Unbounded Intimacy

Alternative forms of relationships make the world less patriarchal and less traumatic

- Srinidhi Prahlad

THIS article was almost never meant to happen. I had travelled back in time. I was staring at Jyoti Bhatt’s coloured version of a monochrome photograph at an exhibition. It was of the late queer artist Bhupen Khakhar resting on grass while still in the closet. It was while I was staring that a friend asked me if I had sent in my piece. That was when I rushed to book a cab to go home and begin writing, only to realise I won’t get one in the madness of Bangalore rains.

Many a cancellation later, a bike taxi finally arrived. Bike taxis can be awkward—from helmets that aren’t safe enough, to confusion about where to keep one’s legs. Stories, laughter, scares and adrenaline can make up for it, though. And so can the occasional queer experience.

As we waited endlessly in the rainy traffic at the LIC stone building signal which was lit up with colourful lights of all hues, the monochrome rainy dusk had turned rainbow-ey. When my rider rested his elbows drenched in rain on my thighs I felt safe that he felt safe to do it. Was I sexualising him by finding this cute? Or his eyes cute? Or was it going to be one of those queer experiences during such rides my friends had told me about?