The episode continued with Minnie defending HS.
Mein apne Hanuman Uncle ko chhod ke kahin nahin jaa rahi hoon. The way his expression changed at these words, when he realized how serious his daughter was, that she was not going to let him push her away… took my heart away.
Kuch nahin kiya unhon ne. Ok? Kucch nahin kiya hai. Yeh aise kar hi nahin sakte hain, she yelled, showing her fierce loyalty towards him.
And I trust him, she continued, stunning him in the process. Was she..? Did she just take his side, over her mother’s? Did she really love him and trust him that much even without knowing the full story?
Kehne de jo bhi kehna hai. Unhon ne keh diya aur ho gaya? Yeh kya, poori duniya bhi bolegi na, lawyers aa ke bolenge judge aa ke bolenge main nahin maanungi.
Amidst all the despair, hearing his daughter fight for him brought some relief and warmed his heart. She could not have made it any clearer that she was in his court, she was with him through it all. Nothing would change her mind, not even his own words, not the world, not any court of law.
Minnie laid it out there that she knew how her mother felt about HS. It was said in the heat of the moment, so there was no room for awkwardness there. Babita remembered all his harsh words and stated that she did not know him or even recognize him, her words hurting him further.
Ab to mujhe aisa lag raha hai jaise main inhein jaanti tak nahin hoon, making sharp cuts on his heart and on Minnie’s too. Whatever hopes he had that she would at least trust him enough to know he was no murderer were dashed as he watched her run upstairs to prepare to leave.
Chhori thaari mummy to chali gayi, tu kyon na gayi uske saath? he asked in a low voice as she held on to his sleeve. He was gently asking her to leave but a part of him wanted to know if this was real, if she was indeed going against her mother to stand by him.
Wrong thi woh, came Minnie's reply.
Ke wrong hai aur ke right, tanne ke pata chhori? Tu ne suna na, maine maara Imarti ko, he insisted trying to gently push her away. However, each word of his had the opposite effect, angering her and bring her closer to him.
Aap ne nahin maara hai.
Maine jaan le li Imarti ki.
Nahin maara hai aap ne! she screamed back, unable to fight her tears and wondering why her father insisted on hurting her. She did not care what the legal documents said. What did he think? That she was just a child? That she didn’t understand why he was doing this? It was all a lie and HS was failing miserably in keeping it up while looking directly in her eyes. He couldn’t keep doing this and couldn’t bear seeing her tears, but he had to try. It was for her own good.
She revealed that he had overheard what he had told Babita last night, and that she knew why he was behaving this way with them. My mind wondered why Babita did not feel the same, considering they had both known him for the same amount of time. What a contrast between mother and daughter! 😡
Itna main samajhne lagi hoon aap ko Hanuman Uncle. Itne mahinon se jaanti hoon main aap ko.
She knew that he, who respected her Babes so much, would not hurt her deliberately by humiliating her and crushing her ego.
Kyunki aap humein apne aap se door karna chaahte ho na? Aap nahin chaahte hum ismein uljhein, ismein hurt hon. Is liye aap hi humein hurt kar rahe ho, right?
Ashnoor was so good in this scene that you could feel Minnie hurting as she asked him those questions, as he made HS know that she was aware of the sacrifice he was making for their wellbeing. Aniruddh was also wonderful as HS listening to Minnie, his chest heaving as if under a great burden. HS was startled to learn of her insight into the whole matter. As usual, there could never be a facade in front of his veer balika. It had to remain pure and simple. He was at a loss for words because he knew it was no use trying to make excuses or hiding the truth from her. She had seen right through him.
She wipe her tears and grabbed him by the arms to request him to stop doing this.
Hanuman Uncle, please na, mat kara aisa. Don’t do this to yourself. She pleaded, unable to hold back her emotions further.
Main nahin dekh sakti aap ko aise. Sachi mujhe bohot pain hota hai, jab aap… she choked as she pointed to her chest, much like he had done in the hospital.
Aap mat suffer karo please aise, mujhe... main nahin dekh paa rahi hoon aap ko Hanuman Uncle, please please please, she requested, shaking him. She know that he was already hurting, and that by hurting Babita and her, by trying to push them away, he was hurting himself even further.
