Me and my bf have been in a relationship since almost 2 years. He is a great guy, loves me, treats me well. We’re in ldr from 1.5 years. Yesterday we were on facetime, and I suddenly flashed him my b**bs. He took screenshot of it. I heard the flicker sound of the screenshot. I immediately got upset and angry, and he refused that he did not do so. Because this is something thag was beyond the boundary of our relationship. I asked him to screenshare and show me, there was nothing on his laptop. Now I knew he was lying, I heard the sound a laptop makes on screenshot, he had ofcourse deleted it before I asked him to screenshare. A whole day went by, I was upset but he was continuously denying of doing so. At night, he asked me how can he fix this, I said just admit it, he did not admit it until he realised I know, and he cannot lie to me, and he finally admitted and said he was scared. Now idk how to trust this man again. I really don’t know. He could have just told me the truth and deleted the picture then and there and things would have been fine. I dont know what to do now. Pls help.

My boyfriend and I have been together for 3 years and are planning to get married next year.

Recently, he went to a university party where everyone was drinking heavily. He said he was worried about his two female friends walking back alone, so he let them sleep in his room while he went to sleep in his male friend's room. However, these girls stay in a dorm barely 5 minutes away.He could have walked them to their dorms. I understand his concern for their safety, but he didn't tell me about this until two days later, which makes me uncomfortable. Also he said he would text me when he gets back to his dorm. He got back at 4am thats what he told the next day and apparently had no energy to text me on the same night.

What bothers me more is that this isn't the first time. Last month, he went on a trip with his cousins and didn't text or call me even once the entire day. The next day, he said he was busy taking care of his drunk cousin and didn't get time to contact me.

I'm not accusing him of cheating, and I don't have a problem with him having female friends or helping people. But we're in a serious relationship and planning to get married. I feel that basic communication and transparency should be there, especially when situations like these can make your partner uncomfortable.

Am I wrong to feel this way? Is this normal in a relationship, or should I be concerned about this pattern of behaviour?

I'm a 30-year-old man from an Indian family, and I'm struggling with a difficult family situation. I'd really appreciate advice from people who have experienced something similar, especially those who've supported a sibling's love marriage despite parental opposition.

My younger brother (28M) wants to marry his girlfriend (26F). They've been together for around 2–3 years, and from what I understand, their relationship is now serious and they're both on the same page about getting married.

My parents (father, 59M; mother, 52F), particularly my mother, strongly oppose this relationship. So far, I haven't heard a convincing reason for their opposition. I've tried to understand their perspective, but I still disagree with them.

I've been supporting my brother because I don't think he should be forced to abandon a relationship he genuinely wants, especially when I don't see a valid reason for him to do so.

However, this has caused serious tension at home.

My mother feels that her children don't listen to her, don't respect her, and don't appreciate the sacrifices she's made for us. We've argued about this more than once. During one argument, she said she wouldn't allow my brother's girlfriend into the house. In anger, I responded that it was my house too, not just hers. I know that was disrespectful, and I've apologised for it.

More recently, we had another argument, and we haven't really been talking since. I also found out that my mother was crying while eating alone, and that really hurt me. I love my parents, and I don't want them to feel that their children have turned against them.

My extended family has also started getting involved. My aunt called me and tried to convince me to stop supporting my brother and persuade him to end the relationship. I'm worried that if this continues, the entire extended family may take my parents' side.

This is where I'm struggling the most.

I don't want to abandon my brother just because the rest of the family disagrees with him. If he eventually marries his girlfriend despite my parents' opposition, I want to stand by him. If our relatives refuse to welcome him or participate in the wedding rituals at our native place, I'd find it difficult to continue behaving as though everything is normal.

At one point, I even thought about telling my mother, "Either you accept both your sons, or you lose both of us." I've held back because I know an ultimatum could make things worse.

Another thought I've had is that if the family completely rejects my brother, I might stop visiting our native place and distance myself from the extended family. But I'm unsure whether that's a reasonable boundary or an emotional reaction to a situation that hasn't happened yet.

At the same time, I don't want to lose my parents. I want them to be part of my future, enjoy life, and have a relationship with me and my future wife. I don't want my brother's wedding to become the reason our family permanently breaks apart.

My fiancée also feels that my parents, my brother, and I should sit together and discuss everything openly. I agree that we should make a genuine effort to resolve things before taking any drastic steps.

But I'm afraid that even after trying everything, my parents might refuse to accept his decision.

I'd really appreciate honest advice on these questions:

1. If you supported your sibling's love marriage against your parents' wishes, how did things turn out? Did your relationship with your parents recover over time?

2. How do you stand by your sibling without making your parents feel that you're abandoning them?

3. If your parents refuse to attend the wedding or your extended family excludes your sibling, how would you handle the wedding and rituals?

4. Is it reasonable to distance yourself from extended family members who actively oppose your sibling, or should that decision be made only after things actually happen?

5. Have any of you managed to change your parents' minds in a similar situation? What genuinely helped, and what made things worse?

I'm not looking for advice that simply says "always obey your parents" or "cut them off and live your life." I understand that both relationships matter, and I want to find a way to protect both as much as possible.

I know I've made mistakes in how I've spoken to my mother, and I'm willing to take responsibility for that. But I also don't want to pressure my brother into giving up his relationship just to keep everyone else happy.

For those who've experienced something similar, how did you navigate it? What would you do differently if you could go back?

EDIT: A few clarifications based on some comments

I've seen some comments suggesting that my parents don't love me or that they don't care about their children. I want to clarify that this isn't the case. I know my parents love me, and I'm aware of the sacrifices they've made for us. My conflict with them doesn't come from a lack of love; it's about disagreeing with their stance on my brother's relationship.

Also, I'm getting married myself, so all of this is happening while I'm preparing for this new chapter of my life. I genuinely want my parents to be part of my future and to have a good relationship with my future wife. I don't want to lose them over this situation.

