If this was a meal - it was finger-licking good!
Performances
Barun, Sanaya, and Abhaas: ROCKING!
Excellent work, CVs!
Progress Points
1. Arnav & Khushi torn within themselves
2. Shyam in control; though Khushi not quite giving in; Arnav unaware
Favorite Scene
Khushi trying to hold on to Arnav's hand, and Arnav pulling away.
Trying Times
1. The first moments of a new day and Arnav sees his wife pulling away the curtains to let the sunlight in right on his face. Arnav blinks his eyes open and sees his wife standing in the light, and turns away his face.
The day is new and the sun is shining; too bad that these two are still covered in the attire of the day gone by.
2. Khushi thinks of cleaning up and getting ready. However, as soon as Arnav is up, she hands him the towel.
Arnav remembers the day when she fought with him for using the bathroom first because for half the year, she had claim to half his room, bathroom, and closet. He says nothing.
3. Khushi withdraws from the business of running the Tiffin service for Arnav's office.
Arnav remembers her charging into his cabin at work and declaring that she had started a new business to provide meals to his employees.
4. Arnav sits down to breakfast and Khushi makes herself scarce from the scene.
While she only wants to let him eat him peace, but peace has been eluding him. Her memories keep haunting him.
5. Arnav sits down to work by the pool and Khushi brings him papers for signing.
He retaliates that he is onto what she is up to by removing her things and making his room as before, and makes it clear that he is unaffected by it all.
6. Arnav slips out of the house without telling Khushi any of his plans, and refuses to take her calls. Khushi finds out from Anjali that Arnav is leaving for London the same day. Khushi frantically tries to call him, but he doesn't answer the call.
7. Khushi follows Arnav to the airport and arranges for Shyam to reach there as well, still frantically calling him.
8. Arnav checks into Airport and Khushi is stuck outside without a ticket or money.
She calls, and he disconnects while she sees. Undeterred, she calls again. Arnav gives in and receives the call, but the moment she begins to talk and mentions the name of Shyam, Arnav is put off and disconnects the call again. Khushi tries again, but he does not turn.
She has just about given up when she finds him standing before her. She asks him for once chance to clear her name. He refuses and leaves. Then, he returns and gives her 10 minutes. She makes a phone call and Shyam tells her he is on the way. Arnav hangs on. She tells him that Anjali told him the reason he's leaving and he changes the topic immediately reminding her of the remaining time. She calls again and gets the same response.
The time is up and there is the call for passengers to board the flight. Arnav begins to leave and Khushi pleads with him to stop.
He then asks her why it was so important for her to her to prove herself to him. She responds and tells him that it is because it is him. Arnav is speechless once more.
There is a call stating his name for him to board the flight and he begins to leave. Khushi again pleads that he would stay but he denies, taking her hand off his own and leaves.
He wonders why he finds it hard to leave Khushi and turns around again, when a man stops him and asks if he is ASR.
For Khushi, the day began with the same thought, with which the previous day had ended. She needed him to trust her. She now understands his pain and the torture that her presence causes him. She is willingly getting out of his way. It is killing her.
Even when she hands him the towel so that he may use the bathroom first, it reminds him how she fought over it a few months back. He remembers how she used her position as his wife to talk him down. He remembers how he'd given in. Khushi is not doing that anymore. He must have told her several times to shut down the Tiffin service, but she did not listen. Yet today when she withdraws from the venture, Arnav does not exactly like it. He knows it was one of the few things that brought her joy while she lived at RM. She is silently accepting whatever treatment that is being given to her. And, he hates it.
She has withdrawn every right that she claimed on him, his life, and his house. She has withdrawn from her business venture. She is listening to her mind. She does not want to cause him any more discomfort. She is unwanted here in his room and in his life. It is killing her.
When Arnav wanted her to be this receptive 3 months back, Khushi had been hard to hold down. Every time he tried to shout her down, threaten her, or hurt her, Khushi bounced back with equal force and in many different ways. Now that she is doing exactly what he wanted - to be a wife for the world, but not to mess with him in their room - he cannot settle down with peace. And he hates it.
