Reunion on Valentine's Night

On a foggy Valentine's Day in Chandigarh, three friends—Happy, Amardeep, and Manpreet—reunite, their hearts heavy with concern for their missing friend, Ravin. The city buzzes with love, but their purpose is somber: a radio show dedicated to Ravin's bestselling love story, "I Too Had a Love Story." The friends' camaraderie is tinged with nostalgia and worry, as they prepare to share Ravin's journey with the world, hoping to reach him through the airwaves.

Ravin's Absence Revealed

At the radio station, the friends are greeted by RJ Shambhavi, who expects Ravin to join. When his absence is revealed, the mood shifts from celebration to concern. The friends disclose, live on air, that Ravin is not well—he is suffering from major depression and is in a rehabilitation center. The revelation shocks listeners and the radio team alike, turning the show into a citywide moment of collective empathy and suspense.

Radio Waves of Heartbreak

The radio show becomes a phenomenon as the friends recount Ravin's tragic past: the loss of his first love, Khushi, and the emotional aftermath. Listeners across Chandigarh are riveted, their curiosity and compassion ignited. The friends announce they will read from Ravin's unfinished second book, "Can Love Happen Twice?", promising to reveal what happened after his first heartbreak.

Belgium: A New Beginning

The narrative shifts to Ravin's perspective as he moves to Belgium, hoping to escape his grief. The foreign land offers new sights and routines, but loneliness lingers. He befriends Sanchit, another Indian expatriate, and tries to rebuild his life, immersing himself in work and the rhythms of a new culture, yet haunted by memories of Khushi.

Simar's Unexpected Entrance

Ravin's life takes a turn when he meets Simar, a vivacious Indian MBA student, first at the gym and then at a sandwich shop. Their initial encounters are marked by playful friction and growing curiosity. Simar's candidness and charm begin to thaw Ravin's guarded heart, setting the stage for a new chapter in his emotional journey.

Truth or Dare Connection

On Ravin's birthday, a playful game of Truth or Dare over text with Simar becomes a confessional, drawing out secrets, vulnerabilities, and desires. The exchange is both innocent and flirtatious, breaking down barriers and forging a bond that feels both exhilarating and dangerous. For the first time since Khushi, Ravin feels the stirrings of hope and attraction.

Love Rekindled, Past Remembered

As Ravin and Simar grow closer, he is torn between the memory of Khushi and the possibility of loving again. Simar's presence is healing, yet Ravin is plagued by guilt and uncertainty. Their relationship blossoms through shared meals, late-night talks, and mutual support, but Ravin's past remains a silent third party in their romance.

Simar Reads Ravin's Story

When Simar asks about Ravin's past, he gives her his book to read. Immersed in his story, Simar is moved to tears, gaining a deeper understanding of his pain. The act of sharing his grief brings them closer, but also exposes the emotional scars that Ravin still carries. Simar's empathy and affection intensify, and she expresses her wish to be his "sweetest heart."

Butterfly Kisses and Promises

Their relationship reaches new heights as Simar and Ravin share moments of tenderness and passion—symbolized by the "butterfly kiss." Simar's playful affection and creative gestures, like gifting Ravin five symbolic feathers, mark a period of joy and promise. They dream of a future together, even as the specter of distance and difference looms.

Distance and Digital Longing

Ravin returns to India, while Simar remains in Belgium. The lovers rely on technology—video calls, texts, and virtual intimacy—to bridge the gap. The time difference and physical absence strain their connection, but their longing for each other remains strong. Plans are made for reunions, and both families are introduced, but cracks begin to show beneath the surface.

Families and Future Dreams

As the couple meets each other's families, differences in background, expectations, and values become apparent. Simar's affluent, independent upbringing contrasts with Ravin's simpler, family-oriented life. Discussions about where to settle—India or abroad—reveal deeper incompatibilities. Simar's desire for autonomy and luxury clashes with Ravin's sense of duty and rootedness.

