Can Love Happen Twice?

Chubby Cheek’s Column celebrates her first birthday today! To make it special for her, I thought of reviewing this second book of the same author whose very debut novel, “I Too Had A Love Story” was reviewed as the very first post in our blog last year.

Memories are still vivid in me of that day when I first got hold of the book adorned with an autograph by the author in Bangalore. Although I was certain that this one would be as splendid as the previous, it took me this long to read it as I was waiting for the perfect moment in which I would be absolutely free to take in every bit of the story to my heart’s content.

“Can Love Happen Twice?” is the sequel for the ever so popular novel “I Too Had A Love Story”. Ravin who was still in utter despair after losing his girlfriend happens to visit to Belgium for an on-site project. While he tries to take this chance as a break or a change over in his life, the real change in his destiny comes in the form of beautiful Simar, whom he meets in Belgium and falls in love with. And the question lingers as the story moves ahead, is Ravin really lucky enough to experience the full form of love?

Even though the theme love and the narrator are same, the plot turns out to be quite different and unexpected from the first book. Most of the story was set in Belgium, which I believe is a rare and lovely experience. Also this time the readers are introduced to a girl much different from their favorite and ever loving Khushi.

The opening scene was a brilliant idea and the following three chapters were heart touching, thought provoking and nicely linked with the aftermath of the demise of Ravin’s beloved. The involvement of the three best friends brings in warmth and assurance to the story and needless to point out that it also depicts a good similarity with the previous book, as it started with a reunion of all of them together.

Personally, I didn’t like Simar’s character. Rather say I almost hated her! Obviously, all the credits go to the author for picking up the fine details from the commonly seen girly attitudes and behavior of modern girls and creating Simar’s character in such a natural way that I never felt I was reading a fiction.

On the other hand, Ravin seems to receive much love and sympathy from not only me but every other reader from the very beginning of the novel. Just as he was struggling to recover a severe mental trauma of losing his beloved, he was struck by the cupid again only to treat him with even a bigger blow. His fate is in the course of playing rather a cruel game with his life this time. I sighed and weeped for his great misfortune and the tears outnumbered the moments I was able to be happy for him in the earlier chapters of his love life.

The best thing about this book is the revelation it brings upon the readers and I’m thankful to the author for taking the opportunity to talk about the true but fragile hearts crushed amidst of selfishness. The book title questions whether love could happen twice, but the story questions the real place a pure love would have in these modern days regardless its first or second love. The words “love” and “commitment” has lost its real meaning. People have become heartless and love has become a mere excuse for time pass. Young people would propose another without much strong feelings that it would be quite easy to leave and move to another if a small dispute occurs between them. Love, family and commitment had been forgotten during the race to reach success and other selfish achievements. Hence, the story is not just to cry and laugh with but to think deeply about the message it carries and change one’s self in a way that they would never hurt another soul. The book is a reminder pure love and true feelings which would blossom only in a sensitive heart for another.

Regarding the story and the climax, of course the first book was quite heart touching and sincere to me. Still, considering the presentation of the story – the story set up, blending the past and the present, the flow of incidents and the addition of many remarkable and diverse set of characters all together makes this book out smarts all the other. Yet another masterpiece by our ever loving author Ravinder Singh! This is a truly sensational read which everyone who believes in love should never miss.