I love this plan. It's deep, intelligent, and well thought out - right down to the smallest detail. The only thing that could possibly ruin it if is Pragya lets her feelings come in the way and she slips from her faade OR if whoever is helping her is somehow overheard.
Sriti's execution when telling Aaliya "that's why she fails," was brilliant. It was like a nice tight slap. The way she said it was baller. And yet I don't agree with those words. The only time Aaliya ever kept one of her plans to herself was during Rabul's wedding - and the only reason she got caught was through sheer luck. What's that saying: "yes, two can keep a secret, but only if one of them is dead."
So here's to hoping that Operation: Save Abhirab progresses smoothly without any bumps or glitches. The audience has suffered for months watching the villains smirk and win - we deserve this treat - this gift - really, because if Operation: Abhirab is a success, the payoff will be grand.
WHY THIS PLAN WORKS:
Pragya's disappearance: The less you know about a person, the better. It provided an air of mystery. It was a distraction tactic, inso that when she did return - that was all anyone could really focus on: shock upon seeing her again, but immediate confusion - where the heck was she? And what has she been up to? It served the purpose of lowering Taaliyah's guard. When no one is around to watch your every move, you relax. You slip. You make a mistake.
Pragya's return - New look and new attitude: The Devil is beautiful - that's what they say. Pragya strutted into Mehra mansion with a confidence that warned that she was not someone to be messed with. She entered the house like she owned it, and hilariously she truly does. Earlier when she did her dramas no one took her seriously, because she looked 'innocent.' Changing the way she looked and acts serves one purpose: to seem unrecognizable - both physically and behaviourally. It was a clever tactic to blindside the villains. To make it seem like that she truly has changed. The Pragya of earlier was kind, sweet, and sacrificial. Her opponents knew this about her. They used her caring nature as a weapon against her and took full advantage of it. Her kind heart was her weakness and they exploited it. But the new Pragya, how do Taaliyah conquer that? The roll of her eyes when Daadi/Daasi and Abhi hugged her; the unfeeling devil-may-care attitude - are all a front that provides the illusion that she is hard, cold, and calculating. Gone is the girl that put others before herself - now stands a woman donning a green sari - the green-eyed monster personified: an uncomprehending selfish woman who only cares about herself.
Her Arrival - Why on the day of the Mehendi? Why not the Shaadi: The most expensive and grandest day of a girl's life tends to be her wedding day. Weddings are generally expensive in nature - and Tanushree expects hers to be opulent, no? But with Pragya's return and the reveal that Pragya now owns EVERYTHING - with what money will Tanu pay for her Sangeet? Her wedding? Pragya may agree to allow the Mehra's to graciously stay in her house until the wedding, but I doubt she'll pay for said wedding. Decorations? What decorations? Use the same crummy flowers that are currently decorating the Mehendi. Oh, they're wilting - that's symbolic, they now reflect Tanu's inner self. Food? Guests can eat the leftovers from today's functions. Please ration it to last you through the next 2 days. Tanu and Aaliya are about to learn the real meaning of a dollar. Pragya returning when she did is her way of saying: welcome to your miserable! Because from here on out things are going to go downhill fast. The Mehra's are looking at eviction: you've got 2 days. Then get out. How will they support themselves? Everything Abhi dares to earn henceforth ends up going to Pragya. The safety net that Aaliya tried to destroy can no longer save her from life on the streets. And Tanu? Her dream of living the high life is now shattered. If she marries Abhi, then it is now her who is expected to get the Mehra's through their tough times. Oh how the tables have turned!
Sarla - questioning her parvarish: Every time Pragya did one of her earlier dramas - the threat of bringing Sarla into the matter was lorded over her head. It made her slip and panic. Everyone knows that she cannot bear to lie to nor hurt her mother and this is now what Pragya is counting on. Sarla's raw reaction to seeing her daughter's new-self eliminated whatever doubt anyone had that Pragya's change in behavior was a farce. No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Sarla unleashing on Pragya and believing that Pragya has truly gone to the dark side convinces taaliyah that Pragya is not acting.
