What I LOVED: 31st October 2012

What I LOVED: 31^st October 2012

It was around this time last year that I started to see Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon --- and what a journey it's been.

It seems the show has gone through three distinct seasons since then:

>> IPKND: Season One:

Arnav attempts to leave his past behind and meets Khushi, and his life changes as he knows it.

The clash, the struggle, the hurt, the fight, the pain, the realization, the attraction, the falling in love --- to be separated

>> IPKKND: Season Two:

Arnav, on the brink of expressing his love for Khushi, lands in a major misunderstanding and ends up forcing her to marry him.

The clash, the struggle, the hurt, the fight, the pain, the realization, the attraction, the falling in love --- to be separated, but then united for good

>> IPKKND: Season Three:

Yet to figure out...

But there are the distant rumblings of a clash coming on the horizon. Look out love birds, trouble cometh! But then, it always brings unity for you.

The Match

This is the only thing I'd be writing about tonight.

Khushi

Khushi prepared for the match, after she heard Arnav and Sheetal talk about the sport they played in college. Khushi intended this game to be for Arnav and the boys, but it didn't work out like she wanted and planned it.

Her attempt was to make it up to Arnav, but she ended up feeling distanced from him. Even though Arnav did nothing in particular to distance Khushi, Khushi feels sidelined, and does so to herself.

While Arnav and Sheetal play:

>> Khushi first attempts to keep Akash from playing

>> Later, she just stands and watches the game in progress, gets bored, and even cleans her teeth. She is just being there, and doesn't notice anything. Till yet, it is just a game being played between friends and she's there in the team.

Khushi's game:

She really does not know how to play this game.

>> Initially, she attempts to play the game honestly. She kicks the ball - but that is because she doesn't know the rules - and is forgiven. When the ball is passes between players, Khushi actually hides away from the ball for the fear of getting hit.

>> As Khushi stands bored and watches the game, there isn't much she can do except stopping Akash from playing. She doesn't know the game and she isn't even trying to go for the ball.

>> Khushi first tricks Akash into leaving the court.

>> After Akash leaves, Khushi stands and waits for the ball to come to her instead of going after the ball.

>> Even as she attempts to play a game she doesn't know, she is distracted by how well Arnav and Sheetal play and the rapport they share.

>> Sheetal passes the ball to Khushi, after which she briefly plays against Arnav.

>> Khushi does score a basket --- or so she thinks. Actually, it is a foul.

Khushi ends up out of the court. She is feeling hurt but she smiles to her family and does not let it on that she was hurt.

Khushi's fouls:

>> Her first foul had been forgiven.

>> Her second trick goes unnoticed by most, except by Akash and Arnav.

>> Third time, she goes all out and she thinks she is doing the right thing, but Khushi ends up outside the court.

Khushi sees the match from the sidelines. She sees Arnav helping Aarav win.

Khushi sees Arnav celebrate Aarav's victory with Sheetal and all the Raizadas. Khushi walks off the court unnoticed, and remains aloof till Arnav calls her.

When he does call her, she turns up instantly.

Arnav

Arnav challenged Sheetal to a match where he used to win in the past.

Over the years, Sheetal has practiced a lot and has become better. Arnav did not know how Sheetal has upgraded her game over the years and is better enough to put up an equal score against Arnav.

Arnav could not have played this game against Khushi:

1. She doesn't know how to play. Arnav is in a light mood when he sees Khushi scoring a basket, and then dancing, he tells her lovingly to learn the game and then play.

2. He is too careful about not hurting Khushi in any way. When Sheetal throws the ball to Khushi, Arnav calls for her to watch it.

Arnav is simply playing the game and enjoying it.

He still seems to find Khushi cute on the court as she tried to play a game she doesn't know. He knows she's faking the fall and the hurt. He's notices that the moment Akash was off the field, Khushi was miraculously healed.

Arnav knows Khushi played foul but he knows that's because she doesn't really know the game. He understands she is being simply Khushi by trying to do something she cannot. He treats her with love, and does not get angry when she gets his team player out by trick. Arnav does not cheat in return.