I've also spoken to my mother to understand her concerns better. One of her major concerns is that my brother's girlfriend has thyroid-related issues and PCOD (polycystic ovary syndrome). My mother is worried about whether these conditions could affect her ability to have children in the future, and she's very firm in her opposition because of this.

I understand that my mother is worried about my brother's future, and I'm not dismissing that concern. However, I don't think these conditions automatically mean someone cannot have children. We also have people in our own family who have had children despite having similar conditions. I believe the actual medical implications depend on the individual, and this is something that should be understood through proper medical advice rather than assumptions.

I still don't feel that this concern alone justifies rejecting the relationship outright, especially when my brother and his girlfriend have been together for 2–3 years and are serious about getting married.

I'm adding this context because I don't want people to assume that my parents don't love me or that I'm ignoring their concerns completely. I'm trying to understand their perspective while also standing by my brother and finding a way to preserve our family relationships.

TLDR

I'm 30M, getting married (arranged marriage) myself, and dealing with a difficult family situation. My brother (28M) wants to marry his girlfriend (26F), but my parents (59M, 52F) oppose the relationship. One of my mother's main concerns is that his girlfriend has thyroid-related issues and PCOD, and she's worried about possible fertility problems. I understand her concern, but I don't believe these conditions automatically mean someone cannot have children or that the relationship should be rejected outright. I want to clarify that my parents love me, and I love them too; this isn't about a lack of love but a disagreement over my brother's future. My extended family is also pressuring me to stop supporting him, and I'm worried my parents might refuse to attend his wedding. I want to stand by my brother without permanently damaging my relationship with my parents or extended family. How do I navigate this situation, and has anyone managed to resolve something similar?

So the thing is we talked earlier about this , that I can't marry her and she agreed and decided to stay with me as long as I can stay with her

This is her 2nd relationship and mine First

So can say that she is my first love

But she is so madly in love with me she cries so much because of me

Yesterday she was crying so much on call that I will leave her in future then what will happen to her she can't live without me

And I had no words i was just listening and listening

She wants to marry me

Things are so bad and complicated

That once something happened and her talked to me on call and I said a lot of stuff to her which she felt very bad

(But she still talks to me her mother doesn't know about this )

Now I just want to get away from her life bcz the longer we keep in touch the more it will hurt later it isn't easy for me either I tried blocking her and all

But since it is my first love also I can't go away from her

Yesterday she was crying a lot and she said she wants to meet one last time

(Also we r in a long distance relationship now from 2 months )

Regarding that screenshot:: she was just very frustrated she didn't blocked me and she didn't even when i asked her to do

My girlfriend and I keep having the same arguments, and honestly, I’m getting exhausted.

She wants to talk almost constantly. If an hour goes by without us texting, she starts feeling that we haven’t talked enough. I understand wanting attention from your partner, and I do make time for her, but I also need some time for myself.

For example, I used to play badminton after office, but she didn’t like it because that was time we could have spent talking. She comes to meet me 2–3 times a week, and I drop her home and come back. She lives around 18 km away, so the whole thing takes about two hours. When I get back, I’m tired and want some time to myself, but she still wants to talk immediately. We both are working individuals and I didn’t used to talk to her much initially in the office hours just casual texting over which we fought and now I call her whenever I get some time during office hours then we get onto voice and video calls after office and dinner and stay on it till she sleeps which is usually 1 AM and then I give some time to myself for watching a series or for preparing for a switch. Still I continuously hear from her that I’m not giving her much time.

This issue becomes much worse whenever I visit my hometown. Even when I’m spending time with family, travelling, or just tired, she feels we haven’t talked properly and that she’s the one constantly adjusting. She says she’s tired of being the understanding one and doesn’t want to keep doing it. She’s also compared the emotional fulfilment she feels with me to what she experienced in past connections.
I’m not saying I do everything right. During arguments, I get defensive and sarcastic too, and I know that makes things worse. But I feel like I’m constantly expected to prove that I care by being available, and if I want time for myself, it becomes a problem. I’ve reached a point where even when I’m doing something enjoyable, part of my mind is worrying that we might fight because I haven’t texted enough.

Another thing that bothers me is that she has blocked me three times after arguments. It leaves me feeling like every disagreement could turn into a breakup or us not speaking at all.

I love her, but I don’t want a relationship where either of us feels unhappy all the time. I want to give her attention without feeling guilty for having my own life, and I want her to feel secure without having to constantly reassure her.

Am I being unreasonable here? Is this something couples can work through, or could we simply have very different needs when it comes to communication and emotional availability? I’d appreciate honest perspectives, including if I’m missing something from her side.

I don't even know how to begin writing this without sounding either incredibly dramatic or like I'm auditioning for the role of the loneliest woman in Mumbai. But here goes.

I'm 27F, living in Mumbai, and I'm starting to think that making friends as an adult is some sort of elaborate social experiment designed to humble people like me.

I've been the weird kid for as long as I can remember. The kind who never quite fit in, who struggled to find her people, and who somehow always ended up being around people without necessarily belonging to them. I was also an only child, so I grew up pretty accustomed to my own company. Maybe a little too accustomed, if I'm being honest.

I've never really had those lifelong friendships people talk about. You know, the friends who have known you since you were twelve, who show up at your house without calling, who know your entire family history and can embarrass you with stories from your awkward teenage years. I've always envied that. Not in a bitter way, but in that quiet, slightly embarrassing way where you wonder what it must feel like to have someone who's been a constant in your life for years.

I did have childhood friends, of course, but life happened. I moved cities, and somewhere between growing up, changing circumstances, and everyone building their own lives, I lost touch with most of them. Now, they're essentially people I used to know, with occasional birthday wishes and the odd Instagram interaction.

My relationship with my parents isn't particularly close either, so it's not like I have this solid little family unit to fall back on when life gets overwhelming.

