catch you by the collar!

IKRS Monday 14^th March 2016 ep 188 My Take ~ catch you by the collar!

To be collared can mean, to be arrested stopped from fleeing.. it means to challenge too.In today's episode, the ceremony of ripping Raja's collar down to his chest.. was called auspicious by the elders. Within certain cultures, the tearing of one's clothes, is a sign of deep pain and an occasion for mourning and sorrow. Raja's chest was laid bare, it's hard to see his black heart, in comparison to Viplav, Dhani's and Shalu's pure hearts..

Blessed is the day when the daughter of a household is destined to be married off. Shalu's family rejoices with fanfare and celebration .In the unfortunate absence of her father. Her one and only beloved older brother Viplav goes to town with jubilations by being the first to initiate his vibrant dancing for his sister. Shalu is his only sister , the day marks both happiness and a tad sadness too , for him. As her brother along with the rest of her family his wish is give his sister a warm and blessed send off. Viplav is a live wire on this occasion and gets carried away slightly..only to be checked by his stern looking dada ji ,who gives his wife a disapproving look too, as dadi too seem to be washed away by the robust cadence of the song and lyrics! But much to every one's surprise ,today Dashrant tirpathi too will let himself go well and proper! As it is Shalu' pre-wedding sangeet .. Shalu who in his and her mothers eyes is nothing much to look at due to her obesity. Today the girl will be wedded more so because of his power and prestigious name! So that's good enough a reason to shake a leg with his wife! Amidst all the families in song and dance..the footsteps of the sketch artist cross the threshold with Dhani's A-3 size pencil sketch in his hand the man hold Dhani's sketch and weaves in and out of the dancing family looking for Viplav.Dhani's picture passes by all, dshrant ,Raja , till the artist comes across Viplav who is full on in dance mode and moves his face aside. Dhani's mother in law Kanak as it were reaches out for the heena bowl walks across and gets bumps against the man hold the sketch which flies down on the floor and Kanak's jostles tips the heena pot and it splatters right on Dhani's sketched face. Viplav looks down, apologies follow as the sketch aritist gives him the news that is the sketch . Viplav takes it in a stride, takes the upside mehdi bowl.. Raja and his mother give each other odd looks.

At the ashram Raj laxmi brings her friend Dhani down in red sari . sita ,Dulari and inderani are stunned but nevertheless their hearts swell with tremendous pride at seeing Dhani dressed as abride. Raj laxmni is always one to follow her heart and in Dhani's bond with Viplav she sees complete affinity with both the lovers ,infact mamy a times she has clearly suggested Dhani abscond and a just get married to Viplav.. its like she knows what is the truth but will wait till her friend is ready to tell all

Dhani's sketch may be splotched with heena , but the one on Viplav's phone in a white sari is crystal clear and Viplav utters prophetic words to Dhani on the face time , Dhani it's time now for you to enter this household as its daughter in law.. Viplav relates the desired practice by families , as the daughter marries and leaves to become a daughter in law , she makes way for her brothers wife to become the daughter in law in the house she leaves . Raja watches Viplav' screen saver of dhani and glares scoffing at both Viplav and Dhani

Rajlaxmi brings Dhani closer to the aghast widows dressed in her red sari gives them a reality check they'd better get used to accepting Dhani in semblances that are not white ..Dhani looks stunning in the red sari..whereas, at AN Viplav danced before his sister Shalu and lifted the spirits of the sangeet.. here Dhani s friend like a real sister dances before Dhani and the ashram ladies and all celebrate the auspicious moment that will mark Dhani's wedding.. not so far now! so Song and dance in the ashram, in ecstasy Rajlaxmi dances gets carried away and accidentally pulls Dhani's hands to dance and alongside , the sari pallu is torn! All are shocked! Dulari as a anxious ,mother calls it an ill omen, right away! but Inderani the voice of reason, reminds this is new age of reason and dismisses talk of inauspicious as backward now! no one believes in such things! But for Dulari her little Dhani is her only wealth!

Kanak flaunts her wealth, shows mami Shalu's red wedding lehenga, with embroidered motifs of gold thread, no expense spared as Shalu is being the only daughter hence will marry her off in the big fat wedding way! little does Kanak know that the Awsathi's too are going for the affluence that Kanak boasts about! Kanak is called away, and mami urge to get her hands on the gold thread itches her palms to commit theft! ...naught to stop her too. mami's kleptomania is just a comic element to steal..her family is no different they are in it also to steal from this family! All that this tirpathi family has in terms of assets. They will pretend to do them a favour by marrying their daughter but in truth they are selling their son Raja to steal back power that they once had.. the rest of the avasthi's are premeditated under cover fraudulent raiders!

Viplav is the master of ceremonies, he is needed to initiate so many ,traditional rituals, and he is bright as a bubble to tackle every task! After all he is the bride's brother! and the older one too.. so no task at his sister's wedding is herculean for him! the man is ready as the word go!! Tearing the apparel? he's not pleased about this, moans to dadi but it's his brand new kurta ,had he known it is going to be ripped! he would have worn an old one! Dadi tells him off , no not his kurta ,but he's got to tear Raja's kurta from collar to chest down! Viplav loves the sound of this tradition and rubs his palms in gusto !

It's part of the haldi ceremony where by the groom purifies his body to be offered in marriage.. Raja sits ready to be purified by haldi paste.. his mother bends before him and applies it on his cheeks first , raises her eyes up at him, and says full of sly deceptive evil, today due to him, their lost status,wealth is being reinstated..his mother thanks him for doing that.