The previous night Arnav told her that she would do exactly as he told her to. Khushi was confused about his order, because he had told her to sleep on the bed and not the poolside. Yet, she did not question him. She did not argue that she was only trying to do what he wanted. She quietly complied. She remembers that he'd wanted to take the bathroom first according to his schedule. She complies. She had started a business to be financially independent and to help her family, though she knew he didn't like it. Feeding everyone, it was something that she loved to do. Now, she quietly complies. It is killing her.
The drastic change in her behavior and attitude has confused him. He cannot help but remember how she tackled the same situation three months back and compare with the current day. It does not fit. Something is just not right. Though his mind tells him otherwise, Arnav is repeatedly thinking of her to the point that he is irritated at himself. He seems to be unable to understand why it bothers him so. All the moments when Khushi was Khushi have become bright now that she isn't Khushi anymore. So much so that Arnav Singh Raizada cannot eat or even sit in peace. He ends up speaking aloud – "Why, damn it!" of course, the answer isn't anything that he wants to hear or accept. And he hates it.
Khushi is doing exactly what Arnav wants and being who he wants her to be. She has quieted down herself and washed away everything that was Khushi's personality. It is doing it willingly because she would do anything to win his trust back. She would not have him sign the papers if he would just listen to her. But she knows that he angry and she does not want to irk him further anymore. All her antics and her mischief are shelved. She is not relying on her heart anymore. It is killing her.
Poolside, plants, and laptop offer little distraction. Arnav is irritated when the object of his thoughts comes to stand before him for getting some papers signed. His statement to her that he knows what she is upto and that he is unaffected, seems more to himself than to her. It is as if he is telling himself that anything she does, does not affect him. Khushi tells him that she isn't doing anything with the intention of affecting him, and in any case, he would not be affected because he's blinded with lies. He brushes it off and chooses to stick with his belief. Though, he hates it.
After much thought, she has had to give into the enemy's plan. She would not let Arnav be cheated again, and she willing to risk everything for this. Though, she has had to trick him to sign the papers, yet, she would not hand over Arnav's signed papers to anyone until she let Arnav know of the same. She has taken a huge risk. She is playing with fire. She knows well that she cannot trust her enemy. She has taken some precautions but those are to safeguard only Arnav, not herself. She has laid herself unguarded before the enemy, whom she knows can destroy her life. She knows Arnav would not believe her unless he sees proof. It is killing her.
Just as the previous day, Khushi again tried endlessly to talk to him, but he ignored. It was still hard for him to ignore Khushi, especially when she was being so insistent with the calls. It seemed to hurt him more and more each time he disconnected her call. He does not want to talk to her or listen to any explanation. He does not want to face her again. He wanted to leave without telling her anything. Yet, she calls now and he rejects each call. And he hates it.
Khushi has got the papers and she's made her condition clear to Shyam. Now, if only Arnav would be willing to meet at someplace. But he does not answer. Khushi has never seen this kind of indifference from him. Even three months back when his anger had been at an extreme, he'd still set out to look for her. He did not avoid her calls. But now, he sees her and passes by, he disconnects her calls. He is minimizing contact with her. It is killing her.
Arnav checks into the airport. He has till now rejected all her calls. She whispers his name, and this time he hears the call. He turns to see Khushi standing outside the door unable to come in. She calls him and he shows her that he isn't talking by disconnecting the call while she looks on. She calls again and this time he receives the call, but the moment she mentions the name of his enemy, he disconnects the call. He walks on leaving her outside the door. And he hates it.
Khushi is frantic by now. She cannot let him leave thinking what he is. It is a pressing need that she would clear her name. She has calls and he rejects the calls. Yet, she is undeterred. She gets to the airport and sees him go inside. She calls his name in a whisper and he turns around. She calls again and he rejects. She continues this till he comes out, going to the point of telling him that if he just listens to her once, she would never ask him anything again. She sees him go and comes away from the door now that he has gone... It is killing her.
He changes his mind and does comes back to hear her out, giving her 10 minutes. While they wait for the person whom Khushi has called to help her tell him the truth, she tells him that she's done nothing that he would have such a view of her or that he'd punish her so. A deluge of people walk between them and she is pushed around. Arnav puts an arm out around her to keep her from being pushed. Arnav will be Arnav. When she tells him she knows the reason he's leaving, he changes the topic and reminds her of the time. He wanted to believe her but no one turned up to prove her right. And he hates it.
