written update 14th dec 2009

Page

Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 15 years ago

Part 1

The scene starts w/ Sushma rushing into the room, into Jyoti's arms. On Pankaj's inquiry, Uday tells him that it's the girl who works there. Pankaj points out that Padma had told them that she was ill and didn't come to work today, so what was the deal w/ that, and who was chasing her? Sushma tells him that a person was stalking her, and trying to abduct her, and that from a distance, it looked like her husband. She came there b'cos she was totally scared. Padma walks to her and scolds her, telling her that since she was sick, what business did she have going out, since she was ordered to rest? She told her that if anything were to happen to her, they'd be the ones blamed. She then takes Sushma inside.

Pankaj laments the life people like Sushma have - after slaving away the whole day, they have to go home and be subjected to their husband's persecution. KK stares up at him. Pankaj continues that this girl is lucky to have found the Sharmas, or else nowadays, who takes it upon themselves to look after their servants? Far from caring about whether they are sick or not, people take advantage of them and even withold their salary. People forget that they too are the daughters/sisters of someone. (The look on the face of the Sharmas, including Jyoti & Sudha, was a picture).

Pankaj, Jyoti, Uday & Sudha are headed back to the car. A thug like guy (probably the one @ Brij's pub that he had talked to) takes snapshots of them on the way. The 4 Vashisths get into the car and drive off. The guy looks in glee.

Back @ the Vashisth mansion, Jyoti phones Sushma and asks her how long would she be fearing that monster and curled up home? They'd complain to the police tomorrow. Sushma tells her that if they do, this would spiral out of control, and that Jyoti's in-laws would get to know about it. Jyoti tells her that she cannot out of fear of anything watch her sister's life get ruined. Just then, Sudha comes in and leaves a cup of tea there. Jyoti continues that if Brij is not stopped now, he'll only become emboldened and do something even more damaging tomorrow. Today he did something at the marketplace, tomorrow he could do something even more dangerous. Jyoti continues that she isn't going to listen to her anymore, and that tomorrow, she'll take her to the police station and lodge an FIR. Sushma reluctantly agrees. Jyoti assures her that they're all w/ her, and that there is no reason to fear.

Sudha gives Jyoti the tea. Sudha asks her whether it's right for her to intervene. Jyoti looks at her shocked, and Sudha protests that she meant that Deepu too could have gone to the police station (indeed, why not? Sudha has a valid point). Jyoti tells her that it is their responsibility (more than Deepu's? 😕😕) The person who is stalking her is walking free, and she won't rest until he's in jail. Sudha tries to convince her that if she interferes in this, the family would be pointing fingers at her. As it is, she's accused of putting her maakya over her sasural, and now this? (Sudha is showing more sense than Jyoti has to date, and has the potential to be a more trusted bahu than Jyoti has been so far.) Jyoti tells her that it's not like she's shirking her responsibilities towards this family, and the family that they've lived together w/ all these years, if a sister is in trouble, they leave her like that (sure, when she has a bro to take care of it, dummy!) Sudha protests that she agrees w/ that, but since childhood, they've been taught that after marriage, the sasural is the home of the girl. Jyoti tells her that marriage means the establishment of new relationships, not the severance of old ones (sort of like Jyoti's own marriage initially?) and it's the responsibility of a woman to take care of both maakya and sasural (thereby guaranteeing failure @ one or the other or both). Sudha apologizes, and says that seeing the situation at home.... Jyoti understands, but tells her that no matter what the situation, the relationships cannot be altered (so what's Sushma's pretending not to be their sister all about?) She also tells her that she can be w/ Sushma b'cos Pankaj trusts her (misplaced trust that Brij will help him regret). She says that if one's spouse is w/ one, one can raise one's voice against any injustice, and Sudha agrees. She tells her not to worry and that God is w/ the righteous. (Jyoti could have been argued down by a better debater than Sudha)

Brij is going through the photos taken, and circles a pic of Pankaj in one of them, and gives it to the guy who took them. He tells him to take a good look at him, and tells him that his job is not done yet, and tomorrow, he needs to do something more. The guy agrees.

Part 2

Jyoti is walking outdoors w/ Sushma, who tells her that she is scared. Jyoti tells her that Brij wouldn't dare appear before her in Jyoti's presense. As it is, he's himself in hiding - what's there to fear from him?

Brij's voice is heard from behind - it's said that when one's heart wants it, even God appears. Jyoti & Sushma turn around, and see Brij. Sushma looks terrified but Jyoti looks livid, while Brij grins slyly. He then walks up to them and tells them that he's just a mortal being, but all they had to do was remember him, and there he was. He compliments the 2 sisters on being together, and particularly Jyoti for standing there to shield her sister. He then whispers in Jyoti's ear that she (Sushma) is however his wife, and he's taking her w/ him. (Like someone suggested, it's high time the Sharmas get Sushma an official divorce).