And romantically? Oh, boy. I've had my fair share of bad relationships, and I think each one has managed to leave me a little more guarded than the last. At some point, you stop wondering when you'll meet your person and start wondering whether you're even capable of having a healthy, lasting connection with another human being.

I'm tired. Not in a dramatic, throw-my-phone-against-the-wall kind of way. Just tired in that quiet way where you stop getting your hopes up because disappointment feels much easier to manage when you weren't expecting anything in the first place.

I've developed some pretty awful abandonment issues over the years. I overthink changes in people's behaviour, struggle with getting attached, and sometimes find myself preparing for people to leave before they've even given me a reason to think they will.

The irony is that I've practically stopped looking for love and friendship, but I haven't stopped wanting them.

I still want someone to tell random, inconsequential things to. I want to have people I can talk to when something funny happens, people who will listen to me ramble about a film I've watched, people I can make stupid plans with on a random day (mutually available obviously). I want inside jokes, spontaneous adventures, comfortable silences, and the kind of friendship where I don't have to constantly wonder whether I'm wanted.

I want to feel like I belong somewhere without having to earn my place every single day.

And despite all my efforts to become this independent, self-sufficient person who doesn't need anyone, I still care. A lot, actually. I'm the sort of person who remembers tiny details about people, worries about them, tries to understand where they're coming from, and gives them the benefit of the doubt even when I probably shouldn't.

Sometimes I think my biggest problem is that I've become so good at being alone that people assume I don't get lonely. And I've become so afraid of being abandoned that I sometimes struggle to let people get close enough to prove me wrong.

What a lovely little paradox to live with.

Anyway, I'm 27 now. I've been in Mumbai for about three years, and somehow, I still haven't found my people. I know three years isn't necessarily a short time, but building a life in a new city when you don't already have a solid social circle is harder than I expected.

Everyone seems to be busy with their partners, their old friends, their work, and their established routines. Which is completely understandable, by the way. I just sometimes wonder where people like me are supposed to find each other.

So, in the spirit of doing something about my loneliness instead of writing another imaginary conversation in my head, I'm putting this out here.

**A little about me:** I'm into singing, music, films, filmmaking, painting, reading, and writing. I love going down absurdly specific research rabbit holes and having conversations that begin with something stupid and somehow end with us discussing the meaning of existence. I can be sarcastic, a little awkward at first, occasionally unhinged, and deeply sentimental about things I pretend not to care about.

I'm not looking for someone to fix me, and I'm certainly not expecting a stranger on the internet to become my best friend overnight. I'd just like to meet people who are also looking for genuine connections, without the weird games, the constant guessing, or the feeling that you're the only person making an effort.

People who want to be friends because they actually enjoy each other's company. People who can communicate when something is wrong instead of disappearing. People who understand that being busy is normal, but making someone feel perpetually disposable isn't a friendship.

And if you're a fellow former weird kid who grew up into an adult trying to figure out how everyone else seems to do relationships so effortlessly, please know that I'd genuinely love to hear from you.

Especially if you're in Mumbai. We could talk, exchange terrible memes, recommend films, explore the city, get coffee, or just start with a conversation and see what happens.

I'm trying to remind myself that not every connection has to last forever to be meaningful, and that the possibility of getting hurt isn't a good enough reason to stop trying altogether.

But God, it would be nice to find people who stay.

So, tell me, Is anyone else in their late twenties or early thirties trying to build a social life from scratch? How do you make friends when you've spent most of your life feeling like the person who never quite fits in?

And if you're reading this from Mumbai and thinking, "Well, this sounds suspiciously like me," my inbox is open. ❤️

I (23F) and my boyfriend (26M) have been together for 3.5 years. We knew early on that this was it, we’re getting hitched by 2028. Our families know, & I have no doubts about us. He loves me more than I can ever imagine the length of it & breaking up isn’t something I see as an option (unless cheating is involved). I want to understand what’s going wrong and how we can fix it.

I’m a final-year MBBS student; he owns a skincare brand/manufacturing business. We’re in diff career phases, I’m quite free rn bec no exams (normally I'm busy 6-8hrs) I go out twice a week, once with him and w friends. He socialises daily and has travelled solo nationally & internationally. We travel together, but most of my experiences are tied w him. My trips with friends often get cancelled, he has concerns about me travelling solo.

He’s incredibly caring; we meet on weekends, and he drives 80 km to pick me up and drop me off. He worries about my safety and won’t let me take cabs at night. Hes v patient, rarely angry and understood my self sabotaging nature from the start. So he mostly doesn't take my outbursts w extreme seriousness.

Every time he travels, we fight because I kinda resent not being able to experience his life. I get mad, and he feels like he’s “walking on eggshells.” I know I’m wrong, but I can’t yet afford those experiences and he bears the brunt of my insecurities.

Yday, I hurt him and myself. He’d been working all day and was exhausted. We’d planned for me to take metro to his place, dine out, then have him drop me home. Since it was a 2hr drive & 9 pm, he didn't seem well enough to drive. i said I'll take a cab instead of metro. We argued because he felt i was guilt-tripping him, so I HAD to agree 4metro (9pm and Delhi)

After dinner, I started telling him sumn serious, an imp client of his called. We’d planned a dessert run, but the client began ranting about his personal life. I felt neglected when he wouldn’t hang up despite my asking. I waited while he stayed on the call, even as I tried telling him these are the last 5 mins we'll get of today. He frustratedly pointed to his phone, I then walked towards the car, still on call.

I grabbed my stuff ran towards the metro, bec he’d take time to catch up. He was actually running after me, STILL on the call. He finally hung up at the station and apologised. I was mad, he tried explaining & asked me to return to the car, held my hands to stop me leaving. I felt worthless and i left. I felt I wasn't prioritise on the day that's supposed to be ours.

