I realize that I am probably taking a HUGE risk posting this here, given what I've seen of the forum and "majority" reactions and views, but still I'm posting this here. I'm not justifying Shravan's behaviors and his reactions, but just stepping back and trying to understand his POV and his perception of things, especially of Sumo. I'd love to read what you guys think after reading this
A while back, I posted a write up of how time and solitude-states have affected ShraMan (link to that is here: https://twitter.com/eshaaax3/status/744286012873015296), and I still stand with my take that Shravan hasn't changed one bit and also fails to see that Sumo has changed, and I don't blame him for that. He lost out on ten years of Sumo's life, and he has no solid "proof" that allows him to confidently say Yes, Sumo has changed and isn't the Sumo I left ten years ago.
Back then, Suman's "obsession" with her image was a coping mechanism to deal with the loss in her life and her loneliness, though I'd say her ways were rooted in childish antics. Today, Suman's self-respect isn't a coping mechanism, but something she truly values. She's learned to value her self-respect because of the hurdles she's had to fight in life. But the problem is that Shravan hasn't witnessed this change from "obsessed with public image" to "my self-respect comes first". That in itself speaks a lot as to how Suman has changed as an individual and what a huge part of Suman's life Shravan has missed out on. The girl, who once upon a time only cared for her image and how she was perceived in public, is a woman today who holds principles and morals that protect her self-respect and doesn't allow her to fall to her knees, no matter the circumstance. But again, has Shravan been there to see this character development in Sumo? No. Shravan hasn't changed, yes, but how is he supposed to believe that his bestest friend Sumo has indeed changed when he hasn't witnessed this change (not to add that the very last bit of his memories with his best friend from ten years ago are nothing but him feeling disappointment)?! The same thing is happening now. Ten years ago, Suman disregarded him, refused to acknowledge him, and took his words lightly, especially when in public. Suman's behavior today- though she has her reasons for behaving this way yet again- leads to Shravan feeling that same disappointment creep up. Suman avoiding Shravan, disregarding him, and taking someone else's help over his, reiterates his vision that Sumo today is still that SAME Sumo. Throughout his friendship with Suman, Shravan has bent over backwards to help Suman out whenever she needed it. For Shravan, it's almost like it's his right to help Suman and be there for her at all times. But Shravan doesn't understand that Suman USED to be dependent on him, and that isn't the case anymore because she's learned to befriend the solitude state she was put in, stand up and be an independent individual. And because Shravan hasn't been exposed to that character development of Suman, today, when Suman takes someone else's help and disregards him, the situations act like some kind of mirror almost, reflecting the friendship that Shravan walked away from in disappointment ten years ago. He is bound to question and feel rejected over why Suman is taking someone else's help instead of his when at one point in time, Suman would always come to him for help/he would be there for her, no questions asked.
When Shravan came back to India, one of the first things he was told was that "Suman ab woh Suman nahi rahi". A very simple line but Shravan still hasn't grasped onto the gravity of those few words. He did, however, catch a glimpse of a side of Suman he was unaware of when she spoke to him about her parents. Remember what Shravan said to Suman then? Aaj main tumhe shayaad pehle se bhi behtar janta hoon. Tumhara yeh side na maine school mein dekha aur na uske baad... Of course, uske baad toh mauka hi nahin mila..." Shravan said it himself... he missed out in those ten years he was gone, and this was just a teeny tiny bit that Sumo had expressed to him.
Only when Shravan gets exposed to the weight behind Suman's character development and realizes how much sweat and effort Suman has actually poured into building PCT on her own, will he come to terms with Suman's behavior/actions today. And until then, Shravan is going to continue to see the Sumo from ten years ago reflect in today's Suman when she disregards him, because that is the Suman he is familiar with and knows and remembers.
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I just feel like Shravan's being thrown under the bus and everything's being put on him, but we as an audience need to understand where he's coming from, why he's like that. We understand Sumo's majboori, she can't just go and tell her bestfriend yet again that his father is deceiving him- she tried that once, and faced the fire of it. But we need to also understand Shravan. We may not agree with his actions/reactions, we don't need to justify him, but we can consider his perspective as well. What he needs is the raw truth to hit him.
- Esha đ
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
