An episode that wasn't too moving; not an emotional roller coaster though a few seconds there were when I felt my throat constrict with joy and sorrow in alternate. The episode was about Khushi and Anjali today for me; it highlighted how the balance is tipping from one side of the scale to the other.
The Desolate Vs. The Determined
Today brought into limelight the changing tides in the lives of two women; both orphaned, both out seeking for love; both shedding sunshine and happiness around them.
One, today, is the apple of her family's eye; people trust her, believe in what she says, bend backwards to bring a smile to her face; even her husband, infamous for his stone heart and uncaring attitude, makes not one, not two, but numerous tries to make her feel the joy she richly deserves.
On the other side, is the other girl that the family cherishes as one would a priceless diamond; but they choose to protect her, to smother her with what's right for her rather than listen to her yearnings; and isolate her from the world. The two people as essential to her as air are gone. She's lost at sea in her own mind, with neither the shore nor the lighthouse at sight.
Both built fantasies, castles in the air; both are devoted to the almighty and both would give their lives for the ones they love; both try to spread happiness in their own way. But the similarities end here.
When Khushi and Anjali first met, it seemed that Anjali would become Khushi's patron, her guiding light. And things did progress that way, with Anjali pushing Khushi towards Lavanya, bringing her inside RM, where her destiny laid waiting. Whenever things went kaput in her world, Khushi managed to lean on Anjali who never shied away from giving her a shoulder to cry on. The one who never stopped short of giving her insights into her beloved Chote's mind and heart; who made Khushi realize that may be hate wasn't all she felt for him.
But, the most notable is that whenever the biggest storms in her life have struck, Khushi has not or rather, has been unable to count on Anjali because the people who caused them are the very woman's dearest ones. She'd weathered it alone, saving even her closest family from the worst of the impact.
Somewhere along the line, the roles reversed and Anjali became the one looking for Khushi; she became rather dependent, or rather accustomed to the presence of the chirpy girl, something Anjali had tried, and failed to become. Anjali had forever tried to preserve Khushi's innocence, her dreams of a perfect life, while the men she considered the most important to her were all set to disillusion Khushi of her fairy tale world.
There has always been a marked distinction shown in both the characterizations that whenever trouble comes knocking, Anjali prefers to turn a blind eye to it; when the issue becomes unavoidable, she turns bitter, in turn infusing her somberness into people around her. She feels justified when people around her are grave because of her because she, Anjali, deserves the attention.
Khushi, on the other hand, is a born fighter; at the sight of trouble she lifts her swords and spears and jumps into the battle, never shirking. This, though has sometimes landed her in pickles, has made her stronger each time and has made her sure of hr ideals and principles.
Whereas Khushi cares about people's happiness even when she's in sorrow, Anjali is concerned about others only so long as her own dose of affection and attention is being received. Whereas Khushi has won each test Devi Maiyya placed before her, Anjali has chosen to hide behind the pillars of people she has erected around herself to avoid them.
That, is why when it appears that the wall of family around her seems to be collapsing, it strikes her harder than most. Khushi was verbally orphaned and still, she never blamed her family, only putting it on her own unwarranted actions and the monster who was the cause for it whereas Anjali, who is still being cosseted, believes that she is isolated, that she has lost every person in her life, at the mere sight of one of her family showing more attention to someone other than her.
It happened to be Khushi, but it would have been the same if, in her extremely vulnerable state, she had seen Arnav do this for anyone; anybody other than her.
In her mind, she's losing to Khushi; losing to her in the way that most hurts her and she fears for her future. I'm not much good with linking mythology, but Anjali's mindset to me now is akin to Kaikeyi's after she had heard Mantara's evil opinions.
Phatta Bag Vs. Tamatar Ka Dhag
The Guptas and the Raizadas; two families who are from the same hometown; yet time and experience has shaped them quite differently.
The Guptas are the Dil; the ones who base their lives on the sturdy bonds within the family. When a member is threatened they put up a storm to protect them. They may not be able to live in mansions or afford to give gifts worth millions but the love they shower on you is such that even Arnav Singh Raizada, self proclaimed ruthless Rakshas, craves for his share of it and does things hereto unimaginable for them.
The Raizadas, or the Dimag or rather, the Society. They are highly respected, revered even; for their status, the money and the sheer power they wield as the family of the man who owns the country's one of the most famous fashion houses. So steeped are they in their own mirages that their actions have been spelled out by the approval of the very people who admire them. So used are they to impressing people that the thought of not being up to the mark in their eyes, has become unthinkable; almost a sin.
In their fight to remain at the top of the societal hierarchy, they have lost sight of the bases; the fundamentals that form and bind a family. The relations have become so tender, so fragile that when tragedy strikes, they flounder to keep the ship together. The frivolous wrappers aside, the Raizadas come out as a weak lot; ones who can't team up as a single unit to fight the crisis. Each of them prefer to be alone, to escape to the confines of solitude where they don't have to face each other knowing they have failed.
Where with the Guptas we have seen that even when a relation is broken or tensed, it is easily mended because no matter what, family is family to them. Like the bag that Khushi had, they are simple yet sturdy and no matter how many tears, they can always be stitched together at the end of the day. With the Raizadas, though; it becomes not a tear to be mended, but a stain that can never be removed. A bridge that has been burned and can't be rebuilt without the help of atleast one of the Raizadas themselves.