Jyoti demands to know how he even dared think that she'd take her sister back w/ him? Brij tells her that he's not just thought of how, but would actually do it and show her. Brij also vows to repay with interest everything she's done to him to date. Brij then entices Sushma to come w/ him, but Jyoti blocks him, and warns him against it. She also tells him that by returning, she's made her job easier, and it's his account that will be settled. Brij tells her that that's a big boast to make and walks away. A trembling Sushma starts crying, and Jyoti tries to comfort her. She however wonders to herself how exactly did Brij dare to appear in front of her and say so many things?

Jyoti takes Sushma to the police station. She describes to the inspector how Brij used to beat Sushma, then fled when the law went after him, and is now back. He's made her life a living hell, and if he can stalk her in the open market at day, imagine what he can do to her at night. The officer tells her that she'd have to file a case in a domestic violence cell, since this is an affair within a home. They can't file a complaint as yet. Jyoti is shocked, and points out that this is a criminal case as well. She tells the inspector that if he's not stopped in time, he can do anything. The inspector re-iterates his point that this case has to be filed in a domestic violence cell, so Jyoti should pursue it there. Jyoti takes Sushma and leaves.

An officer, who's familiar w/ Jyoti (probably from the Ronnie Pande or the hadsa case) comes out, and seeing Jyoti, asks the inspector why she was there? The inspector tells him that it was a domestic violence case, which is why he didn't record it. The officer demands to know why, telling him that she's the elder bahu of the Vashisths. He tells him that if she is crusading for the downtrodden, and if the public comes to know that they are not co-operating w/ the Vashisths, they'll be in trouble (ironic, given what the Vashisth parivar doesn't know about Sushma). He should have written the report first, and then sent her anywhere. The officer decided that he himself would have to talk.

Back at the Vashisth household, Bhairavi thanks the inspector, while Sudha walks in w/ the tea. CM stops her, and tells her that from the police station, the senior inspector had called. (CM is now out of her flattery mode) Her dear sister Jyoti is once again up to taking up the cause of the helpless and the downtrodden. The police have gone to lodge a complaint against that girl's husband. At first, the inspector was reluctant to take down her complaint, but when the senior inspector found out that Jyoti Vashisth was the bahu of this family, he called her to apologize. Sudha is stammering for words, but CM cuts her off, and asks her whether that's appropriate behavior for a bahu of this family (if only Sudha had this argument when she talked earlier to Jyoti) If Jyoti was so dedicated to social work, why did she marry? CM tells Sudha to explain to Jyoti that when she can't manage her own home, how dare she try and manage others (if only she knew that that's what Sudha had tried to explain earlier. CM would be a better candidate to explain this to Jyoti). CM then walks out on her. Sudha wonders how to explain to her that Jyoti is not fighting for some stranger, but for her sister.

Part 3

Pankaj's car picks him up, and Brij, who's watching from a distance, says let the games begin. Brij notes that he's decided to encroach on Pankaj's turf. Pankaj's car sets off, but stalls. The driver tells him that the car balance is not right - could be a puncture. He gets down to check. Pankaj gets down and asks him what's wrong, and he says that both front tires are punctured, and he has only 1 spare, so he'd get another ordered. Pankaj asks him to take his time and get the car fixed, and he'd take an auto.

Pankaj then goes off in search of an auto, and the guy who's been hired by Brij collides with him, knocking off his cane. Pankaj tries to tell him to be careful while walking, but the guy insults him, calls him blind and demands his money. A fight breaks out and the guy snatches his wallet, and demands his watch as well. After snatching his watch, he demands his chain as well, and Pankaj tells him that it's a gift from his wife, which he wont part with. Pankaj calls out for help. The guy draws a knife and holds it to Pankaj's neck, and snatches the chain as well.

Just then (as a part of the pre-arranged plot) Brij arrives @ the scene and knocks off the guy, verbally abusing him for daylight robbery. A mock fight ensures (very convenient, since Pankaj can't figure out) and Pankaj asks him to be careful. Brij demands that the assailant return the stolen items, and keeps saying that, and knocks him over. He pretends to beat him, with a brick hitting the pavement and the thug screaming, and finally, the thug returns the items. He finally, within Pankaj's earshot, agrees to return the stuff. He peacefully returns them to Brij, who gives him a thumbs up, and then Brij yells and asks where is he running. The assailant escapes. Brij lets him run, while yelling at him to stop, and abusing him.

Brij then walks up to Pankaj and returns him his items and cane, and asks him whether he's okay. Pankaj feels blood, and asks Brij to wait, and tells him that he'll call his driver and take him to the hospital. Brij smiles, assures him that it was no big deal, and that he's fine. Pankaj thanks him, and tells him that had he not been there, who knows what would have happened (how about no assault, for one?) He then tells Brij that this chain was given to him by his wife, and had he lost it, he'd have been very sad. Brij remarks that he must be loving his wife a lot. Pankaj tells him more than his own life. Brij has a smug look on his face, and Pankaj thanks him profusely again. Pankaj then introduces himself, and asks Brij his name. Brij has that same smug look, as Pankaj asks whether he may know the name of the person who saved him. The episode ends on Brij's smug face.

