We explore little-known facts about the stronger sex! Illustrations: Uttam Ghosh

While women take all the credit for being designated 'Mysterious Girls', men have their own mysteries.

What does it take to woo a man? What motivates him -- good food, charming fragrances, nice dresses, drinks? Does a man express his feelings openly? And how serious is he about flirting? What can you do to ignite his passion? How important is freedom to him?

You can learn new things about your man, who you may have known for years, by exploring these 14 secrets!

1. Men do talk about their feelings

We often feel that men are not as sensitive as women. But they actually are! They only expect you to give them a loving environment, in which they can feel comfortable talking about their feelings for you or for your relationship. So be patient and don't taunt them -- rather, wait for the right time.

Women are very expressive and they never let go of a chance to let their partners know how much they love them. They say 'I love you' several times a day.

But this is not true with men. They believe more in action than in words. They have their own ways of saying 'I love you', not verbally but through action.

They will express their feelings by doing small chores for you, like helping you with cleaning, or accompanying you to buy groceries, or throwing out the trash or doing anything that will make you smile.

So stop looking for words and find meaning in their actions!

It's true that men are afraid of commitment, but the reason is that they take it seriously. They will not commit unless they are ready to take responsibility. And once they commit, there is no looking back for them. So don't pester your man to commit -- wait for him to ready himself and take responsibility.

Many women think that their husbands or partners do not really listen to them while they are talking.

Well, many guys are not in the habit of saying "yes" or "hmmm..." while they listen, but that doesn't mean they don't listen to you at all. Maybe they want to listen quietly and think about what you're saying.

Men really like an adrenaline rush. And they really want their partners to bond with them and share their passion for a favourite sport or event. So the next time you want to bond with your man, go out with him and indulge in his favourite sport, be it rafting or skiing.

Men don't like to be accompanied or petted all the time. They want more time to themselves than most women.

So set them free -- give them some space. Let your man enjoy his gardening or photography or golfing or working out at the gym solo.

Men admire their fathers and they learn most things watching their fathers, especially when it comes to handling relationships. So you can observe your beau's dad for an idea of what he'll be like in future.

While you may still be upset over last night's argument and analysing it, your man will probably have already forgotten all about it! So don't ponder -- forgive and forget. Probably, that is what he is expecting you to do!

Many men fail to pick up facial expressions and signs or the tone of your voice. So if you are expecting your man to understand that you had a bad day or are in a bad mood, then you may be going wrong somewhere. Just say what you have to directly to him.

Who doesn't like to be complimented? Men love feeling appreciated too -- they learn a lot through it. That's how they become more caring and competent. So when you're pleased, don't hesitate to say so.

This is not really a secret -- studies have shown that men think and fantasise more about sex than women. Sex crosses their minds at least once everyday! Men find sexual intimacy most satisfying in the context of a committed relationship.

Many guys often feel that they are the ones who always initiate sex, but really wish their partners would take the lead at times. So don't be shy to let him know that you are in the mood! Initiate sex, it will lead to a higher level of satisfaction for both of you.

Your man likes to make you feel good. But he will not know what you like and what you don't unless you tell him. So feel free to talk to him and you'll end up feeling happier. Remember to be polite when you let him know your dislikes -- don't hurt his ego.

A man always likes the feeling of being loved and cared for. And if he is not satisfied or feels unloved, he may look for satisfaction elsewhere, which may involve him burying himself in work or in a sport, in drinks or in other women in extreme cases. So stay alert!

Man-woman relationships are full of mysteries and new discoveries -- that is the most exciting part of a relationship. You may have been with him for years and credit yourself with knowing him fully, but may be shocked by new developments, which will breathe new life into your love.