Arnav finally beats Sheetal's team by helping Aarav score - against which Sheetal has no counter attack. For Aarav's second attempt, Arnav lifts Aarav on his shoulder and helps him score.

That was a mighty decent thing to do, Buddy!

Following the match, Arnav talks about it and even recollects the college memory. However as Nani ji points out that Aarav reminds her of Arnav's boyhood, he seems to remember Khushi's suspicion and remembers she is not around. He asks for her immediately.

Sheetal

Sheetal, though initially seemed uninterested, accepted Arnav's challenge.

Sheetal was fully in the game from the beginning. After Mami Jaan was told to go off the court, Sheetal declared that - I am enough for them.

This was a challenge thrown at Arnav. Sheetal then encourages Khushi to play, and Khushi is happy with that and willingly joins in. She throws the ball to Khushi, who plays against Arnav briefly before playing a foul and getting out.

Arnav did accept that Sheetal had become better as a player. She put up a score as much as Arnav's team.

Sheetal knows Khushi doesn't know how to play, but passes her the ball. The intention behind this move is unclear - Sheetal was focused on winning the game following Arnav's challenge and her open declaration. In such scenario, passing the ball to a non-player was a recipe for disaster.

Sheetal is rather happy that Aarav scored the final winning basket and doesn't even try to stop him. Suddenly winning the game is not the priority - that Aarav wins becomes the priority.

Aarav

The game began when Sheetal suggested it to Aarav. Khushi had also included Aarav in the boys' game (before Arnav challenges Sheetal).

Aarav's painting

Aarav had scored low for a painting that showed - a child with a lady, the mother, whose face was blackened by Aarav's own hand. The child in the painting longed as he saw a different man - not his father - carrying a child on his shoulders.

Aarav's Game

Aarav knows that his mother plays basketball very well, and that she's a champion, and she's never lost a match. From Arnav, we know this is not true. However, Aarav does not listen to anything and is adamant that his mom is a champion.

It seems it is for Aarav that Sheetal is in the game.

(Very nice!!)

Aarav attempts a basket and the first time he fails. However, Arnav catches the ball before it hits the ground and scores a basket. Arnav does this for Aarav than for the score, it seems.

The second time Aarav attempts to score, Arnav knows Aarav may not be able to score. He rushes forward and lifts Aarav up on his shoulders so that Aarav scores.

It reminded me of the painting Aarav had done - a different man, other than the father, had lifted up a child on his shoulders.

Aarav and Arnav share the special handshake after the match and Arnav hugs Aarav.

The High Point

After Khushi is out of the court, both Sheetal and Arnav seem to be focused on Aarav.

All of a sudden, all their competitive spirit is thrown aside. Sheetal cheers Aarav on, and Arnav lifts up Aarav high on his shoulder so that Aarav can score a basket.

However, this is not because Khushi is off court --- but that Sheetal has equaled Arnav's score.

For the final basket, she lets Aarav, and thereby Arnav, win. Interestingly, by helping Aarav win, Arnav actually helps Sheetal win - as her son has won. He understands how important it is for Aarav to score.

Aarav and Arnav worked as team - and as Arnav states - team work won.

Aarav made friends with Arnav and the Raizadas cheered. Sheetal was happy and proud of Aarav - a very Mom-thing to do.

NK announces that the losing team is happier than the winning team.

This, perhaps, is the BEST part of this track.

Conclusion

1. Khushi is playing a game she doesn't know well. She is ending up with one foul and trick after another.

She tried an honest approach, but didn't get much.

Khushi has tried tricking Arnav into telling her of the relationship with Sheetal by attempting to hypnotize him, but it failed.

She played foul by going after a DNA test report, and was found. She's already been forgiven for one foul.

2. Arnav is aware of the fouls Khushi is playing, but he plays by the rules even when she hurts his team by tricking Akash out of the game. Arnav does not cheat. In fact, he advises Khushi to first learn and then play.

