“Sometimes, the most beautiful things happen when you least expect them to.”
— Early in the story, protagonist's reflection on life's unpredictability.
Archivist's Choice
It Happens for a Reason
Preeti Shenoy (2014)
Genre
Romance
Reading Time
280 min
Key Themes
See below
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An eighteen-year-old's decision to embrace single motherhood shatters her world, only for the father of her child to re-enter her life sixteen years later, forcing her to confront a past she thought she'd buried and a future she never imagined.
Synopsis
Eighteen-year-old Vipasha, known as Vee, decides to keep her baby, sacrificing a modeling career and cutting ties with her family and her lover, Ankush. Sixteen years later, Vee is a single mother to Aryan, running a dog-boarding facility and working as a gym instructor. Aryan admires his 'cool mom' and wishes for her to find love, a desire Vee's best friend, Suchi, shares. Secretly, Vee has feelings for Saurabh, the quirky vet. Ankush, Aryan's biological father, reappears unexpectedly, disrupting Vee's life. Aryan meets his father for the first time, leading to complicated feelings and new family dynamics. As Vee revisits the past, she grapples with whether a decision made out of youthful desire can form the basis of a lasting relationship. The novel explores the uncertain road ahead for Vee, Aryan, and Ankush as they navigate rekindled emotions, new hopes, and the possibility of a future together.
Reading time
280 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Heartwarming, Emotional, Hopeful, Romantic
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy contemporary Indian romance novels exploring second chances, single motherhood, and the complexities of past relationships.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer fast-paced thrillers or stories without a focus on family drama and emotional introspection.
Plot Summary
A Life-Altering Decision
Vipasha, known as Vee, is eighteen and on the verge of a successful modeling career. Her life changes when she discovers she is pregnant. Despite potential problems, Vee decides to keep her baby. This choice creates a significant rift with her family, who disapprove, and a painful separation from Ankush, the father of her child and the man she loved. Vee must navigate this new chapter alone, sacrificing her dreams and cutting ties to become a mother.
Sixteen Years Later: Vee's New Life
Sixteen years have passed since Vipasha's life-changing decision. She has built an independent and fulfilling life for herself and her son, Aryan. Vee runs a dog-boarding facility, showing her love for animals, and works as a gym instructor, maintaining her fitness. Aryan, now a teenager, adores his mother, calling her the 'coolest mom in the world.' Their bond is strong, and despite the absence of a father, they have a loving home. Vee's best friend, Suchi, is always present, encouraging Vee to find love again.
A Secret Affection and Friendly Advice
While Vee seems content, she secretly feels affection for Saurabh, the quirky and kind veterinarian who often visits her dog-boarding facility. Their interactions are always pleasant, filled with light banter and mutual respect. However, Vee keeps these feelings to herself, perhaps due to past experiences or a reluctance to complicate her settled life. Meanwhile, Suchi actively tries to set Vee up with eligible bachelors, believing Vee deserves happiness and a partner after all these years.
An Unexpected Reappearance
Just as Vee's life finds a comfortable rhythm, a major event disrupts her world: Ankush, Aryan's father and Vee's first love, reappears. His sudden return is unexpected, creating a ripple effect through Vee's and Aryan's lives. Sixteen years have passed since they last met, and Ankush's presence brings a flood of memories, unresolved emotions, and questions about the past. This return sets the stage for a dramatic shift in the story, forcing Vee to confront her past and consider its implications for her present and future.
Aryan Meets His Father
Ankush's return leads to a meeting with his son, Aryan, who grew up without knowing his biological father. This encounter is emotional for everyone. Aryan, curious at first, begins to connect with Ankush. Vee carefully handles this new dynamic, trying to protect Aryan while letting him get to know his father. The meeting opens new possibilities for Aryan, filling a void he might not have known he had, and challenges Vee to integrate Ankush into their established life, or at least manage his presence.
Revisiting the Past
Ankush's presence forces Vee to revisit the painful circumstances of their separation sixteen years ago. They cautiously talk about the past, discussing Vee's decision to keep the baby and the fallout. Vee reflects on whether their initial relationship was true love or just infatuation, given their youth. Ankush also grapples with his past actions and the consequences of his absence. This period of reflection and conversation is important for both characters as they try to understand each other's perspectives and the impact of their shared history on their current lives.
