younger sister who is studying Law and two of her sister's kids ( her sister died ). She asks me for help whenever she falls short of money. She went to dubai in 2018, and continued her work there. I asked her to leave her job and assured a good income source and a respectful life. She hesitated to concur on my plan. The whole issue is known to my wife. She married an Indian residing in Dubai recently but for her bad luck, he is untraceable from 2 monhts in a war proned country. Now, she asked my help again after 8 months. we both were not in touch in these days. I lent her my helping hand again and expressed if she would have married me, i would have kept her happy. She loves me a lot, but since i am a married man, she does not want to create problem in my married life. I can convince my wife about her, but she (girlfriend) is not ready for it for the fear of my wife. I just can't imagine my life without her. that much i love her. I don't wish to destroy her married life either. If she gets her husband back, i will be happy, but i will be living in her memory forever, as i just cannot expect my life without her. I need your suggestion. whether to come out of her relation or continue if her hubby misses forever.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
You do realize the mess that you are creating for yourself, your wife and this lady?
Do you really think it is possible to live in harmony with all these complications and then there's an absconding husband at the other end?
Be sane about the whole thing and focus on what's important to you...Your children need a stable family environment and you do not need to be told how crucial this is for them given their age...And just because your wife isn't complaining that does not mean, you just overlook what all this must be doing to her. Put your life back together and leave some things alone to sort themselves out...

All the best!

..Read more

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |648 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Aug 09, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 07, 2024Hindi
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Relationship
Hi.. I am 49 yrs Male & married for 22 yrs with teenage kids.. I live abroad since 16 yrs.. Me & wife had arranged marriage in the same caste when we were in India.. After few months of marriage, my wife told me about her past relationship during collage and only reason she could not continue because of his father resistance( diff caste).. I belong to very middle class with no such precedence like this and felt bad . Later, I continued with her but always had feeling that she would compare the love & affection she got from him, with me.. I am not very romantic or expressive and like to live normal life..! We have little diff of opinion since beginning and will have fight almost every week.. Fast forward when all was going ok with 2 kids, busy work in abroad, I caught her cheating with the same person ( almost 17 yrs after they separated).. They found each other on social media and started talking. .. She being abroad & him in India, will call him daily in my absence for hours and they exchange explicit messages day in and out..! Once caught initially she regretted ( that too only after i got really mad & threaten to tell everyone) and it took us 2-3 yrs to comeback to terms mostly due to younger kids..!! Now 10 yrs later, i found her calling ( although he did not pickup) and now she is telling that she has emotional connection with him from the past while I could not build that connection with her.. She is not commit for anything and requesting me to continue as friend so we can get our younger one to collage and then see or separate. She is even ready to find me someone that fits my choice. I am in dilemma on what to do as i am not ready to forgive her but worried about kids future..! Even though we stay aboard, we have very close network of friends & family which we cant ignore..! I somehow feel to let it go but i get irritated that this is not the life i would like to live now & future. Can you pls advise some tips to move forward
Ans: it’s important to acknowledge that your feelings are valid. You’ve been patient and committed, but her actions have undermined the trust in your marriage. It’s not just about the past relationship; it’s about how her choices have affected your life and your sense of security in the relationship.

One option is to seek couples therapy. Even if your wife seems unsure about the future, a neutral third party can help facilitate conversations that might clarify what each of you really wants and needs. Therapy could also help in finding a way to co-parent effectively if you decide to separate.

If staying together for the kids is a priority, it’s crucial to establish clear boundaries and expectations moving forward. You need to decide what’s non-negotiable for you in terms of respect and honesty. If she’s truly committed to staying in the marriage until your kids are older, she needs to show that by cutting off contact with this other person and working on rebuilding your relationship.

However, if you feel that you can’t move past this betrayal or that staying will only lead to more resentment and unhappiness, it might be worth considering a separation. Kids are resilient, and it’s often better for them to see their parents happy apart rather than miserable together.

Ultimately, this decision is about what kind of life you want to live moving forward. You deserve a relationship where you feel valued, respected, and loved. Take your time to consider what will bring you the most peace and happiness in the long run, and don’t be afraid to prioritize your own well-being.

..Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1757 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Aug 21, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 12, 2024Hindi
Relationship
Hi Anu, I am 44 years old married Man with a 16 year old son. We had a love marriage, and I met my wife in college. She was beautiful when she was 18 and beyond gorgeous at 44 and has a very loving nature. She has attracted attention from young and old all her life and I know she would continue to do so. I also had the looks and charisma to woo a girl once upon a time, but years of work and family stress had made me an average middle-aged man. Around a year after our marriage, my wife had her first affair with a coworker, which I could find out immediately as in those days we used to have a common phone. She apologized and I forgot about it and never tried to dig deep into it. I later learnt she had developed a liking for a second coworker within a year (After I dig into the things that have happened to me over last 4-5 years). I still do not know if she had a second affair at that point of time, but she was in touch with that guy through messages and video calls till 2020. Our child was born 3 years after our marriage and for few years we had a harmonious relationship although we had our ups and downs. It was early in my career and I had taken a challenging job profile, where I was required to work for 10-12 hours on regular basis. I was there for her when she required but I was not omnipresent. There were times, when I neglected her as I was busy with my career. In addition, I slowly got more attached to my son, who was growing up and taking all the attention at home. In our relationship only she was complaining all the time and I simply kept doing things to please her. I wanted her to be independent and explore the world but residing under a same roof and raising the family and also allow me to achieve my career goals and fulfill the responsibilities of a Son. In between all these, we started to drift apart. Drifting apart didn’t mean we didn’t have sex or we became a non-functional family. We did have regular good sex 7 to 10 days apart and we travelled a lot together all these years as a happy family. Even after her known past affair, I never doubted on her integrity when she used to talk with her male friends/Office colleagues with doors closed. I got the first shock in our relationship, when she declined to move with me when I was transferred to a new location. I pleaded her to come with me as the location was on another corner of the country and it would not be possible for me to come and meet them even once in a month. But she didn’t agree. But God had other plans and after 2 years of living alone COVID stuck. During this period of uncertainty, she reluctantly agreed to move in with me. After I brought them with me, she kept avoiding me. She slept in a separate room and did not allow any kind of physical intimacy. This continued for about 4 months and then it stuck my mind :- Is she having an affair? One night I scanned all her call records, her facebook etc and I was devasted by what I found. She was having an affair with a guy who 12 years her junior and multiple hook-ups with others. When confronted she assured me she will end this but me and my Son caught her multiple times over the last 4 years even after the guy got married and relocated to another country. The last discovery was ugly as we had just come back from a vacation and my son just happen to find some obscene pictures of his mom sent to her married boyfriend. Even after all these, I try to remain calm most of the time as I did not want to disturb the peace of my home as my son is in most critical phase of his carrier. Over last 4 years, I did my part to become a better husband:- by giving her more time to understand her better, tried to listen to her, fulfilling all her wishes, help her in household chores, set her up in a new job etc. As on today, I have access to her phone, her email etc. Sometimes I feel I have made progress, but when it comes to bed, it all comes to naught. She’s really not the women I fell in love with. Over the years she has become very manipulative and secretive. She showers me with fake love to keep the family life going. She is otherwise a very dedicated Mother and takes good care of the house. There is no real love, no passion. When I question her, she asks me to go find love somewhere else. I think she has checked herself out of this relationship mentally quite sometime ago. I wonder how long I can handle this rejection on day to day basis. I still want to save this marriage where there is true spouse love. Do I stand a chance. - Anonymous
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
You should know by now that your wife has mentally checked out of the relationship. Yes, pieces and parts of her still linger around the family BUT how truly is she committed? Rather than skirting around the issue like the way it has been happening, why don't the two of you actually have an honest conversation about it?
There's a reason why she finds connecting with people outside of marriage rather actually share that emotional and physical space with you. Do you both not want to work on this and come to some sort of a conclusion here?
At least then you will know if there is any scope for reconciliation or things have gotten worse.
Having her phone and monitoring her, has it changed what she does? This is just keeping you and your son on the edge and I believe each of us is entitled to some peace in our lives, right?
So, now talk together and with one another...Know what she wants and clearly state what you want and then see for yourself where all this is leading to...

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

..Read more

Dr Upneet

Dr Upneet Kaur  |73 Answers  |Ask -

Marriage counsellor - Answered on Feb 26, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 15, 2025
Relationship
I am 46 years old male married for the fast 17 years. I have one son. My wife loves me very much. She is highly posessive about me since our marriage. I fell in love with my collegue who is a widower and 25 years of age with a daughter. She only started communicating and talking to me a lot. I was not having any kind of feelings towards her as I was overloaded with work. I got transferred to other place. There work pressure is not there. Now, I am in love with that widower. I told this to my wife also. She was shocked. After hue and cry, now my wife is back to normal and warned me to stay away from that girl.But I am not able to forget that girl. I called her over phone four to five times for a couple of times. It seems, now that girl is not interested in me. When I was with her, I never confessed that I love her. Now when I got transferred, i am keeping whats app messages which are visible only to her. I dont know whether she is not understanding this one, she is not responding. I dont want to cheat my wife and at the same time not able to forget that girl also. Please suggest me what to do.
Ans: Hello sir,
This is actually mid life crisis that you are going through, because of which you think you are having feelings for your colleague. Now that you have been transferred to a new place wirh new surroundings, take this as an opportunity to build new healthy relationships around you. You should start giving more quality time to your wife. She has given you a second chance. You should take it well and forget about your past as your colleague has also moved on now. I hope this will help you with your problem.
Take care
Dr Upneet kaur
Relationship counselor
https://www.instagram.com/dr_upneet

