Of late, we are required to expend a lot of sympathy for the emotional repression of men. This confuses me.  As far as I can tell we are constantly forced to inhabit a masculine emotional universe. We are brought up on bromances, devdases, officers and gentlemen. Men wreak havoc and vengeance all round while “not showing emotion because we are rational and only losers have feelings”. Ok Fred. But we have seen Sholay, Andaz, Namak Haram, Dil Chahta Hai, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Sangam and Jean Anhouil’s Becket so We Know.

Men are however wrapped up in helping each other maintain this illusion it seems. Behold, Donald Trump and Elon Musk publicly falling, falling out of love (as if). Glass hearts shatter. They hurl slo-mo shards at each other across the internet.

“I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man,” Elon Musk wrote on X. Which is the most, dost. But now, “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will any more” said Trump. Yaniki, dost dost na raha, pyar pyar na raha. .