Can Love Happen Twice?

December 17th, 2011
Ambiance Mall, Gurgaon

An anticipation of this book was somewhere on my mind at the very moment when I finished his debut novel I Too Had A Love Story in tears but when I read about another upcoming novel on the Facebook Fan Page of Ravinder Singh, the anticipation turned into eagerness and excitement. And seriously, as author Ravinder himself says, Facebook contributed a big part in conveying updates, establishing coordination between author and readers and much more than that developing a relation.

First of all mazel tov to Ravinder Singh for release of his most awaited book. May God gift him with success and happiness in every aspect of his life. The very moment I saw Delhi/NCR book launch event of Can Love Happen Twice on his page, I RSVP with a positive confirmation. I mean this was something very exciting for me like OH MY GOD!! I AM GOING TO MEET Ravinder Singh, THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF INDIA. Oh! Oh!! My god. I already had ordered my copy of  Can Love Happen Twice  on Flipcart time long ago. And when I shared this news with one of my best friend, she was excited too, more than me. We both set up a plan that we will be going on the book launch together. Wow! Evening was going to be a great thrill for me.

By afternoon I heard from my friend that she will not be able to accompany me on the event and we both were bit gloomy about it. But finally I reached Ambience Mall with my copy of Can Love Happen Twice? 1 hour prior from the event. Hoppering around, enjoying my curiosity, missing my friend and waiting for Ravinder Singh, I was impatient to know the atmosphere of Reliance Timeout what was going on there. At the beginning during the security check, they updated me that I cannot go in with the book bought from outside. There is one thing about me, whenever I read any book, I underline quotes that touch me, write my own notes beneath lines. So after reading a book, I feel special about that particular copy of book. And when mustache man told me that book is not allowed, I gone off. Still I had almost half an hour before the event was supposed to commence. I paced to sales persons regarding my issue from where I was referred to their sales manager and then to their security head. Anyhow within twenty minutes I was able to have a star shaped security stamp fixed on the cover of my book which meant book could hang around with me inside the store.

I finished my latté in haste and took a seat to observe their preparation. There were people from Reliance store itself, Penguin India and others managing the événement. A projector was set up above our heads which would play the presentation on a medium sized screen. Two big sized comfort chairs were installed on one I had a guess Ravinder Singh himself and on another any official from Penguin will be seated. Audio books of Can Love Happen Twice? recorded by Ravinder Singh in his own voice, copies of Can Love Happen Twice? all colored in blue (my favorite color) were arranged in a tower shape, few copies of his first novel I Too Had A Love Story in English and also translated in Hindi. In time all chairs were full and area of Café Coffee Day was also occupied by Fans of Ravinder Sir. As time was getting closer, the zeal was reaching to its top. Right then they stood a poster-in-red and printed numbers 93.5 on it. Oh yes! The opening chapter of the novel rang a bell in my head. And the thrill raised its bar to roof when we all were informed by Vaishali that RJ Swati from Red FM 93.5 will be reaching here with Ravin.

Soon the video of the book made by Penguin India was played on screen. Words popping from blue clouds. Few lines than can really make someone thinking.

We are born …once
We die…once
We fall in love… once
And when that happens,
We promise this very life to someone else
And then if destiny plays a cruel joke and that one love is lost
Would your heart stop beating?
Would you stop believing in love?
Or would you give love another chance?
Allow happiness to knock your door… twice?
From the author who has become an inspiration…
Ravinder Singh
Comes a second love story
CAN LOVE HAPPEN TWICE?

Around 1930 Hrs appeared the bestseller and most loved novelist of India, tall and decent Ravinder Sir and the most loved RJ of Delhi gorgeous and spontaneous Swati both in black and were welcomed with warm hearts in the its own Desi-Delhite-style :-) We are gracious to you that you have dedicated this book to your readers, thank you millions Ravinder Sir.
"So we all are here for book launch of Can Love Happen Twice?, how many of you already have got your copy?" Threw the question Swati to all of us.
I and many others raised my hand. Yes I had my copy of novel in my hands.
"And how many of you are planning to get it?" Swati again.
And I too again. I was going to buy another one too. Probably to gift someone. I love gifting books.
"Alright, that is a good amount. And how many of you have have the hreatbreak."
Uff! I was one of those who know pain of heartbreak. My hand went up.