All this while, despite her fouls, Arnav does not get angry with Khushi. Even when she fakes a hurt ankle, he knows but keeps quiet (though it was his brother and team member who was being told to go out). When she dances after an apparent basket, he laughs because he loves this about Khushi. His advice to her comes with love.

3. For the sake of being on the court to play, Khushi ends up in Sheetal's team - playing against Arnav. It looks like Khushi's idea - but basketball first came up when Sheetal suggested this to Aarav, and Arnav countered her claim to be a champion and never losing a match. Only when Arnav counters her, Sheetal accepts to Aarav that she did lose 'sometimes'.

Khushi arranged the match but Sheetal came advising Aarav about the game and gaining applauds from NK. This irked Arnav enough to challenge her to prove that he is telling the truth about Sheetal winning the game because Arnav let her win.

It looks like Khushi is being led by the nose, but at the same time, it looks as though Sheetal is in the game for Aarav only.

4. Khushi willingly plays with Sheetal and against Arnav. She causes a foul and is chucked off the court. Arnav doesn't really play against Khushi. He does take the ball from her, but lets her have it when she attempts.

However, by playing with Sheetal, Khushi got herself distanced from Arnav - off the court. From the sidelines, she sat and saw how Arnav, Aarav and Sheetal looked while playing the game and it hurts her. At this time, neither Arnav nor Sheetal have done anything to hurt Khushi. She is hurt because she feels she is not able to play while Arnav enjoys the game with Sheetal.

After the match, Khushi listens to Arnav telling everyone about his and Sheetal's team in college, and that they were called Awesome Twosome. Aarav states that he is in their team too and calls it Awesome Threesome. Khushi hears all this and understands how Aarav is beginning to see Arnav as a part of his team with his mom, Sheetal.

Later, when Khushi sees the photographs that Sheetal was seeing, it seems Khushi is upset that Sheetal was seeing her college pictures with Arnav. Her concern over here doesn't seem only envy. For a brief second, it seems, she feels sorry that Sheetal still isn't over Arnav, and probably loved him.

Earlier too, in Sheetal's room, Khushi has seen/read a diary that points to someone she loved.

If Khushi is feeling sorry for Aarav and Sheetal, the jaagruk naagrik might be waking up to an act of heroic patriotism! Please Khushi --- don't try to walk away quietly leaving Arnav to have an awesome threesome with ex-girlfriend and her kid.

Khushi --- don't! Absolutely not! What if whatever you're thinking isn't true!?

5. As of now, it seems that:

>> Khushi is pulling herself away - she isn't being pushed.

>> Sheetal is in the game only because of Aarav. It was Aarav who responded to Arnav's challenge - following which Sheetal accepted because Aarav asked her to.

>> Sheetal is playing a game she is an expert at. Sheetal has played with Arnav before and knows his game. She has improved her game over the years.

>> Aarav trusts Sheetal.

>> Arnav isn't aware of Sheetal's expertise till he's in one on one game with her, and Khushi has been out of the game. By then, Sheetal's score is equal to Arnav's.

6. Arnav scored 3 baskets. Sheetal leveled the score.

Hmm... didn't NK say something about revenge in the beginning of this track? The kidnappers capturing Arnav AND Khushi for revenge? Okay, this I hope is not it, and this is just my mind going crazy at 2:00 in the morning.

7. Aarav caused Arnav to win, just as much as Arnav caused Aarav to win.

Though it seems Sheetal has told Aarav a few lies (harmless or not, yet to be seen), Aarav was one person, against whom Sheetal did not play any game in the match. When it was Aarav's turn with the ball, she cheered him on, and when he scored, she celebrated declaring that she was proud of him.

That was a very natural Mom-thing to do!

8. Even though I liked the match and have put up all this review --- I wonder if this is a red herring. Well, not quite, but still quite.

Others

1. Mami Jaan got out just by being nice to Aarav.

2. It seems Nani Ji also cheers Sheetal on.

3. The hi-five between Arnav and Sheetal became an awkward moment, just as there was an awkward moment in the match too.

4. Okay when I asked for some Prakash to be thrown on the matter - I didn't mean a new Prakash landing in the kitchen. Who's the joker here??

