An episode of the most mixed proportions that had us Awwing and hiding our eyes behind our hands in alternate in between making bored faces at Dadi and Shyam. An entertaining episode nonetheless, progressing in the right sequence. Where the first part of the episode was all about the past, about Arshi's love story mingled with the ancient past of 14 years ago resurfacing, there was also a feeling of the present, the Vardhaman and the last sequence, a promise of the fun filled future episodes lined up. After a long time, there seemed an organization in the scheme of things that was refreshing.
On to the episode, it circled around one person and one person alone. I'd just finished reading "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown yesterday; all the talks of transformation and the Lost Word were spinning around in my mind when I sat to watch the episode and probably that is why I saw things the way I did. To me, it was like watching the transformation of Arnav Singh Raizada; about his search for that one word that had gone missing from his life; love.
"If the point of life is the same as the point of a story, the point of life is character transformation. If I got any comfort as I set out on my first story, it was that in nearly every story, the protagonist is transformed. He's a jerk at the beginning and nice at the end, or a coward at the beginning and brave at the end. If the character doesn't change, the story hasn't happened yet. And if story is derived from real life, if story is just condensed version of life then life itself may be designed to change us so that we evolve from one kind of person to another. "
? Donald Miller
How well was the change portrayed today? Right from the very first moment, right from the end of the dance where his and her family; their family joined hands to show them how they'd entertained them for the past year.
Sidetracking for a bit, this was a moment that made it clear; if Arnav and Khushi sacrificed their everything for the family, they wouldn't think twice before doing the same for these two. They know the trials and tribulations these two have gone through, they've seen, heard and felt the pain echoing in their hearts. Unable, unknowing of the cure, they had remained in the helpless state of one watching a flower wilt. Now, seeing the blossom regain its life and glow with warmth, they are the ones who rejoice the most. The Raizadas and the Guptas are, if possible, happier about this union of two people who deserve nothing but the best, nothing but each other.
Back to the episode, the way they highlighted the changes in ASR, the subtle and the glaring; made the episode watchable for me, over and over again. First with the subtleties…
"Hope this ends the line up of performances ridiculing us" utters he, in a vain hope that his family are done; he isn't comfortable with shor sharaba as it is and being mocked on stage over and over again and made to watch it with a smile on his face was probably the last thing to on his To Do With Khushi list. He endures it with good humor, though; he man who was once as impatient as to lash out when things didn't happen at the speed he needed it to happen at now looks on with an indulgent smile; because Khushi loves this.
"Stop this Khushi; only you can do this" was this the very same man who had left no chance to point out to the very same woman that she couldn't do everything by herself? When was the last time we saw Arnav acknowledging Khushi's efficiency? Trust is a benevolent thing; something that Arnav has learnt to place on Khushi's able shoulders with lots of toils but this request; the way it was made, casually, almost unconsciously, as if he expected her to walk up on her own and do it, showed how far the lad has actually come. If the conversation was aiming to portray a normal conversation happening every day between a couple, this line clinched it.
"Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place."
? Rumi
Dreams; dreams are what are filling his thoughts these days and when Khushi mentions the future; be it forty years or four hundred, the years don't count. He listens to her in rapt attention, living her vision with her, smiling at her description and specific request about their appearances. Had he thought of their life the same way? He eggs her on, the smile on his face turning from incredulous to wishful as her narration progresses and when it appears as if she's coming to the end of it, using his signature response as a closure, he asks, like a child, "Does the story end with the happily ever after?" Because he likes these dreams that she's projecting for him; he's starting to like thinking such things, dreaming up futures with her. As Anjali once said, "Ek din tumhe in sab baathon pe waqt barbaad karna achcha lagega"
He prods further, willing to listen to her wishes and reveries for a while longer but she wouldn't give in; she doesn't want just the dreams but to see them in reality because when in love, reality is way better than dreams. She wouldn't ell him more because real life, unlike what she'd stated before, "Asli duniya mein sirf dil toottha hai", hides within it happiness unbound, so much joy as even her dreamy countenance couldn't hold.
He holds her hand, struggling for words to say he understands, that he feels just the same. Khuhsi toh Khushi hai, she can read his heartbeat leave alone his gestures or eyes; she could hear it beating for her, and for that one brief moment, for her alone. She cherishes it, her contentment gushing out of her in words as she affirms in words what she knew by heart. She leans on his shoulder and watches the on goings, like one who takes refuge under the shade of a tree and watches the dreary, cruel world outside. Because in that moment, there was just him and her under the shade of love and affection.
