Second Encounter

Anupam, a middle-aged professor with a meagre income, is taking a vacation with his family in a little-known mining town where his student has arranged for a stay. An unexpected meeting with his childhood love interest, Anjali, at the local farmers market rekindles his passion. This chance encounter turns their lives upside down, mainly because things have changed greatly in twenty years. They are now able to meet and speak freely to each other and realise that their love has remained constant. The families come together and Anupam’s teenage son falls for Anjali’s daughter instantly. It looks as though history is about to repeat itself...

But is life all that simple? How deep and dependable is unspoken and unfulfilled love? Does physical proximity necessarily bring one closer? Do values and outlooks change when one considers one’s children? What is love’s ultimate goal? These are some of the questions the readers find themselves asking as the novel explores the myriad shades of love.

Ramapada Chowdhury (b. 1922), did his Masters in English from Presidency College, Calcutta, and was editor, Ananda Bazar Patrika (Sunday) for several decades. The author of many novels and short stories, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Bari badle jay in 1988. He is also the recipient of the Ananda Puraskar (1936), the Rabindra Puraskar (1971), and the Sarat Chandra Puraskar, among others. Many of his novels have been made into successful films, such as Ek din achanak, Kharij, Ban palashir padabali, Je jekhane danriye, Diper naam tiyarang and others.

Swapna Dutta has been writing for several decades, mostly for children, and has more than 50 titles to her credit, including translations. The recipient of several awards, including a National one for translation, she has been published by Hachette, Harper Collins, Scholastic, Orient Longman and Sahitya Akademi, among others, and continues to contribute to newspapers and magazines and websites both here and abroad. She has also worked as Editorial Consultant for Living Media, Asst. Editor for Limca Book of Records and Deputy Editor for Encyclopedia Britannica between 1988 and 2002. She lives in Bangalore.