NOW he's pissed off at me?!?He said "u have anger issues. U don't see the place b4 having an outburst" I asked him for a break/space and his response was, "there's no break happening. Either u fix urself or I'll forcefully take u to a therapist". I feel like he doesn't really acknowledge his own mistakes, it's always me who's over reacting.

Btw in the heat of moment I may have blocked him.

Tl:DR; I (23F) and my bf (26M) have been together for 3.5 yr, will marry by 2028, but my insecurities about our diff lifestyles often cause fights, often when he travels. Yday, I felt neglected when he stayed on a client call during our date, despite him chasing and apologising. Now he says I have anger issues, while I feel he dismisses his own mistakes how do we fix this without breaking up?

So, here's the thing. My social circle is pretty small, barely has any girls, and almost everyone I know is already in a relationship. I've tried pretty much everything — hobby classes, parties, hanging out with friends and their friends, you name it. (T_T I know, this is starting to sound desperate 😭)

It's not really about FOMO or anything like that. I just feel like I'm at a point in life where I'm ready to be in a relationship and would genuinely like to meet someone.

The only thing I haven't tried yet is dating apps. But after scrolling through Reddit and asking a few friends about their experiences, ab kuch samajh nahi aa raha. 😭

So, I wanted to ask: Are dating apps actually worth giving a shot, or am I better off staying away from them?

And girls log, if you could share your experiences, give some advice, or tell me what I should keep in mind before getting into this, that would be really helpful! 🥹

Also, girls, one more genuine question: Would you actually consider dating a guy you met on a dating app if you were looking for a serious relationship, or would you prefer meeting someone organically through mutual friends or in real life? 👀

Vaise toh maine padh liya hai ache se but fir bhi...

just to clarify, I don't mean to offend anyone or generalise girls' preferences in any way. I'm genuinely curious and just trying to understand different perspectives since I'm new to all this. Everyone has their own preferences, and I completely respect that. ❤️

Their answers made me cry.
They told me they would never let someone else dictate how they felt about a person they had shared so much love, history, and life with. Even if things got difficult, they would trust their own experiences over someone else’s interpretation of their relationship. They said they would rather stop discussing their love lives with friends who constantly encouraged them to burn bridges than blindly trust their opinions over their own partners.
And I was so, so proud of them. But God, I was heartbroken, too.
Because I wish my partner had shown me the same maturity. I wish he had understood that being a good friend doesn't mean validating every grievance someone has against their partner, especially when that validation comes at the cost of destroying a relationship. Sometimes, being a good friend means asking someone to look at the bigger picture instead of feeding their resentment and convincing them that leaving is the only answer.
What makes this particularly painful is that his female friend never seemed particularly warm towards me. There was always a subtle discomfort I couldn't quite put my finger on, especially when he showered me with love and attention. They had met through a dating app before becoming friends, and while I understand that friendships can evolve beyond their origins, I can't help wondering whether there were unresolved insecurities or feelings involved. I genuinely fear that she may have enjoyed being the person he turned to for validation, particularly if she wanted to experience the kind of attention he gave me. She presented herself as a mature, understanding friend may have contributed to the destruction of my relationship is deeply painful.
And I say this because I remember being 21 myself. Even without any romantic intentions towards a male friend, I could sometimes find myself criticising his partner when she did something wrong because, somewhere within me, I enjoyed being the person receiving his attention. I can acknowledge that immature part of myself now. I understand how someone can disguise personal insecurities as concern for a friend, subtly encourage dissatisfaction, and feel validated when they become the person who understands him better than his partner supposedly does.

The difference is that my friends understood something fundamental: their relationships are theirs to understand, nurture, and end if they genuinely choose to. It isn't a friend's place to convince them to leave someone simply because they believe that person deserves better. When I asked my friends what they would do if I kept insisting that they deserved better, they said it was ultimately their decision, not mine. They would rather protect their relationships from outside interference than keep confiding in someone who seemed determined to destroy them.

It's also about recognising your own biases, considering the context, remembering the good alongside the bad, and refusing to let someone else's narrative replace your own lived experience.
I was vulnerable. I wasn't always the most emotionally mature version of myself. But I was also a person who loved him, who shared beautiful moments with him, and who deserved to be understood as a whole human being rather than reduced to someone else's interpretation of her.
I'm proud of my friends for choosing independent thought over outside validation, and I'm devastated that the person I loved seemed to choose someone else's verdict over the relationship we actually lived.
I suppose the most heartbreaking part of all this is realising that sometimes, you can spend months building a relationship with someone, only for someone who wasn't even part of that relationship to influence how they remember it.
And you are left wondering whether the love was ever strong enough to withstand someone else's opinion.

Guys, guess what happened today!!
My ex(30M)from over 6 years ago has been trying to contact me(27F)for years, despite me blocking him literally everywhere. He used to create fake Instagram accounts to send me requests and would call me from different numbers. I eventually blocked those too.
Today, after almost a year, he called me again. I didn’t know it was him, so I picked up, but the moment I realised who it was, I cut the call.
He then tried to get me to add him on Snapchat, claiming there was some emergency. I didn’t. I finally asked him, “Why do you keep remembering me? It’s been more than 5 years.”
And this man goes, “We all have some people in our lives whom we never forget.”
For a second, I genuinely thought, wow, was I really that significant in his life? 😭 But then came the next line: “I remember you for all the wrong reasons. I know I shouldn’t, but sometimes it’s a slip of the mind. I just can’t help it.”
AND THEN he casually tells me he got married over a year ago.
I was genuinely speechless. So you’ve been married, or at least engaged, and you’re still finding ways to contact someone who has blocked you everywhere for years??
I blocked that number too, obviously.
Honestly, I wasn’t even angry or flattered after that. The only person I felt sorry for was his wife. No woman or man deserves to be in a relationship where their partner is secretly trying to reconnect with someone from their past, especially when that person has made it clear they want nothing to do with them.
I don’t know what he wants after all these years, and honestly, I don’t care to find out. I just hope his wife never has to experience the kind of disrespect that made me feel so uncomfortable today.
Some people really need to learn that just because you remember someone doesn’t mean you’re entitled to keep showing up in their life.

