Author of Own Misfortune??

I have a friend who is going out with a girl who is not the same religion as him. In fact, as far as religions go, they belong to two of the most contrasting religions in the world. But inter-religion relationships do often work, so that is not the issue. In fact, I myself am witness to a successful inter-religion marriage within my own extended family.

The problem here is that they both know that their relationship has no future. Her parents would kill her, and I'm not exaggerating when I say this, if she were to broach the topic of marriage to him. And his parents wouldn't kill him (for failure to catch him first!), but I'm pretty sure that they would disown him at any rate. They both know that a messy break-up is inevitable and yet prefer to settle for instant gratification rather than deferred gratification. Cruel as it sounds, I don't really care what happens to her, as she is not my friend and, no doubt, she has friends of her own to provide her with moral support when they finally break it off. However, I do worry about him. He is someone who can be best described as filmi. One knows that when they end the relationship, he will lock himself in his room, grow a beard, listen to his collection of depressing Hindi songs all day and start leading a 'Devdas-like' existence. His friends will then have to break down the door to his room, forcibly peel him off the floor and help him rebuild his life. He is aware that this kind of conclusion to their relationship is inevitable and yet continues it in blissful denial. I suspect that he is even looking forward to playing the tortured hero in the film of his life! 

The level of clarity with which we can see the shortcomings of others and never our own (naturally, this applies to me too!) never ceases to amaze..