WU on AT throwback (1st 7 months)
Looking back on the SwaSan ATs, now that we are on the verge of clocking a double century, is a moment filled with pride as well nostalgia. It really does feel very emotional to recall those early days, when the nascent SwaSan fandom was taking shape, and more and more fans flocked eagerly to the AT, to feverishly discuss each plot angle, expression, hint, dialogue and future serial track possibility. 😊
While I had started watching SwaRagini right from the first episode, to be frank none of the earlier possible on screen pairings had particularly set fire to my imagination. 😉 It was the spellbinding, electrifying magic spun by SwaSan that made me fall hook, line and sinker for the show. The chemistry between them was so intense and palpable, it was almost as if sparks were igniting on the TV screen!!
I joined the SwaSan AT #4 in August 2015, shortly after writing my first SwaSan fic. I was so immensely touched by the very warm welcome by wonderful people like Saraa, Kavya, Tuhi, Azira, Sonal, Preet, Asha, Deep, Mishu and Leela. I was thrilled at the free wheeling discussion on our beloved pair, which used to happen on the ATs. I really miss the old gang, who used to dissect each and every scene. At that stage, we were of course 100% certain that SwaSan would be the endgame, but there certainly was still a degree of uncertainty (or should I say hope? 😉 😈) felt by another fandom of an alternate on screen pairing. That added a certain spicy competitive fire and zeal in a way, with fans eagerly lapping up signs and symbolism shown in the serial; analyzing and expounding at length, on how a particular scene, or a particular dialogue made it clear that SwaSan was in fact the endgame. 😊
I remember the immense thrill we felt each and every time anything SwaSan related unfolded on screen or SBS/SBB. Leela used to do a sterling job of providing links to all the SwaSan related fics and discussion topics which had been posted in the main forum. She would ask all of us on the AT to read and comment on every post, so that SwaSan related topics would be on the first couple of pages on the forum. 😆 This really spread the word around and gave a further push, to the immense appeal SwaSan already had amongst people watching the show.
I also very fondly recall the wide variety of discussions which used to happen. Everything from the color of Sunny's blazers and T shirts 😳, the way he used to gaze so affectionately and admiringly at Swara ☺️, and the growing bond of friendship and trust between them. I remember Leela would also make post after post, wondering why the CVs were not giving Swara a more 'mass acceptable' dressing----making her dress more in line with the expectations of Swara's sasuraal, that is, the way the Maheshwari House ladies dressed. 😆 She was certain that if Swara were to be attired in saris and lehngas (though not necessarily as dressy/ heavy as the ones the other ladies wore), she would create a much more favorable impression on the TRP auntie group. 😉
Another set of exciting discussions which used to happen then was on the khayali pulaos. 😆 Basically, we would write various possible scenes/ tracks----either speculating on scenes we would love to see, or debating how scenes which had already unfolded, could have been shown in a different light, tweaked in a slightly different way. Afreen (@afreenaamna), started a separate khayali pulao thread for this also; wherein some of us contributed our pulaos. 😆 Very tasty, spicy, sweet, fragrant, delectable and piquant pulaos. 😉
Looking back, I feel that each and every AT served as a kind of 'community' for us SwaSan fans. It was a place we could destress, chat with pals, talk about anything SwaSan related under the sun. It really fired our enthusiasm and love for this magical couple, and made every precious moment that much more intangibly priceless.
The first 7 months or so of the SwaSan journey were filled with so many memorable moments, and each of them were gleefully discussed and analyzed threadbare on the respective ATs of the time. I very fondly remember the buzz surrounding all the sweet 'handkerchief' moments between SwaSan initially, where it was clear that Sunny just could not bear to see Swara feeling hurt and distressed. His resolve to always be there for her, to always comfort and provide succor to her, was such a beautiful aspect of their steadily deepening friendship. At the time, a certain section of a rival fandom started taunting Sanskaar as 'hanky man', and I remember all of us on the AT were so thrilled with the nickname. 😆 It really stood for the kind of man Sanskaar was---always steady and resolute, determined to staunch every tear in Swara's eyes, even before she could shed them!
