The Week That Was 9th - 13th Jan
Tracks: Main track Arhi ... yippee, they're back! And this week, the entire track revolved around Arhi and getting the old sparks back ... slowly and steadily, the flames are being stoked again.
So the new track ... The Challenge.
Rewind to the start of the show -The Arhi story started with a challenge ... Arnav challenged Khushi to work for fifteen days in his office without resigning, and he promised he would make it hell for her. He never said he would play fair, and he didn't. He used all his power and his position to make things as difficult for her as possible. Khushi naively thought that this would be a fair challenge, and if she proved that she could do the work assigned to her diligently and well, that was enough to win the challenge. She thought he would play fair ... she was mistaken. End result ... he won, she lost ... she resigned.
Fast forward to ... the night before NY, Arnav told Khushi he was sure she would come in front of him at midnight and spoil his new year, Khushi swore she wouldn't ... and did her best to make sure she didn't. NYE ... ARNAV came in front of Khushi at midnight ... she told him so in no uncertain terms ... in Arnav's mind, he LOST and ODB doesn't take kindly to losing. So he challenged her that he would make sure she continued to lose to him the whole year through.
So we come to the week that was ...
Monday/Tuesday - Arnav declared that it was Khushi who was the loser, and he would make sure she continued losing all year long.
(I was actually wondering how come Arnav wasn't too sore about losing that one last week ... sure enough, it surfaced this week ... and as the principal track too. Now that's like the Arnav I know!)
Khushi, being Khushi takes up the challenge ... but of course! Anyone seriously expected her not to?! And the first thing she thinks of ... the sangeet coming up ... make that a competition between the boys' side and the girls' side. Smart Khushi ... set the field according to your own strengths and not those of your opponent.
Round one ... to Khushi.
Her own family is a little shaky ... after all, they're the ladkivalas ... but once Buaji is into the spirit of the game, it's on. So Khushi goes off to convince the Raizadas. Who are also very gung ho and excited about the whole idea ... until our resident hero enters the fray. Being a smart cookie, he realises exactly what his lady love is up to 😛 ... I think ASR is FAR smarter than his fans ... people actually believed that he cancelled the sangeet because he wanted peace and quiet and disliked music? Wake up, people ... no way, ... he did it because he realised exactly what Khushi was doing. Added to which, a healthy bite of jealousy at seeing NK grab Khushi's hand ... hey, buster, grabbing Khushi is my prerogative! Already fuming at NK's midnight visit and flowers for Khushi, Arnav realises that this dance to which he very unwisely and in the heat of the moment, said 'no' to participating in, is causing him a lot of heartburn! Being ASR, he doesn't play fair, he uses all his power ... Cancel the sangeet.
Round Two ... to Arnav.
Khushi is still somewhat the naive girl she was, she knows he cancelled the sangeet because of her, but innocently she thinks it's because she slapped him. And she feels terrible that because of her, a function that the whole family is looking forward to, a function which is one of the highlights of the wedding, is being cancelled. Everyone at the Raizada house is bitterly disappointed ... including even her nemesis, Mami, who didn't even want the wedding in the first place. All because of her and her mistimed thappad. 😭 So she goes off to apologise and make amends.
She doesn't realise that cancelling the sangeet was Arnav's response to her challenge. Silly Khushi, didn't you figure out the moment you said the word 'competition', Arnav's antennae were on high alert? And this guy just challenged you that he wouldn't lose, remember?
Khushi doesn't remember ... or at least, she finds it easier to believe that he cancelled the sangeet because of her thappad. So she tells him - slap me, we're even and then we can go ahead with the sangeet, right?
Wrong. He won't slap her ... gone are the days when he could drop her from an open window, or even from his arms (I think so, wonder if he'll prove me wrong on that one?) ... he can't hurt her now ... not physically, at least.
Wednesday - However Arnav makes it clear that the slap was not the reason he cancelled ... another taunt about her not being important enough ... but things have changed slightly, he does feel bad when he sees her hurt in her eyes, so he adds a very lame reason ... the music and noise gives me a headache.
