TWTW - The beginning of a new start

So the week kicks off with Sahir, looking on at his sleeping wife, thinking about how she was ready to sacrifice her own life for his. It is evident that Sahir has given a lot of love in his life but hasn't received much. Only after Arzoo has entered his life is he realising how little affection he has received in return from people and how much he had been yearning for someone to love him. He is humbled by the fact that someone was prepared to die for him. If Sahir Azeem Chaudary is capable of providing his love and protection for those who do not provide anything in return, what will it be like for the person, who is prepared to put her life on the line for him, unconditionally? Sahir's deep love, admiration and respect for Arzoo has been reinforced over the past week. He is determined to protect her, love her and cherish her.

Whilst he is thinking, Arzoo is shown having dreams...interestingly her last thought is that of KA saying only Zeenat has rights on Sahir before she wakes up shouting Sahirs name. She hugs him tightly, petrified at the thought of something happening to him (and her losing him). Sahir once again is overwhelmed with the love, concern and affection his wife has for him. Can someone really love me so much? Taken over by his emotions, he leans in to kiss Arzoo. Arzoo quickly jumps up saying 1 minute' and closes the door. Now i loved the next part, where Sahir stands up, kind of in disbelief at what he had just tried to do, shocked that Arzoo had just got up to close the door and nervous about what Arzoo's next expectations were of him! Arzoo innocently returns, asking him where they were. Sahir is pretty flustered at this point and starts explaining how they were there and now they were here and she closed the door..and why did she close the door? :-)...very cute scene. Arzoo's poker face when she asks him ha to hum kya te?' was brilliant. The interesting thing about these two is that their love for each other is still kind of unsaid...Sahir feels weird about wanting to kiss Arzoo because they haven't really directly expressed their feelings for each other. Its always been hidden in the context of protection, responsibility etc. He can justify hugging her or even holding her hands to comfort her...but kissing her? That takes their relationship to a whole other level.

And then we move onto one of my favourite scenes of the week. Arzoo comes clean on knowing that Alvira is actually Zeenats mother. Sahir tries to play it down and walk away, but Arzoo grabs his arm and turns him around. What follows is a tremendously lovely scene with some killer dialogues written for Arzoo which totally blow away Sahir resulting in some marvellous acting from Harshad. Arzoo starts off by taking Sahirs hands in hers. Again Arzoo has initiated physical contact with Sahir and you can see the nervousness on his face. The dialogues then begin. She tells him, his pain hurts her, dard hote hai hume'...oh my god..Sahir is dumbfounded! He tries to change the subject, which she does let him, but then goes back with some more killer dialogues. Eyes are mine but tears are yours, every sadness has a right to tears and since you can't cry, your tears are in my eyes'..ufff...she said so so much to him and Sahir was left vulnerable at the accuracy of Arzoo's words. How well she has understood him. They hug, because he is about to breakdown in tears and then to stop himself crying he tells her he is hungry and turns around the conversation again. But Arzoo has said her piece and off she goes. Her message to him has been loud and clear. I love you Sahir and your pain and loneliness kills me. A lovely lovely scene.

Now i want to touch on the Shayari scene. You know, i love love this scene. So much is communicated here between the two. Arzoo starts off - you gave me pain and left and my heart said good this happened, because it allowed me to re-connect to an old friend. A lot is being said here. We were becoming close friends, but then you hurt me so much and your friendship left me. But i am happy that out of that pain, i have found my old friend again, so that pain was worth going through. I just adore the way Sahir looks at her whilst she says these words. He just adores everything about her! ;-)

Then we move onto Sahirs fantastic recital. A haunting, melancholy message is sent out. He praises her beauty, tells her he wishes this moment could last forever, he wishes he didn't have to worry about what is right or wrong. The final line is my favourite Waise tum hi ne mujhe barbaad kiya hai, Ilzaam kisi aur ke sar aaye to achcha hai'...hai main mar gayi...the way Harshad delivers that line and his face, eyes, expressions...beautiful! Very very bitter sweet. You can feel his inner conflict. He was madly in love with her and knew she loved him as well, but knew he couldn't have her, however he couldn't bear seeing her with anyone else and his heart forced him to take her as his second wife, even though he knew it wasn't the right thing to do. He is now left with the heavy burden which he is struggling to carry. He wishes he could live in this moment where none of that matters. Its just Sahir, Arzoo and their love.