5. Again, as yet, Sheetal still remains a mystery. It still isn't clear if at all she even has a motive or intention.

Precap

Halloween's here and is it time for old skeletons to peep out of cupboards?

Aarav is asking about his father and Sheetal is trying to shush him.

Arnav and Akash are looking on and Arnav is feeling rather bad for Aarav.

Khushi is feeling bad too but one is pretty sure that she isn't just going to feel bad. Usually, when she feels bad for someone, she goes out of her way to do something for them.

Darlin', stay put. Listen to your husband and don't mess in other people's business. Already you tried to put your foot in and have tripped thrice now - twice in school and once - by your own trick - on the court.

Arnav, Buddy --- use duct tape on her.

1st

wow girl u write alot 👏

Wow shalini its gr8 to write a What i loved after this episode...i felt bad for kushi and somewhere down the line i dont want her to treated like this by the writers...lets wait and watch how this unfolds...

Thanks for the update. Usually after an episode finishes I would have watched it at least three times by now. This week I am not in mood. I think am catching cold (sheetal). Better stay away from the cold. Would rather have happiness (Khushi) and when that is absent from the face of our Khushi what can we do but pray for a smile back on her face or better Khushiyaan (a child) which the family was suggesting. Arnav seemed quiet cheeky at the prospect of having a child of his own whereas Khushi was again scared as she was before on Janmashtami.

Shalini, I liked the episode today - probably the best one of the week so far. Loved your take and the way you've delineated the Arnav and Khushi love story into three phases where phase 3 is currently playing out.

I'm with you on Sheetal - she has an agenda that possibly involves either ASR or the Raizadas but is not necessarily there to intentionally cause anyone any harm. Khushi is drowning in her own deep seated insecurities and is busy hiding it from Arnav and even herself while looking at every little event from her own insecure perspective. Arnav is now without the tough outer shell especially with the family. Khushi has brought it down brick by brick and now we see the Arnav that should have been had his past either not happened or had he been able to put to rest the demons of his past on his own. There seems to be something almost care free about him now - in his interactions with Sheetal when reminiscing about the past, with Khushi when smiling at her antics and teasing her and with Aarav where he is almost like a boy in a man's body and talks his language. The little interaction where he explains to Aarav in words that Aarav can understand about why he shouldn't have the jalebis was fantastically done and so was Sheetal's grateful expression, Khushi's shattered one and Nani and Anjali's happily indulgent ones. If Khushi hadn't been so far gone in the grip of her own insecurities, she would have been happy to see how her Arnavji handles children like Anjali and Mami pointed out. I wouldn't be surprised if Arnav initiates a conversation with his wife about future children provided he doesn't realize that the old Khushi he knew has almost disappeared.

Sheetal seems to be emoting better. She categorically told Khushi today that she didn't want to talk about Aarav's father - she has left all those memories in the past and wants to move on. She seemed uncomfortable when circumstances made her seem to familiar with Arnav - not sure whether the discomfort was personal or whether it is because she knows that Khushi had tried to get a DNA match for Aarav and Arnav. The interesting thing to note is that when she clashed on the court with Arnav and had a moment of awareness, she turned around immediately and threw the ball to Khushi.

Khushi is sinking deeper into the quagmire everyday and even a normal interaction between Arnav with either Sheetal or Aarav or an innocuous comment by any of the Raizadas about Aarav seems to prick her very soul. The thing that struck me powerfully today is that Khushi has as much a mask on as the previous ASR. Just as she tore his off inch by inch, he will have to work on removing hers. The irony here is that Khushi seems as damaged as ASR and, probably more so, because he knew that he was damaged while she seems to not understand it and bury the insecurities and fears deep in her subconscious.