Cracks Beneath the Surface

What began as minor disagreements escalate into fundamental conflicts about marriage, family, and lifestyle. Simar's insistence on living abroad and apart from Ravin's family, and her reluctance to commit to marriage, unsettle Ravin. He tries to accommodate her wishes, even considering leaving his job and moving to Belgium, but feels increasingly lost and unmoored.

The Battle of Expectations

Ravin's sacrifices—emotional, professional, and personal—mount as he tries to meet Simar's growing list of conditions. Simar's demands become more rigid, including expectations about religion, diet, and social status. The love that once healed Ravin now becomes a source of pain, as he realizes that Simar's vision of happiness excludes his own family and values.

Simar's Demands, Ravin's Sacrifice

The relationship devolves into negotiations and ultimatums. Simar's fears and insecurities dominate, and Ravin's attempts at reassurance fall flat. The couple's inability to reconcile their differences leads to repeated arguments, emotional exhaustion, and a sense of inevitability about their impending breakup.

The Final Break and Collapse

On the anniversary of Khushi's death, Simar ends the relationship. The timing is cruel, compounding Ravin's trauma. He is left devastated, feeling abandoned and betrayed. The loss is not just of love, but of hope itself. Ravin spirals into depression, unable to function or find meaning in life.

Ravin's Descent into Darkness

Ravin's friends and family watch helplessly as he withdraws, loses his job, and succumbs to despair. He is eventually hospitalized after a suicide attempt, clutching the feathers Simar once gave him. The cycle of loss and grief repeats, but this time, Ravin's spirit is nearly broken.

Friends Rally, Hope Flickers

Ravin's friends—Happy, Amardeep, and Manpreet—rally around him, ensuring he receives psychiatric care in a rehabilitation center. Their loyalty and love provide a fragile thread of hope. The radio show, intended as a tribute, becomes a public reckoning with the cost of heartbreak and the importance of compassion.

Simar Hears the Whole Story

Unbeknownst to the friends, Simar listens to the radio broadcast, hearing for the first time the full extent of Ravin's suffering. The realization of the pain she caused prompts her to reach out, seeking Ravin's whereabouts. The story comes full circle, as Simar prepares to visit Ravin in Shimla, her own heart changed by the truth.

A Visit to Shimla

The friends, having shared Ravin's story with the world, travel to visit him in the rehabilitation center. Simar, too, sets out for Shimla, her motives unclear—seeking forgiveness, reconciliation, or simply to bear witness to the consequences of love's fragility. The ending is open, suggesting that healing is possible, but never guaranteed.

Love's Unanswered Question

The story closes with the central question unresolved. Ravin's journey is a testament to love's power to heal and to destroy, to the risks of vulnerability, and to the enduring scars of loss. The friends, the listeners, and Simar herself are left to ponder whether true love can be found again—or whether some wounds never fully close.

Characters

Ravin

Ravin is the protagonist, a sensitive and deeply emotional man whose life is defined by love and loss. After the tragic death of his first love, Khushi, he is left shattered, his faith in happiness and God broken. His move to Belgium is an attempt to escape his grief, but he remains haunted by the past. Ravin's relationship with Simar offers a second chance at love, but his vulnerability and willingness to sacrifice for others become both his strength and his undoing. His journey is marked by resilience, but also by a profound fragility that leads to a mental health crisis when love fails him again.

Simar

Simar is a spirited, ambitious Indian woman pursuing her MBA in Belgium. She is candid, playful, and initially brings light into Ravin's life. However, her desire for autonomy, luxury, and a life on her own terms creates tension. Simar's inability to reconcile her dreams with Ravin's values leads to escalating demands and, ultimately, the dissolution of their relationship. Her character embodies the modern struggle between individualism and commitment, and her late realization of Ravin's pain suggests a capacity for growth and regret.

