What to do when one's wife greets her male friends with a hug

Once a man with a rural background in Kerala was perturbed over his wife's free interaction with other men. Her handshakes and pats with other men gave him jitters. Moreover, it worried him deeply when she hugged her old friends and cousins irrespective of their gender.

The man also pointed out to his wife that all her such actions were wrong, she accused him of doubting her integrity. What made matters worse was that the woman’s mother supported her.

The man's family members had a traditional mindset and he did not have any bad habits. Still, the wife alleged that her husband had a psychiatric problem.

The wife soon moved out of her husband’s house. For three months, she did not even respond to his phone calls. The husband felt that his wife was displaying arrogance over being educated and having a job.

The husband approached a counsellor sought help. The counsellor began by pointing out to the man that he was not changing with the times. “The friendship between males and females is displayed in an open manner these days. It cannot be treated as arrogance or lack of womanly traits like submissiveness,” the husband was told.

“Moreover, constantly giving advice to your wife without respecting her personal freedom is nothing short of harassment,” pointed out the counsellor. The husband was advised to be proud of his wife’s smartness.

Meanwhile, the counsellor felt that a wise wife would make some alterations in her own behaviour after understanding the husband’s nature. “Such a change is not a self-defeating move. Moreover, accusing the husband of being suspicious or a psychiatric patient can be avoided,” said the counsellor.

The husband and wife were later advised to meet a marital therapist together which, according to the counsellor, would lead to a solution to their problem.