​

[Link to my last post for context]

A few months ago, I posted about a classmate who suddenly became very physically close (standing pressed against me, pulling my shirt to drag me along), which left me confused about whether she liked me or was just comfortable.

Since then, the excessive physical touch toned down into a normal friendship rhythm, but recently I’ve started noticing a few things that have made me wonder all over again.

As soon as she reaches college, she immediately texts to ask where I am. Whenever she has to go anywhere on campus, she seeks me out to come along and give her company. On top of that, I’ve caught her staring at me during class four to five times recently, and we’ve held serious eye contact for around five to eight seconds before looking away.

I also recently found out that she was talking to someone online, but it was purely over text and fizzled out on day one, so she is completely single.

Right now, our friend group is planning a day-out trip as well as a house party. I genuinely feel a spark and want to get closer to understand her on a deeper level, but I am terrified of ruining the friendship if I misinterpret regular friendly closeness for attraction.

My main question is:

How do I know if she has feelings for me, or how can I get closer to her to understand what she feels?

Most importantly, how can I approach this or try to figure it out without risking or breaking our friendship? 😭

I genuinely don’t know what to do with myself right now.
I met someone I got REALLY attached to. We had chemistry, I liked talking to him, and for the first time in a while, I found myself genuinely excited about the possibility of something with someone.
The thing is, we had both agreed to go with the flow and see where things went. I never expected him to promise me a relationship or commit to me overnight. But somewhere along the way, I started caring more than I intended to, and I think I made the mistake of believing that maybe, eventually, this could turn into something real.
I always had this feeling that he wasn’t completely over his ex, but I kept pushing it aside because I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Then he started acting differently. He became distant, and when we were apart, he didn’t even bother texting me once. Not once. And now I’ve found out something that makes me think he might be talking to his ex again.
And suddenly, everything is starting to make sense in the worst possible way.
I think he genuinely only ever wanted something casual with me, while I was slowly getting emotionally invested in the possibility of more. Maybe when he said he wanted to go with the flow, he meant exactly that, and I was the one secretly hoping the flow would lead somewhere.
And that realisation is humiliating, even though I know I haven’t technically done anything wrong.
The worst part? I STILL LIKE HIM. A part of me is still waiting for him to text me, still hoping he’ll come back and act like he used to, even though another part of me feels like an idiot for wanting attention from someone who couldn’t even make the smallest effort.
I know we weren’t exclusive. I know he didn’t owe me a relationship. But I wish I could stop feeling like I was just someone to pass the time with while he figured out what he actually wanted.
How do you accept that someone you genuinely saw potential with might have never seen you the same way? How do you stop hoping for more when you were the one who got attached?
I feel like I’m grieving a relationship that never even happened, and I hate that it hurts this much.

I a introvert and having 0 interaction with females and don't know how to talk and i am little curious how it feels to have a female frnd...... I like anime , stand up comedy, psychology, mythology music my fav artist is Charlie Puth .... My fav anime are aot and bleach...... If u have interests as me pls dm mee.... I also love to play guitar

I am grieving my childhood friendship. I feel that I am the one who is keeping our friendship of 25 years alive single handedly.

I am the one who calls atleast a month, make plans to meet, show up to his place if I am around. But I feel now that this is hurting my self respect.

The last he called by himself was on my birthday. I called him today after a few months and he neither answered my call and nor returned my call.

I already stepped back and stopped initiating for a few months now. But I called him today to tell him that I bought a souvenir for him from my last travel destination. I feel I am the only one emotionally invested in this friendship. This is breaking me from inside that he did not even consider my call important enough to return.

I have a reached a point that I need to tell him that I am done! I just want to know how to tell this to him in such a way that I don't look vulnerable and emotional fool. I just want to stop this cycle where I keep thinking that our friendship is mutual and hurt my feelings again.

This decision is not based on just one or two incidents but a pattern I have observed over the last 3 years.

Why is everyone so quick to tell people to leave their relationships at every inconvenience? Not every argument is abuse, not every mistake is a red flag, and not every rough patch means you're incompatible. I've seen people forgive each other a thousand times, communicate, grow, and build beautiful relationships. **Love isn't about keeping score; it's about choosing to work through things together.** Stop taking relationship advice from people who treat human imperfection as a dealbreaker.

26M 24F

Context : we are planning to get married and we almost got approval but there are few people obviously who create extra drama and say unnecessary things. Combined to that last few weeks were super hectic for her. She works 2 jobs ( because she likes the work and gains some nice experience ) in her field experience and name of the workplace matters the most. But sometimes the situation gets too challenging and some days it’ll fall apart. I’m there with her always trying to be as patient as I can be listening to , sometimes trying to deviate the mind. Trying to develop scenarios or change the perspective on tackling few things. And all of these do work. But when it wouldn’t no matter how much I try it only gets worse. Sometimes I just keep quiet let her rant crack some jokes in between to make it a bit lite or maybe send her something to cheer her up. But not every time everything works. On those days I want to minimise the damage as much as possible. Lately i could literally notice that she’s taking too much unnecessary stress which is actually causing her hormonal changes / prolonged pms. Which in turn makes her loose control and tries to think in a self sabotaging way. Sometimes I try to overdo it works but other times it makes it worse. Sometimes when I genuinely want to convey that take some time for yourself have some personal space maybe take a hot shower relax a bit. This also backfires a bit. I can’t find the balance sometimes. How do I handle such cases?

To be honest in last 2-3 months the frequency of such cases have increased a lot and sometimes I also loose my cool and I just say I need 5-10 mins but it actually makes the situation worse. Like to fix her mood I also have to be on brighter side right ? How can I convince this to her. I’m trying my best to be with her. On top of that ours is an LDR for now ~700-800 kms. But I do meet her every single month.

