Your storytelling is an art; the finesse with which you breath air into your characters, the virtuosity you use to create a sequence of different events from what we expect, the vibrancy of the mental images that result from the eloquence of the words written to draw us into it and the brilliance of the sounds that surround us as you present this masterpiece.
I love how you twisted the knife in me during this update...I am in pain, but even in my grief I can't help but, marvel at your artistry.
It all starts so brilliantly, I adore the pageantry of the whole evening: the clothes and the traditions, the greetings, the innocence and the warmth of Sid trying to do all the right greetings (being a great highlight), and handling oneself in accordance to it. It's s so amazing to witness all these, that I lost myself in celebrating all of it, enjoying how all our characters were contributing to making it as special as possible for Harshad and Avni.
Throughout all of it, you sense Arnav's frustration at feeling insecure and jealous. All those 4 times that he tries to shake this feeling off, I tried to get rid of a feeling of gloom that was squeezing my heart, hoping and praying that nothing would come out of it and they would finally have their much delayed intimate celebration. When they danced, I managed to breath more freely, but even that was peppered with sadness at her decision not to have a child and the yearning in his eyes. But when Kabir asked her to speak in private with him, I knew the doom was just moments away and when she saw Arnav, the dread and the darkness fell in. How could Balzac claim to read 8 lines with one glance, I could not read or comprehend even a line at that point!
I tried and even looked at the chronology, but I can't blame either of them for how they behaved:
Khushi did nothing wrong, even Arnav knows and acknowledges it during the update. She did what most of us would have done at a party: mingle, meet all the relatives and friends that you have not seen for a long time, greet everyone, make sure that your parents are having a good time. Don't we all do that? Stay close to our best friends to show our appreciation for what they are doing for our family and rejoice in our friendships. Get the party duties, requirements, and necessities out of the way in order to concentrate at the end with the family to talk about who came, what happened, gossip about clothes, hairstyles, behaviours, have a good laugh and say goodnight. Finally we throw our arms around our own husbands/boyfriends/lovers to go to our room, have our own private jokes and enjoy each other's company...
During all these times, she made sure to check on her husband and noticed his mood. She decides to talk to him later.
Arnav, is trying with all his might to lift his own mood, but as we all have experienced, when the gloom sets in, it's very difficult to get out of it. He understands what causes it, but events during the party sink him further into it. These events are all innocent (let's be honest, they are not the trigger, they are just another push towards the gloominess in his spirit caused by his and Khushi's deterioration of their marriage).
All that he is doing is doomed to failure when he witnesses Kabir's last sentence. Even though Kabir is joking about the statement he says to Khushi, its complications are far too real for Arnav and Khushi.
Two wrongs, don't make a right...
I am all for ripping bandages, but this wound is still bleeding, it doesn't need breathing yet. It has to be protected until it forms a scab as a barrier for the generation of the new tissue.
I didn't want this jealousy or misunderstanding track, because they have had time for almost all their family members, but no time for themselves. I know I joke about their lovemaking after each update, but the physical intimacy in a relationship/marriage is as important as the emotional side of it. We think with all our senses, not only with our brains. The memories of bare skin underneath fingertips, the echo of hearing sweet nothings whispered until you fall asleep, the recollection of being able to see enough of the love in each other's eyes, the impression of their closeness to smell each other's natural perfume, the souvenirs of their kisses.
They need the physical assurance of a night/ day to spend together to strengthen their commitment, regardless of having sex or not, they need to be by themselves, rather than interrupted at each corner. Since they left Chicago, they have never had a night where they went to bed together, either at Anjali's or Guptas' house. they need to laugh, reminisce, cry, even scream at each other, but in their own privacy and this has not happened. Arnav is missing this assurance as he tries to get rid of his insecurity, his yearning for a real smile from Khushi shows how bad they had missed their together time.
Never are relationships/marriages a partnership of 50/50. Sometimes you give 100% as the other partner is suffering and you need to be their support, other times the partner gives 100% when things are not going your way. These two have been giving the other 100% at the times when it was needed, but they got nothing in return, especially Arnav, when Khushi miscarriaged as he had to be her support. They both must have felt cheated in a way not to get that support back. These resentments then grew each day during the last year, by which point Arnav did not know when Khushi had joined the yoga classes or doing her own food shopping...they were like ships passing in the night.
I don't know what has hurt and angered Arnav more: that Kabir wants to marry Khushi, take her away from him, or his and Khushi's babies that look like Kabir. I think all three, but the babies one might be the straw that breaks the camel's back...
4 weeks ago he vowed to save their marriage, he tried and has made Khushi better, it's not a one day process, everyday they heal each other. Now it's her turn to show her commitment and fight for it.
It's so difficult reading each update without knowing what's happening in the next one. I am feeling so pessimistic..."it's always very easy to second guess after the fact, that's why hindsight is wonderful"
Edited by albmum14 - 9 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
10