Hi Shalini,

SPLENDID!! FABULOUS!! I AM SPELLBOUND!!👏

How beautifully and logically you pulled all the pieces of this track (ever since it started) together!! I know we are not clear about the direction but you are putting the pieces of the puzzle together and decoding the hints, clues in the story - and you doing fantastic job!! 👏

IPK has always been about symbolisms ' they way the characters place, what they wear, what they say, the props used ' And you my dear are AN EXPERT in translating them.👏

I LOVED HOW FINELY YOU INTERPRETED AND LINKED THE WHOLE BB MATCH TO THE STORY!!👍🏼

HALLOWEEN

It's about wearing costumes (mask yourself) ' Sheetal and Aarav came with masks (we don't know who they are) and Khushi is wearing a mask of doubt ( she is not seeing the truth).🤔

It's about scaring people ' CVs have been scaring the fandom for past 2 weeks and we all are screaming at top of voice and begging them to STOP IT!!😡

It's about TRICK or TREAT ' CVs and creative are TRICKING fandom by not giving away too much of story, showing different angles and having us exactly where they want us. But I am sure after going thru theses TRICKS; FANDOM is in for WONDERFUL TREATS of ARNAV KHUSHI'S LOVE.

Assumptions are the termites of relationships. ~ Henry Winkler

My heart cried for Khushi today!! I cringed watching her sit all alone outside the BB court. It reminded me of the terrace / bridge incident, where she is left alone!! The difference being ' On that day Arnav left her and today she is leaving Arnav.

Khushi is making way too many assumptions and imagining endlessly and mindless things. Today we got to see the real Khushi ' The insecure, sensitive Khushi who masked her pain behind the OTT antics.

And to tell you the truth I can totally relate to Khushi's insecurities, pain and imaginations. Been there done that, rather still do that!! HOW?

Been a while since I shared something about hubby and a leaf from my life '

We are married for 11 years now, prior to that dated for 2 years. Now when he met me, I was going thru probably very low phases of my life, trying to figure out career, way forward in life etc. etc. This was the phase where I looked my worst!! And he was this happy go lucky dude, super intelligent with attractive looks. And me one moody damsel!! We have VERY VERY DISTINCT personalities. We used to work together. And he got lot of attention from girls at work and my girl friends too. A good looking friend of mine openly flirted with him but didn't he didn't pay any heed to her and she got so J that she said "why is this guy going out with you"? I used to feel insecure and uncomfortable but he would have this proud look on his face whenever he was with me, he always held my hand. Whenever in a group, he would look at me and smile to say I am there for you, with you. He saw things in me that I didn't see and gave me confidence and helped me move forward in life. He made me feel special each and every day!! For past 13 years he has been telling me "I am the most beautiful and cutest thing ever". He stood against his family and went thru series of interviews with my family to marry me. Now he knows me in and out and so well that he can literally tell the exact words and reactions I will have to a situation. He is so tuned to me that I get surprised when he does or bring things exactly what I have in my heart/mind. I can count number of times he raised his voice on me (that too because I pushed him too far) Most of the times he knows exactly what is bothering me. (Except we don't have gust of wind blows and we can feel each other's presence.😉)

Setting that as backdrop I want to draw two analogies here:

1. Despite all that he has done and still do, I feel insecure sometimes!! I am sometimes afraid that he might change!! I might lose this happiness I have!! (I was so silly sometimes that I thought what if he finds somebody who is better than me?). I feel like I have to impress him every day, and prove myself to him. Whenever he gets upset with me, I get scared that he might go away from me!!😭 It took lot a for him to understand about my insecurities and double the effort to help me overcome those.😃 But I still have some!! I remember couple of years into our marriage, a girl joined our office and became friends with us and she and hubby got along so well and me I was so insecure (I almost imagined them in a duet) When finally HUBBY realized what was killing me HE WAS IN SHOCK😲, THEN HE WAS ROFL🤣 and made a fool of me in front of my mom by sharing the story😡, but helped me get over it 🤗. ' HENCE I CAN RELATE TO KHUSHI!! I didn't do anything OTT but assumptions, imaginations, distancing YES I DID ALL THAT!!
2. Despite hubby being so understanding, caring and loving there are times when I am upset, I cry all night, feel bad and he has NO CLUE!! And it really shocks me, how can he not see that I am upset, when he understands without me saying even a word? How can he not understand? Because I sulk, and I don't want to tell him anything, because I think he doesn't love me anymore. Imagining things in my head that he doesn't care. And I discount EVERYTHING he did for my sake in this situation!! And eventually after few days he realizes that something is wrong, I would say no, after series of pleas finally I talk!! I never take initiative!! And he has to reinstate his love all over again ' HENCE I JUSTIFY ARNAV'S BEHAVIOR. So you may be BEST of the BEST husband in the world but you can still make very simple and silly mistakes!!

