Arnav and Khushi sit on a bench in Arnav's late mother's garden.. looking at the roses and the lush greenery. Khushi's eyes well up as she thinks about what Arnav just said' Arnav's eyes already moist, swollen, his heart heavy.. he gets up to leave. Khushi stands up to.. her eyes filled to the brim.. she looks at Arnav with tearful eyes as he turns around and asks her, "What happened?" Khushi's keeps looking at him, tears ready to roll down her face.. Arnav reaches for her face with an intention to wipe off her tears.. but Khushi holds his hand and shakes her head. Puzzled Arnav looks at her. Khushi's tears roll down as she says, "Promise me, Arnav ji, that we will definitely come here after the wedding' to seek blessings from Mumma." Arnav's eyes well up again. He nods in affirmative as his throat chokes with emotions. Arnav takes a step forward and reaches for Khushi,.. Khushi steps forward and hugs Arnav. His heart finds solace in Khushi's embrace as she hugs him tight.. close to her heart.. Tears roll down both their faces.
Garima looks at Dadi. As she stands with her back to Garima.. Dadi's eyes and face full with disgust.. Garima rushes, "no.. no. don't do this, please." She pleads to Dadi as she gets on her knees and tugs Dadi's hand. Dadi frees her hand from Garima's grip with such a force that her eyes go wide with fear.. Garima puts her hands together and pleads as she gets up, 'Don't do this!.. Khushi is not at fault! Believe me, I did not know that he was a married man. I have always found myself at fault for falling in love with him. I regret what has happened to this family.. I have regretted the loss of Arnav and Anjali's parents every moment of my life." Dadi turns around and asks angrily, "If you had such regret then how come you did not come and apologize? .. You avoided coming face to face with me until today.. you have been running from me away from me.. that's because,.. you know that you are guilty!" Garima tries, "Believe me! I tried to talk with you many times'" "Lie!.." Yells Dadi, "You are full of lies and deception! I will not allow Khushi to ruin Arnav's life the way ruined my son's life! I will tell Arnav your reality! I will tell Arnav that you were responsible for his mother's death! This wedding will not take place!..." Garima pleads, "Don't.. Don't.." Dadi heads to the stairs looking for Arnav, "Arnav''. Arnav'..!" Shyam watches all of this hidden behind the window and rejoices. Garima mutters to herself as her tears trickle down, "Khushi won't be able to live without Arnav.. no, Khushi won't be able to.. "
Everyone gathered in NK's room.. NK and Aakash try to explain the rules of Dumb Charades to Mami. Mami says enthusiastically that she understood' she makes sure that she knows the signs for Hindi and English and decides to give it a shot. Puts her thumb up, everyone guesses "Hindi". Mami then goes all enthusiastic, "It's a Shah Rukh Khan movie, Bazigar'!" Buaji exclaims, "There it goes down the drain! She revealed it first!" Nk says frustrated, "Masi ji, you are too much! You have to enact it with signs, not say using words!" Aakash goes, "Ma, you.. !" Everyone laughs at Mami. There comes dadi with her harsh question, "Where is Arnav?" Aakash says, "Bhai's out with Khushi!" "Where?" She asks with disgust. Aakash says, "Don't know!" Nani gets worried watching Dadi's attitude, 'What happened to Sumi?" I remember that Arnav mentioned to Khushi that he did not want anyone to know that they were going out and that's why he took the back door!
Garima rolls Shashi's chair out in the hallway, thinks to herself, "I must tell Khushi all about it before Dadi tells Arnav. She needs to know the truth. She is not even aware of the storm that's about to hit her because of me!" Worried she closes her eyes, waits restlessly. Shashi looks at her, can sense that Garima is very upset. He makes efforts to reach her hand to comfort her. Garima recognizes the question in his eyes, says, "Nothing! I am just tired." Shashi does not buy it but, he has no choice. Garima grabs her phone, calls Khushi. Unfortunately for her, Khushi and Arnav left without their phones. Khushi's phone rings in Arnav's room with no one to answer the call around. Nani's comforting hand on her shoulder startles Garima, "What happened, Garima ji? Are you alright?" Nani can see that Garima is very worried. Garima, however, says, "Yes! I was just calling Khushi!" "You rest for a while. Khushi and Chhotey must be on their way back." Nani suggests. "yes, Thank You! We are fine!" Nani thinks to herself, "Subhadra is upset there.. here Garima ji seems worried. Did something happen between these two?" She notices that Garima tries to repeat the call to Khushi. Shyam hides behind the pillar as he watches Garima struggle. Smiles in an evil way, "No matter where Saale Sahaab and Khushi ji have gone, they have to come back here only! When I have waited this long for the big explosion, a little bit more is nothing!"
