P&P Part III - Page 98

Raanav and Viveka wanted a vacation spent exploring each other, their relationship.. Inder crashing their happy bubble is in a way symbolic of life itself.

They're both similar in many ways..

At times, they want to sort out the issues, at others.. they're afraid of rocking the boat! When one wants to fight it out, the other scrambles to avoid the tensions..

They're both unable to make peace with their situation and are also unable to let go of each other..

I can't imagine their issues to be sorted with one talk or even one trip.. they're both stubborn people, it'll be a battle for adjustments as long as they stay together!

But I do hope they atleast make a start towards resolution on this trip ♥️

Originally posted by: Errrantnomad

Jokes apart, the guy is at least trying ,cmon, give him a break . Prejudice and honesty works both ways . The truth I see is this way. He is in love and he's married to someone who belongs to a background he's isn't too familiar with growing up, though urban as the Mathurs are. He's trying to tell his wifey that he wants her by his side , wants kids with her. So this guy is trying to mask his misgivings , while also trying to his mom at bay , while also trying getting comfortable at least with this wife's unit from that background . So you see my point is at least the guy is TRYING for eff's sake!!! Trying being the buzzword !!!

Isn't too familiar with is not the same as being condescending or mean, is it? There's a vast difference between being unfamiliar with something and demeaning someone for not being like we are..

Raanav and Smrita belong to the latter group.

If Naina is to be judged for chasing Inder for his wealth, why does Raanav think Viveka is any better?

Because she's an intellectual, rather than Naina's 'frivolous' pursuits? Or is it because she's marrying Raanav, the better man.. which makes her feelings more valid?

What is to assure her that some day she'd not be judged the same way as Naina? He hates the middle class... What if Viveka stops being an exception to the norm suddenly?

Atleast Smrita is not being hypocritical here.. she hates both of them the similarly!

As for getting comfortable with her family, Raanav is welcomed and almost reverred by the Mathurs. Anu and Savi talk to him respectfully, his relationship with Viveka is respected by them. How is it any difficult to be nice to them in return?

If anything, he's guilty of being disrespectful towards them in the initial days..

Viveka, on the other hand, is taunted or insulted by Smrita almost everytime she speaks. Lekha.. we saw how that went! Is it a surprise that Viveka is not THERE in this marriage, yet?

It is easy to be accepting of those who respect you.. but not really when you're rejected 😒

I can't say Viveka is above reproach.. actually, you're right about everything you said. Raanav has really worked more towards making this marriage work! He is probably more invested than her, at this point..

But when I look at it with the externalities in my view, I can't help but think it's real hard to be in her place right now!

Didn't realise a new part is posted! Loved it Nisha ji ♥️

A lot of things brought up.. they were truthful where they could be, evaded where they couldn't. Atleast, they finally talked about what pricks each of them.

But it's easy to settle on a middle ground when they're in their own private bubble.. but would it still hold when others intrude in it?

In the seventies when my family migrated to the UK there was a lot of prejudice against us 'Pakis( a derogatory word for Indians and Pakistanis) Prejudice was open and insulting comments would be used. School kids were the worst often resorting to violence. My workmates used to tell me but we don't mean you. Not to take any offence. I used to tell them how can I believe that they were not insulting me as well. Just because I was well educated(Honours Degree in Chemistry) spoke better English did not make me English. I was still an Indian (or Paki)

Raanav said he can't help being prejudiced against the middle class but Viveka was different after all he married her. Because she was intelligent? She told him he can continue deploring the middle-class and she will continue to worry about Naina.

Now that they have cleared up their different social standing they are trying not to let that affect their feelings for eachother.

Thank you Nisha.

He admitted where he stands very clearly. He can not change overnight but he knows where he is wrong. Admitting it is the first step.

For the first time he has heard her acknowledging her relationship to him.

“My Dad wants to blame my Mum, but I will say what I believe in and the opinions I hold are a product of my circumstances. Its not because of indoctrination by Mum”

I did not get why he is giving a clean chit to his mum?