Precap

Brij apparently didn't introduce himself to Pankaj on this occasion itself. The next day, in a different setting, Pankaj meets Brij again, and tells him that yesterday, you left w/o introducing yourself, but today, you must. Brij, guitar in hand, introduces himself. Pankaj tells him that yesterday, we didn't get to talk, but today, you must come to my house for dinner. You will be very happy to meet my wife. Brij tells Pankaj that he looks forward to meeting his wife. And then, to himself, he says, Jyoti Vashisth, prepare to welcome Brij!!!

Promo

Jyoti's Nightmare to begin following the above precap. Pankaj and Brij walk into the living room. Both are seated on the sofa, and Jyoti comes in. Pankaj tells Brij to meet his wife Jyoti, and tells Jyoti to meet his friend Brij Mohan. Jyoti has a shocked look on her face 😲😲😲

Comments

Here was another opportunity for the Sharmas to sit down, tell the truth about Sushma to Pankaj & Uday, and get them up to speed w/ the situation she is in. Sure, Pankaj & Uday would have been hurt initially, but even Sushma was there to explain how her hatred made it impossible for Jyoti to tell the truth about her initially, so that at least, the Sharmas have no reason to make Sushma pretend to be a maid in the house whenever any of the Vashists (except Jyoti & Sudha) surface. And now it's come to the point where Brij and Pankaj get to know each other, and Brij would get to tell Pankaj anything that suits him, and Jyoti will be powerless to refute it, w/o explaining what was she hiding all these months, and why.

In the second part of the same scene, I thoroughly agreed w/ Sudha, and believe that she has the potential to succeed where Jyoti failed, since her maakya doesn't depend on her, and so she wouldn't be expected to serve 2 masters. First of all, Sudha was right that Deepu ought to be doing this. Her point about the family grievance about Jyoti is also valid - after all, Jyoti must have noticed that even bari ma has questions about her loyalties, and she's still exacerbating things by doing for Sushma something Deepu could do as well. Also, while one may debate Sudha's point that once married, she belongs to her sasural, it's still valid to say that no girl can serve 2 families - she has to let go of one, and since she chose to marry, usually the family let go of is the maakya. Jyoti's point about establishing new relationships but not breaking old ones is precisely the reason she's in such a soup (even if one ignores the fact that when she married, she had severed all relations w/ her maakya, including Sudha). By doing that, she incurs new duties before she has gotten rid of the old ones. It would have been one thing for Jyoti/Sudha to continue to financially support the maakya, but Jyoti is doing something that could easily be done by Sandeep. Jyoti's statement that a girl has a duty to both maakya & sasural is stupid - it's the girl's job to pick one, do that well, and do the other only if she's adequately doing the first. Also, her statement that the situation doesn't change the relationship flies in the face of the decision she made to hide Sushma's relationship w/ her.

I felt sorry for Sudha that CM is back to yelling @ her, but I agree w/ CM this time. At the end of it, if Sudha was wondering how to explain to CM that Jyoti is doing this not for a stranger but for her sister, she should accept that Jyoti has only herself to blame, and as long as Sudha chooses to be a participant in Jyoti's secret, she has to accept her share of the blame as well. What Sudha has been advising Jyoti - let Sushma remain a secret, but stop doing things for her - makes sense. But what Jyoti has been doing - keep Sushma a secret, but don't stop doing things for her - doesn't. Sudha should plainly tell CM that she is of the same opinion as her, and assure her that she doesn't share Jyoti's enthusiasm for either social work nor maakya - she has only 1 interest - Uday, and the family. Sudha has enough problems of her own, and doesn't need the baggage Jyoti brings, which in turn causes the entire Sharma family, including Sudha herself, to be hated by CM. She needs to make it clear to her sasural that she's not Jyoti, so that Jyoti's misjudgements should not reflect on her.

Again, while Jyoti might argue like she did w/ Sudha, question remains - why did she, rather than Deepu, feel the need to walk Sushma, and take her to the police station? The police asked her to file a case w/ the domestic violence cell - they'd have told Deepu the same thing. Only difference is that the senior inspector, knowing who she was, called her home, and now she's again in trouble w/ CM, w/o achieving her goal. Also, by doing what she's doing, Jyoti is also inadvertantly sending the message that influence peddling is important - the only difference b/w Jyoti doing this & Deepu doing this would be that Deepu is not married into the Vashisths.

The final scene - finally, events have caught up w/ Jyoti. I can't say I sympathize w/ her - if anything, now I'm rooting for Brij - not for him to get back Sushma, but for him to expose Jyoti as a hypocrite. The day the Vashisths find out how elaborately the entire Sharma family has been deceiving them to cover up for their bahu, it'll be curtains for Jyoti. I hope not for Sudha, but she too needs to recognize that her first loyalty is to Uday, and not towards her maakya.