Khushi managed it with Anjali's help; no doubt Shyam will too. Who will he manipulate, though?
Best Laid Plans Vs.Historic Flops
And here we come to the meticulous plans made by one Mr.Raizada and how they managed to simply bounce off one Mrs. KKGSR.
Plan 1 – The Do Laak Bag
Arnav, true to his nature, gave her what she needed at the hour, a practical gift. So what went wrong? It was the lack of personal touch, as Khushi pointed out; the apnapan that she feels needs to emanate from any gift or greeting. Lesson learnt; personalize.
Plan 2 – Aarti
Recollecting from his mistake, Arnav tries to give Khushi the apnapan she asked for; the acceptance from his family which is as dear to her as her own family's is. So what went wrong? Its not the family's acceptance and affection she wants but his. Lesson learnt; do something yourself.
Plan 3 – Bouquet
A flawless plan in fact; Khushi would have been delighted. It was the perfect mix of keeping in mind her preferences and a personalised touch; the perfect cheesy concoction that Arnav despises and Khushi adores. So what went wrong? It was all about keeping the coast clear, especially clear of Ex-Cupid sisters turned deluded Di's. Lesson learnt; a gift could be best appreciated in privacy.
Plan 4 – The Cake
On the bright side, he atleast managed to write it down if not say it and thankfully, kept it short. If he had taken up writing her entire name on the cake… So what went wrong? When going for a dramatic plan, never down play it. Khushi was already frustrated enough; she prefers frills but her roots are steeped in simplicity. Listen to her words; 'Ya sajwat nahi chahiye' and 'Bas ek mubarak'; she has moved away from her parents, for you, expecting nothing more than a welcome from you; a welcome into your heart and the words that give her the apnapan that she longs for. You made a wonderful attempt, you respected all her so called superstitious beliefs in making wishes over cakes, but spoiled it with not expressing the honest emotions that were behind the actions making it seem those of a man who does things and demands people to like it. Lesson learnt; never give any sharp things to your wife, especially not when she has already come at you with it once before. Decide; what is your problem, that the candles keeping blowing out or that Khushi wouldn't cut the cake.
Arshi scene
I'm sure the scene has been dissected to the atom, so I'm not going to go much in detail except for a few things.
Action Vs. Expression at play once again though this time, both are aware of what the other is doing or rather trying to do. Khushi's almost like she's telling him what to do; its not annoyance or irritation anymore but exasperation at seeing his attempts fail. Deja Vu to the time when Khushi was trying to teach Arnav about feelings and Arnav wanted to do it his way.
Another stark contrast was the way she understands Arnav's actions; that of putting a loved ones happiness above his own; they share a common need to give and that is what binds them during the most crucial of times. I wonder if Khushi would have talked about stars and her connection to them with Anjali; I wonder further if Anjali would have understood it as anything more than one of Khushi's superstitions.
A few more pointers on Anjali before I finish with this already too long post:
If nothing else, the thought of losing Arnav will rouse Anjali out of her stupor/depression and it seems to already have started.
Her worst fears, of Arnav moving on in his life without her support and backing is becoming real; that Khushi is slowly becoming Arnav's support has started tearing at her as well as her first attempt at normality, i.e., fussing over her kid brother, has been met with a slap of reality to her face, that she isn't now the most needed in his life.
It remains to be seen how Anjali will react to this revelation.
I normally don't like to predict because I always see the bleaker side of the canvas but the foreboding feeling that Anjali is once again going to witness Arnav's belated 'Happy Birthday' lingers.
Tid Bits:
- Khushi's dialogue, 'Bahar sookhna chahiye' reminded me of washing dirty linens in public; an indication of the Social Stigma to come?
- Khushi-Payal – Sisters imperfect tandem with each other; these two are another delight to watch simply because they communicate without words though they use them in abundance. Payal knew exactly what Khushi would love and Khushi knew that her sister knows her preferences and would forever pay heed to them. The scene was the most natural one in a long time between them.
- Khushi-NK – What amazed me was that Khushi needs no promises, no words from NK to know that he'll support her for life, but with Arnav, she expects a page long essay? Is it the mistrust still leftover or the insecurity of first love? On a lighter note, if what NK had got Khushi was a bangle/bracelet(looked like it to me), hope he got the size right this time!
- Where did Nani and Mami go? Last night Mami was right by Anjali to help her with the milk but now the woman is carrying a tray that is far heavier than a simple glass of milk; heads straight for enemy territory and nobody stops her?
- I breathed a sigh of relief only after the Payal-Khushi scene was over and the infamous pick shirt didn't make an appearance. I almost expected Akash to come right behind Payal to scold her and guilt trip her!
- This is the last one, promise; if Arnav designed the house, all I have to say is, 'You reap what you sow'. Do you even know something called a lock exists?
My first ever attempt at trying to analyse the episode; I have to thank all the Reduxians who were the inspirations behind me braving to write this. Thanks so much for putting up with the post even though it made no sense. I know it might have been incoherent and a little shallow; I can only hope to improve with time and aspire to post something I can be confident about.
Edited by Nina90 - 13 years ago
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