Apropos 'Bandini' ep. (5th April 2010)

The two potential brides for Maulik were Khemi and Bansuri. With certain developments in yesterday's ep. making a potential Maulik-Khemi pairing possible, it would leave Bansuri for Suraj.

First, Khemi switched to coloured saris. Then, Champakali called her 'Khemi-benaa'. She used to call her that before Arjan was revealed to be a Mahiyavanshi, and then 'Khemi-benaa' (sister, her relation to the family being that of Santu's sister) became 'Khemi-bhabhi' (sister-in-law, as the wife of a son of the house).

Champakali could have switched from the 'Benbaa' title that had been Khemi's shield against insecurity to the previous title 'Khemi-bhabhi'. It would be the expected thing, a reminder that she's Arjan's wife and widow. But instead, both the terms 'benbaa' and 'bhabhi' as well as the drab-coloured albeit expensive saris are out, finally relegating Arjan to the past, bringing out Khemi's youth, and presenting future-possibility.

Khemi may go back to drab-coloured saris after the wedding-anniversary celebrations, but the change has been marked.

While Sandeep serves no purpose except perhaps as future villain, Maulik would need much to redeem himself. And that's regardless of whether his remorse in his most recent scene holds good or he's slipped back into his weak-willed opportunism.

Marrying the brother's widow and taking on the role of father to her son would qualify to some extent in rehabilitating him in the family's eyes. Especially since Khemi has had two points of insecurity. Herself and her son.

Prior to her marrying Arjan, she was the lady of her maternal grandfather's household. She reared her sisters as selflessly as a mother. Then, after marrying Arjan, she became the ranking - and only - lady of her generation in his foster family, with only her foster mother-in-law senior to her. Upheaval started with her husband proving to be her younger sister's stepson.

But the nightmare started with herself as a young widow with a son. She had no authority, and both she and Kaddu were insecure in the house that they subconsciously didn't feel they had a position in anymore. Since she didn't feel needed, Khemi took on the authoritarian tyrant role under Motiben's aegis.

But now, Toral's judgment has changed Khemi's situation. Toral makes her feel needed and trusted, emphasizes her own dependence on Khemi in the present and her child's being Khemi's responsibility in the future, and gives Khemi credit unstintingly.

The only worry Khemi still has is the lack of a father-figure in Krishna's life. Someone he can *call* father.

So, if Maulik goes on to marry Khemi, Kaddu and Shashank remarry, and Suraj and Bansuri get together, that leaves only Birwa and Mongi. Neither of whom I give a damn about. Though I wish to god that the charismatic Jatin Shah wasn't stuck in two pairings that are, at least so far, zero chemistry.

And at some point alongside all this, Santu needs to get busy and have a baby of her own. Time's getting on, girl. Reconcile with your husband already, and stop becoming Motiben, Part Deux and seeing your child's vileness through the rose-tinted glasses of maternal love.

Birwa is *much* more malicious and vile than Maulik, and on a far more personalized level. Santu recognized the evil he was doing and put a stop of it. When will she yank on that despicable girl's leash now?

leelaa9.