Complicated Feelings and New Dynamics
As Ankush spends more time with Vee and Aryan, old feelings resurface for Vee. The comfortable familiarity and shared history with Ankush add a new layer of complexity to her emotions. This return of past affection conflicts with her quiet, developing feelings for Saurabh, the kind vet. Vee finds herself torn between her past with Ankush and the potential for a different future with Saurabh. The emotional tension grows as she tries to reconcile these conflicting desires, making decisions about her love life more challenging than ever.
Suchi's Role and Aryan's Hopes
Suchi, the supportive best friend, watches the unfolding drama. While she initially pushed Vee to find a new partner, Ankush's return offers a new possibility for Vee's happiness, and Suchi encourages her to explore it. At the same time, Aryan, who has grown fond of Ankush, hopes his parents will reunite. He sees the potential for a complete family and openly expresses his desire for Vee and Ankush to get back together. This adds pressure on Vee, who must balance her son's hopes with her complicated emotions and practical considerations.
The Road Ahead: Uncertainty
Vee is now at a crossroads, facing a major decision that will affect her life and Aryan's. The question remains: Can a relationship born out of youthful desire, and then separated for sixteen years, truly be rekindled into a lifelong partnership? She must weigh her resurfaced feelings for Ankush against the stability and quiet affection she feels for Saurabh, and consider the implications of each path for Aryan. The story emphasizes that the journey ahead is uncertain and requires Vee to make a choice that will define her future.
Embracing the Journey
As Vee grapples with her decision, she understands that life is unpredictable and often messy. The story ends with Vee accepting the uncertainty, realizing that some things 'happen for a reason.' She recognizes that her past decisions, though difficult, led her to become the strong, independent woman she is today and shaped the loving relationship she shares with Aryan. The focus shifts from regretting the past to making conscious choices for a happy future, regardless of who she chooses as a partner. She prepares to navigate the 'bumpy road ahead' with courage and an open heart.
Principal Figures
Vipasha (Vee)
The Protagonist
Vee transforms from a young woman making a difficult, lonely choice into a self-reliant mother who must learn to open her heart to new possibilities and reconcile with her past.
Aryan
The Supporting
Aryan grows from a content son to one who actively wishes for his parents' reunion, influencing Vee's emotional journey.
Ankush
The Supporting
Ankush returns to seek forgiveness and a second chance, challenging Vee's present and offering a different future.
Suchi
The Supporting
Suchi consistently champions Vee's happiness, evolving from pushing for new love to supporting the rekindling of old love.
Saurabh
The Supporting
Saurabh enters Vee's life as a potential new romantic partner, offering a stable alternative to her past.
Themes & Insights
The Impact of Past Choices
The novel explores how decisions made in youth, especially Vee's choice to have Aryan, affect an entire lifetime. Vee's initial decision to keep her baby at eighteen, sacrificing her career and family ties, shaped her independence and resilience. Ankush's return forces her to confront the emotional impact of that choice and the sixteen years of separation. The story constantly questions whether a decision made 'in the throes of lust' can still determine a future, showing how past actions, both good and regrettable, form the foundation for present circumstances and future possibilities.
“But can a decision that was taken at eighteen - more in the throes of lust than love-be the basis of a lifelong relationship?”
Second Chances and Forgiveness
A central theme is the exploration of second chances, particularly in love and family. Ankush's unexpected return after sixteen years is an opportunity for him to reconnect with his son, Aryan, and potentially rekindle his relationship with Vee. The story examines whether forgiveness is possible for past abandonment and if a broken bond can truly be mended. It looks at the complexities of giving someone a second chance, especially when a child's happiness and hopes are involved, and how individuals navigate the desire for reconciliation against past hurts. The story suggests that while difficult, second chances can lead to unexpected paths.
“Is there a future for Ankush and Vee?”