Okay now, everyone please stop sympathizing with my HUBBY!! I am not that bad, just a little bit🤪!!

ARNAV'S ACTIONS AND REACTIONS

Arnav is not ignoring Khushi, he probably is still upset with her. He focus and objective was to bring Khushi into his home and world where he can protect her and take care of her. And that's where exactly she is. Dadi is gone, Shyam is evicted, Anjali has whole heartedly accepted Khushi, everybody in the family loves and respects Khushi and she is family now. He gave her the position and haq that she deserves. So Arnav is relaxed now. Poor never got to relax since Payal Akash wedding, his marriage, contract marriage, kidnapping, manao-fing Khushi, fighting Dadi, marriage rituals, his past, Shyam's eviction. Uuuhhh' is there anything we can pile on this chap?

From Arnav's POV, Sheetal is not a threat to his family or Khushi. She is just a guest who will leave in 3-4 days. Sheetal hasn't done anything to make Arnav or anybody in RM think that she has other motives or her entry into their lives is not an accident.

The day Arnav gets every an iota of hint that Sheetal is a threat to Khushi or Sheetal is going to harm Khushi ' He will rise to become ASR and protect Khushi!!

Arnav gets very comfortable when Khushi is in front of him:

- Be it when she was in RM to train Lavanya

- Be it when she was in RM to help Lavanya with wedding arrangements

- Be it when she was in RM after forced marriage

- Be it when she was in RM after he came back from kidnapping

- Be it when she was back in RM, after he convinces her

- Be it now after re-marriage

Arnav has always reacted to "LOSING KHUSHI":

- When she was leaving for Lucknow forever ' It bothered him, secretly he wanted her back.

- When she left RM after Arnav got engaged to Lavanya ' It broke his heart, he became restless, he was afraid he will not be able to see her again.

- When she got engaged to Shyam ' It hurt him to no end, he didn't want to lose her.

- When Khushi tried committing suicide ' He lost his ground, he was shaken.

- When he was kidnapped ' He thought he will never see her again and confessed his love for her.

- After kidnapping, when Khushi left him ' His life went with her, he couldn't let her go.

- When Dadi tried everything to separate Khushi from Arnav ' He foiled her every move, he fought every battle to bring her back.

SHEETAL'S MATCH

Whatever sheetal is doing she is doing it with Khushi. She is playing it safe and very safe. And this makes me think that she has complete knowledge of Arnav's love for Khushi and Khushi's love for helping others. She knows exactly what buttons to push to get desired actions. (she has practiced her game). 😈

Sheetal wants to prove something and is using Khushi as the pawn!! So if tomorrow the truth comes out (not sure if it is to prove that, Arnav is Aarav's dad or to create rift between Arnav Khushi) it will be from Khushi that will help Sheetal achieve her goals. This might irk and hurt Arnav to no end and might upset the family too!! But Sheetal will still be safe and clean!!

PS:

- Sanaya, you are out of this world, I knew this track belongs to you and what an amazing job you doing. 👏If yesterday the forum was drowning in ASR bashing, today its drowning in tears for you. You were so good that FANDOM didn't pay attention to HOTWA HOT BODY!! THIS IS PRETTY BIG THING IF YOU KNOW US!!?

- Sorry Shalini, for another long post and THANK YOU for replying to our post!! It's really nice to read your points on our views. 🤗

Your WILs give me hope after each and every episode of this trak. I really don't have anything to add except today's episode was slightly better than the previous two because we're finally getting closer to the ME and seeing khushis pain...just hoping for the best.

Yesterday as usual ( though I tell myself not to do it) I read posts on the forum , and watched the episode later.