Originally posted by: sanfan
This is an interesting perspective and as a person who has keenly observed Aniโs character traitsโฆ. .i feel compelled to respond to this post.
Before responding to your specific points, I wish to detour a bit; so please bear with meโฆ
When a relationship breaks down, itโs said that only the two involved can actually say what went wrongโฆ but here we are privy to whatโs happening so we can pass judgment or be fence sitters etc That said, as viewers we may have different ways in which they we see thisโฆ
Broadly, the theme being explored in this context by Leena appears to be incompatibility..This has been clear in the narrative for a long time but since Leena has less manoeuvrability to do this within the itv structure she has thrown the curveball of โseparationโ when there hasnโt even been a real wedding between Arshi and Ani but take this as an euphemism and proceed ahead. It is a recognition of the fact that irrespective of whatever you call the relationship, the fact they were committed to each other in the past and are staled to move onโฆ so what do they do? How do they reconcile the past especially since there is a new budding relationship at stake?
Generally, two people with extremely different temperaments , vastly different disposition often make a go of relationships but usually one trait that helps these relationships along the way is general level of tolerance for differences in the other. I donโt see that in the Ani Arshi relationship. Itโs never necessary for two individuals in a relationship to agree on every aspect.. but usually in a healthy relationship, the partner makes his/her displeasure known and the partners together negotiate the tricky situation. Either one accepts the otherโs perspective or they both agree to disagree and negotiate the tough time. Failing both, differences continue to persist and deepens.
Aniโs sensitivity towards certain matters was a known thread in this narrative. Right from the first of the Kashmir episodes, Aniโs empathy for the underdog was evident and while he may not have initiated the rebellion of sorts by Jhanak ( orchestrated by Arshi) but he went with the spirit and later the events spiralled out of control.
the decisions he took at that point, he was acting on instinct and his sense of righteousness; to have a partner with whom he could have bounced off would have been great but situationally the chance was missedโฆ from then on he was basically playing catch up or to put it bluntly was looking to balance matters.In fact, he was strongly of the opinion that Arshi would support him even if no one understood him. That mirage shattered soon enough ( probably around the time Jhanak tries to go back to Kashmir ( with Tejas the first time) and from then onโฆ. he kept finding ways in which he could just do things for Jhanak trying to keep it from Arshi so that there is peace. In this narrative, Aniโs attempts to convince Arshi were there and Arshi appeared to have bought it too at certain points but the relentless pressure from her mom played havoc in their relationship and her own self doubt made it futile at other times. They never showed the two sitting down and discussing the matter of Jhanak except as a way to obfuscate on Aniโs end and threatening on Arshiโs end. By this I mean, Ani wasnโt entirely honest with Arshi and Arshi was refusing to treat this as an issue close to Aniโs heart. Thus they never tried to find a solution that keeps both parties happy.. Aniโs trait of finding path of least resistance also played a part in thisโฆThe battle of ends vs means while facing a battalion who refused to do even the bare minimum in terms of humanity. On the other hand, Arshi treated this as an ego battle largely and she was shown confused, overbearing, threatening in turnsโฆ Who bears more responsibility is something we can have different perspectives on and this is akin to a lot of he said she said etc. Viewers at this stage can take sides on who precipitated the downfall in the relationship etc but the deathknell for the relationship had begun.
At Aniโs end, the more he tried to keep things quietโฆthe more it got messier and it perhaps didnโt help that Ani was forming a deep association with Jhanak as this happened. His intention to help Jhanak was also getting enmeshed with his heartโs desire deeper and deeper. There is a dialogue between Ani and Jhanak during the Rahul fiasco where Jhanak asks him duniya main kitne log takleef main toh kya sabki madad karenge? Ani simply responds โ Unme se koi Jhanak nahinโ Yet, in all this saga, Ani kept trying to reconcile with Arshi too whether by choice or by compulsion.
Coming to Arshi, โฆ The narrative presents to us( me) an Arshi who is like any other person, who is quite proud of her accomplishments, gentle to begin with but clearly with a sense of superiority. Jhanak was a project for her fleetingly. When she took the mantle to help Jhanak, it was largely pity that motivated her.. well nothing wrong in thatโฆ a lot of people respond to people in need out of that but such empathy is generally skin deep. Arshi deeply misunderstood Aniโs sense of empathy. Ani never responded to Jhanak out of pity. It was with a deep sense of empathy for her circumstances. It was in this crucial phase where the two partners were deeply divided.
