We saved every penny... now he has gone splurging

My husband and I shifted to Mumbai last year from Indore. He took up a job and we have taken a rented place at Mira Road

We saved every penny... now he has gone splurging

Dear Diana,
My husband and I shifted to Mumbai last year from Indore. He took up a job and we have taken a rented place at Mira Road. We have been saving for months for our own place. We have even postponed having a baby. Last week we were at a mall in Malad, his sister (who is visiting us) set her sights at a branded watch. That night when we reached home and about to go to bed, he pulled out a box containing the watch. I was shocked. It cost R 15,000! And his sister gladly took it. I would have felt so guilty even accepting it. I told him what a waste it was. This irritated him and we had an argument. He says he picked it up for his little sister as she was eyeing it. When I told him that this would push our savings back, he retorted, "You will not understand what it is to have a sister!" What does he mean? I am such a fool to save all this while, when he goes around splurging. I am so angry.
-u00a0Trupti

Illustration/Satish Acharya

Dear Trupti,
Your outburst is justified but you are in a tricky situation as he has got the gift for his sister! No man will take anything in his stride when it comes to his sister and that too a younger one! One, you just let him be and tell him that the next time tell him clearly he can't go on such a splurge. Second, tell him you were a fool to be on a tight budget. What if you had fancied something similar and bought it. I am sure he would have stopped you in your tracks. Chances are that you wouldn't have let yourself go.u00a0 Right now till his sister is there, do not strike any further conversation on the subject. Only after she leaves, knock sense into his head. He will then realise it. Explain to him that he could have got a watch of another brand of lesser value.

I love him... but how do I say it?

Dear Diana,
I am in love with an office colleague but I don't know how to tell him. I am sure he is clueless about me as we don't know each other. We have never been formally introducedu00a0-- that's the problem. How do I make my first move without making him feel like I have fallen for him?
-u00a0Tina

Dear Tina,
Come on girl, there are so may ways you can strike a conversation with him and try and get him hooked (to the conversation at least!). At the coffee machine, make it a point to be there when he is around and start a conversationu00a0-- about the coffee. Or people who he knows and you know can introduce you to him. Discuss the boss, the colleague, the canteen, the AC cooling.... there are no dearth of office topics!

I don't want a big fat wedding

Dear Diana,
I am 28 years old and about to get married. I don't want my marriage to be a grand affair. I would rather opt for a small ceremony with select guests. The girl's side is okay with it. But my parents won't accept it as they feel how can they omit people from their guest list. They think relatives will get upset if you don't invite each and every one? How do I get my way. The problem is that I am the only child.
-u00a0Ravish

Dear Ravish,
You may want it to be a quiet, simple affair and that's great. But as you state you are the only child, so a lot of hopes have been pinned on to your big day. It is a tall task convincing them to make it a small affair. They will never agree and tell you we have attended so many weddings, now it is our turn to reciprocate the gesture and invite everyone. You need to draw a middle path. Tell your folks to have just one event and not have any pre-wedding events. I am sure they will agree to this. Also, tell them not to splurge a lot on gifts and other stuff. I am sure they will understand and at the same time you will make everyone happy. Here's wishing you marital bliss.