Dadi paces in her room with anger building up. Then she sits down at the foot of the bed. Thinks in her wicked mind. Mami, Buaji, NK, Akash and Payal come downstairs. Mami mutters, "You will never understand!" Payal says to her parents, "Arey, Amma-Babuji, why are you sitting here alone?" Nani manages to control the situation as she says with a smile, "Payal, I asked Garima ji to allow Shashi ji to rest for a while." NK says, 'Aright, you may rest! But.. how come Nannav and Khushi ji have not returned yet? Where are they?" Everyone gets worried. Upstairs Dadi fumes with anger unable to rest easy, she starts strolling again.
Just then enter Khushi and Arnav, hand in hand, eyes on each other.. oblivious to the family's presence. Khushi blushes at every gaze of Arnav's. Garima looks at Khushi eagerly but worried sick. NK waves his hand, "Hello!" breaks the bubble around Aranva dn Khushi. They look up, NK says, " Nannav, mere Bhai.. my bro. you cannot go around with Khushi ji, hand in hand. All alone.. not allowed!" Everyone smiles mischievously. Khushi answers, "Nanhe ji, we did not break any ritual!" then looks at Arnav and says, "In fact, we have followed one! We just we went to see someone important regarding this wedding." Once again, I thought that was supposed to be Arnav and Khushi's secret!
Dadi keeps fuming in her room waiting for Arnav's arrival. Shyam grabs the opportunity. Walks in and says, "Dadi ji! Were you not looking for Saale Sahaab? He has arrived.. with Khushi ji!" Dani thanks her with her gaze and nods him away. Shyam leaves and Dadi collects her thoughts. Shyam rejoices in anticipation.
NK exclaims, "So, Nannav, you could not wait a little! You are "bekhabar"..ignorant..!" Aakash corrects him, "NK Bhai, .. "Besabra..".. impatient.." Nk corrects himself brings a smile to Arnav and Khushi's face. Garima becomes restless. Trying to hide her worries, she takes calculated steps towards Khushi. Arnav's eyes do not miss the restlessness, the worry on her face as she approaches Khushi and says, "Where were you, Khushi? I have been trying to call you for a while now!" Khushi apologizes and tells her that she left her phone behind in Arnav's room. Khushi and Arnav still stand hand in hand. Garima grabs Khushi's arm and pulls her aside, worried sick as Arnav's curious gaze follows them. Once aside, Garima says, 'Khushi, I need to talk with you regarding something important." Khushi asks, concerned, "What's the matter, Amma?" Hesitant, Garima starts, ".. It's just that.. " Stop!" comes Dadi's order floating over the breeze. All eyes turn towards Dadi.. as she stands at the bottom of the stairs, her face full of disgust! Arnav looks at her in anticipation of something new and mean. Khushi gets worried and scared. Garima looks at her scared.. very scared. Her heart sinks as Dadi starts walking towards them. Shyam gets all ready to watch the big explosion as Dadi nears Khushi. Garima looks at Khushi and swallows hard.
Khushi looks at Dadi with millions of worries in her eyes. Dadi literally grabs and snatches Khushi's hand out of Garima's grip. Shyam smiles in an evil way.. Arnav's rage mounts, he asks, "Dadi,.. but.. what's wrong?" he asks as he takes some steps forward. All the family members become tense and worried as they watch Dadi apprehensively. Dadi says in harsh, mechanical tone, "There is not much time left before you become the wife of my grandson following all the rituals!.. I want to say something before that!" Every eye in the room focuses on Garima without blinking. Al get worried as Dadi reaches for the pouch hanging by her waist, "Khushi.. " and then without a word Dadi slides in a beautiful bangle.. Kangan over Khushi's wrist. Everyone around the room is shell shocked! Arnav finds it puzzling. Shyam is totally taken by surprise! Garima wonders what's happening as her eyes well up and her face depicts more worry as Dadi says to Khushi, "Welcome to the family!" As Garima stands stunned and puzzled, smile breaks on all the faces around except Shyam. Khushi cannot believe her ears and eyes.. she looks at Arnav.. Arnav looks at her as her eyes say, "It's scary.. how can this happen?" His eyes smile and say, "But.. it's true'" that brings a smile of relief to Khushi's face.. Shyam stands raged as Dadi continues, "These are our familial Kangan.. bracelets. It's the custom in this family to pass it off to the next generation. Now that you are going to be the daughter-in-law of this house.. it's your right to have them!" Garima goes crazy, worried sick thinking what's going on in Dadi's mind. "Don't remove them until the wedding is done!" Dadi instructs Khushi. Khushi tries to bring a smile to her lips and nods.. then she bows down to sek Dadi's blessings.. to her surprise, Dadi blesses her, "be happy!" and actually gives her a slight smile. And then looks at Arnav from the corner of her eye before taking off. Arnav's face relieved. Shyam gets all worked up as he does not understand what made Dadi change her mind so drastically. Payal rushes to congratulate Khushi. NK exclaims excitedly, "Wow! It almost seems like a dream" Mami remarks, "Hello Hi Bye Bye! This is a miracle!" Payal admires the Kangan on Khushi's wrists. Garima stands shell-shocked' worried.. unable to fathom what just happened. Arnav's face has a smile of relief. Shyam's anger drives him crazy. Anjali rushes over to Shyam as he fumes, grabs his arm and says with her a broad smile, "I can't even tell you how happy I am with what Dadi just did!. Now I believe that this will be a perfect wedding!"