This bit, along with the background music, brought tears in my eyes, obviously also because it mirrored the famous hospital scene in episode 171 where he requested her not to hurt herself, and told her that he could not stand to see her in pain.
Lekin, this is wrong. To yeh nahin ke to teri sebat kharaab karle, teri tabiyat kharaab kar le.
Main jo hoon na, he had said putting his hand over his chest, tere ko pareshaan nahin dekh sakta.
Tere ankhon mein aansoon nahin dekh sakta.
Kaleja chir sa jaata hai.
HS saw the same pain in his daughter’s eyes as he had felt that day in the hospital seeing her unwell and suffering mentally. He knew their hearts were connected and any pain he felt, she would too. There was no running from this fact. Unable to see her tears now, he looked away, closed his eyes and strengthened his resolved. The madness hadn’t started and already his daughter was in this state. How was he to handle things if she were to crumble in front of him after she saw him going through hell? He was not going to subject her delicate mind to that. Hadn't she suffered enough at such a young age already? He could not let her stubbornness win this time or let himself be persuaded by her pleading. This had to stop. She had to leave him. He would send her away.
So he resorted to scolding her, saying things to scare her, warning her to keep her mother and herself away from him. The next set of dialogues left me spellbound as the image they spun were extremely powerful. Removing her hands from his arms, he shook her.
Chhori thari samajh mein na aati ke? Ke samajhti tu apne baare mein? Ghani aqalmand hai ke tu? Ghani samajhdaar ho gayi tu?
Ke jaanti hai tu mhaare mann ke baare mein? Nahin bata manne. Ke pata hai tanne? Kitna jaanti hai tu mhaari Imarti ko? Tune dekha hai kabaai usse? Ke jaanti hai uske baare mein?
Ek cheez sun lena chhori. Hanuman Singh ne aaj tak ek hi se toot ke pyaar kiya hai, woh hai mhaari Imarti. Usse zyaada pyaar kissi ne na kiya, he said, his voice breaking (I have a feeling Aniruddh was actually crying in this scene). Then he delivered a sharp blow as he had to Babita last night by trying to hurt her, showing her "her place".
Na thaari maa ne, na kissi aur ne.
And here he was also trying to tell her that even she was not as important to him as Imarti had been. Which was obviously not true and they both knew it. I strongly believe Minnie was the one he loved most in the world at that moment, well over Babita. Which is consistent with what he had told her in the hospital:
Tum done mein se zyaada favorite to tu hi hai meri.
Thari mummy se zyaade pasand karoon hoon main tanne.
Tu first hai.
HS continued with his warnings.
Ek baat aur sun le. Kissi ne zindagi mein itna pyaar kar bhi na paonga main. Itna pyaar, itna sneh, itna moh chhori ke uss moh ne praan har liye mhaari Imarti ki.
Tu aur teri mummy, dono mhaare se door rahoge bata raha hoon, he said, shaking her. Nahin to mhaare kaleje mein jo (...) jalta hai na chhori, usmein tum dono jal ke rakh ho jaoge.
Maine kaha tha, hum sab ke andar ek rakshas panapta hai chhori.
Chhori jab ye andar ka rakshas jaagta hai na, to apne saath yeh bhatere rakshas khade kar leta hai andar. Iss liye sau sau taalon mein chhupa ke rakha tha maine usse. Eeb tune chhed diya.
Tu aur teri mummy, eeb jo tu ne door na rakha, to mhaare saath agni mein jal utho ge tum log, yo final hai, he said.
All his fears were in his eyes, and the wild look in them scared Minnie just a little bit, but she was not going to be swayed. As HS made one of his famous exits, Minnie looked at the photo, this time her reflection falling beside Imarti’s. I am not sure what the CVs were trying to show here, but I took it as, despite what Hanuman had said earlier, she had the same importance in his life than Imarti did.
Unhein Hamaari Zaroorat Hai
Minnie headed upstairs to confront her mother. How could they even think of leaving him in this state? she wondered. I was glad she confronted her mother about using this as an excuse to run away. Her ego was getting in the way and unable to fight back for herself, she was running away.
Babita tried to point out that she was just a child at 17, to which Minnie reminded Babita that she herself had gotten married at the age of 18 and had had Minnie by the time she was 19.