Life and hope return to Khushi when all of a sudden she sees Arnav standing before her. He has apparently decided to come to listen to what she wants to say. She pleads with him for trusting her, and urges that he would wait so that she may prove that she's done nothing to hurt him or be punished like this. She tries to tell him that his indifference and his leaving her the he is, is a punishment for her. She is looking for one chance from him. It is suffocating that he would think of her as a liar and a characterless cheat. Time is up and no one comes to clear her. He begins to leave again. Hope is being diminished. It is killing her.
Arnav begins to leave and she insists that he'd stay. Arnav blurts out this time that he'd come just to give her that chance she'd been asking. He tells her that somewhere he'd held a hope that she may be innocent. She insists again and he asks why it even matters to her. She responds and tells him that it is because it is him - it wouldn't have mattered if it was someone else, but she cannot accept that he'd believe such about her, and if he does, she just wouldn't be able to breathe any more. He is left speechless. When she asks him to not leave, he nearly wonders if it really matters to her. He wants to trust her so much and wants her to be right. Yet, he cannot. And he hates it.
Khushi's might have jumped in hope or probably crushed further when Arnav told that he'd come back because he had a small hope that she'd be innocent, but that he was mistaken. She insists that he stays, she pleads, she urges, she holds on to his shoulder, she holds on to his hand, she begs. As he pulls her hand off his own, she makes every effort to hold on to him. He tells her he is gone and bids her goodbye. She watches him go as every possible effort she could have made, fails to hold him back. It is killing her.
As he leaves, Khushi is left outside still weeping and seeing him go. Arnav recounts the memories of the past months, especially his own feelings as he told her when playing Ranjha. He wonders and questions himself why it was so hard for him to go away from Khushi. Surely he hates it.
Arnav & Khushi - torn between your mind and your heart.
Arnav, tearing yourself apart from Khushi will cause a tearing apart within you. You did not know this? You knew why your heartbeat intensified when she was close. Do you not know that if your hearts are one, going away from her is like cutting off a part of your flesh? Khushi does not remember this, but you do. You do know that you cannot live without her; you have told her so albeit as Ranjha. You also know that he heart beats for you, and now she has also told you that if you do not trust her and think of her as you do, she would not be able to breathe.
Yet you question why you feel the way you do and why going away from Khushi is so hard.
Scoring Sheet
During the past three months, both Arnav and Khushi have gone through multiple tests in terms of trust, and knowing and understanding each other.
Arnav
While Khushi's antics troubled Arnav, they have shown him how Khushi really is - when in trouble, when tensed, angry, in new situations, stuck, upset, happy, caring, thoughtful, irritating, stubborn, and even loving. He's seen her when she is in RM and in GH. He's seen that she is not much different although both environments are extremely opposite. Her personality has remained the same.
Now, he is seeing her when she knows she is accused of being characterless. Arnav is now seeing an enormous difference in the Khushi just two days back and the Khushi now. He has seen her like this on two occasions in the past, but as of now he has not related her behavior change with those times: once, when her father was hospitalized, Khushi was so broken that she ran into Arnav's arms and broken down, accepting that this situation was very hard for her and she could not take it; and second, when she was engaged to Shyam, Arnav knew she was unhappy, he even told Anjali so that she is troubled and unsettled, and he wondered aloud that if she does not love the man why has agreed to marry him.
In some areas, Arnav did develop small bits of trust for Khushi. However, when it comes to his memory of the terrace scene, his trust lies in tatters. He also has realized the depth of his feelings for Khushi, not only when Anjali showed him the mirror but also when he himself accused her of theft and later found her innocent. He took steps to apologize and win her back by his actions. His attachment with her grew to a level where even though he came face to face with a card written by Shyam for Khushi, when he realized her hurt, he slept holding her hand all night.
Arnav has failed the Trust test again. His heart is trying to constantly remind him of what he knows about Khushi, and Arnav is constantly refuting his heart by going over his accusation again and again.