Really, Arnav?! Is that the best you could come up with? 😆 A HEADACHE??? I'm disappointed!! 😆
Khushi sees the excuse for what it is, decides to take matters into her own hands ... he doesn't like noise? Let's give him quiet and see how he really likes it. Khushi being as smart as Arnav, realises that's not the real reason ... not sure whether she cottoned on to the fact that it was all about the challenge yet. And being smarter than Arnav in terms of people power and emotions, she uses Anjali's shoulder to fire from ... with the willing and enthusiastic cooperation of the entire family. Upshot - Arnav is forced to agree to sangeet.
Round three ... to Khushi.
Loved the family Dumb Charades ... this entire cast is really good! Each and every expression during the Charades was spot on, Nani was grace personified, and the best was Arnav getting caught up in the proceedings and miming!
Also loved the Arhi kitchen scene where Arnav confronts Khushi, sure that she's behind the whole show, and Khushi telling him in low, firm tones that they're just doing what he wanted, after all ... the old Khushi coming back slowly!
Thursday ... So Khushi is happy that the sangeet is on, the challenge is on and she's sure she'll win. Competitiveness isn't confined to the male of the species here, our girl has a healthy dose of it herself! And Arnav is furious ... he will make sure she loses.
Their challenges seem to be their way of staying connected ... the way things are between them, come hell or high water, neither is ready to acknowledge the other's importance in their life, to admit that their lives and thoughts seem to revolve around the other ... even to themselves.
In the meantime, NK is falling for Khushi, trying to call her, then bashfully cutting the call, while a baffled Arnav wonders why NK is behaving so peculiarly. Obviously Arnav has never been through these pangs ... or has he? Of course he has, he just hasn't acknowledged the reason to himself, that's all.
And Slimeball Shyam is getting more and more upset at his failure to win back even an iota of trust or respect from Khushi, friendship or love is aeons away! So he tries to win back Buaji, his old worshipper, only to find zilch chances of success there. She tells him never to enter her house again. Unwise challenge, that one. Mentioning here only because the Buaji-Shyam scene was good!
And then comes Friday... Arhi phone call ... where Khushi doesn't let Arnav get in a word edgewise, and tells him to not sabotage her dance performance. Leaving Arnav frustrated and furious again ... she walks away from him, she doesn't listen to him, she hangs up on his calls ... the list of crimes is endless! 😛
So when the Raizadas get ready to go to GH to give shagun, Arnav most uncharacteristically joins them. In her own house, Khushi can't escape him.
Again his thoughts and actions are completely ruled by the girl he claims holds no importance for him whatsoever! 😉
In GH, Payal is morose about how her MIL doesn't love her ... as usual, Khushi decides to cheer her up ... by play-acting Mami ... and Bua thrown in for good measure. Gem of a scene ... even having been a Sanaya fan for over two years now, I was completely spellbound at how she carried that one off! Voice tones, intonations, body language, the stress on the right words for each character ... everything was perfect!!! Hats off, Sanaya!!! 👏👏👏
The best bit of the scene ... an utter gem ... was the part when Khushi opens the door, sees Arnav, jaw drops, sees Mami, jaw drops further and she shuts the door. And Arnav turns to look at a baffled and indignant Mami, and looks away quickly to hide his chuckle 😛😆 Mami, Arnav and Khushi ... take a bow! 👏
Raizadas get on with the shagun and gift giving, Arnav (again man of action 😳) gets on with what he really came for ... to find his lady love and give her a piece of his mind. So he corners her in the kitchen, takes a quick moment to get rid of the telltale evidence of Mami-nautanki ... flower in hair ... and thus puts her on the back foot straightaway 😳 ... he's in her space and looking too darn confident about it.
"Actually, I'm from Lucknow too ..." as though they were in the middle of a conversation and he's just continuing it ... tones smooth, silky, non-threatening ...
She stares, baffled ... aap ... kya? What has that to do with anything? And why is he even here?
He repeats ... I said I'm also from Lucknow.
Still baffled, the morning's conversation is the last thing on her mind, besides the way he's looking at her, so calmly, confidently is making her even more nervous ...
Haan ... toh?
He moves in, what he really wanted to say, what's been bugging him ... so how dare you walk away from me when I'm talking, how dare you cut my phone ...