She pointed out that Babita was smarting from rejection a second time. First because of Meeta and now because of Imarti. When Babita tried to deny the fact, Minnie reminded her mother that she was almost a woman and she was going to talk to her mother like one, and not as her child.
Minnie revealed that she had heard what HS had told her and was on her side if she wanted to fight for her dignity or leave because of that. What she could not accept was that Babes would use the court case as an excuse to hide her hurt and leave HS’ side in this crucial moment in his life. She challenged her mother that they could not believe that HS could ever kills his wife.
Then Babita said what I think has annoyed many of us. She began to compare HS to Ashok, and then said that one could only know a person as much as the wanted you to know them, in bits and pieces. I saw red when I heard that because to me it was unacceptable for her to say that to Minnie at least, who has seen as much of HS as Babita has in all these months, maybe even less. Babita had opened up to him when she was in trouble when she was hurting and he did his best to support her, but HS was a different person. He did not react the same way as her, nor did he express himself in the same way. He did not want to burden anyone with his problems, wanted her to soar like a bird on her journey freedom, and besides there were boundaries she had laid that he could not cross.
As discussed elsewhere, he did not find the opening he was looking for with Babita to be able to share anything with her, that too such a grief that he had buried in his heart. Where had she given him the space or even the right to feel she was his apni, that she was going to have time for him when she always seemed so busy thinking about her pain, her grief, her emotions? Where was the space for him in her life?
Minnie was having none of it. The matter was simple: you either trusted HS or you didn’t. There was no in-between. As usual, Babita evaded the question and said they were leaving. It was not up for debate. Minnie stood her ground, that they were not leaving at least, she wasn’t.
To mera bhi faisla hai, hum idhar se kahin nahin jaayenge.
Aur at least main to idhar se kahin nahin jaa rahi hoon Babes.
Kyunki main apne Hanuman Uncle ko iss haalat mein chhod ke nahin ja sakti.
Unhein humari zaroorat hai. He needs support. And main unke saath khadi hoon.
There was no room for debate in her decision either. I loved her spirit and her firm attitude. She really is growing up fast! HS never asked for helped or even showed that he needed it, but such things are unspoken. Minnie understood and heard the silent cries of her father's, and her heart answered back.
Babita realizing that she couldn’t force her stubbornness upon her daughter decided to leave and told Minnie she would be at NB’s place if she changed her mind. I wanted to throw something at my screen! If she knew she was being stubborn then why go ahead and do it? Her ego was getting in the way again. I don’t think Babita had ever expected that her daughter would not support her decision, that they would be standing on different sides. Obviously, if he had been a killer she would not have left her daughter in that house. She went to NB’s, talking about HS’ being accused of culpable homicide. Beeji mentioned that she didn’t think HS was capable of such a thing, which surprised me. Dadu concurred. Let’s see how long this lasts.
Jaisa Baap Waisi Beti
Minnie headed downstairs to find HS standing in front of the photo, a soft smile playing across his lips as his mind made the journey back in time to when he had first met his wife, their wedding night.
I had been eagerly waiting for this scene, curious to see if it would live up to our expectations after HS’ narration of it early in the show. And boy did it hit the mark! I was still amused by HS doing a Clark Kent with the hair parting on the other side, longer sideburns and darker mustache. He did look his age, though, a 30-year-old newly married man.
We were taken back to a house full of people celebrating and teasing HS after his wedding. He headed upstairs but his courage faltered he reached the bedroom door. There stood a bottle of alcohol that would boost his confidence. As he took it in he made his way to he door, calling out to her to open the door and then stumbling through. Putting on some fake bravado, he went to her and asked her to make him a glass.
Then we saw the first glimpse of Imarti the bride as she lifted her veil and faced him. I loved that her make up was relatively simple but she still looked stunning to me as she must have to him who stumbled again on seeing her face. I also LOVED the folk-style music they played here and thought out the scene. It was just wonderful. In between they keep switching back the present to show the smile in HS’ face and eyes and tears of happiness tinged with sadness as he remembered each moment and each word of Imarti’s.
She stood up and told him she wasn’t his servant. If we wanted to drink that poison he could make it himself.
Apne marad se zabaan ladati hai, mhaare ghar mein na chale ga ye sab.
