For women like Tanushree, displaying interest in women always has a risk attached. If you are a bisexual woman you have to first identify who are the other women out there who are like-minded. Tanushree R keeps her life simple by being nice to all women. The ones who are interested respond. There are no definitive identifying features of lesbians, per se, although there is a likelihood of being misinterpreted so there remains an element of risk in the simple act of identifying a potential partner. Neeti Joshi, counsellor at Aanchal Trust feels that it works just as like in a man-woman relationship. The chemistry sets it off and you know when a woman is interested. A risk attached though is that the men you are still attracted to may be adversely affected by the bisexual tendencies you display.

There is no particular trend in terms of partners amongst bisexual women. Some are involved only with other bisexuals while some with heterosexuals depending on the comfort level of the other partner.

Since the number of people whom they can converse freely with is limited, they participate in online communities like the BiNet LA, which is an educational, social and support organisation for bisexuals and bi-friendly people. They organise a social at least once a month, usually on the fourth Saturday, providing a non-threatening, comfortable atmosphere to meet other bi-folk and make new friends. On this point, Tanushree R clarifies a commonly help misconception that these clubs are means of finding partners or means of satisfying carnal desires. "We meet to share our thoughts and express ourselves since it is a gathering of like-minded people. More importantly it is to get the community backing, since homosexuality is illegal in our country."

Bisexual women are as capable as anyone of being in long-term relationships. Many bisexuals are living in committed life partnerships. Mridula has been living with her partner since years now but cannot think of getting married. "Our country does not have laws in place for same-sex marriages and besides, my family would be shattered." And there is Alka who has been married to a man for years now but she knows that she is equally attracted to both.

A closer look at these women will hopefully broaden our perspective to the realities which have till date been hidden from our sensibility, for it is in the absence of conventionality that our sensitivity will truly be tested.

• Same-sex acts are punishable by death in nine countries around the world.

• The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of diseases as late as 1991.

• Between two per cent and five per cent of households in the US consist of same-sex partners.

• Same-sex partnerships are legally recognised in the Denmark, France, Hungary, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden.

(Source: Amnesty Study on Violence Against Women)