Bua calls again for tea ... but before she can even answer, he cuts in ... no more interruptions, he will have his say this time, and the hell with anyone trying to interrupt ... Enough! Now I talk, you listen! Your saying you'll win doesn't mean a thing. I never lose ... the boys' side will win ...
So that's what this is all about. His challenge and his ego ... yet again. Well, she's never one to back away from any challenge. She never did earlier when she was a nobody, and definitely not now ...
I don't know what it is to lose ... that's not in my vocabulary ...
Are you so confident? ... and he starts moving in on her ... she starts backing, slightly alarmed but not too much yet ...
Try me ...
My money and my power talks ... I don't need to try you ...
Money and power can buy you dancers, but not talent ... and it's talent that you need to win this contest ...
He's got her where he wants her ... ready to take him on ...
So if you lose?
I won't lose. Still very confident ...
He reminds her ... you said this earlier too ... when you left my work ... you came back. You said it about Payal Akash too, then you agreed for their rishta ...
Her eyes fall ... he's right ... she lost those rounds to him ...
And he moves in for the kill ... he's got her where he wants her.
So think, Khushi Kumari Gupta ... if your kismat deserts you now ...?
She says uncertainly now ... if I lose ...
He smiles slightly, confidently ... if you lose ...?
And they stare at each other ... a man and a woman ... he confident, smirking slightly, she nervous, less of the challenge and more of the man it came from ... and the kitchen is thick with the tension and the sparks between them ... ☺️😍☺️
As I said earlier, a reprise of the office track with a few differences. Then it was hate, dislike at both ends, Arnav was playing dirty to make sure he won, and Khushi had nothing but her wits to help her out. He was the big tycoon, she was a nobody. He didn't care what he did to win, didn't even care if he hurt her physically ... making her stand for hours in the pouring rain and directing cars, making her stand for hours holding a spoilt model's coat, not even allowing her to sit, eat or drink ... nothing mattered in his determination to show her down.
Now... he can play unfair still, he can use his power again, but he can't dream of hurting her. Not by design, not even by accident. She means more to him, much more than he is willing to admit. The challenge is because he unconsciously recognises her as his equal ... recognises that she will fight back and be a worthy opponent ... and recognises that she is a threat to him and his way of life, that if he doesn't resist, she will sweep in and change his life completely ... So he will play the game, but don't expect him to be fair ... he wants to win at any cost.
( And I want to know what he will ask her if she loses 😉😳)
As for Khushi, she played the first challenge as a nobody, as someone who wasn't even on the same planet in terms of social status, and she was completely alone, except for the little help and support of Manju aunty. But now she's his social equal, her sister is marrying his brother. She's not alone ... she's almost a part of his family already, much loved by his own sister and grandmother. She has a huge support system in place ... and she will use it too ... fair's fair, after all.
But she also has a big thorn, in the form of Shyam ... though it's doubtful whether he will play a big role in the very private Arhi challenge.
Let the games begin!
Scene of the Week ... Arhi ... the kitchen scene on Friday ... the intensity, the sparks, and the palpable tension are slowly coming back, with a different flavour ... it's not hate any more, far from it. It's a reason to keep coming close, to stay near, stay connected ... any reason will do, be it a game of win or lose, does it matter? Both have lost anyway ... they need that connection ...
Honorable mentions ... Khushi's imitation of Mamiji and the Family Dumb Charades.
Dialogue of the Week ... Herewa ek tumka, therewa ek thumka ... EPIC!!! 😆
Smirk of the week... Arnav's smirk at the end of the Friday episode ... if you lose ... 😍 Yes, Arnie boy, even we want to know, what will you do if Khushi loses!!!
*Edit * ... Arnav Singh Raizada HAS changed in terms of what he thinks about Khushi ... he knows that money and power are not important to her, they are not going to upset her apple cart ... those are just words he uses in the GH Friday scene to throw her off track. What gets her far more rattled is him, the man ... and he knows it ... earlier he was running away from the fact, because it also meant that she, Khushi Kumari Gupta, the woman, rattles him too ... has he now come to terms with it? And accepted it? Because he sure as heck was using that in the Friday scene ...
And does this mean that we will get some progress on Arhi instead of going round in circles again?
Forum Games
Current Affairs
Anupamaa