And did not understand what circumstances he is talking about?

When he was young, as a child, he would believe what his mother would tell him. He would look at the world through his mother's lenses.

I do get that as he grew older, he should have looked at the world from a more rational POV, but I he did not.

Still it does not absolve Smrita of her actions.

Originally posted by: canapoem

“My Dad wants to blame my Mum, but I will say what I believe in and the opinions I hold are a product of my circumstances. Its not because of indoctrination by Mum”

I did not get why he is giving a clean chit to his mum?

And did not understand what circumstances he is talking about?

When he was young, as a child, he would believe what his mother would tell him. He would look at the world through his mother's lenses.

I do get that as he grew older, he should have looked at the world from a more rational POV, but I he did not.

Still it does not absolve Smrita of her actions.

Infact this the quality which one should take note of.
he is not putting his mother under the bus but owning up for his actions. Agreed he is influenced by Smrita but just coz of his new found love he is not blaming his mother for his bad behaviour.

I would love be loved such man.

It means tomorrow for some reason Smrita blames him for being influenced by Viveka, Ranaav wouldn’t blame that on Viveka but own up to it.

Two things stood out .

Raanav says that he is responsible for his behavior,actions and thinking. A grown up person who has ability to discern,analyze cannot put the blame on others for his behavior. He is not giving his mum a clean chit but holding himself responsible.

Viveka for acknowledging that she cannot love everything about the rich like he cannot about the middle class. Hopefully that means she is accepting her own biases against folks if they are just rich.

Hopefully it is a start for breaking through their conditioned perceptions about folks (here class and status) and they will find themselves and let in love/ happiness ?Maybe.🤔

Viveka has said the right words but not sure how much she really accepts what that colors her own judgement. There is a sense of superiority in her for not being rich. She does not really trust Ra words...to her he is a glib lawyer/player

Hey Barrister. Well! The way I see Raanav's character is.... I have more his character arc in my mind here. Yes, I remember him initially being mean , condescending , Viveka bore the brunt of it as well. But when Viveka became a web of intrigue to him, he found having this energetic sexual attraction for her. To cut the long story short, the minute he discovered he has a thing for her, he did not pause to ponder she's middle class right? And then when married, after a few mis hits, he did take a huge step towards setting his equation resolve to some extent with Naina as well , when they had that conversation late at night

When I said his wife's unit in my post , my thoughts were more specifically towards Naina and not the senior mathurs.

Prejudices are common, expressed at multiple levels, some more aggressively expressive than others. But I believe , when in love and you take the most important step to commit yourself to that person , in a way you commit to their family too. That ,this guy is doing and I love him for that because to me as a spouse , it would mean that he cares. I don't really care otherwise , if he carries his condescending attitude and prejudice even to his grave . To each his own. To others middle class , he's just a third person and a stranger. So , the middle class can cut him out too , if he cuts them condescendingly.

Authentic…

“How can you let this happen to ME?” Inder scowled

Akash looked at him terrified

Inder had shown up at Rohini two mornings after the encounter in the London apartment with Raanav and Viveka

“I am sorry beta but she is an adult” Akash spoke nervously

“Your son in law gets away with everything, Raanav is never guilty Raanav can do no wrong”

Dadi didn’t quite understand the Brit accent but she realized her grand son in law’s name was being mentioned

Anu was getting ready for work

The twins were ready for college when the front door bell had rang

Inder had taken a cab from the airport directly

Naina was sleeping over at Kopal’s she was not home

She didn’t want anything to do with him anyway so she couldn’t have done much

Varsha was pregnant and so Bua had a family dinner celebration last night and Dadi had loudly wondered why Viveka is not pregnant yet

Anu had noticed some amusement in Varsha’s mother’s eyes as Dadi continued to embarrass herself in front of friends and family

Bua had invited Satyen and Smrita and Smrita “could not make it” leaving Satyen the only attendee from Parashars

He had heard Dadi’s loud comment and had laughed with Akash later about how much he loved the older generation and their no filter talk