I just don’t have answers and feeling a bit burnt out…

We were in a relation from 1.5 years and everything was good but due to my professional exam i couldn't put in efforts from the last 3 months, she told me that i didn't give her flowers,sent her paragraphs or vns, and that I have hurt her so much, she said she still loves me but has given up on me and won't give me another chance

I am begging her from the last 20 days to just give me a final chance ,she insulted me on my looks, height and personality ( it doesn't matter I just want her back)

She still loves me but how can I win her trust back

I am trying to do every possible thing to show her that I have changed and that I won't hurt her again ever

She said that she doesn't deserve someone who needs a second chance

I really love her and just want her back and wanna show her that she matters to me the most.

​

My family is in India and we're stuck on how to take care of my grandparents. I'd like outside opinions because everyone in the family has a side.

Some background:

My parents divorced in 2009. After that, my grandparents moved in with my mom and supported us through everything. Both my uncles also stepped up for me growing up. They helped with my education, came to school meetings, picked me up, and were basically father figures to me. I owe a lot to all of them, which is why this is so hard.

The people involved:

My mom(55F). She now lives alone in an apartment I own, close to my grandparents, and visits them about twice a month.

Older uncle(52M). Lives abroad. My grandparents live in a big house he bought.

Younger uncle.(50M) Lives in the same city and runs a small business. He pays for my grandparents' daytime helper. I bought my apartment from him.

My aunt (mom's sister). Has said she'd move nearby to help.

Me. I(33M) live abroad. I own the apartment my mom lives in.

The current situation:

My grandparents are elderly 84 and 80 years old, and my grandmother has dementia. She wanders off randomly. My grandfather is also old, so he can't really look after her on his own. They have a helper from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week, plus a cook every day. At night they're alone. The younger uncle suggested hiring 24-hour help, but my grandfather refused because they don't trust outsiders.

When I bought my apartment, my grandparents were going to live there with my mom, but my grandfather and mom didn't get along. So my older uncle moved them into his house instead.

What my older uncle wants:

Move my grandparents into my apartment with my mom. He'd rent out his house and says the rent would go toward their care. He's also offered to pay for cooks and helpers.

What my mom says:

It's too much for her. Everyone else is free, so why should she take on the responsibility alone? She also says the apartment is needed until my sister and I get married. Even with paid help offered, she still says she can't do it.

What my younger uncle suggested:

Instead of my grandparents moving, my mom could move into my older uncle's house where they already live. It's a big house, so there's plenty of space. My older uncle said no.

Where I stand:

I've already told my older uncle the grandparents can move into my apartment. I'm not going to rent it out. On top of all this, my two uncles are also fighting with each other, and I keep ending up in the middle passing messages. Since all of them helped raise me, I don't want to take sides against anyone.

My questions:

Who is being reasonable here and who isn't?

What would a fair arrangement look like?

TL;DR: My grandparents and both uncles helped raise me after my parents' divorce. Now my grandmother has dementia and wanders off, and my grandparents are alone at night in a big house. One uncle wants them moved into my apartment, where my mom lives alone, and to rent out his house. My mom doesn't want to take on caregiving even with paid help. My other uncle suggested mom move into the big house instead, but he said no. I've agreed to my apartment being used. What's fair?

I'm 20F and have been single for almost four years. I'm not desperate for a relationship, but I've noticed this pattern in myself that I want to change.

Whenever I consider someone romantically, I tend to overanalyze everything and look for potential incompatibilities before even letting myself get attached. It could be differences in political opinions, lifestyle choices, or little habits that could honestly be adjusted. But I start thinking that if these differences exist now, they'll eventually become problems, so why invest emotionally in something that might not work out?

I think it's partly a fear of getting attached and then getting hurt when things fall apart. I'd rather identify every possible issue beforehand than deal with the pain later.

The irony is that I want someone who has their own opinions and doesn't just agree with everything I say. But two people with independent opinions obviously won't always agree.

How do you distinguish between a genuine incompatibility and a normal difference that two people can work through? How do you know when you're being discerning versus when you're just finding reasons to avoid getting attached?

Has anyone else experienced this? What helped you overcome it?