..Read more

Love Guru

Love Guru   | Answer  |Ask -

Relationships Expert - Answered on May 26, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 23, 2025
Relationship
I am 46 years old male married for the past 17 years. I have one son. My wife loves me very much. She is highly possessive about me since our marriage. I fell in love with my colleague who is a widow and 25 years of age with a seven years daughter. She only started communicating and talking to me a lot. I was not having any kind of feelings towards her as I was overloaded with work. Then, I got transferred to other place. There work pressure is not much as in the earlier section. Now, I am in love with that widow. I told this to my wife also but not told about this to that widow. After hearing this my wife was shocked. After hue and cry, now my wife is back to normal and warned me to stay away from that girl. But I am not able to forget that girl. I called her over phone four to five times. When I was with her, I never confessed that I love her. Now when I got transferred, I am keeping whats app statuses which are visible only to her. When ever I put up sad and love break up messages only that time she will respond by keeping whatsapp status otherwise she will be neutral. Whenever, I called her she replied and we spoke casually. Now, she also knows that I am loving her but not responding. I have deleted her mobile number but I remember it. Daily after leaving the house and before reaching the house I delete the number. I dont want to cheat my wife and at the same time not able to forget that girl also. Please suggest me what to do.
Ans: Time heals all wounds. And in this case, you definitely should let it. The girl is half your age and not interested in you. Be practical and value what you have — a wonderful family and loving wife who continues to tolerate you even after you confessed falling for someone else! This is not love my dear, it’s just a midlife crisis — an infatuation, nothing more.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10924 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 23, 2025

Money
Hi Sir, I started a SIP of 3k from 3months investing in Nipon India Small Cap fund. I started investing via \xis bank mobile app. Please suggest me if thats the safe way to do through bank app. And I am willing to start another SIP of 3k per month. Planning to do it on groww app. Please suggest some good SIP plans and guide me on how good and safe to start via groww app.
Ans: I appreciate your early step into disciplined investing.
Starting SIPs shows long-term thinking.
Beginning small builds confidence and learning.
Your willingness to ask questions is healthy.

» Your Current SIP Action Review
– You started SIP of Rs 3,000 monthly.
– SIP duration is three months.
– Investment is through a bank mobile app.

This shows good initiative.
Early habits shape future wealth.

» Understanding Your Chosen Fund Category
– The fund belongs to small-sized companies category.
– Such funds are high risk.
– Such funds give high volatility.

Returns can be uneven yearly.
Patience is very important here.

» Suitability Of Small Company Funds
– Small companies grow faster sometimes.
– They also fall harder during corrections.
– Not suitable as first-only investment.

Exposure should be limited initially.
Balance is essential.

» Starting Early
– You started without waiting for perfection.
– Many delay investing unnecessarily.
– Action matters more than perfection.

This mindset helps long-term success.

» Risk Awareness Is Necessary
– Small company funds fluctuate sharply.
– Short-term losses are common.
– Emotional control is required.

Three months is too short to judge.
Time horizon should be long.

» Minimum Suggested Time Horizon
– Such funds need at least seven years.
– Shorter periods cause disappointment.
– SIP helps reduce timing risk.

Consistency matters more than returns initially.

» Bank App As Investment Platform
– Bank apps are generally safe.
– Transactions are regulated.
– Holdings are stored with registrars.

Platform safety is not the main risk.
Investment choice matters more.

» Limitations Of Bank Apps
– Limited guidance provided.
– Product pushing is common.
– Advice is not personalised.

Banks focus on convenience.
Planning depth is usually missing.

» Bank Staff Support Limitations
– Staff change frequently.
– Knowledge levels vary.
– Long-term accountability is absent.

This affects continuity of advice.

» Safety Of Investments Versus Platform
– Funds are held in your PAN.
– Platform failure does not erase investments.
– Units remain safe with fund house.

So platform safety fear is minimal.
Decision quality matters more.

» Planning Another SIP Thought
– You want another Rs 3,000 SIP.
– Total SIP becomes Rs 6,000 monthly.

This is positive growth behaviour.
But structure needs correction.

» Platform Comparison Perspective
– You plan using another app.
– Such apps promote self investing.
– Guidance quality is limited.

Ease should not replace planning.

» Direct Platform Reality Check
– Such apps promote direct plans.
– Expense difference looks attractive.
– But hidden costs exist.

