Dear Diana,

My husband and I have been together since February and we don't know too much about each other. It's like we haven't made too much progress. I know we both really like each other but we usually don't talk. I told him not to be shy around me, that he can be himself and he just says he has nothing to talk about.

I don't want it to be like that I want us to be able to talk non-stop and I think it is because he is a little shy. Previously, I was in a two-year relationship with a guy who was au00a0 jerk, he used me and often verbally abused me and this relationship with my new guy is like a new start.

So I was wondering what I can do to have him open up to me more? He said that he has some trust issues. I want to become really close to him and I need to know how we can do this.

Name owithheld



Dear Friend,

You really ought to initiate conversations rather than wait for him to do so. You may need to draw him out of his shell. If you are sincere about making this marriage work, it will. Speak to him. Ask him what trust issues he has. Do any of them concern you? Tell him how you feel about him andu00a0 thatu00a0 you'd really like to get close to him without having to try too hard. Don't judge him and ask him not to judge you about your past. There's nothing you can do to change it anyway!

I love my cousin but can't marry her!

Dear Diana,

We have been together for a year, are committed to each other, and wish to wed this coming year. Trouble is, our families will never accept us because the girl I love is my cousin (in our caste, cousins don't marry each other). This is the biggest problem we face and are desperate to find a solution to it. I really love her!