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

194 pages, Paperback

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

[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...