Motherhood and Sacrifice
Vee's journey shows the sacrifices and deep love in motherhood. At a young age, she gave up a promising career and her family's support to raise Aryan. Her dedication to her son is unwavering, and her life is built around providing for him. This theme highlights the strength, resilience, and unconditional love that defines Vee as a mother. Even when facing personal romantic dilemmas, Aryan's happiness and well-being remain her top priority, showing how motherhood shapes her identity and decisions throughout the story.
“When Vipasha, Vee to friends, eighteen and single, makes the decision to have her baby, she does more than give up her promising modeling career.”
Defining Love and Relationships
The novel prompts readers to consider the true nature of love and the various forms relationships can take. It contrasts the passionate, perhaps immature, love Vee and Ankush shared in their youth with the more mature, stable affection she feels for Saurabh. The story questions whether love can evolve, whether it can be rekindled after years of separation, and what makes a healthy, lasting partnership. It explores the difference between infatuation, deep affection, and enduring love, as Vee navigates her feelings for two different men while also considering the impact of her choices on Aryan's view of family and love.
“Is there a future for Ankush and Vee?”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Flashback/Backstory
Reveals past events that shaped the present characters and conflicts.
The backstory of Vee's teenage pregnancy and her subsequent separation from Ankush and her family is crucial to understanding her character and the central conflict. While not explicitly structured as traditional flashbacks, the narrative frequently refers to and elaborates on these past events. This device allows the reader to grasp the weight of Vee's early decisions and the emotional history between her and Ankush, providing context for their present interactions and the dilemmas they face. It underscores the long-lasting impact of past choices on the characters' lives and relationships.
Love Triangle
Creates romantic tension and forces the protagonist to choose between two suitors.
The introduction of Saurabh, the quirky vet, as a quiet romantic interest for Vee, alongside the reappearance of Ankush, her past love, forms a classic love triangle. This device generates significant romantic tension and conflict for Vee, as she is torn between the comfort and familiarity of her history with Ankush and the potential for a new, stable future with Saurabh. The love triangle forces Vee to deeply examine her feelings, desires, and priorities, ultimately driving much of her internal struggle and the plot's romantic developments.
The Unexpected Return
A character from the past suddenly re-enters the protagonist's life, disrupting the status quo.
Ankush's sudden and unexpected return after sixteen years is a pivotal plot device. It serves as the primary catalyst for the story's major conflict, immediately disrupting Vee's established, independent life. This device introduces an element of surprise and forces Vee to confront her past, re-evaluate her feelings, and consider the implications for her and Aryan's future. It propels the narrative forward, setting in motion a series of emotional confrontations, rekindled relationships, and difficult decisions that Vee must navigate.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“It takes courage to love, but even more courage to let go.”
— A character grappling with the end of a significant relationship.
“You can't force someone to be in your life if they don't want to be. And you shouldn't.”
— Advice given to the protagonist about respecting others' choices.
“Every ending is just a new beginning, disguised.”
— A hopeful perspective shared after a period of loss or change.
“The heart wants what it wants, even when the mind knows better.”
— Protagonist's internal conflict between emotion and logic in a romantic situation.
“Forgiveness isn't about forgetting; it's about making peace with what happened.”
— A character discusses the process of moving past a betrayal.
“Life has a strange way of bringing people together, and just as strange a way of pulling them apart.”
— Observation on the transient nature of human connections.
“Don't chase after people. Be yourself, do your own thing, and the right people will come to you.”
— Guidance on self-worth and authentic relationships.
“Sometimes, you have to break down completely to build yourself up stronger.”
— Protagonist's journey of overcoming adversity and personal growth.
“True love isn't about perfection; it's about accepting imperfections and loving anyway.”
— A deeper understanding of love developed through experience.
“The past can hurt, but you can either run from it or learn from it.”
— A character reflects on how to deal with past mistakes or regrets.
“It's okay not to be okay. What matters is that you keep going.”
— Encouragement offered during a moment of vulnerability and despair.
“Happiness is not a destination; it's a journey you choose to take every day.”
— Protagonist's realization about the nature of happiness.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
At eighteen, Vipasha, known as Vee, discovers she is pregnant and makes the difficult decision to keep her baby. This choice forces her to abandon her burgeoning modeling career, sever ties with her family, and break up with Ankush, the baby's father, whom she believed she loved.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
