'Manly Man'

 Shiva, a young and dynamic CEO of a unicorn company, was the kind of leader people admired for his intelligence, hard work, and ability to turn his dreams into reality. He had a calm demeanor, and despite his professional success, he always remained grounded. Yet, something about society's obsession with superficial masculinity bothered him deeply.

One day, he sat at their usual chai stall with his close friend Ravi. Ravi was the opposite of Shiva—he worked in a steady government job, lived a simple life, and often believed in traditional ideas. Despite their differences, they shared a strong bond, having been friends since childhood.

As they sipped on their tea, Ravi casually remarked, “You know, Shiva, for someone who's a successful CEO, a beard would make you look even more manly. Like, you know, a real ‘leader’ type.”

Shiva smiled, though he couldn’t help feeling a little irritated. “A beard? Does it really matter, Ravi? I run a company with hundreds of employees, but people still care about whether I have facial hair?”

Ravi chuckled, “It’s just a common perception, yaar. No harm in it. People think a beard shows strength.”

Before Shiva could respond, their friend Priya joined them. Priya admired Shiva not just for his success, but for his humility and the way he carried himself. She knew Shiva was someone who valued character over appearances, and that was something she respected deeply.

“Ravi, do you really think facial hair makes someone more of a man?” Priya asked with a smile, sensing the tone of their conversation.

Ravi shrugged, a bit sheepishly. “It’s not that I think that, Priya. It’s just how people see things.”

Priya leaned forward, her voice soft but firm. “Our culture is filled with examples that prove otherwise. Look at Lord Krishna or Lord Ram—both are depicted without beards, and they’re the very definition of strength, virtue, and leadership. Do we question their masculinity?”

Ravi was quiet for a moment, processing her words. “I never really thought of it that way,” he admitted.

Shiva, who had been listening, spoke up. “Exactly. I’ve built a company, made a name for myself, but people still judge me based on whether I ‘look’ manly enough. It’s exhausting.”

Priya added, “The problem is, we’ve allowed these narrow ideas of masculinity to define how we see others. We’re quick to judge a man’s worth by how he looks—whether he has a beard, or what clothes he wears—without caring about his real qualities, like kindness or intelligence.”

As they were talking, their friend Arjun arrived, all smiles and full of energy. Arjun was the life of the group—charming, fit, and always up for a good time. But there was one thing that bothered his friends: Arjun had a habit of using slangs and foul language to seem "cool."

“Hey guys, what’s up?” Arjun greeted them with his usual enthusiasm, followed by a few casual slurs.

Neha, another close friend who had been quietly listening, raised an eyebrow. She had always found Arjun’s habit troubling, even though she knew he didn’t mean any harm.

“Arjun,” Neha spoke softly, “do you really have to use those words?”

Arjun laughed it off, waving his hand. “Come on, Neha, it's just the way I talk. It makes me seem cool, you know?”

Shiva, who had been reflecting on their earlier conversation, turned to Arjun. “Cool? Do you really believe using slurs and foul language makes you cooler?”

Arjun shrugged, a bit defensively. “I don’t know, man. It’s just how people talk these days. Makes me seem tougher, right?”

Neha, always kind but direct, replied, “No, Arjun. Using abusive language doesn’t make you strong or cool. It’s easy to swear, but it takes real strength to control your words and show respect to others.”

Arjun paused, taken aback by the seriousness in her voice. He wasn’t a bad person—just someone who had fallen into the habit of using rough language without really thinking about it.

Ravi, who had been listening quietly, added, “I used to think a beard made someone more of a man, but today I’ve realized how wrong that is. It’s the same with how you talk, Arjun. Being a man isn’t about sounding tough or using abusive words. It’s about showing respect, being thoughtful, and standing up for the right things.”

Arjun looked around at his friends, realizing they weren’t criticizing him—they were trying to help him grow.

“I get what you’re saying,” Arjun said after a moment. “I’ve been talking like this for years, thinking it made me look cool. I understand now that it’s not about that. It’ll take me time, but I promise I’ll start trying to stop. Slowly, I’ll work on it.”

Neha smiled, appreciating his willingness to change. “That’s all we ask, Arjun. It’s not about changing overnight, but about being mindful of how our words affect others.”

Shiva nodded, a sense of pride swelling for his friend. “That’s true strength, Arjun. It’s not about conforming to society’s shallow expectations. Real masculinity is about growth, kindness, and respect.”

In that simple chai stall, as they sat together, the group realized something important. True masculinity wasn’t in beards or in foul language. It was in how one carried themselves, how they treated others, and how they continually tried to become better people.

As the conversation drifted back to lighter topics and the group laughed together, Arjun smiled, feeling grateful for friends who helped him see the bigger picture. And as they ordered another round of chai, they knew that while change takes time, they were all on the right path—growing, learning, and breaking free from the shallow ideas society had imposed on them for so long.