Hii! So i am an advocate, 23 years old. Just completed my graduation few months ago. I am preparing for masters. I am in love with someone. We have been together for almost 3 years now, a simple fairy tale it has been. We two are pretty serious and think of future together. Point is that i am an ambitious person, but i ain’t able to focus on my career thinking and worrying about how we are gonna convince our families. My partner although is a very positive chill individual, ready for whatever comes. Since last 3 years i’ve been severely burdened by the fact that no one in my family knows about my relationship, although we were planning to tell them in the coming years. I live in a typical joint family, and they have been receiving Rishtas or marriage proposals for me (for an Arranged marriage). I had no clue that they themselves have been looking for guys as yesterday my father approached me and out of no where started discussing about one of the proposals that my relatives have been approaching us about. I strictly said No. Being shock driven by all this, i decided to confront my mother about my relationship and how we are planning to marry, just had’nt thought everything to be this soon. My mother and sister in law handled the whole thing with immense positivity. But as i wasn’t prepared for all of this to happen so soon, i am facing panic attacks, i have completely lost my appetite due to stress, and no sleep. Why is it so difficult for an indian girl to discuss something so crucial with her family or parents? Why are we so trapped in the baggage of patriarchy so much that women’s opinion don’t matter so much? Anyone with words of wise please help me here. I need it.