Mhaare se zyaada na zabaan na ladana tu. Main kya hai ke bohot zyaada, bohot zyaada danger qism ka aadmi hoon main, in full MCP mode. Did he really mean that? I thought after what had happened to his mother, he’d be gentler with the ladies.
Aur jo na maanoon to? Ke kar lega? She challenged. I still haven’t gotten the answers as to how that could happen, how he could even listen to the advice of the person who asked him to slap his wife if she didn’t follow his command.
As he raised his hand, she twisted it and pushed him to the ground. I had always imagine these scene to be full of anger and heated arguments but I quite liked this playful yet serious touch they gave.
As he tried to get up, she pushed his chest down with her foot, warning him that she was not the type of woman to take a beating and remain quiet.
Imarti naam hai mhaara. Pehelwaan Sartaj Singh ki lauti chhori. Aur agar agli baar mhaare pe haath uthaane ki koshish bhi ki na, to yeh haat tod bhi doongi, aur thaane mein jaa ke rapat bhi likhwaongi. I kept remembering how HS had narrated this to Minnie and couldn’t stop the smile on my face as I heard her speak.
I just loved her sass! The way she stood with her hands on her hip. She would go to the courts, to the prime minister if she had to but she wouldn’t spare him if he misbehaved. She was her father’s only daughter, and I am sure she was as tough as he was, like father like daughter.
Kam na samjhio manne, she huffed, stepping off his chest. He was her husband after all. Then, taking pity on his state, offered him a hand to get off the floor. He grabbed it and stood up to face her and you could tell he was already intrigued by her, by this new side to a woman that he had never seen before. She sized him up too, knowing exactly what effect she was having on him.
As she picked an apple up and played catch with it, then proceeded to put her foot on the bed. He looked her up and down. This was no delicate flower, this was a firebrand.
She proceeded to tell him that her father had told her alcohol was not good for the health. I loved the way he leaned in and asked her:
Aur ke kaha tha thaare baapu ne? I'm not sure he wanted to hear about his father in law on his wedding night but at that moment he wanted to hear everything she had to say, curious to learn more about her.
Chhori na dehi kabhi? she asked.
Dekhi hai, ghani dekhi hai ek se ek zordar, he replied. She gave him a knowing look.
Lekin tu to mhaari lugayi hai, hmm?
Tanne dekhne ka to license hai mhaare paas. Byaah ke laaya hoon tanne.
Haq hai mhaara, tanne look dene ka.
I couldn’t stop laughing as he said all this, and the camera moved to a shot of him in the present amused as he remembered his own foolishness so many years ago. Aniruddh really had the perfect look in his eyes, slightly watery but very nostalgic and full of fond memories, with a smile to match.
I loved the way she established ground rules around not being subservient to him, treating him as just a pati but not parmeshwar.
Thaare baapu ka kehna maanegi ke na maanegi, bol.
Mhaari jooti bhi ko na mane yeh sab batein.
Again, the look on HS’ face in the present as he remembered these words. I can’t stop praising Anirrudh for this scene.
Bathere tareeqe aawe hain manne pati ko rijhaane ke liye.
Kaun kaun se tareeqe aate hain? Manne bhi bata de ek aadh, he flirted back.
She really was neem and shehed at the same time but also teased him with the promise of passion to come. She knew her mind and you could tell she would always know how to find a good balance between things.
Aniruddh and Roshini were spectacular in this scene. There was just enough chemistry, enough sparks, and enough hints to tell us that this was indeed the beginning of an epic love story. There had met their match and were really were perfect for each other, HS and Imarti. Sigh…how beautiful was it?! I was in love with Imarti all over again, so I can only imagine his state.
As he touched the glass on the photo frame and lovingly remembered her words, there were unshed tears in his eyes and a soft smile. This is how I’d always want to see HS remembering her. Minnie watched her father, fascinated by the look on his face. She could not help smiling on seeing him smile after so long, and wanted to know the reason.
Her question broke his reverie, and he was surprised to find her standing there. His anger had long since abated and he was not going to scold her. Though he knew the answer, he dared, he hoped…
Chhori to gayi na apni maa ke saath?
Aap ziddi ho to main bhi ziddi hoon. He turned away. Were they going to have to do this again? Did he need to convince her to leave still? He knew how stubborn she was. What she said next closed the matter once and for all:
Jaisa baap waisi beti.
