I have read some extremely Khushi centric, some Arnav favoring and some really emotional comments in this chapter's reviews and picked something or the other of importance to the story from almost each one of them. And needless to say, loved them all too :)
I am not going offer any justification for Arnav's character this time for the reason that you've been with this story so far and you know him and how his mind works. Simple. His character, although not cent-percent, still is quite close to reality.
However, one point where most of you are wrong is that he is hiding behind his insecurities. Is HE trying to justify his behavior? No. On the contrary, he was trying to avoid Khushi knowing he will hurt her. He is actually being forced to face his insecurities now that he has something he fears losing. As a result, he is reacting passionately. Is even trying to be vocal about his displeasures. Ofcourse in the manner he knows how to and according to his views of life. He hid behind them when he had decided to run away to Duabi earlier and give up without even trying.
As a blanket explaination to Khushi centric comments I would like to say that keep her positive nature aside. Keep her limp and Arnav's understanding take on it aside too. And she still is a girl who knows what unrequited love and rejection on wedding day feels like. If she is broken Arnav's sunshine, Arnav's attention, affection and companionship is her lifeline too. Just because Arnav does not believe in love does not mean he is incapable of it. Albeit unknowingly, he has given Khushi happiness. And here she is, a wife deeply in love with her husband and knows the precise reason (past and recent both) of his behavior. How else would she behave if not accommodatingly and with love?
You all as readers know the working of every character's mind, they themselves do not have that luxury. They do not see/percieve each other's actions like you do. You know that Khushi has moved past Rishabh, but for Arnav he is still a threat which is very much real and annoyingly very much present in their life. Cautious Arnav is not totally sold out on Khushi's care like you all are, and compassionate Khushi does not feel that Arnavji has gone overboard yet like you all feel. Infact, if you have noticed Arnav had spoken the words Lover and Rascal in reference to Rishabh aloud in front of Khushi only recently. Before that it was all in his mind. Etc etc etc.
You all have been with this Arnav Khushi in their journey till now, so I hope you will brave their low-phase with them as well. If you invest in them right now, I can promise that reading about their up-phase will be much more rewarding.
Other than all this, I would like to add that if you goto Introduction to Storyline of this story, you will find that I've mentioned a second chance that Arnav will get. Most of you assumed that it was the opportunity to wed Khushi that was his second chance. But No. That was something he manipulated and engineered from the word go. Chance is something that divinely falls into your lap when you least expect it. His second chance will come to him now in the story. And trust me, he will make good use of it.
Update sometime mid-week, next week, Thanks for waiting :)
PS: Majority of my readers are females but as a writer I can not afford to be an out and out feminist. I have to think of all POV's and do justice to all the characters regardless of their gender. I don't write regressive/oppressive stories and for me that is my feminism when I am dealing with fictional characters.
PPS: I am hoping that we will have faster updates of MKM from now on. Also I have something planned for this story which I'll like to share with you all later.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Tum Se Tum Tak
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