Khushi

Though deceased before the events of this book, Khushi's presence looms large over Ravin's life and psyche. She represents innocence, unconditional love, and the pain of irreversible loss. Khushi's memory is both a source of comfort and a barrier to Ravin's ability to move on, shaping his relationships and his sense of self.

Happy

Happy is one of Ravin's closest friends, steadfast and supportive throughout Ravin's ordeals. He is practical, caring, and often the first to take action when Ravin is in crisis. Happy's empathy and initiative—such as ensuring Simar hears the radio show—demonstrate the importance of friendship as a lifeline in times of despair.

Amardeep

Amardeep, another of Ravin's college friends, is present at key moments, offering comfort and perspective. He is sensitive to Ravin's pain and plays a crucial role in narrating Ravin's story to the public, helping to humanize and contextualize his suffering.

Manpreet

Manpreet brings humor and lightness to the group, but is also deeply affected by Ravin's struggles. He provides both levity and insight, and his willingness to share Ravin's story on air is instrumental in reaching Simar and the wider audience.

Sanchit

Sanchit is Ravin's colleague and friend in Belgium, helping him acclimate to a new environment. He encourages Ravin to open up to new experiences and relationships, acting as a surrogate brother and advisor during Ravin's time of transition.

Shambhavi

Shambhavi is the RJ who anchors the pivotal radio show. Initially focused on the program's success, she becomes emotionally invested in Ravin's story, serving as a conduit between the friends and the public. Her reactions mirror those of the audience, amplifying the story's impact.

Simar's Father

Simar's father is a successful businessman who recognizes his daughter's strengths and limitations. He attempts to guide both Simar and Ravin, warning of the importance of shared values and open communication. His honesty helps Ravin see the deeper issues in the relationship.

Ravin's Parents

Ravin's parents are supportive but ultimately unable to shield their son from heartbreak. Their concern for his well-being is palpable, and their struggle to help him through depression highlights the generational and cultural challenges of addressing mental health in Indian families.

Plot Devices

Framing Device: The Radio Show

The novel's structure is anchored by a live radio broadcast, where Ravin's friends recount his story to a citywide audience. This device allows for multiple perspectives, real-time reactions, and a sense of communal witnessing. It also serves as the means by which Simar learns the full truth, catalyzing the story's resolution.

Dual Timelines: Past and Present

The narrative alternates between the present-day radio show and flashbacks to Ravin's experiences in Belgium and India. This structure builds suspense, gradually revealing the causes and consequences of Ravin's heartbreak, and allowing the reader to piece together the emotional puzzle alongside the characters.

Symbolism: The Five Feathers

Simar's gift of five feathers, each representing a promise, becomes a recurring symbol of hope, commitment, and ultimately, loss. Ravin's clutching of the feathers during his suicide attempt underscores the depth of his attachment and the devastation of broken trust.

Foreshadowing and Irony

The narrative is laced with foreshadowing—Ravin's initial reluctance to love again, the unresolved issues with Simar, and the anniversary of Khushi's death all point toward an impending crisis. The irony of Ravin's second heartbreak mirroring his first amplifies the story's emotional impact.

Open Ending

The novel concludes without definitive closure, as Simar sets out to visit Ravin in the rehabilitation center. This open ending invites readers to reflect on the nature of forgiveness, recovery, and the enduring question: can love truly happen twice?

Analysis

"Can Love Happen Twice?" is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of modern relationships. Through Ravin's journey, the novel interrogates the romantic ideal of "moving on" after tragedy, exposing the psychological toll of repeated heartbreak. The story critiques the transactional nature of contemporary love, where personal dreams and conditions can eclipse empathy and commitment. It also highlights the importance of mental health, the limitations of sacrifice, and the irreplaceable value of friendship. Ultimately, the book serves as both a cautionary tale and a call for compassion, urging readers to recognize the weight of their promises and the fragility of the human heart. In a world where love is often treated as disposable, Ravin's story is a reminder that true love demands honesty, courage, and, above all, mutual respect.

Last updated: May 10, 2025