Arnav Singh Raizada, your problem is not that you do not trust Khushi. Your heart knows very well that Khushi is innocent. It was not for nothing that you couldn't help giving her a chance to prove herself; it came from your self-professed hope that she might be innocent. Yet, your mind does not let you trust your own feelings. No wonder you are confused as to why you feel what you're feeling and why it is hard for you to walk away from Khushi.
Coming Back
Somehow it feels pointless that Arnav would trust Khushi only after seeing a proof or hearing it from another person. It would kill the whole point about Arnav listening to his heart. Sure he would learn the lesson, but the point of the lesson would be missed, and till he gets the points, the trust test cycle will have to be run again (which also means that it will be harder on him next time, because each time he goes through this test and fails, the next test becomes harder for him).
Arnav lost his trust in the goodness of human early in life owing to his own family cheating him. Thereafter, he has closed his heart to most of the mankind, except his sister and family. He has found it very heart to accept that one girl has managed to cross over all his boundaries and walls, and managed to make home in his heart. Even if now he knows she is closer to him than most others, he has a hard time trusting that the same is true for her - that he too has managed to cross over all boundaries, and managed to make home in her heart.
Although it is yet to be seen how he comes around to actually believing in her; IMHO, I feel somehow Arnav must trust Khushi on his own - not by a proof, but by trusting his heart.
Just as Khushi has trusted Arnav that he'd have a valid reason for doing what he did and did not open up his game before everyone else, even if she had to go through pain - she did this because she knew that he would not do something as this without a reason. All she wanted to know was the reason, which was her right too.
Arnav should trust her out of his 'knowing' her in his heart; Knowing that Khushi is incapable of doing anything as he has thought her to do.
Khushi
Khushi has learnt some of her lessons very well. She saw Arnav wouldn't give in to pressure, she changed her manners and took charge and claimed space. She saw that it failed to bring out desired results, she changed tactics and became a dutiful wife. Although, it did not bring about the result she was hoping for, it did bring the two closer. It led to him calling her ways cheap and she transpired a plan to take him to GH to show him the 'cheapness'. Although her plan again backfired, it did show Arnav the true Khushi.
Although each time, Khushi's plan failed with respect to her intended agenda, they did succeed on a higher level agenda - that of reducing the gap between the two in terms of how much they knew each other, and of creating an area of common ground they saw each other well and knew certain basic facts.
Khushi learned some things about Arnav which she has incorporated into her manner of dealing with him. She has used her learning to develop her behavior towards Arnav. Although, again her intended agenda failed, it did succeed in letting her become more aware of who Arnav is and how he deals with things. In fact, her greatest learning about Arnav came through when she took him to GH. She tried to make him suffer and he rose above it on ever count. So much so, that it forced Khushi to increasingly come face-to-face.
In fact, right now the fact that she cannot let Arnav believe what he does about her it because she is becoming aware of how much Arnav means to her. It is now her self-professed feeling that it is because Arnav is the one involved that she needs to prove herself, she would not have done so in case it was someone else. She has accepted that if Arnav continues to disbelieve her, she would not be able to breathe.
In even small things she has learnt to deal with Arnav: for example, when on phone she mentioned Shyam's name, Arnav immediately disconnected the call. Later, when Arnav came to meet her, she did not tell him who was to come to clear her name, she simply stated that 'someone' was going come.
Her lessons have been more on the front of using her mind. She is learning so.
Coming Back
Somehow it seems that though Khushi's heart is still trying valiantly to fight for gaining back Arnav's trust, and all her mind is also focused on the same goal, her spirit is weak. Her soul is tormented. She has lost much and is on the verge losing all.
Right now, she is on the crucial point of her life where she realizes that she is completely in love with her husband Arnav. And now, if Arnav is moving away, she stands to lose everything - once again.
Her personality has undergone a fierce change, and she is closing up fast. She is way more focused on her aim but at the same time, she has lost focus of everything else.
IMO, Khushi is not yet at the stage where she is hardened enough.
