“Sexy” is a short story by Jhumpa Lahiri that explores themes of cultural identity, intimacy, and the complexities of relationships, showing us that not everything is black and white. The story follows our protagonist Miranda a Bengali-American woman living in Boston, as she navigates her romantic involvement with Dev, an married Indian man she meets and starts an affair with.

Lahiri does a wonderful job of highlighting the tensions between her Bengali heritage and American upbringing, particularly in how she perceives and expresses her sexuality, skillfully portraying Miranda’s inner struggles to reconcile cultural demands with her own desires.

Overall, “Sexy” is a compelling exploration of personal and cultural identity within the framework of romantic relationships. You can read the short story here.