@mili9 & @mango.falooda I agree to most of the points you both have mentioned regarding not being able to connect to Imlie's new avatar as a lover. But, at the same time, I was never bothered more about it because it was her mahaanta whether it be to the Ts or Rs that was bothering me the most. Probably because her Tandav for Aryan's life managed to convince me that she had a soft corner for Aryan and that she was not ready to loose him. I am almost convinced that instead of bringing the revenge angle, if it was like Aditya started pestering her to marry him and knowing it, if Aryan had offered her to marry him as part of a deal, she would have agreed to it. Because, after the Malini PF and toofan NDE, she had started feeling more for Aryan. In fact the first female Jaaniya had played in the hospital scene after her Tandav performance. Now coming to why makers didn't focus more on showing Imlie's increasing affinity towards Aryan, I have various reasons for it.
1. That's is how it is the case with most of the ITV FLs. I remember my last show where both the protagonist and antagonist ML fans were bashing the FL and we FL fans were bashing the CVs for not giving her enough monologues and instead was just being used as a pendulum. So, I am not at all surprised of this treatment of the FL for that matter.
2. Sudden exit of MV + IPL+ Ramzaan + 10th & 12th Board exams - all these came together and hence I believe that the makers & channel somewhat knew that ratings were not going to increase, evenif meaningful tracks were shown. Plus the creatives must have needed time to stabilise the show after an unexpected unprofessional sudden exit. Adding to it, I have a strong feeling that they wanted to retain Aparna as a negative character; but the actress must have turned down the offer and hence Narmada became the scapegoat.
3. Just watch the below clip. This is the best makers will give us when it comes to the FL, because it serves two purposes at the same time - her mahaanta and the ML acknowledging her efforts for him & his family bringing in brownie points for him. That's how best an ITV FL will be treated when it comes to showing her efforts & emotions. So, I have stopped expecting such things from ITV. Having said that, I hope in the coming episodes we will get to see a glimpse of Imlie's fears and insecurities, as she is at her bottom low of self-worth, after Narmada's constant vile attacks.