'My husband wants me to get pregnant...'

Dear Diana

Dear Diana,
I got married three months ago and shifted from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai. I don't know a soul here except for my husband. He is away at work Monday to Saturday. He leaves at 8 am and by the time he returns it is 9 pm. On Sundays, he spends a greater part of the day sleeping as he is exhausted. I feel alone and lonely. We stay in a rented accommodation and the next door house is locked. So I am alone on that floor. I voiced my fears and apprehensions to my husband. He laughed it off and suggested that the only way to make me stop feeling lonely is to have a child. I am not prepared for motherhood yet. As it is a new city, I am still getting used to it. I really don't know where my life is heading and what I am supposed to do. I spend time talking to my family in Moradabad, but cannot do for long as they are busy with their lives. I have studied only till class 12, so really don't know what it holds on the job scene.
- Shanoo


Illustration/Amit Bandre

Dear Shanoo,
You need to stop complaining. Life is what you make of it. One way of getting rid of your fears and anxieties is to be occupied. For starters, pursue a hobby or a course you like where you can meet other people. Next time you step out, check out the neighbourhood. You can also make inquiries with other residents of the building, in this way you can strike a friendship with people residing on other floors. Also, you can study for your graduation via a correspondence course. This way you can also complete your studies. If you are not prepared for motherhood at the moment, tell your husband about it. He may have suggested it to stop your constant nagging. Once you are gainfully employed he will stop his 'get pregnant' stance.