So everyone in your class is busy drooling over that handsome guy from senior college, John Abraham or the new Music teacher? Everyone except you that is! While you may feel like a social outcast just because you're not in love with every boy in the near vicinity, it doesn't make you weird - and we say don't let anyone tell you different!
Developing feelings for the opposite gender is a totally normal part of growing up but just like all those other changes that happen when you hit your teens, these feelings affect different people at different times. Just because your best friend has a boyfriend and doesn't have time for you any more doesn't mean there's something wrong with you just because you are still interested in other stuff. Chances are, the boy bug will bite you at some point too; so, don't worry about it. In the meantime, having interests in lots of stuff (not all exclusively male...) makes you a far more interesting anyway, we say! Monika is 14 and lives in Mumbai. Last year, she nearly lost best friend Anusha over the boy thing. "Anusha and I used to go for swimming classes every weekend," remembers Monika. "We had done since we were about 10. But last year, Anusha started going out with Rahul, a guy in our class. After that, she just didn't have any time for me or any of the things we used to do together. I felt totally left out and couldn't understand how Anusha could change so suddenly.
All she seemed to care about was Rahul, clothes and makeup. Our friendship slipped way down her list of things to do. I just began to feel as if Anusha and I had nothing in common any more which was really sad because we'd been best friends since we were seven." Eventually, Monika sat down and talked it all through with Anusha. "She was so upset that I was feeling this way and said she just hadn't realised." says Monika. "I guess I was most upset because I felt a bit jealous about her new friendship with Rahul and that I was being left out." Monika and Anusha's situation is far from uncommon - fortunately, they managed to sort things out and are now still the best of friends. By talking through the situation and having a bit of give and take on both sides they managed to put things right between them. Monika accepted that Anusha had developed feelings for Rahul and that it was cool for her to have other new friends in her life, Anusha realised that she'd been neglecting her best friend for a while and made a conscious effort to include her more and still do the stuff they'd always enjoyed together. Earlier this year, she introduced Monika to one of Rahul's friend Sunny. They're not 'boyfriend/girlfriend' - yet - but Monika has admitted to Anusha that she thinks Sunny is seriously cute...
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