Da

by Arathi Menon

This is a story of love between a father and a son.

Inquisitive 13-year-old Ved’s entire universe is his adoptive father, Da. From cooking him the perfect biryani, to helping him navigate his first school dance and his first girlfriend, Da lets Ved be himself.

Fiercely loving and fiercely protective, their relationship harbours a secret that could destroy them both: Da is gay at a time when Section 377, a colonial law, makes homosexuality a crime. Beyond the law, vigilante gangs prowl the shadows, targeting those they deem ‘unnatural’ as Da and Ved’s happy existence grows ever more fragile.

Set in an Indian metropolis in 2013, Da is a tender story of a boy caught between devotion and fear, chronicling the everyday courage it takes to love someone the world refuses to accept.

'A beautifully cut gem of a novel. Ved’s unforgettable voice makes this story come to life in so many funny, moving and unexpected ways.’ - Mahesh Rao, Author of 'Half Light'

Genres: Queer

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 1, 2026

About the author

Hello,

I am an author and a columnist, currently based in London. I have completed my MA in Creative Writing Prose Fiction from the University of East Anglia (October 2018).

In 2015, Pan Macmillan, India published my first book Leaving Home With Half A Fridge.

I was longlisted for the Ivan Jurtiz prize (UK) and received a highly commendable mention for the FAB award (UK) in 2018.

In February, 2019, my children’s middle grade novel, A Thud In The Middle Of The Night was published by DC Books, India.

You can write to me at arathimenonauthor@gmail.com

Reviews

[Anjali Bhide]

Da is a rare kind of book. One that holds tragedy and humour in the same breath without letting either diminish the other. Arathi’s distinctive style has you moved by something deeply sad, and then laughing out loud just a breath later. That lightness doesn’t undercut the emotion and instead makes the harder thoughts easier to process and carry with you as a reader. A beautifully crafted book that feels both personal and universal.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Danah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book this weekend in a queer bookshop in London. Though it was rhe final day of the trip, I devoured this short book in a few hours.

The protagonist' voice is hilarious. The characters are rich and loveable.

10/10

[Divyanshi Dash · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wish it were longer. i wanna see so much more of ved and da and alok and vamsi and...