My hubby takes advantage of my shy and silent nature

I've been married nine years and have two kids. I am quiet, shy, down-to-earth person; whereas my husband is the complete opposite.

My hubby takes advantage of my shy and silent nature

Dear Diana,
I've been married nine years and have two kids. I am quiet, shy, down-to-earth person; whereas my husband is the complete opposite. He is more verbal and loud. Initially, this made me fall in love with him; now it gets on my nerves. We were friends before we got married. He loved my shy and quiet nature and I fell in love with his talkative nature. I gel well with my in-laws. My only problem is my hubby and his rude and loud nature. The initial years were fun. Since the past four years, not so good. All our conversations end in him shouting and me

Illustration/ Sameer Pawar

not talking with him for days... sometimes, an entire month. I feel not talking to him is better option than arguing back and forth. Sometimes I feel he takes advantage of my quieter nature, but I can't seem to help it.u00a0 I usually don't like him raising his voice on me. We both work and are financially sound, but aren't happy anymore. I really don't know what our problem is at times.

Jessy

Dear Jessy,
Your incompatibility wasn't much of an issue when you were friends, even lesser so when you were wed. Something happened, of late, to make you angry enough to realise you married a guy who drives you mad (and not in the way you'd expect). That realisation should've struck you much sooner, no? In any case, tell him that he has to be understanding if he wants to stay with you. Your calmness will effectively counter his brashness.u00a0 He can't keep taking you for granted.

Can't make eye contact with women

Dear Diana,
Most of my interactions with women has me all afraid and withdrawn. Why is it so difficult for me to even make eye contact with women?

Ankur Shah

Dear Ankur,
A bad experience in the past may have led to withdrawal from an experience most men find commonplace. While some men only get tongue-tied in the presence of someone they're attracted to, being afraid of women in general, could mean a dominant female force in your life had a profound effect on you.

Psycho girlfriend sister alert!

Dear Diana,
My girlfriend's sister recently told me she had a crush on me and that she found it difficult to be around when her sis and I were making out. She says it drove her so jealous that she has thought of killing her, at times. I've tried to tell her that I love her sister very much and might even marry her, but that has only made her madder. She says she will never rest until I am hers. I am worried for her and myself.

Akela

Dear Akela,
I'm sure it's all infatuation and nothing more and a phase that will outgrow itself in time. Of course, in the meantime, I suggest you confide in your girlfriend/close friend/ or one of the elders in the house to keep an eage eye out for her. Considering you intend to marry into the family, not clearing this matter up now will create undue controversy later. I don't think she's out of her mind or anything; neither would I discount her fooling around as if this were some sort of weird 'test' of sorts. I'd suggest dealing with this matter quite sensitively and promptly. You don't know what you're up against. And the quicker you know, the better.