I will forever remain grateful to the kajal-wearing they/them who first took me to Big Banana Restaurant and Bar. It is where I have chosen to make my last stand on the battleground of romance. And why not, when every dating app known to humankind has failed to procure an emotionally unavailable, sexually interested, intellectually interesting hottie?
On the other hand, every two out of three times I’ve been to Big Banana, I’ve met at least one cute man worth talking to. I still owe that friend an invitation to my humble abode, but perhaps another trip to the famous Delhi dive bar is due.There are many reasons why I love the place. Well, two: it has cheap alcohol and is overflowing with queer people. But at the same time, it is a favourite among Delhi uncles, who feel at home surrounded by masala peanuts, watching cricket on not just one but two TV screens.
At Big Banana, you’ll find style on one table and polo T-shirts on the next. Drag Race here will have completely different meanings depending on who you ask. It’s an oxymoron of a place, capable of housing both the patriarchy and its undoing. But this doesn’t come without friction. One eventful night, I witnessed just how fragile the balance is.Queer joy meets Big Brother