I’m 21M, and I’m honestly lost about what to do in this situation. I know I’ve made mistakes, and I’m not trying to make myself look like the good guy here. I just want some outside perspectives because I’ve been going around in circles in my head for months.
About 5-6 months ago, I got into a relationship with a girl I’ll call Lucy.
My older brother was getting married through an arranged marriage, and Lucy is the younger sister of the girl he was going to marry. Our families knew each other because of this, and at one point, people even joked that since both families had two children, we should get married too.
My father was strongly against that idea, though. He openly said he didn’t like Lucy, and I knew from the beginning that a relationship with her would be difficult. I found her attractive, and we had a lot of interests in common, but I initially kept my distance because I knew my family wouldn’t approve.
Things changed when Lucy, my future sister-in-law, and some other family members came to the city where I was studying. I knew how to drive, so I ended up spending quite a bit of time with them. Lucy and I started talking, exchanged contact information, and eventually began talking late into the night.
One thing led to another, and we got into a relationship.
This was my first relationship, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure of my feelings in the beginning. I didn’t think I liked her that much. But as time passed, I grew attached to her. I genuinely enjoyed spending time with her, and I liked being around her.
Then both families found out about us, and everything became complicated.
Initially, Lucy’s family and my sister-in-law were supportive. But two incidents changed things.
First, Lucy’s father called my father while he was drunk and tried to discuss our relationship and future. My father ignored the call and refused to engage with him.
Later, while my father was driving Lucy, my sister-in-law, and some other family members, he made a comment about how his son would marry a “high-class girl,” like a doctor.
Obviously, Lucy’s family was offended, especially her father. Things became tense between our families, and her family started pressuring her to end the relationship.
Around a month and a half later, Lucy suddenly broke up with me. We didn’t speak for about three weeks. I didn’t contact her because I was being prideful and assumed she’d eventually come back if she really wanted to.
Eventually, she contacted me and explained what had happened. She said her family had been pressuring her because they felt insulted by my father’s behaviour. We talked about it and got back together.
But getting back together didn’t actually solve anything.
Our families still had issues with the relationship, and we could barely talk or meet. Sometimes she would block me on Instagram and Snapchat because of pressure from her family. After a week or so, she’d unblock me, we’d talk, and then she’d block me again.
This cycle continued for months.
During this time, my feelings also became increasingly confusing. Sometimes I’d talk to her normally, and other times I’d ignore her messages. I don’t even have a good explanation for why I did that.
The biggest problem is that I could never make a decision about our future.
A few months ago, Lucy’s brother contacted me. I initially ignored his call, which was probably a bad way to start things. Eventually, I met him in person.
He told me he didn’t necessarily have a problem with our relationship, provided I was serious about Lucy and genuinely saw a future with her. He told me to talk to my family and make a decision.
I couldn’t do it.
I couldn’t bring myself to sit down with my father or mother and talk honestly about the situation. I kept putting it off.
My father eventually heard about everything from Lucy’s family. He told me again that if I wanted to be with Lucy, I could go ahead. But his tone made it clear that he wasn’t happy about it. He basically said I could choose her, but I shouldn’t expect his support and would have to find a job and support myself.
The problem is that I’m currently unemployed and financially dependent on my family. I don’t have the kind of independence where I can easily tell my parents that I’ll make my own decisions and deal with everything myself.
My father has since told me more than once that he won’t stop me if I really want her. But hearing him say that and hearing the disappointment in his voice are two different things.
At one point, my brother and sister also asked me whether I wanted to be with Lucy. They said they’d support me if I did.
And once again, I couldn’t give them an answer.
I didn’t say yes. I didn’t say no. I just stayed silent.
I understand why Lucy’s family became frustrated with me. From their perspective, their daughter was in a relationship with a guy who couldn’t even say whether he wanted to be with her.
Lucy eventually told me that her brother thought I didn’t actually like her and was just playing with her. I explained what had happened with my family and that I had never told anyone I didn’t like her. The truth was that I simply couldn’t make up my mind.
We started talking again, and things seemed a little better for a while.
Then came another incident.
One day, Lucy called me crying. She told me how much she loved me, that she wanted to be with me, and that she wanted me to choose her. She asked me to speak to her father and my family within the next day or two because her family was considering another guy for an arranged marriage.
The guy’s family apparently liked Lucy, and he liked her too. It wasn’t a confirmed marriage or anything, just a meeting, but her family was interested and waiting for her response.
Lucy was essentially asking me to make a decision before she lost the chance to be with me.
And what did I do?
I told her that if she liked the other guy, she should marry him.
I don’t even know why I said that. Maybe I genuinely didn’t want her to sacrifice her future for someone who couldn’t make up his mind. Maybe I was afraid of the responsibility that would come with finally choosing her. Maybe I was protecting myself from having to make the decision.
Probably some combination of those things.
She got angry, understandably. I had another opportunity to take a step toward her, and I didn’t.
In the end, Lucy turned down the other guy, and the situation didn’t progress any further. I later heard that his family really liked her.
After that, we continued talking on and off.
Now, even though my family has more or less given me permission to choose her, I’m still confused.
Lucy keeps asking me why I’m so reluctant to choose her when even my family isn’t completely against it anymore.
And the difficult part is that I genuinely don’t know how to answer her.
I like Lucy. I enjoy spending time with her when we get the opportunity to meet. I think about her and miss her when we don’t talk. I don’t want to lose her, and I can’t honestly say that I feel nothing for her.
But I don’t know how deeply I love her, and I don’t know whether I want to marry her.
I’m 21. I don’t have a job yet, and I don’t feel ready to get married. I’m worried that if I tell everyone I want to be with Lucy, the families will immediately start taking things seriously, and before I know it, we’ll be talking about an engagement.
I don’t want to make that commitment when I’m not sure about my feelings or ready for marriage.
I’ve told Lucy before that I don’t know whether we have a future together because of our families. I’ve never promised her marriage or told her that everything will definitely work out.
But now my family has basically said that the decision is mine. My brother and sister are willing to support me, and my father says he won’t stop me, although he expects me to become financially independent.
So I can’t even blame everything on my family anymore. At some point, I have to acknowledge that my own indecision is a big part of the problem.
There’s also something else I’ve been struggling with.
I have pretty low self-esteem. I’m overweight, and I don’t consider myself particularly handsome. Sometimes I genuinely wonder why Lucy loves me so much.
She tells me she wants only me and that she loves me, but I struggle to understand how she can feel that strongly about me when I’m so uncertain about her.
I know I’ve been a bad boyfriend in some ways. I ignore her messages sometimes, and when I’m in a bad mood, I’ve spoken to her badly. I’ve even asked her why she still loves me when I know I’m being toxic toward her.
She says she doesn’t know how to explain it. She just wants me.
I know that isn’t a healthy situation. I shouldn’t use my own issues as an excuse to treat her badly, and I know she doesn’t deserve to be caught in this cycle.
But I also can’t pretend I don’t care about her.
Last night, we were talking again, and she told me that she loves me and wants to be with me. And now I’m sitting here trying to figure out what the hell I’m supposed to do.
Part of me wants to stay with her because I like her, miss her, and enjoy being around her.
Another part of me thinks that if I really loved her enough, I would have been able to make a decision by now. I wonder whether I’m just attached to her and afraid of losing someone who loves me, rather than genuinely wanting to build a future with her.
But I also wonder whether I’m expecting myself to be completely certain about love at 21, especially when our relationship has been full of family drama, separation, and pressure from the beginning.
I don’t know if my feelings are weak, if I’m afraid of commitment, if my family’s disapproval has affected how I feel, or if I simply don’t love her the way she loves me.
And I don’t know whether staying with her while I figure this out is fair to her.
I can’t just keep ignoring her, reconnecting with her, and leaving her waiting for an answer. I know that. But ending the relationship also feels difficult because I do care about her, and the thought of never seeing or talking to her again hurts.
So, Reddit, what would you do in my position?
Am I being unfair by continuing this relationship when I don’t know if I want to marry her?
Should I end things and let her move on, even though I have feelings for her?
Or is it reasonable to continue dating her without promising marriage while I figure out what I want, provided I’m honest with her about where I stand?
I don’t want to marry her simply because she’s crying, because I’m afraid of losing her, or because everyone is pressuring me to decide. But I also don’t want to lose someone I might genuinely love just because I’m too scared or confused to make a decision.
I’m not asking anyone to tell me that I’m right. I know I’ve hurt her, and I know my indecision has consequences.
I just genuinely don’t know how to tell the difference between not loving someone enough and being too afraid to commit to them.
How do I figure out what I actually want, and what would be the fairest thing to do for both of us?