Dadi comes to Devi Maiyya' prays. Garima follows her there.. tears trickle down her face as she looks at Dadi with grateful eyes. She also puts her hands together and prays to Devi Maiyya. Angered Shyam spies on them as they talk. Garima says, "You are really big hearted. You did not punish my girls for my huge mistake. Dadi responds in somewhat firm tone lacking emotions, "I don't want the history to repeat! I want the happiness to stay intact in this house. I cannot break this marital alliance due to someone like you!" next words that come out of Dadi's mouth give a big blow to Shyam, "I cannot see the liveliness in my house wither away!" Garima says, "You have saved my daughter's life! She can't live without Arnav!" Dadi says in a cunning soft voice, 'I know!" Garima asks, "Have you forgiven me?" Dadi sidelines the question, "Go! Your family is waiting for you!" puts her hands together to pray briefly to Devi Maiyya and takes off. Shyam watches hidden behind the wall as Garima prays to Devi Maiyya, then takes off. "Hey Devi Maiyya, Thank You for saving my daughter from this calamity.. form the heart break.!" Buaji calls for Garima affectionately, "Garima, where are you? Come fast! Don't you want to go home?" Garima walks over. NK remarks, "Oh, right! Right! ... otherwise the water supply will be turned off!" brings a smile to Khushi and Buaji's face. Mami instructs, 'hello Hi Bye Bye! You guys need to come early tomorrow.. because.. we have big plans for the Sangeet!. You might faint once you see!" Nk and Mami communicate with their eyes." Buaji answers in a lively manner, "Yes, Nand Kisore.. now that you insist, we will have to!. And then we will see what you have in store for us! Be ready!" NK and Mami high five.
As they get ready to leave, Arnav's heart starts to worry.. he looks at Khushi' He watches that Khushi is restless. So, says Arnav with a light smile almost in a whisper, "Bye!" Khushi looks at him with suppressed fear in her eyes as uneasiness reflects on her face through her strained smile. She nods.. keeps nervously rolling her hands.. Arnav asks worried, "What happened?" Khushi finally voices her concern, "Arnav ji, I am very scared!" "Why?" "Dadi ji gave me these Kangan. .. Gave her blessings too!" Arnav says, "So.. ? It's a good thing, right?" With a restless heart, Khushi takes a step forward and hold Arnav close to her.. as she rests her chin on his shoulder she says in a hollow voice, "I am happy.. very happy! .. How happy.. I can't even tell you!.. Dadi ji gave me kangan. Blessings too. .. and I met with your Mumma too!.. So much happiness in one day!" Initially worried. Concerned Arnav now smiles.. as Khushi says, "That's why I am scared!" Khushi pulls away as she hears Buaji call, "Hey, Khushi, don't you want to go?" Arnav says with a smile, "She is right.. You are 'sanaki'.. really mad!" Khushi restlessly looks around. Arnav's voice becomes heavy as he says, "Shall I say something? Even I am very happy!" Khushi says worried, "That's why I am so scared!.. " then she looks Arnav in the eye and says with a flat face, ".. look at the Laad Goevrnor smiling!" and mischievously smiles ,.. turns around and runs away, screaming, "Coming, Buaji!" Her mischievous remark and playfulness brings a happy smile on Arnav's face.. as his eyes follow the direction she went in.
I Loved Loved Loved it! The hollowness in their voices.. the worry in their empty gazes. The fearful heart reflected in those eyes.. the nervousness.. the tension. Even when both of them say that they are very happy, there is this hollowness in their statements that one can feel. Amazing! Beautifully portrayal!
CID
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
57