At a time when Section 377 of Indian Penal code still renders sexual activities ‘against the order of nature’ as criminal, and in a society where women are still hesitant of expressing their sexual desires, author Bhaavna Arora’s latest book explores sexual relationships through two women.
Rihana and Zara, the two female protagonists of Love Bi The Way, are friends, despite being completely different from each other. Rihana is bold, outgoing and can approach men easily, unlike Zara. Through the course of their trials and tribulations in their professional lives and their personal intimate relationships – they realize that the relationship they have with each other, is much stronger than any other feeling they’ve experienced before.
However, writing about bisexual female characters was a dual challenge for Bhaavna. Many told her that her characters were too bold. In fact, her own family thought she wouldn’t get married after her latest book. “I went all out when I wrote the character of Rihana, even though the many wanted to restrict me. They felt that Rihana will come across as ‘characterless’, as she enjoys the attention lavished on her by men, and has sex freely. But my point is, if a man doesn’t get flak for it, and enjoys being a casanova, then why should a girl be attacked for the same?” She asks. “My family was so sure I wouldn’t get married after this! But my grandmother was very supportive of my work,” she adds.
Read: Like Pearls on a String: stories of India’s first composite novel – Crossed & Knotted
{{/usCountry}}Read: Like Pearls on a String: stories of India’s first composite novel – Crossed & Knotted
{{/usCountry}}Bhaavna wishes the society to change and be more accommodating of such ideas. “As authors, it’s our moral responsibility to make people question and re-evaluate society, as we are catering to a large audience. People will also get desensitised to age-old notions, and will be more accepting of the same, if authors take the initiative through their work. I wanted to make a difference, even if it’s just a small one,” she says. This feeling to create a difference was a strong inspiration behind her novel.
Read: Book review: How Zindaginama brings alive Punjab during the British era
A powerful line which Rihana says, “Love has no gender” reverberates through the intimate love story between the two women. The unfolding relationship comes across very naturally to the reader – just like any other love story. The author hopes that society becomes more accepting of all kinds of relationships. Bhaavna says, “My story is about the freedom of choice – the freedom to choose whoever you want, be it man or woman. I hope society also treats all relationships with love.”
Bhaavna has experimented with difficult and controversial themes before. Her debut novel Deliberate Sinner dealt with a woman struggling with the lack of emotional and physical love in her marriage. She received overwhelming response from her readers. And many even asked her for advice. She laughs, “Most of the feedback and questions came from men.”
When asked whether she aspires to be an erotica writer, she says she doesn’t wish to be called one. “Erotica takes you on a different level altogether. Very few authors can do that,” she says.