Cost is not only expense ratio.
Mistakes cost more.

» Disadvantages Of Direct Plans
– No personalised advice.
– No behaviour guidance during falls.
– No portfolio review support.

Investors act emotionally without guidance.
This hurts returns badly.

» Decision Errors In Direct Investing
– Panic selling during market falls.
– Overconfidence during rallies.
– Frequent fund switching.

These mistakes destroy compounding.
They are very common.

» Lack Of Accountability In Apps
– Apps do not call you.
– Apps do not stop wrong actions.
– Responsibility lies fully on investor.

This is risky for beginners.

» Why Regular Plans Add Value
– Guidance helps discipline.
– Asset allocation stays balanced.
– Behavioural mistakes reduce.

Value is beyond commission.
Support matters during volatility.

» Role Of MFD With CFP Credential
– Certified Financial Planner gives structure.
– Advice aligns with goals.
– Long-term handholding exists.

This improves investment experience.
Returns become smoother.

» Cost Versus Value Perspective
– Direct plans save small percentage.
– Wrong decisions lose big percentages.

Net outcome matters more.
Peace of mind matters too.

» Your Current Portfolio Concentration Risk
– Only one equity category exposure exists.
– Risk is concentrated.
– Diversification is missing.

This increases volatility risk.
Balance is needed urgently.

» Importance Of Diversification
– Different funds behave differently.
– Market cycles impact unevenly.
– Balance reduces shock.

Diversification improves consistency.

» Ideal SIP Structure For Beginners
– One aggressive component.
– One stable growth component.
– One flexible allocation component.

This spreads risk evenly.
Comfort increases automatically.

» Why Avoid Multiple Apps
– Tracking becomes confusing.
– Discipline weakens.
– Reviews become difficult.

One guided platform is better.
Simplicity improves adherence.

» Data Security Perspective
– Apps are regulated.
– Data security standards exist.
– Risk is minimal.

But advice quality remains missing.

» Behaviour During Market Corrections
– Small company funds fall sharply.
– Beginners panic easily.
– SIP stoppage becomes tempting.

Guidance prevents wrong reactions.

» Emotional Support Value
– Markets test patience.
– Fear appears suddenly.
– Someone must guide.

Apps cannot replace humans here.

» Why Starting With Only Small Companies Is Risky
– Volatility is high.
– Returns are uneven.
– Confidence may break early.

Balanced start builds trust.

» Gradual Exposure Approach
– Start with core stability.
– Add aggression slowly.
– Increase risk with experience.

This improves journey comfort.

» SIP Amount Increase Strategy
– Rs 6,000 is fine initially.
– Increase annually with income growth.
– Discipline matters more than amount.

Time creates wealth here.

» Tax Awareness Brief
– Equity funds tax applies on selling.
– Long-term gains have limits.
– Short-term gains are taxed higher.

Holding longer improves efficiency.

» Avoid Frequent Changes
– Switching funds harms compounding.
– Costs increase silently.
– Discipline reduces regret.

Stick to strategy firmly.

» Monitoring Frequency
– Review once a year.
– Avoid monthly checking.
– Noise causes confusion.

Long-term vision matters.

» Avoid Social Media Influence
– Tips are often misleading.
– Past returns are highlighted.
– Risk is hidden.

Structured advice avoids traps.

» Role Of Goal Mapping
– Define why you invest.
– Time horizon matters.
– Risk choice depends on goals.

Without goals, investing feels stressful.

» Emergency Fund Reminder
– Keep emergency money separate.
– Do not mix with SIPs.
– Liquidity is essential.

This prevents SIP stoppage.

» Insurance And Protection Check
– Health cover should be adequate.
– Life cover matters if dependents exist.

Protection supports investment continuity.

» Long-Term Wealth Mindset
– Wealth grows slowly.
– Patience beats intelligence.
– Process beats prediction.

Consistency wins always.

» Common Beginner Mistakes To Avoid
– Chasing last year returns.
– Using too many apps.
– Ignoring allocation balance.

Awareness saves money.

» How A CFP Helps In SIP Planning
– Designs suitable allocation.
– Reviews yearly changes.
– Guides during volatility.

This partnership adds value.

» Confidence Building Perspective
– You already started investing.
– You are learning actively.
– Improvement is natural.

This journey will get smoother.

» Platform Safety Final View
– Bank app is safe.
– App based platforms are safe.
– Investment safety lies with fund house.

Decision quality matters more.

» Final Insights
– Starting SIP is a good step.
– Small company exposure is risky alone.
– Diversification is necessary now.
– Avoid self-direct platforms initially.
– Regular plans with CFP guidance add value.
– Consistency and discipline build wealth.

You are on the right path.
Correct structure will improve outcomes.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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