BOOK REVIEW: Second Chance by Dr. Sandeep Jatwa

Publication date: April 10th, 2017
Publisher: Educreation
Pages: 190, Paperback
Links: Goodreads | Amazon India
Stars: 3/5
Source: Review copy

 Shekhar Kapoor is a successful businessman who has never done a decent thing in his entire life. For him, it is all about what he can get and how fast he can get it. He goes through life cheating and insulting people, even after he receives a mysterious telephone call from what is called the City of Justice.  
Ignoring the cryptic warnings, Shekhar continues to live his life as he pleases, until one day, shortly after insulting a beggar in the street, Shekhar crashes his car and is killed.  
And it is only when he is standing before the Bookkeeper, and being shown where his life had gone wrong, that Shekhar finally understands what life is all about.  
But is it too late for him? Can he be given another chance, undo all the wrongs he has done? Or is there a chance that Shekhar Kapoor can find redemption where there had previously been no hope?  

 

“No money can give you contentment and happiness. Do what your heart wants and what you will get would be priceless.”

 

I cannot remember the last time I reviewed a book and it sure as hell feels like eons ago. Forgive me if my book-blogging skills are a bit rusty but I can assure you that it will be an honest and upfront review. So, you can imagine my excitement when vinfluencers  linked me up with Sandeep Jatwa’s Second Chance. Let’s jump right into it then (cracking knuckles).

Second Chance is the tale of a narcissistic business tycoon – Shekhar Kapoor. His blood is laced with arrogance and sexually objectifying women is his forte. From abusing elderly beggars to illegally usurping his rivals’ companies, he has done it all. The protagonist lives his life on his own terms with no shred of humanity left in his body, until one day, he receives a mystical call from the City of Justice.
Dismissing all warnings, he continues to be brash with his life decisions and snubs people with this egomaniacal nature.
After insulting a beggar on the street one day, Shekhar crashes his car and is killed in the process.
Summoned before the bookkeeper who plays out his nastiest deeds on a smokescreen, he realizes where he gone wrong in life and how. With little to no good deeds to defend his karma, will Shekhar walk the path of redemption or resort to his smutty old ways?

The story picked up the pace from the second half onwards and I found myself enjoying it immensely. Although the path carved out was a little predictable, the writing style seemed to take a different direction with respect to character emotions and scene descriptions.

The base of the plot appears to be inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. I couldn’t help but draw parallels between the warnings Shekhar receives and the Ghosts of Christmas visiting Scrooge in the middle of the night. The common theme is that they appeal to the protagonist’s humanity and urge them to do the right thing. Rectifying the wrongs of the past and struggling to secure a possibly positive future of the character were some of the similarities. Especially when the projected fate of Kailash and Tiny Tim can be compared in both the stories.

“Never forget that the cause of second chance is your mother’s endless love for you. If you ever get an opportunity then, try to be worthy of her love.”

Despite my extreme hatred towards the central character, I could easily put myself in his shoes when he faced his sentence (which came as no surprise btw). Also, he was doomed from the day he received that phone call and the sadist in me relished his fear and abandonment. Am I crazy to admit that I was grinning like a fool when the bookkeeper read out a bomb drop of punishments lined up for him?!

Anyhow, the theme of the book certainly appeals to the core of humanity, raises questions regarding self-awareness and the repercussions of one’s actions. There was clarity in the description of the protagonist and his response to the incidents in the City of Justice was empathetic. The depiction of the After-Life was intriguing and the author had come up with cleverly colourful punishments to the corresponding sins of Shekhar Kapoor.

If you’re looking for a quick read and a comfortable language structure, this book is the right option! It is piquant, thought-provoking, and humane.

 

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Check out the author’s profile here and do express your reviews and comments on the goodreads and amazon pages. Cheers! 

Note: I received a paperback copy from the author and my review is honest and unprejudiced.