gah - my heart!!! ❤️ The feels after watching yesterday's episode. 🥰 I had already read the reactions, seen gifs and some clips but it was a totally different feel and impression watching the episode today. 😍
The episode description title was: Aryan and Imlie express their feelings.
This is a great description and totally apt. At the heart of this conflict is that Imlie is having a tough time because she is getting conflicting signals from Aryan. When she wanted a little help, he went above and beyond. When she asked for support, he went a step above and gave her courage. So when she says that she asked for friendship, she got betrayal instead -- you can feel the outrage and the pain. These are two people with very different communication styles and that is impacting how they clash.
Do I matter to you?
I find it interesting that in this confrotation, she is the one reaching out to him and breaking into his space physically. She is holding his shoulders and asking for any explanation that makes sense. She is asking him to tell her that she is precious to him and he wouldn't use her. When he asks what she sees in his eyes, she answers they are brown -- there is so much of frustration on both sides. He is asking her to read him and she is telling him outright that it is hazy. She doesn't get it because she saw warmth and concern before. Now she isn't sure what to read in his eyes.
She tells him that she is an open book -- he knows everything about her. In contrast, he is a closed book -- she cannot read him and neither does she understand what is in front of her. It is confusing but also scary. People who are very open and wear their emotions on their sleeve are a lot more vulnerable. They are easier to use and push around because they are so easy to read. She also knows from experience that she is vulnerable to people taking advantage of her. So there is an element of fear driving her when she asks him to explain. Aryan as a closed book refuses to offer any explanations -- explaining not only reduces his pride but also makes him vulnerable to her. He is trying his level best to reach out when he explains that he is just like her except he puts his self-respect first. He still cares but he is not going to go out of his way to explain any further.
Will you be there for me?
If she only understood that Aryan is just as scared as her -- how much did it take for him to ask for reassurance that she will come back with something for his back? He sounded like a lost child hardly able to admit to himself how he needs her. Just as she needs his support, he needs her to stand by his side and tell him it will be alright. I found it interesting that he says he will stay right where he is and even turns his back. He has no way of seeing if she will come back -- only trust and patience that she will turn back to him. Does he look triumphant in his wait? His shoulders are down and he is not his usual fighter pose with his spine straight -- instead, he is hunched a little and even his face is downcast; he just looks sad, broken and almost tired -- that is a side of Aryan she hardly sees.
It hurts
There is tenderness, care, concern and even some tears as she reaches out to him. She does not enjoy seeing him in pain and it does hurt her. Even though he is the one in pain, she is the one tearing up while he just grimaces and scrunches his face -- open and closed book. She shows her feelings while he does his level best to shut his down behind a wall.
Their dance
I like how their dynamic quickly goes from vulnerable to petty childish. Both go back to being competitive and trying to one up each other like little kiddos in school. He cheekily laughs that she applied holi and says "happy holi Imlie".
As she walks away gleeful that she won, he is not going to give her the last word. So this time, he is one crawling into her space and breaking it. What I found interesting is that he is doing it so slowly that she can break and run. When he leans his cheek in, it is ever so slowly. She can move away if she so chooses but yet she is frozen.
Then he says something interesting "happy holi partner" -- coming back to the crux of the emotional battle from earlier. She was asking him if she matters to him and whether they are friends. He has often denied that they are friends and here he is telling her that she is his partner.
Perhaps that is why she tears up -- there is no sense of satisfaction or achievement on his face. He does not look like he has won. Instead, he is vulnerable if only she can read him. He is telling her that she is still his partner. She can't take her eyes off his face and keeps looking at him but does she understand what she sees? In some ways, he remains a closed book while she is an open book.
Hindi TV Shows
Ishaani
Tum Se Tum Tak