Viplav approaches Raja, announces, so jeeja ji ready to be disrobed today! and slowly Viplav approaches his brother in law, his fingers from both palms swaying and twirling, ready to rip Raja's collar but Viplav nears Raja's collar, Raja stop him in a surly manner, he doesn't want this ripping the collar tradition performed on him! his embarrassed mother glares at him, coaxing him with her eyes get it done for the wealth! She bids him , do it, it's a good omen and dadi too joins in and says , yes its auspicious! Viplav reassures him.. not to worry he'll get him a new kurta for him..then Viplav grips raja's collar and rips it apart! from his neck right down to his chest..to prove his strength of being alway's Shalu's brother!!! Basically Viplav lays bare his chest.. put off Raj gathers his ripped collar together and muses, don't worry Viplav very soon you your self will also rip your love into two pieces ! how pathetic Suman was the only girl in the whole of benaras Viplav could find to fall in love with!

Dhani wants to go out to buy sari but Dulari tells her no not to step out of ashram.Raja is so low he'll catch her if she goes out immediately. Besides her sari tore , it's considered an ill omen feels like some inauspicious is about to happen .. mother's premonition but Dhani insists nothing inauspicious will happen..it cannot change her destiny. Dulari prays it happens all is fine

Mami takes out lehnga and pulls the golden threads, says if a little comes off no one will notice Kanak calls her mami coves her self with bed cover, so Kanak cannot see the lenghna on her.. Kanak tries to pull the bedcover! Mami feigns illness! doesn't sulochna comes in, takes over and covers up! that's what these avasthi's do cover up for each other! Mami is told off!

Teasing his baby sister continues between Viplav and his Shalu! he takes Shalus' picture on phone says she looks nice for a change! Some woman who knows Raja' back ground comes in asking Viplav about boys famiy. In time she is whisked away and sorted by mami who asks, she is the woman whose husband was blamed for stamp scam? the woman flees.. mami tells suloshana, lucky they had something on the woman otherwise they would have been exposed today..

Viplav is one husband /groom about whom everything is exceptional.. his marriage had deities themselves rejoicing from the heavens! He uses modern technology to sneak in his wife Dhani into the nooks and crannies of AN.. via face time, his beloved attends all the pre- nuptials occasions. Now after having seen the haldi ceremony. Viplav too craves to see how his beloved wife Dhani , purifies herself , symbolically rids herself of all blemishes, and prepares herself, refines herself as a holy offering, for her god! her husband! her Viplav! so Viplav tucked away in a corner asks Dhani, just saw the haldi ceremony ,he wants her to apply haldi to herself, and she says she's prepared.. with endless love for her, he guides her and watches, besotted as she reflects his actions on the video call..haldi from his stubble cheeks , to rosy smooth cheeks , from his broad forehead to hers.. from his throat under his indented stubble chin, to the smooth gullet of her neck!.. and then from the tip of his pronounced nose to top of her nose!!! Both smile at each other lovingly.. cleansed by haldi , both purified ,ready to be offered to each other in the highest form of worship LOVE.. PURE LOVE.. they pout their lips and kiss each other on face time.. Viplav tells her she now glows more than before. Surely it's the glow of his love..

Dhani stays at the home Dulari wants her too, while the widows go to pray at the temple..

Viplav shows dada ji the mandap says, it's a matter of hours then Shalu will leave and DT says daughters only stay at a father's house for a short while then they become part of others house, girls are others property have to be given away... Dashrant says check if Raja is ready?

Viplav goes to Raja's room.. tells Dhani on phone before marriage he needs to show her what Raja looks like.. Raja is not in the room.. Viplav leaves his phone in Raja,s room and goes looking for Raja..raja comes in ..preens himself in the mirror goes to wardrobe. Dhani only catches his limbs back.. finally he notices Viplav's phone.. Dhani picture holds the picture they both see each face to face! on face time all her misgivings are cleared much to Dhani's horror! His fear is he will be exposed ..she has seen him now as Shalu's

Precap: Dhani barges in and says this marriage cannot take place!! Viplav! shocked Dhani confronts the avasti family... Viplav's family will not believe Dhani.. Raja's family will pin the blame that Dhani is a murderer.. Viplav is where the buck stops will he own his wife? Will he fight to prove her innocence.. what becomes of Shalu is she ditched or saved? Hamlet53 15.3.16

Originally posted by: aimf

Hammie, What an awesome post! Enjoyed your musings fully. Loved the symbolisms of Raja's disrobing. The introduction is also very nicely written.

A few thoughts from me:

--Why is it that in all serials weddings are interrupted by big revelations?😆
As you say, Shalu's fate hangs in balance. However, if I were in DT's place, I would stop the wedding. DT hates Dhani to be his grand-daughter-in-law, but he knows her to be a truthful lass. Besides she has also saved his life, and it is clear that in this situation Dhani has nothing to gain by stopping the wedding.

--Interestingly, the bridegroom's tearing of the shirt by the best man is considered lucky, but the tearing of the bride's sari by her friend is considered inauspicious. Double standards?

--Raja's disrobing was fun to watch --as you say it has many layers of meaning. The thought that occurred in aimf's mind was that Raja got his just desserts for having nefarious intentions on Dhani and visually disrobing her. That Raja did not wish to participate in the kurta phaadna ceremony shows that he is uncomfortable being vulnerable; yet he has no qualms of taking advantage of others in vulnerable situations, be it Dhani, or now, Shalu.

--Dhani is brave to out herself and go stop the wedding. She is one spunky girl. This is why she is so dear to Viplav, as he loves this quality about her.

--A blooper in the precap? I thought I saw Aunty Klepto not recognise Dhani. She was calling her "E Ladki," rather than by her name. Wasn't Aunty Klepto also in Dulari's photo collection that was recently destroyed? Then how could she not recognise Dhani? Perhaps I am mistaken, or perhaps, it will play out differently. We will wait and watch.

Thank you, Hammie. Sleep summons. Take care and be well.