When Khushi is under pressure, she pushes and she fights. She pushes herself over the edge in trying to do what is right and prove herself able or right. This goes on till Khushi is either exhausted or trapped. Then, if she is cut off from those who are her support system, she loses quickly. She does not give up easily, but her strength leaves her and she becomes hardened if she has to give in. If Khushi reaches this stage, she explodes. Then it is hard for Khushi to come back to normal unless the ones involved in her trouble are brought to justice.
Interestingly, Arnav has gone through this cycle once before with Khushi. However, he yet does not connect the dots. It all happened when he pushed Khushi relentlessly, being mean to her in the meanest ways and Khushi pushed herself to prove she was right. This went on till he unknowingly sent her to a collapsing building where she was trapped. Khushi didn't give in easily, but when all hope was cut off from her, she became hardened and she attacked Arnav fiercely when he got there to rescue her. (This was one of the reasons why she is nick-named tigress by the Fandom.) Although Arnav saved her, Khushi did not forgive his mistake easily. She complied with Anjali's request only when Anjali also threatened her with the Rs. 1 lac contractual condition. Even after she came back, her condition was that she would not be there when Arnav would be there. It took a long time for her to overcome her anger for Arnav.
Balance Sheet
Arnav and Khushi have together gone through certain situations and usually these situations have been happened for them in tandem.
Some examples are:
Khushi trusted Arnav and gave herself to him on Diwali night. Her trust was broken.
Arnav trusted Khushi and gave himself to her on Payash wedding. His trust was broken.
Arnav willingly hurt Khushi by announcing engagement with Lavanya.
Khushi unknowingly hurt Arnav by getting engaged with Shyam.
Khushi hid the truth of Shyam from Arnav to save him the grief; thereby taking a decision for his family that he does not know of - he had the right to know.
Arnav hid the truth of his knowledge of Shyam and Khushi's apparent affair and forced marriage with her; thereby taking a decision for her life that she does not know of - she had the right to know.
Over the months, Khushi has paid for her Sin of Omission.
Arnav is yet to pay for his Sin of Commission.
(For those who may be unaware of these terms: there are two types of sins - sinning by omission or by commission. By Omission refers to something that you should have done but you did not do. By Commission refers to something that should not have done, but you did.)
Arnav realized his feelings for Khushi before the MU happened.
Khushi is realizing her feelings for Arnav before the MU clears; though yet another MU looks on the verge of taking place - this time inverted. (Hopefully, it would not happen, so Fandom, please relax!)
Khushi has developed knowledge, understanding and trust for Arnav.
Arnav is yet to develop these for Khushi - though the process is initiated.
Before the MU, Arnav was at his most vulnerable and became his most hard-boiled self post MU.
Khushi is currently at her most vulnerable. It seems before the tide changes, Khushi would become her most hard-boiled self. (She is yet to get to this point, therefore something is bound to happen that would hurt her more - from Arnav's end (more mistrust) - that would push her over the edge.)
Khushi underwent a huge change in her personality before Arnav noticed something amiss.
Arnav would probably have to undergo a personality makeover before Khushi notices something.
Khushi started to show her care to Arnav at a point when Arnav was deadened to any feeling.
It seems by the Arnav begins to show Khushi any care or provide any comfort/reassurance, she would not be in any state to receive it. [It may be best understood by the Heer-Ranjha context; Heer died before Ranjha even got to her, and by the time Ranjha spoke of his love to her, she was dead in his arms and unable to receive his love. Though Khushi (as Heer) was able to listen to what Arnav (as Ranjha) spoke, her tears flowed, yet because she was supposed to be dead, she could not react to it. Her eyes were closed, and she could not see that it was indeed Arnav. Though her heart spoke to her that it was no Ranjha, but Arnav who spoke, Khushi being 'dead' as she was, could not see or receive that love.]
Khushi needs comfort and reassurance from Arnav now. If Arnav delays it, by the time gets around to it, Khushi may be hardened and may not be in a position to receive it,
The scales are far from being balanced right now.
Evil Weevil
Shyam has played his chess well. He has been patient. To his credit, he has worked this plan with extreme caution, patience, and cunning. While he is aware that Khushi is not as bright as she is trying to prove herself, he has still not underestimated her. He handed her the will which named everything to Anjali, but switched it before she got it signed with the one which names everything to Shyam Manohar Jha.