The look he gave her then… I don’t have words to describe it. Pride, joy, relief, understanding, gratefulness, immense love and a little sparkle in his eyes that he would not have to lose his Veer Balika. He had hoped she would leave, for her own safety, but a small part of him had perhaps hoped she had been serious about not leaving. In that moment, I felt as if all his investment in her of his caring, loving, and understanding, was giving him returns manifold. She may be too young to help him with legal matters, but just knowing that her loyalty and belief in him was undying did wonders to his aching heart. She had not only decided to stand by him, but also to retain her claim to being his daughter, showing him in turn that he still had every right over her as her father.
As she stood there with her arms crossed over, he could see in her determination a glimpse of himself. She had the same spunk and courage. It was heartwarming to see a junior Hanuman Singh indeed, one who was not related to him by blood, who had barely been under his wing for a few months, but who soared and landed like him. In that moment, I thought that Ashok was indeed the most unfortunate man in the world to miss out on being her father, and that she was a precious gift to HS after all the pain he had endured. I think the makers were also giving a message to the audience, especially to youngsters today who are so self-obsessed that they do not have time for their parents, to listen to them, or to at least give them moral support when things get tough. Parents are not perfect, they also falter and struggle with various problems in life. Minnie is a good role model for this generation.
HS knew it wasn’t going to be easy for either of them if she decided to stick around, but he would have to figure something out. I want this scene to continue in the next episode where he tries to talk her out of it rationally and she just asks him not to waste his breath as she had made up her mind. So what if things were going to be tough? They would fearlessly face it together.
Imarti's Grieving Father
We saw the entry of Imarti’s father, who clearly was there to get Mirza, NB’s husband, to testify against HS. What must Babita have felt then? She tried to run away from Imarti, and here her father walked in!
I don’t know why Sartar Singh was accusing NB and everyone else for hiding the truth about Imarti’s suffering, warning her against God’s wrath. NB stood by her word that HS was innocent. It was heartwarming to see him wanting to fight for justice for his daughter until his last breath. Whether or not HS was guilty, this father was hurting and genuinely believed HS was at fault. Interestingly enough he mentioned HS’ sharaabi baap again. I wonder if we will see him in flashbacks too.
Yahaan, aag lagi se mhaare kaalje mein, he said, reminding me of HS saying the same thing. They were both still grieving over the loss of the same person but rather than be united in grief they were divided. I can’t even imagine how HS must have felt, being unable to mourn as he had to deal with court cases and be under scrutiny for the murder of the one he had loved the most. The court may have dismissed the case but the accusations still hung in the air. No wonder he never got over it. I wonder if Naaem Bi will testify in court. I hope she does, so that the truth comes out once and for all. I am curious to learn about the hardship that she apparently knew Imarti was going through and also to know what Mirza was responsible for.
Pre-cap:
It looks like Sartar Singh did not like the fact that his daughter was nuts about HS, having fallen for his innocent face (can you blame her?!)
I can’t wait to watch the dad vs. dad fight, to watch Minnie stand up for her father. On some level, HS has raised Minnie to be like Imarti: brave, strong, and fearless. I hope his father-in-law sees those traits and it melts his heart. I sincerely hope the case is not withdrawn for some sentimental reasons and that HS fights the and wins fair and square so that he can have his dignity restored, and live up to the faith that his daughter has shown in him. She is counting on her hero to win, so he must. There is no other way to restore their family unit. I am sure if he doesn’t win the case and is punished, he will be devastated at losing his daughter. He must fight for her, for his right to keep her. I know he loves Babita but I think that comes secondary. He has made no commitments to her but he has to Minnie as a father. It will destroy him knowing that they can’t be part of each other’s lives.
I don’t know if I can decipher the look HS gave Babita as he caught her standing upstairs, realizing she had heard what his father-in-law had said. Was he concerned that his words had cemented her disbelief? As for Babita, I am just disappointed in her as you all know and don’t want to speculate her next move. I don’t know what she can do that would redeem her in my eyes after this. She is not worthy of him, not in this state. She has to do a lot before she can even qualify.
Minnie on the other hand, has well and truly redeemed herself for her antics pre-hospitalization.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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