From here picked up pace the discussion between RJ Swati and Ravinder which was utterly entertaining to audiences. The first attack by RJ Swati upon Ravinder,”How rude the character of Shambhavi you have portrayed in the book, Ravin! I am very nice with my coworkers.” Ravinder Sir had to be diplomatic on this to save himself otherwise you know well how perfectly Swati can trap someone, even the king of pen cannot escape from her word trap. This turned the ambiance light and during the conversation between both of them we were able to know many unfolded facts behind the scene. I was surprised to know that Ravinder Singh had never been in a radio station until release of this novel. How effectively he managed to describe the RED FM office as if he himself is a RJ. I had mistaken to think that he has done a good research on this part of book. As he has quit his studies for a business degree from some very reputed college of India, I do not recall name of the college at this moment, he told how hard he had to work on the book along with keeping his studies on. Every single day he had to make sure that he submits his college assignments before it is next day and dosed with cuppa. He would spend hours to google back in his own part of life, thousands of stories he received from his loyal fans and his imagination. Then only after tough work of hours for months this book could reach to our hands.

On the question ‘Can love happen twice?’ he tossed the question back to his fans. Well, I strongly have a faith in love and see it above from all social, emotional and any kind of boundary I believe that love can happen twice. I took the mic and with greetings to Ravin Sir initiated my words,
“Well, congratulations to Ravin Sir for his book. And as the title of the book is a big question itself, everyone has been talking about questions and answers rising and debating about them. I would like not to say anything about it and just to share how I feel about this. Yes, I agree love can happen twice. and I think second time more mature, more sincere, more deep and more caring. Because we already know how painful it is to lose someone we love. So I would say Love can happen twice.”

This time he wants to engage his story with Simar in a more effective way so this time he has came up with the audio book and that too in his own voice. When he read a couple of pages from the book in which Khushi, his girlfriend who unfortunately passed away (Only from the earth, in his heart she lives forever), gives an approval of his relation with Simar, everyone became emotional. Swati wanted to hear our reactions on it but when no-one could utter a single word about this and Swati was bit low about it, I grabbed the mic and said, “I am not able to say anything. I have lumps in my throat.” Swati in her prompted approach made the moment light again, “So when you read the book you have lumps in your throat and you are unable to speak. I think you should get this so that you can plug in your ears and go though the book WITHOUT-HAVING-LUMPS-IN-YOUR-THROAT,” Swati mischievous said pointing towards audio book and everyone indulged in this joyous moment.

When I asked about art of literature he uses in his book. “We know Sir, you are much inspired by your own and your readers’ lives; how do you bind all those stories together. Do you follow literary conventions and fit your stories into the definition of novel? How do you go with the flow?” on which his reaction was, “Oh! I am really not too much into the grammar and all. I simply start writing from one end to another and pour out all my feelings. I flow like a river, from beginning till ending. Not following particularly any particular regulation.” And when I asked for tips on writing he came with only one, “Write with your heart. Pen down what you have in your heart. Write truly and truly with your heart and you will end up with a great story.” What a man of heart he really is! May God bless him.

Finally we all were invited were for autograph ceremony for which we all were desirably waiting. The already copy I had, I got signed for my friend who could not join in today and an audio book for me.

For Ashish,
with love.
Ravin Singh

While having my copy being autographed he had to say, “Tum thoda smile nahi kar sakte?” :-) and we all again burst into laughter. When finally I reached him with another copy to be signed for my girlfriend (yes, I never call her my ex-girlfriend because there is nothing like ‘ex’ in true relations) Sir baptized me with a new name,”Tum bahut SENTI-BANDE ho yaar.”
“Weak at heart Sir, like you perhaps.” (And strong at the same time)
I was about to leave there Swati’s eyes caught my sight,”Hey Hey, yum wohi ho na josko lumps aate hain throats me. (You’re the same same guy who come to have lumps in throat)
“Thank You Swati, because of you I got the audio book too.”
“OK, you take a little amount of turmeric with (I do not remember what she told) whenever you have those lumps again,” she was not ready to miss a single chance of leg pulling, “And you never talked to me on air, call me on zero one one four…”
“I already have called you once, you know.”
“Oh that’s great, when?” her known –known-to-entire-Delhi accent.
“It’s been two years. After my break up and you know what! You told me to move on move on.”
“So you moved on?” raised she a question.
“Mmm, yaah!”
And with these words we ended the short discussion, shook a warm hand with Sir Ravinder Singh with a wish to see him again. What a beautiful and unforgettable evening it was!

I, the guy in white behind with his copies in hand.

Disclaimer : The above article is based upon my experience of being in book launch of Can Love Happen Twice? in Delhi/NCR. The dialogues and incidents are rewritten the best I could recall and may be different from original.

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