They say men are from Mars and women are from Venus. But honestly, I think men are just from a corner of Earth where feelings are hidden behind cricket scores, sarcastic one-liners, and refusing to ask for directions because — you guessed it — “Mard ko dard nahi hota.”
Spoiler alert: Mard ko sab kuch hota hai. Dard bhi, heartbreak bhi, anxiety bhi… and yes, even FOMO.
Somewhere between “be a man” and “don’t cry like a girl,” men were handed a 400-page emotional instruction manual… and told to ignore it completely. They were trained to fix leaky taps, kill cockroaches with slippers, and bottle up their emotions tighter than last year’s Diwali sweets.
So this one’s for them — the strong, silent, slightly-suffering souls who’ve been conditioned to “deal with it” until one day they just can’t anymore.
When Men Feel… But Can’t Afford To
Let’s call it what it is: men do feel — joy, pain, fear, self-doubt, PMS (Post-Match Sadness), and everything in between. They just don’t get the memo that it’s okay to say it out loud.
The emotional vocabulary given to most men ends at:
- “I’m fine.”
- “It’s nothing.”
- “Aur kya chal raha hai, bhai?”
That’s not emotional stoicism. That’s just emotional buffering on a very slow connection.
They’ve been told vulnerability is weakness, so they walk around carrying grief, shame, and unspoken fears like over-packed cabin baggage — pretending it’s light, even when it’s clearly dragging on the floor.
Is It a Crime to Feel Things, Bro?
Now let’s address the very awkward (but necessary) elephant in the room.
When a woman cries, we rush with tissues, tea, therapy, and a whole squad named “Self-Love Sundays.”
But when a man breaks down? We look confused, uncomfortable, and secretly hope he’ll stop before we have to feel feelings too.
Domestic violence against women? Laws, helplines, awareness drives, public outrage.
Domestic violence against men? Punchlines, memes, and “Are you serious? Bro, grow a spine!”
Look, this isn’t a competition in suffering. But emotions — and injustice — shouldn’t be gender exclusive. Men deserve empathy, not just expectations.
Creating the Emotional WiFi Zone (No Password Needed)
Here’s how we, as women, sisters, friends, and partners, can help change the script:
- Listen without laughing. Even if he’s scared of lizards. Yes, even the tiny ones.
- Don’t ‘fix’ everything. Sometimes he just wants to rant about his boss being a chai-sipping dictator. Let him.
- Don’t weaponize his emotions later. If he opens up about childhood trauma, don’t use it to win an argument six months later.
- Model emotional honesty. Cry during movies, say “I’m scared,” admit when you feel lost. It gives him permission to do the same.
Think of it like emotional WiFi — invisible, but powerful when it’s freely available and doesn’t make anyone feel like they’re overusing data.
When Silence Gets Dangerous
Now, here’s the not-so-funny bit (but one we can’t ignore).
Men are dying in silence. Literally. The rising suicide rates among men aren’t because they don’t have problems. It’s because they’re too scared or ashamed to talk about them. Because no one taught them how.
Because “Mard ko dard nahi hota” became the world’s most harmful plot twist.
Strong Looks Different Now
Being strong isn’t about having a six-pack and pretending your heart doesn’t ache.
It’s about showing up, even when you’re scared.
Speaking up, even when your voice trembles.
And feeling things — deeply, honestly, and without apology.
So, to the men reading this — and the women who love them — let’s rewrite the script. Let’s normalise hugs that last longer, conversations that go deeper, and safe spaces that don’t smell like judgment.
Because behind every “I’m fine” is a man who’s probably just tired of pretending.
And maybe — just maybe — he’s waiting for someone to look at him and say,
“Hey, Mard ho… toh kya hua? Tum bhi insaan ho, yaar.”