Keeping Abhi In The Dark...Hoping He'll Eventually Catch On: Hurting Abhi at this point is unavoidable. There wasn't enough time to bring him into the plan, and even if she had had the time to do so earlier - who could say with 100% certainty that his anger wouldn't get the better of him and wreck everything. Abhi is impulsive by nature and unpredictable. He lives in the moment for the most part and lives his life mostly by doing what feels right rather than what is right. His past actions have taught us that Abhi doesn't like being made a fool: He almost killed Neel when he insulted Rockstar Daadi and Sarla; He attacked a police officer for hurting Pragya; He almost murdered Suresh and then tried to force himself on Pragya (while he was intoxicated) during the MMS track; He slapped Pragya after she took back her confession and deemed it an April Fool's joke only to later punch a mirror and destroy said hand by bleeding all over his room after he found out all about Tanu's pregnancy truth; Tanu's annoying behavior made him rashly tell her once to go right ahead and abort the child (when she had threatened to do exactly that), and we know for a fact that he currently thinks the child is his. Look I love Abhi. He's flawed. He's human. But he's also an emotional person who lives life guided by his emotions. It's why he's the nations number 1 Rockstar. He bleeds his heart and soul into his music. Isn't that part of the Rockstar job description? The point is, look at what Abhi had to endure during these past few months: He lived most of that time crawling out of his skin wondering how to deal with Tanu and her pregnancy. He fell from grace in his family's eyes. He had to face Daadi's disappointment and Sarla's wrath. He ultimately lost the love of his life. He divorced his wife. Everything that Abhi faced during that time is 100 times worse than anything we've ever had to see him deal with before. The only way to ensure that he doesn't hunt Tanu down and kill her if told the truth was to fly him off to a deserted island and leave him there for 24 hours - that way he could have his normal run-of-the-mill mental breakdown, where he could drink himself into oblivion, punch things, scream, and then ultimately sleep it off and emerge refreshed. He's a planner. I'll give him that. His plans, traps and exposures are pure genius, but his anger is lethal. Let him save his rage for when Tanu exposes herself. If he knew the truth and had a cooling off period, then the reveal won't be as much fun. Tanu deserves his full wrath. But Pragya isn't being completely cool and uncaring towards him. Her words are suggestive and methodical. She's hinting - hoping that he'll catch on and hear that there is more to her words; that there is a deeper meaning to what is being said. She's hoping a part of him might catch on and play along and see where this all goes. Abhi isn't dying to marry Tanu. He's looking for an escape route. Pragya is coyly providing him one. He's a smart man. I have faith he'll understand. I'm counting on Abhigya's unspoken bond. He may misunderstand her at first like he had when she laughed in his face and took back her I Love You, but again, like I said - he's an emotional person. Eventually he'll calm down and see things clearly. He just needs to spiral out first and then sleep it off. And even if he doesn't calm down and still remains in misunderstanding - then doesn't this still serve to further along Pragya's cause? Abhi needs to look like he's been taken advantage of and was played for a fool. Taaliyah need to see and believe that. He can't merely shrug his shoulders, act like everything is fine and walk away, because that isn't typical Abhi behavior. Taaliyah know that. Abhi is a warrior. He always rises to a challenge. Acting otherwise would only arise suspicion, and if that happens then taaliyah won't turn on each other, because they would simply wait things out until he got everything back to put their plans right back into motion. Abhigya being at war is needed - real or for show (drama: both in on it). It's the only way to catch the villains. And even if Abhi truly misunderstands her, it's only because a part of him never felt like he was deserving of her love. He said it during confession, and he said it during separation to God: "I know I don't deserve you." "I know I don't deserve her." A part of him believes that after everything he put her through that makes him underserving and in a way her loving him feel like something akin to a dream - hazy, uncomprehending and unreal.
GOING FORWARD:
What will be interesting to watch here are the eventual flashbacks. Pragya knew the truth before her accident. Raj and Aaliya withdrew a large sum of money before the leap, was that money eventually traced? Nikhil is still unaccounted for. And Pragya essentially had a month of behind the scenes planning and time to take advantage of - did she find proof of any kind?
The real question here though is who is helping Pragya, because no way could she do this alone - lone wolf, partner in crime, or group effort?
❤️ In the meantime, stay strong and ship Abhigya. Because like Arjun told Abhi, everything that is happening (this track) is nothing more than a test. Pragya is up against a very cunning and dangerous plan, but her plan is just as formidable as well. ❤️
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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