He's pushed on, infront of everyone, to propose to her; did we expect a mushy speech? So not like the person who fumbles to express even the easiest emotion of relief, is it? He's changed sure, he's transformed a lot but the basic DNA still lingers, his struggling with words stays back. "Love can reduce anyone to anything," truly spoken; spoken to the one person who matters to him then. He doesn't even feel the presence of the family; neither does she shy away from accepting the overflowing love in his eyes; her own hazel orbs dripping down pearls of happiness he longs to collect and savor as the most precious treasure.
He dances for all he's worth; he needs to see that smile, that reassurance that he's all her heart is longing for, before the insecure Arnav in him braves to make the proposal. That smile, unhidden and unrestricted, bestowed upon him by the love of his life encourages him to speak out the words that he'd never have had the courage to utter; except may be in a rare fit of rage or hatred.
Pat comes the reply; she'd never let him growel like that. Her love, the ASR she fell for; she couldn't see him at a disadvantage for longer than a minute. She reassures him, comforts his raging insecurities as if she could see through to his very soul.
The thing that struck me here was the way he was holding her hand; asking for her hand as well as offering a promise; both at the same time. She, on the other hand, holds on to him by both the hands; she needs no promises of happily ever after from her Raj Kuamr any more. She needs him in her life, in front of her, like that night; every single day. That's all her eyes ask of him and he sighs; kisses her hand to seal the promise she'd asked; the only vow that she holds him out to. A forever and after…
Now, for the glaring changes…
Arnav dreams up dancing with Khushi? Or so it seemed to me because they zoomed in on his face right before the sequence. The dance was quite good; not too good not too bad but a change in the man who swore he never dances. He's been dancing around life forever; not letting himself get caught in the webs of emotions and attachments, skirting well around the edges of relationships. But now, what do we see? A man who is only too willing to let himself feel all those warm emotions he'd insulated himself from, thus far. He's ready to dance; if Khushi would be his partner, hamesha.
The other dance; a mere one minute gaelstorm that managed to uproot many hearts. I was oddly reminded of the sequence after Teri Meri; where Arnav says, "Tumhare ishaaron pe na sahi…" Then, he was dancing with her, helping her out, but in his own way. He was still ASR; he was merely bestowing his affections upon her through a dance. Now, the dance if for her, all about making her smile, gaining her approval. ASR loses context in the dance and then emerges Khushi's LG who'd do things unimaginable to ASR; things he'd have previously considered atrocious and pushed aside without a second thought… because the me that he had been holding on to, the "Main Arnav Singh Raizada hoon" dissolves before the power of their love. Isn't this a transformation of the most wonderful kind?
Other points…
- The Haar… loop closure from the farak padtha track?
- Shyam-Dadi: We're getting closer to the unveiling of Shyam is what I felt. If not more on Dadi's plans, we're atleast getting more of Shyam's background, thankfully
- Anjali introduced Shyam to a woman who needed legal advice… could this be from the past when probably Garima needed legal help? I'm sure Reduxians would do a wonderful job of it
- Aw, I was half expecting the jooise to topple and fall on the letter; we know with RM and jooises, right?
- Shaadi, Shaadi, Shaadi; seems to be the only word Arnav seem to be capable of uttering these days!
- "Sawal poochthe nahi; jawab dete hain" means Arnav will judge before acting initially?
- No matter how many time this man does it, him taking Khushi's affection and love for him for granted, talking about it like it was a fact, a given; never fails to amaze me! "That's because I know you want to marry me," Loved the way he said it!
- NK, NK, NK… what do I even begin to say about him? And with Akash and Arnav combined, that scene was a riot to watch! Best bromance I've seen on TV in recent times and the most naturally done, too…
Before I end this post…
"I had seen these transformations, people who had lost their will to live, coming back from their zombie states and radiating a new life force from their eyes."
? Anthony Kiedis,
Arnav's like this right now; he's managed to crawl out of the shell he'd cocooned himself in; like a newborn. He looks around with a smile, observing everything around him with the eyes given to him by love; his world shines a little brighter with Khushi at its centre. For once, he isn't the reigns, letting things progress as they will, relaxing, loosening up. NK wants a bachelor party and Khushi wants him to enjoy? So he will.
Let's see what new revelations the Bachelor party brings; with Arnav in his home turf and Khushi being the one with a disadvantage…
Till the next time I try to fry your brains!
Edited by Nina90 - 12 years ago
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