His plan would have been easier if Khushi had not hid the will. It would simply have been the matter of killing Arnav. But now, he has had kidnap with first so that he can get his hands on the will before he proceeds with killing Arnav. Khushi, by hiding the will, has unknowingly thrust herself between Arnav and Shyam's plan for his murder. She has unknowingly placed herself before Arnav - although she has knowingly done this in an attempt to protect Arnav from getting cheated; she has unknowingly also protected Arnav's life till Shyam gets the will.
Arnav's murder would have remained a mystery if Khushi had not hid the will. But now, because she has done her bit, Arnav's kidnapping will become known.
His statement that he's having to wait so that Arnav & Khushi's time changes is rather interesting.
On the side, it somehow gave me immense pleasure to see Shyam clearing up the mess that he'd created in Arnav and Khushi's space. Curiously, this was not because Arnav threatened him or Khushi blackmailed him - it was simply because Anjali turned up.
Precap
It was supposed to follow Arnav, but it got distracted and followed a cute air-hostess instead. Hopefully, the airhostess has seen it and dropped it mid-air for its misbehavior.
On the Side
Aaj Kucch Toofani Karte Hain
(Let's Create a Storm)
Shyam: Let me use my ex-fiance to trap her current husband who is also my rich brother-in-law, so that I can use his signature to get his entire wealth, which he has bequeathed to his sister, my current wife.
Fandom: Wow! How?
Shyam: I will threaten by ex-fiance, by telling her that I'd spill the beans on her affair with him in which she trapped a rich woman's husband. She will panic and get me the wealth then I will kill her current husband, thereby making her available. I will kill my current wife, thereby making me available. Then, I have new wealth and new wife - both that belong currently to my current brother-in-law, who is the current husband of my ex-fiance and the brother of my current wife!
Fandom: Are you sure?
CVs: We're sure! We'll throw in a few Rabba-veys!
Fandom: They are sure, all right! As long as we get plenty of Rabba-veys.
Arnav and Khushi: We just read that. We're more cross-eyed than on our frequent Rabba-veys.
Analysis: this means there is plenty of jalebis-making coming up.
Predictors: Jalebi is sweet. Therefore, Arnav and Khushi are in for pretty sweet although tangled moments.
Me: If this man wasn't Arnav-Khushi's only hope, Fandom by now would have raised prize money to see him executed by only the most painful procedures.
Kidnapped!
Dear me,
This happened at 4:45 am after a whole night of writing the WIL. Therefore, forgive any mindlessness.
So I took a break to see what was up on FB and IF and oh la la! I am still thinking about the convo Arnav had with Khushi on the airport, and the rest of the world is arguing if Shyam kidnapped Arnav or Arnav kidnapped Arnav. I think someone even thought Anjali kidnapped Arnav.
I think the remaining options should also be considered; it's only fair!
HP: hmm... the way this man keeps changing his appearance and his name... something is definitely suspicious!
Laxmi: hmm... always snooping around his room and his plants ... very fishy...!
Nani/Mami/Payal: All three were missing this morning on the pretext of someone's party! This early in the morning? Hmm...maybe they were arranging some people to catch Chotte!
Bubbly: she is a pro... better than Shyam! And no one would even suspect her...! Must keep my eyes on that kid!
Mama Ji: He's not been around for a long time... he usually does this. Wonder what he is up to..!
Akash: Ohhh he even got Arnav to sign some papers. Maybe he's after some property for his Payaliya!!
Shukla ji: Hmm... Just this morning the Annapoorna withdrew her hand from the business. Obviously ASR was behind this. Maybe it is Shukla ji... and the Dabba service gang!
Airport Officials: he cannot make up his mind about boarding the flight .. They had to check him every time.. So what if he is ASR - apne ghar ka hoga!
Air Hostesses: every time he walked in they thought, here he comes now, but each time he went to talk to some dimwit girl.. Now when he comes in this time.. Catch him girls, and don't let him go! Who wants a ransom, when you have ASR!
Khushi: Hands off everyone! I'm kidnapping him. Enough Shyam and Anjali nonsense! Me and MY ASR are off to Wales for our happily ever after! And to everyone else ... PFFFTTT!!
Real Estate
