Love Lasts Forever
By Vikrant Khanna
Review By Ila Garg
Love Lasts Forever is a novel by
Vikrant Khanna (Bestselling author of When
Life Tricked Me), and is published by Srishti Publishers. The book has an attractive cover designed by Wasim Helal. The
bright green color looks lovely and the wedding rings clearly indicating the
romance that leads to marriage. The title
is tempting, clearly arousing reader interest – Love Lasts Forever… only if you don’t marry your love. The tag
line raises a lot of questions and for the answers, we of course have to turn
the pages of this beautifully presented book.
The author, Vikrant Khanna is a sailor by profession and a writer by passion. He lives in Delhi with his family. He is also a keen guitarist who composes his own songs and is adept at cooking. Love Lasts Forever is his third novel.
The blurb reads as, ‘So you think your love can last forever…? Get
married!
Eighteen-year-old
Ronit falls madly in love with Aisha the moment he meets her at his graduation
day from a naval college. He believes he has found his perfect soul mate, and
come what may, his love for her will last forever. Seven years later, he gets married to her. Big mistake! A week later,
he completely hates her and believes she has turned into a devil.
But his
perception about love and life change when he hears the poignant love story of
Shekhar, his Captain, on a ship that later gets hijacked by the pirates of
Somalia.
As they are
left fighting for their lives; they confront if love truly can last forever…? But
does it get too late.’
Initial impressions
of the book from the title, cover, and the blurb – an endearing romantic novel…!
And yes, it lives up to your expectations by giving you just that – pure romance
with several twists.
The plot can be
summed up in few lines as: The story starts on a ship (almost reminded me of The Pirates of Caribbean). Ronit, the
main protagonist and the narrator of this enthralling romance fiction, seems
quite interested in his captain’s Shekhar love life. He probes him to tell his
story and finally the captain opens up. While he sits listening to his love
story (Warning: indeed love is painful), he himself get several flashbacks of
his own life; he is reminded of his love at first sight moment with Aisha,
their filmy romance, how the love bids finally got married and then it ended in
a tragedy when he realized that Aisha is not the same as she used to be before
marriage. In the midst of all these events, revolves another plot in which the
pirates of Somalia take over the ship and it gets hijacked. Some more twists
and turns, bring us to the climax of this book.
The way the author
has developed the story is indeed something to look out for. It seems plain on the
surface but the plot gets interesting mid-way. The author hasn’t much disappointed
the readers much, however there is nothing extraordinary that he delivers.
We have ample
love stories doing rounds in literary industry! Yet he has managed to write with
a difference. Errors are bound to occur when there is so much of intermingling
taking place – two love stories, different settings, pirates hijacking the
ship, etc.
The
248 page book is a perfect quick read where readers will enjoy reading, and not
find it boring. I mainly loved the book because of the plot that is so built up
really well. In the scenario where Indian Writing Industry is flooded with writers
who seldom know how to write, Vikrant Khanna’s Love Lasts Forever changes the perception. Except for few
grammatical and spelling errors, it was pretty much a flawless reading!
The
urge to reach the climax, kept me hooked all the time. The language and pace is
comfortable for all the readers. A satisfactory work by the author.
The
too many twists in the plot is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning
the pages to find out what happens in Love Lasts Forever. To find out whether
or not Ronit will be saved from the pirates, why Ronit gets so engrossed in his
captain’s life story, will he ever be able to make up with Aisha, is Aisha really
changed, does marriage really change people, is love always lost in marriage,; you
will have to read the novel.
I recommend this book
to all those who love reading romance fictions, to those who love this
particular genre, and to those who are looking for something to read during
their travel time. Yes, because it won’t take much of your time.
‘Yay’ Factors: The cover, story
line, narrative.
‘Nay’ Factors: The climax comes too
fast, it could have been more detailed.
Rating: 3/5
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