Who is Avantika?

"My colleagues and juniors admired, or at any

rate envied, what they saw.
They viewed me as a hard-working girl who
grew up in Mumbai, and went on to an Ivy
League college followed by a lucrative
Investment Banking career.
Professional, committed, gifted, shrewd,
business-like, authoritative, forward thinking
all words that had been used to describe me.
But was that person really me?"

Who is Rohan?
"At thirty-two, I was still struggling to
gain a foothold in my profession; quite
unlike my other friends who knew
where both their personal and
professional lives were headed. I had
been hopping from job to job and had
yet to create that long lasting impact
in a single job that would help build a
solid base for my career..."

Avantika on Rohan
"I felt a decidedly positive energy in
the office with Rohans presence. I was
not sure if it was real enough for
others to experience it too, but I felt it
keenly. Gawd, my stupid feelings..."

Rohan on Avantika
"I would like to make it clear here that
Avantika was neither a very friendly person
nor a friendly bossshe was just a bossy
boss.
But then, she was full of life. Smart, savvy,
sexy, yup, I said it, and sensitive. She was
always on the move and getting things
done.
When I first met her, I was overwhelmed by
her. Undoubtedly so..."

Avantika's commitment
"I guess love has a tendency to go out
of the window when promises go awry,
reality sets in, and responsibilities take
over."

Avantika says...
'But then I gradually opened up to Rohan. I didnt
remember how and when it started, but it had.
Little by little professional discussions start
leading to personal ones.
Nothing too profound or earth-shattering at first.
Just this, that, and the other. Small nuggets of
information and shared laughter. His love for his
parents. My narration of Aaravs little habits. He
smiled at the unabashed, maternal pride in my
little boy.'

Rohan says...
'Why did I enjoy hugging her so much? Why did
I feel so like a winner when she smiled at me?
Why did I enjoy arguing with her? Was this that
much-glamourized emotion called love? Or was
it mere infatuation? A thwarted urge to possess
her sexually? Yes, that was all.'
'Well No it wasnt just that. I respected and
liked Avantika. But what good it would do me
or her?'

Rohan thinks...
'I was scared of getting hurt again. As
far as my ex had been concerned, ours
was not a relationship, merely a
pleasant way of passing the time.
In Avantikas case, the relationship had
no goal, no direction, no meaning, and
no value. But it had feelings, deep
emotions, and strange sensations that
I couldnt measure.'

Avantika thinks...
'Avi, girl, you have handled much
worse, you will get over this as well, I
told myself grimly. Just to make sure
that Rohan did not feel crowded in any
way I thought it would be a good idea
to write him a nice long email,
clarifying my stand...'

Avantika
"I never imagined the bond I thought
was severed and buried in the deepest
unknown chamber of the ocean with a
small letter would now continue till the
last breath of my life.
Even when we think of controlling our
lives, god always has different plan. It
was first time, life taught me lesson
that few things cant be controlled..."

Avantika's new journey...

'Fall in St. Louis was breath-taking. And it
was no different that day when Aarav and I
walked out of the airport. A profusion of
colors of trees, which resembled a canvas
painted by a skilled artist with melody of
colors - bright red, electric orange and
effervescent yellow with hue of gold; it
would be offsetting young romance, the
sight to gladden most hearts. Except
mine...'

Rohan's journey...
'The proud owner of a one track mind, Shreya,
my wife was a goal oriented person. And it
would be me who would be left dreading its
consequences. If it were a realistic one, it was
fine; as it would keep her busy till the matter
was over. If it was unrealistic or difficult, then it
would be sure to give me nightmares.
I had left a precious gem for a fake one. Avantika
was incomparable, she was invaluable...'

Mystery...
On separate ways...on separate lives
but untied by love...
will they meet???
will they be united???
What lies in their fate???
What surprises they face???
Can love give second chances?

 So many questions.
Very few answers.

Join Avantika and Rohan...in the twists

and turns of their story, through the
mysteries and vagaries of the word
love, the complexities of human
relationships, and the reassessment of
all the values they held dear.

Second Spring is available on Amazon, Barnes &

Nobles and many major book stores