“What is masculinity? Who is a man?” A swift Google search yields a seemingly arbitrary definition: “Qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men or boys.”
Naseer Mohammed laughs. Who establishes these “characteristics?”. “There have been numerous occasions when I’ve been questioned because I don’t partake,” he shares.
Upon moving to Chennai in the 8th grade, Naseer found himself grappling with the added challenge of poverty. What compelled him to open up to his mother was his engagement.
“I wanted to put a stop to it at all costs and resorted to self-harm. My mother stood by me calling off the engagement. However, that didn’t mean people understood,” he recalls.
“It was my younger brother who introduced me to Nasreen. I had never met or spoken to her before, but I felt a certain affinity as he described her. It was like finding a safe space.”
“Having previous experience working in cafes, I knew how to make mojitos. When we realised that fair treatment wasn’t coming, we decided to start our venture,” says Nasreen.