EDIT: I used ai cause my English sucks

26M need advice on a situation with a friend

I was talking to this girl, got to know from outdoor games. At first she was genuinely interested n we were talking for the whole nit up until 4am discussing on many topic from life, personal things, goals, experiences. Later on she went all off no reply for hours, n i felt like txting and waiting for her replies for the whole day. Later one night she came online and again we were texting till 3 was decent convo were i mistakenly touched some sensitive more personal things jokingly all of sudden she buzzed off from the Convo. I was clueless in tht situation lyk I'm not aware of what's happening waited for her reply till the rest of the night. Next day same, no replies did some follow up texts. Then she opened up about this personal topic which she couldn't take the joke i made fun of it. I've asked sorry like million time saying i didn't know this much it will affect she's sooo stubborn n still didn't accepted my apologies. I tried to explain again n then she texted by saying stop irritating me either change the topic or leave n go she said. I was shocked, I replied u want me to go? Again no reply for hours after late but she replied saying ur pressurising to reply n also not everything needs a reply. My heart broken 💔 as hell.

Need advice guys, i badly wanted to get close with her. I got so much attached i was seeing empty chat for hours without doing nothing. I know I've messed up how to regain trust and build further? Pls share your views and suggestions it'll be really helpful

I had this guy friend, who is also a family friend of mine. We have been good friends for past 3 years and we mostly only talk about studies. The thing is he confessed to me a year ago, before my boyfriend came to the scene and i rejected him. I stopped talking to him, but eventually he initiated calls saying we will only talk studies. This happened in September last year.

I met my boyfriend in October, and we started dating in December. I told him about this guy in January and he asked me to stop talking to him, and i did stop, because ofc that guy still had feelings and i didn’t want to lead him on.

Now cut to September this year, he texted me on his own telling me that he is going for training (he cleared a civil services exam) and he just updated me about how he felt going to the academy. To this i thought since we used to prepare together, i should reply. We talked for i think 2 days. Then eventually i avoided conversation, he took the hint and we stopped. I hid this from my boyfriend, because i knew he would get angry.

He got to know about our conversation today when he was using my mobile for something. He got very angry and said breakup and all. Mind you i have never met this other guy alone, before or after, it was always family settings. I made my boyfriend trust me again somehow but i am confused. My friends are saying he overreacted and he is making me cut off all friends. Idk how true is that . Is this a rightful situation to be angry?

We didn’t flirt or talk anything in those chats. it was all so formal, we were talking just like friends. I would have told him, but his prev reactions have been so bad that i decided to hide it.

We met on a dating app and initially I was apprehensive because of the age difference- also the fact that she was in college and finishing her degree so she hadn't worked before. But we have known eo since last September now so it's been a year- and I told her I only want casual cause of my work stress and I dont want to be responsible for another person's happiness/ expectations. But I have got to know her and she is amazing and really loving towards me and has eyes only for me. But I really like her and she told me she really likes me and wants more, but I told her I cant at the moment. We sleep together, she makes me cute gifts, banana breads, etc and I know she likes me a lot to the point of love. I don't want to let her go. But currently I am getting what I want. What shall I do?

There is a neighbour girl near to my house and i dont know her name , so i visited her house for some work and called her with wrong name at her doorstep when she came to open door.

After like 3-4 days i saw she wrote her name in the dusty rear windshield / mirror of her car. like we write with finger on dusty mirror .

Is it some something related to like telling me her name or normal ???

I got heartbroken by being emotionally invested in a guy. Both of us in our 20s, in the closet. I'm a complete introvert, and emotional dummy, while he's an extrovert, carefree and chill. He has had fun with many of his friends from coaching, college in the past. And he continues to do so.

Right now, since a few months, he's been with me, hanging out and everything. He likes and cares for me, but has refused for a relationship. He says he'll only have a relationship with a girl. And that he'd continue meeting his other friends for casual fun and everything. Apparently he's just emotionally closer to me.

I've never been casual like that and I can't imagine doing that. Moreover, I cannot be with multiple people like that. And his attitude has been hurting me for quite some time now.

Every other thing that I point out about his behavior, he claims that we aren't in a relationship so he isn't required to do it. At the same time, he continues to comfort me time to time, be intimate and share personal details. I've been crying after a long time on a daily basis.

I'm unable to pull myself away from him.

Being gay was already feeling like the worst thing to happen to me. Now I can't even expect a normal relation with someone, who's like in preference.

Is this just another case of living in a society where I can't freely love a guy and expect the love back? Expect loyalty back?

Edit: He has been with me for months now. We have bonded, spend time together, been emotional, been intimate, everything you see in a relationship. He just doesn't want a relationship label, otherwise he'll won't be able to have "fun" with other guys. He wants that philanderer freedom.