The next key Saaz scene is when Sahir brings Asharfi. Arzoo is upset. She saved Zombie Zee, Alvira lied to save' Arzoo from jail, but Arzoo can't understand why Alvira did this. Sahir brings Asharfi and again a few key messages in this scene. Firstly he reminds Arzoo that he will always be on her side. Secondly, when Arzoo talks about Alvira lying, Sahir actually starts providing an explanation for his own behaviour pre-nikaah which is interesting. He mentions protecting her is his right and his choice. He makes the point that if telling the truth got what you wanted, then noone would ever lie. He tells her he doesn't permit her to go far from him. It is said in the context of her life being at risk, but this whole dialogue has a double meaning. He lied because even he hadn't, he would have lost her and he can't live without her. Then the conversation moves to Zeenat and Arzoo asks why he doesn't believe her. And thankfully we get to hear, that actually he does, but he needs evidence and hence taking Zee for an MRI. He mentions he will do everything in his power to find out the truth. This means Sahir also suspects Zeenat but needs proof before he pounces.

Finally we move on to the shirt/tie scene. This is another great scene. Saying that there is a lot of desire building up between these two would be an understatement! Sahir continues to lose himself when he looks into her eyes and there is this awkward tension whenever they are physically close, especially if Arzoo has made the first move, which again she does here by picking up the shirt and starting to dress him. Its interesting when i watch them...as i mentioned before, neither have actually openly confessed their feelings yet but here they are, acting like a couple, each knowing how the other feels, but unable to act on their own feelings. They are ok comforting each other when they are upset but anything else, it gets weird for them! Strange situation indeed!

Arzoo asks about Zeenat again. Sahir avoids the question and leaves. Understandably this is making Arzoo feel nervous. Does he still love her? Why won't he talk about her? To make matters worse she then overhears KA who purposely talks about the love Sahir has for Zeenat to stoke the fire. Arzoo is left wondering what she is doing there? Why did Alvira want them to marry? And i am sure she is wondering whether Sahir loves her, or is he just carrying out his duty and his real love is still Zeenat. The insecurities shown within Arzoo are totally natural and with Sahirs inability to talk about it (and Arzoo tries very very hard to get the info from him this week), Arzoo is left to assume the worst. Finally she also finds his sketch book with Zeenats pictures. Are they old, recent? Whatever the case, it shows Arzoo how besotted he once was with her and she rightly wonders, knowing Sahirs intensity in everything he does, could he surely no longer love her? One more time, she tries to discuss it with Sahir, but Sahir isn't ready to talk about it. Furthermore, Arzoo changes her line of questioning and asks him to show her his sketch book. He lies, telling her he doesn't sketch. I love the last line from Arzoo in this scene, i don't mind as much when you hide the truth but it hurts when you lie. This shows how much better her understanding is of Sahir. She recognises his lies and rather than getting angry with him, is hurt that he is unable to bring himself to tell the truth.

Now we come to Friday. Now what i love about what is going on between SaAz is that we are once again on track in showing two imperfect people in love with each other. Sahir is absolutely besotted with Arzoo. But but but...he will not and cannot open up about his past to her even though he acknowledges that she is fully justified in asking. Now the key thing he doesn't realise is that the fact that his heart only has a place for Arzoo and noone else is obvious in his eyes, but its not obvious in Arzoo's eyes. Why? Well, he ain't told her that yet! Yes, he has showed it in the context of protection but thats about it. Has he openly ever told Arzoo how beautiful he thinks she is? How crazy he is about her? How in his mind he only has one wife and thats Arzoo? Nope not yet!

And Arzoo has very correctly tried to alleviate her insecurities by talking to Sahir, not once, not twice but four times this week! But Sahir evades the questions. He is evading the questions because it hurts to talk about the betrayal. For Arzoo, its coming across as if he can't talk about it because he still loves Zeenat. Of course Arzoo also isn't telling him clearly why she is so bothered about finding out. The fact that she is worried that she won't be able to live up to the high standards she thinks Zeenat has set in his mind. KA and Anams words ringing in her ears for which Sahir hasn't said anything yet to discount. I am very happy with this storyline. It is a natural one to have for them right now. They are in this really strange situation...the phone scenes show this as well...the first one where Arzoo calls Sahir, concerned about his welfare...i loved the way she says do i need an appt to call my husband?' and Sahir answers, you can call your husband whenever you want'...he is telling her, i am yours Arzoo...you have full rights on me...but then the second call, when you wants to take her out for a date...its so awkward for him! He dials the number, but then realises...how do i ask her??? I am not trying to look after her, i am not trying to protect her..i am, asking her to just spend some time with me! In this respect, they aren't like husband and wife, but more like friends trying to make the next step in their relationship. Arzoo too, gets all flustered about what to wear, just as if she was going on a first date. She wants to impress him, wow him with her looks, make his jaw drop. Of course, she is spurred on a bit by KA's words on Zeenat, but still...who doesn't want to impress on their first date?? ;-)

So this is the beginning of a new start for Sahir and Arzoo...a start, not based on love in the guise of protection, duty, respect, admiration or friendship...but love in the form of love. I want to be with you, i want to spend time with you, i want you to find me attractive, i want you to want me, and only me.