From then on, Arshi started calling the shots on how this help for Jhanak must be directed without realising that for Ani the association was personal. Ani should take responsibility for not conveying his emotions to Arshi honestly and maybe they would have either parted amicably then or fought and resolvedโฆ it one way or the other. Aniโs trait of keeping things bottled up definitely led to the crisis but it wasnโt done with the intention to deceive Arshi to begin with. The deception began much later from Ani but by then Arshi was playing a game of her own. thereโs a dialogue from Arshi at some stage where she is questioning Ani with a knowing look but acting as if the answer doesnโt bother her. The stakes had got bigger for her and her ego couldnโt settle for losing to a lowly person. These two just werenโt honest to each other in different ways.
Apportioning of blame is an easy matterโฆ itโs the introspection that is difficult. Itโs in this place that Leena I think tries to balance the perspectives. Thereโs a sense of fait accompli in the Ani Arshi relationship where both do not make a genuine attempt to resolve cos perhaps they both donโt want it enough or o want it only oneโs own terms. The narrative is clear and I think we must make this distinction that while Ani may owe Arshi something due to his dalliance with Jhanak and keeping Arshi in the dark, the narrative also treats Ani as an individual in a relationshipโฆ who has the freedom to make decisions that may or may not be acceptable to the other partner. Ani doesnโt lose autonomy in that and this where the point of incompatibility comes into play.
Obviously this is a fictional story so, there wil be an attempt to shine light on one perspective more than the other but at a broader level, I am reading this simply as an incompatible partnership; the Arshi presented to me was one who felt Ani had no autonomy and things must proceed as per her or her motherโs wish. Yes, there were points where she felt Aniโs betrayal as a slight or pain ( I couldnโt tell) As viewers, we can react to either or both emotions. Personally, I can say, Arshiโs sense of betrayal could have been a powerful tale but only if Arshi did something with that other than threatening Ani.
now coming to your specific point on his rudeness with Arshiโฆ the way I see itโฆ Aniโs love for Jhanak asideโฆ he is expressing that he did not find Arshi by his side in his biggest battle. He may not have chosen the best words to articulate that He may have expectations of her just as Arshi had of him. Ofc he is not completely honest in his perspective about how that came about but can we say that he alone is to blame for the downfall of this relationship? Hypothetically, if Arshi had supported his decision to support Jhanak ( even if it wasnโt whole hearted), Ani may have still fallen in love with Jhanakโฆ. Personally for me, then.. it would have been easier to lay the blame solely at his doorโฆ but here the narrative is telling me they both werenโt compatibleโฆ they did not make attempt to resuscitate the relationship. Ani has a bigger cross to bear ( due to his traits) and this narrative will make him bear it but Arshi too didnโt invest enough in the relationship to resolve the differences.
Now coming to your charge of Ani making Arshi a cold person, the narrative hasnโt given me sufficient clues to say that.. Here, no one was expecting Arshi to be warm to Jhanakโฆ in any relationship of this kind, three is a crowd so Arshi being nice to Jhanak wasnโt part of the deal but humane definitely wasโฆ you decide your level of humanityโฆ that has nothing to do with anyone (Ani and his actions for Jhanak) . Aniโs expectation from Arshi and others was only humanity and they all fell short of it. Ani wasnโt bothered by the reaction of others but yes that of Arshi would have unsettled him. I am not saying that has anything to do with him falling in love with Jhanakโฆ I repeat he did not fall in love with Jhanak due to Arshiโs behaviourโฆ thatโs his own doing and nowhere in the narrative is that connectedโฆwhich is again the beauty of the narrative so far. What Ani owes to Arshi is a heartfelt apology for his emotional infidelity towards Arshi ( physical yes but he was unaware ๐๐) and which is why I say he has a bigger cross to bear than anyone else and this will surely bear out in the narrativeโฆ also the place where Jhanakโs love for Ani will be most visibleโฆ Arshi taking this insult to a different level ( if Arshi remains relevant in the tale) will be a matter for the lovebirds to negotiate.Ani is not afraid to be accountable for his mistakes and that is a strong ML in my eyesโฆ As for the characterisation of FLโฆ I understand the gymnastics the writers are having to deal with ๐๐๐ so letโs see how it. I do think the arc of Jhanak will also grow substantially given the love and care the writer has shown for Ani in building up his arcโฆ how much of it will meet audience expectations I canโt sayโฆ
Sorry for the long post.. wasnโt my intention to make this long detour ๐ but I have a tendency to digress ๐๐๐
Please feel free to pen your thoughts, I have tagged some hereโฆ if I miss others donโt hesitate to air your thoughtsโฆ
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