# God Smiled on the Second Take

- Link: https://writersworkshopindia.com/2015/07/20/god-smiled-on-the-second-take/
- Published: 2015-07-20T23:44:30+00:00
- Author: admin

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**Author:** J. Afshan
 **Pages:** 560 **Year of Publication:** 2010 **Price:** HB
Rs 600, FB Rs 400 **ISBN:** HB 978-81-8157-857-0 (9788181578570) FB 978-81-8157-
858-7 (9788181578587)

_**About the Author**_
 Born in 1955, Afshan grew up in Shakarnagar, Andhra Pradesh.
She moved to Hyderabad in the early 1970s where she completed her graduation and
post-graduation. She holds a Master’s degree in Commerce.

Afshan has been a freelance writer since 1980; she has written for national newspapers
as well as magazines. She is also a documentary filmmaker and has produced over 
70 films through her company, Target Consultants. In 2005, she received the Jury
Award from UNICEF and Prasar Bharati for her 30-second short on the girl child. 
She produced and directed a Telugu feature film, _Chinnari Panthulamma_ (“The Little
Teacher”), which was selected under the Children’s World section in The Golden Elephant-
15 — The International Children’s Film Festival, Hyderabad in 2007. The film was
critically well-received in several international film festivals.

Afshan is actively involved in social welfare projects. She lives with her parents
in Hyderabad.

_**Teaser**_
 “Sad thoughts swirling in her head, Gauri slowly closed the door to
Sheila’s room. ‘Why had Sheila to face such a situation…for someone who had been
brave even as a child…who had stood by me many a time…even in her own marriage she
was so courageous to marry Vikram whom she liked, defying her own family. In fact,
Vikram was an ideal mate to her. He had also gone against his father’s objection
to marry Sheila. They were such a loving and ideal couple, more of friends than 
the routine ‘husband and wife’. How bravely they had together faced life. But Vikram
got snatched away in a bizarre accident and her entire world collapsed, just as 
they were on the brink of tasting success of their strenuous struggle having set
up their own independent business. At thirty-seven, Sheila was a young widow. Life
had cruelly snuffed off at the starting stage, their dream of a long happy life 
filled with the satisfaction of running smoothly an independent business as they
both desired and finally the bliss of aging together into glorious sunset. In just
a blink of an eye, the accident shattered it all and the bundle of love and goodness
that Vikram was, lay in dust and ashes. And Sheila’s love had become desolate, void.
What solace could one give to one whose world had become one long winter of agony
and sorrow, except lend her a few days of shelter and a shoulder to lean on when
grief broke her down…'”

[From Chapter 1]

To read a review of _**God Smiled on the Second Take**_, click here: [“The Hindu”](http://www.hindu.com/br/2011/01/04/stories/2011010451711300.htm)

_**Contents**_
 30 chapters