Love's young dream

At home over the weekend. Lots of food and even more gossip with the family. Not a hint of sexual awareness.

Spoke to my cousin over a Samosa on Saturday.

She's 20 and has had the same BoyF for roughly four years.

In short, he's a sort of gangster who has, in the past, been wanted by the police for drugs and arson. Of course, telling a girl of that age that these qualities aren't the most desirable in a boyF can prove impossible. Death threats issued by her mother weren't enough to prevent the girl from pursuing this relationship.

And, all said and done, her mother felt secure in the knowledge that the boy would )in his position as Don/gangster and out right sociopath) take care (perhaps protect is a better word) of her daughter.

A few months back she confided in me that there had been some allegations flying around that the boy had cheated on her with another girl. My cousin, being the clever little devil she is, made friends with this other girl and they both went over to his house to confront him. Despite this, the boy weaseled his way out of any guilt, and the relationship, though slightly rocky, continued.

So, over the Samosa on Saturday evening, I asked her what the current situation was with the boy. To this, she shook her head and rolled her eyes.

'He's turned into a psycho' she said.

Well we've heard that before, I thought. Not only from her, but from many of my girlfriends. Men (or women) becoming psychopathic during the course of a relationship is no new phenomenon, let's be honest.

'He says that if I leave him, he'll kill himself (to which I rolled my eyes) He says we should work things out and give it more time. The thing is, I don't have any feelings for him anymore.'

Her mother will be pleased, I thought. Rid of the boy at long last.

'Is there anybody else?' I asked

'There might be'

'Do tell!' I ventured.

'He's Muslim!! and I already turned his friend down previously because he too was Muslim. If i got out with the new guy, it'll cause so many problems.'

'So what if he's Muslim? I asked,'so what if his friend also liked you. The world can get over it'.

I got the impression this last bit shocked her a little. ME, suggesting she date a Muslim. ME, suggesting she venture into uncharted territory and risk being massacred in the name of honour!

'But, he's not a 'proper' Muslim, she continued 'I mean, he eats pork and drinks alcohol'.

'Well, there you are then'.