“Aap Raanav ko na batayen” Akash had nodded

“Its not like he is going to jump up and oblige Amma’s wishes”

“Jaanta hoon.. As a parent Anu and I do feel like we want grand kids at some point bhaisaab but not within a month of wedding for sure” Akash nodded

He was a bit more old fashioned than his wife

Savi and him had texted after Varsha’s announcement the day before and he had openly “hoped to be Nana soon”

Anu and him had access to each others’ texts and he had told Anu at night about exchanging such a hope with Savi

Anu had 4 girls in quick succession and wanted her daughters to grow wings and fly

Dadi had openly told her “You don’t have sons how about you urge your daughters to have them”

AS IF!

Anu had an argument with Dadi last night while returning from Savi’s

“Life koi competition nahi hai Amma aapne sabke saamne keh diya?”

“Galat thodi kaha maine? Shaadi hui to bacha nahi hoga?

“To aapme himmat hai Raanav se baat karne ki ya Viveka se?”’

“Hai himmat… BATAO… mujhe kamjor samjhi hai yeh” Dadi laughed at Anu

“Amma rehne do” Akash sighed

“TOONE kaha mujhe main jab Nanoo banoonga to aapko mere se appointment leni padegi” Dadi gloated

Dadi busted Akash

Anu in turn was very upset with him for actually admitting to his mother that he harbored such desrires

They had argued late into the night

“You don’t have to think and feel like I DO Akash, but Amma har baat par mujhe aur meri girls ko taane maarne ke mauke dhoondti rehti hain how could you reveal to her that you also wanted Viveka to get pregnant?”

“So u want me to be dishonest”

“NAHEEEE Akash… but if u tell her then we have to listen to her say things like “Koi wajah hai ladies doctor ko dikhao”

“We know there is no wajah why are u so touchy”

“Varsha’s mother gave me a big speech about how Varsha is so maternal and how she will only think of her career after she is done raising kids”

“To theek hai na? Viveka will focus on her career and have kids”

“But what you revealed to Amma is at cross purpose Akash!! Now Amma will tell Mrs Asthana that Anu knows there is some gynecological problem with Veev so she is protecting her daughter”

“You are choosing to project an image rather than be authentic? WHO cares what Mrs Asthana thinks Anooo?” Akash was tired and irritated

His mother was constantly mocking him for not standing up to his wife, his wife was always upset with him for not “being there”

“Yeh saari authentic waali baatein books mein sahi hain Akash” Anu turned off the lights on her side

“We told Mayank Awasthi’s family Karuna cannot get married now what happened NOTHING” Akash pinned Anu

“Aapke hisaab se nothing… Amma ne Savi ko kaha hai “Abhi isko bhi 30 saal taq bithayegi ghar par, jaise Biveka aur Naina baithin rahin”

“Savi needs to stop tattling” Akash was super angry

“That’s very authentic” Anu mocked her husband and rolled to her side and tried to sleep

And the next morning Akash Dhamija was sitting in the living room angry and upset

“Hamari Biveka se miley aap landan mein?”

“I met them Dadi…” Akash nodded

“Job to karti nahi abhi to unke sasur boley chale jao ghoom aana” Dadi explained how her grand daughter happened to go

Inder didn’t care about who bought the tickets or which bags underwear was packed in

“Hamari Biveka sabse hoshiyar hai… usko landan mein shaayad Naukri mil jaaye BATAO”

Inder gave Dadi a blank look

“Do I care old wamn?”

“Biveka AAJ TAQ kisi imtehaan mein 10 se kam nahi laayi BATAO”

“Amma.. chupp” Akash whispered

“Iski to Bhabhi hui na Biveka… isko khush hona chahiye…. Subah subah 8 baje kis baat par aaya hai?” Dadi peered at a jet lagged Inder curiously

“I want to meet Naina” Inder was hoarse

“Naina to gayi rahi beta dost ke ghar…”

Dadi hadn’t connected this was the guy her grand daughter had vacationed with and eloped with

Akash’s constipated expression conveyed how worried he was about that………….