(Moral dilemmas, on the other hand, can be directed to 'Dear Aunty' at Gomantak Times Weekender magazine section.)
--------------- Question ---------------
Manu Uncle,
I am 26 year old Catholic boy from Anjuna working for private firm in Mapusa. Recently I attended a relative wedding reception in Margao and met one 22 year old Hindu girl from Sanvordem. We have met twice again lately at family function. I am interested in her. She also is interested in me. But her parents want her to marry her cousin. We are planning to get married secretly. Do you think I am doing the right thing?
Confused Ciprian
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Dear Ciprian,
No! You are definitely not doing the right thing. Why on earth are you working for a private firm in Mapusa? Anjuna is a haven for young entrepreneurs. Buy a couple of Kinetic Scooters. Give them out on hire to foreigners. With the proceeds buy a few second-hand Enfield Bullets. Give these too out to Israelis. Take a bank loan with the help of your friendly local panch. Buy a Maruti Van. Give it to your cousin to drive. Put up a beachside shack. Live in this shack. Rent out your home to Israelis. Get real!
On the other matter of the girl. Do you even know where Sanvordem is? Or what makes it different from Curchorem? See! And you want to 'secretly marry'! Did you study Geography at all? What do you mean by 'interested'? So you go on a secret date. She meets you at her cousin's place in Ponda and then you come to Samrat Theatre in Panjim to watch 'Dil Chahta Hai'. And the noisy kid sitting at your right keeps shouting that he wants to go home. The love of your pathetic life will not hold your hand, even during the real tear-wrenching scenes. After the interval you find the noisy kids lollipop stuck to your sleeve. Back to Ponda and then alone to Anjuna. And what if it's raining? I Hope you have your own two wheeler at least. Don't even think of a date using public transportation. Now after a few such dates you might find the nice girl next door at Anjuna much more 'interesting'.
If your query was related to your differences in religion, then don't bother. If you seriously learn to love each other then don't let that matter stop you. These things work themselves out. Soon as the first kid is born all will be reconciled. Be warned however that if you choose not to have kids, or cannot have kids for whatever reason, then both your families will dig up all sorts of dirt. Including religious differences.
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