There are frankly so many ethereally beautiful memories associated with SwaSan, that it is very difficult for me to narrow it down to a select few. But of all the ones which really set the ATs alight, the most thrilling ones must surely have been:
1) The SwaSan sindhoor marriage and shortly afterwards, Sanskaar's disarmingly direct, heartfelt and poignant love confession. This was such an electrically charged, compelling moment, which elevated an already sublime pairing to legendary status. I remember the immense buzz and debate which went on then, wondering how Swara would react to this, whether Sanskaar would remember his love confession later, how it would impact their friendship and so on. There was a SBB/SBS segment with the tagline 'Swara ke maang mein Sanskaari sindhoor' ☺️ before those unforgettable episodes aired; and it just sent all of us in the AT into an absolute tizzy. 😉 Those OLVs and photos fired us up with so much enthusiasm, it was literally like having a week long caffeine high. 😆
2) The heroic and determined way Swara proved Sanskaar innocent of the false molestation allegations against him, but then snapped their friendship (temporarily), because she felt he had, in a sense, betrayed their friendship by falling in love with her. This was a very powerful scene, and in a way, broke many of our hearts since we feared the possibility of a MU/ estrangement between SwaSan. But we need not have feared. 😉 😆 They certainly had a few tiffs at the time, Swara being angry with Sanskaar; and Sanskaar very calmly telling her that while he would never compel her to reciprocate his feelings, he would not tolerate her belittling his genuine and deep emotions for her. But after a brief time of tension, the undeniable bond between them solidified again. They went back to being the closest of friends, with immense trust and affection between them----which, despite the buffeting storms it subsequently endured, gradually deepened to a mutually intense, passionate and tender love. A portrayal which sent all of us SwaSan fans into rapturous smiles. 😳 😉
3) The lovely Karva chauth moments and the Dhanteras/ Diwali moments between SwaSan---Each one immeasurable precious and meaningful; filled with symbolism and metaphor. I remember the way we would all discuss these scenes on the AT, filled with a bittersweet melancholy at the poetic, surreal beauty of the SwaSan bond. Sanskaar's unconditional, selfless love for Swara; and Swara's own growing feelings for him (though she had not yet come to realize them) were the stuff that set our hearts and minds singing. 😳 ☺️ The gentle banter between them, their friendship gradually and steadily deepening to an indirect acknowledgement of their roles as 'pati' and 'patni'; Sanskaar's tender, slightly brazen flirtatiousness and Swara's blushing, fluttering response----all these were immensely precious, and being able to discuss these on the AT, added to the excitement.
4) The utterly romantic SwaSan first date. 😳 ☺️ I think everyone on the AT was more or less swooning then, at the sheer beauty of the scene. SwaSan were the perfect Prince and Princess, the characters dreams and legends are made of, and them dancing to Gerua was just the icing on the cake.
I could go on and on, and yet not capture the sheer magic of this pair, and the fun and joy we SwaSan fans derived from the AT. And though I was more active in the initial months, and gradually became less active on the AT as months passed----my offline commitments meant that my forum time was mostly spent on writing my SwaSan fics, and in reading the lovely fics my pals posted---I still dropped in to the AT occasionally, whenever I could. It always enveloped me in a feeling of belonging, of warmth, of community. Of a group of like minded people, who shared the same unifying interest and passion that I did---of lauding and soaking in the magic, of this absolutely outstanding on screen pair.
And now that we are on the threshold of the SwaSan AT#200, I raise a toast for which I request all my fellow AT members to join me. Three cheers to The Most Compelling, Magical, Spellbinding On screen couple I have ever known. 👏👏👏 Sanskaar's Swara and Swara's Sanskaar, will always remain an evergreen memory in the hearts and minds of all of us SwaSan AT members and fans----and hopefully, we shall all continue to live their magic through fics on this forum.
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