VB 8th AT-The complete package (T,B,L,& P 2 Match) - Page 75

Hey Ronit

You will be surprised to hear that I actually watched some key episodes of Astitva. I read your summary and I thought that like PHS it was cantered around just relationship problems but to my surprise I found that the relationship problems were interwoven with day to day life of the characters ie. There were other things happening!!!!! I was actually impressed with the number of social issues they dealt with from older woman marrying a younger man, infidelity, rape of prostitute, the importance for child to have relationship with both parents even if the marriage is broken, abuse of women in prisons, organ donation, female foetus, fall out of marrying NRIs, mixed race marriages, child abduction etc.

It was a really interesting serial. Pity the serials today do not have the courage to do something different.

In terms of appearance, Abhi towards the end of Kiran phase and throughout the Neha phase was damn cute but in terms the character he was the most interesting as Anand!!!!

I liked Simran for her strength and her ability to deal with things with dignity even when others were being less than gracious BUT post the 18 year leap her handling of Aashta (Mark II)'s behaviour and the Yesh issue was irritating. No matter what, you do not tolerate (make allowances for) your daughter called you "characterless" or telling you what your duties are as DIL. I did not watch much of the Yesh era but I think that in the 18 years she had got soo use to thinking that she knew what was the best for everyone she would not listen/take on board what others were saying or what their wishes were. Even at the end when she said Yesh should live with them it was clear that she had not asked/consulted Abhi before making that statement.

Kiran I think truly loved Abhi but she did not realise that he was simply enjoying the calm/tranquil time he spent with her compared to the constant battle he faced in his marriage both in terms of the pressure from the families and also from Simran having a responsible job and then the pregnancy. When Simran confronted him about his affair with Kiran that is when it hit him just what he was losing but Kiran and his mum manipulated and he married Kiran. The marriage was doomed from day one but the way it ended was the worst possible way in that Kiran broke him both emotionally and financially.

Neha who I should feel sorry for just annoyed me. A blind person could see the bond that existed between Abhi and Simran when he came back from Naski. Irrespective, she forced herself into his life. If she was a true friend she would have asked him/talked to him about getting back with Simran but she loved him and so chooses to believe what Abhi and simran told her about them being friends only. She then got insecure and made herself and everyone else miserable. As her friend before her wedding said if you are not happy with things then don't marry Abhi, no one is forcing you and then later during her never ending strops he quiet rightly said if you were this insecure about Simran why the hell did you marry me but to his credit he did everything a good husband should do but as he later said he was performing duties of a husband but his heart was not in it.

Finally, I found the Simran's father really irritating after the 18 year leap. Abhi should have told him to stop interfearing long before the end (which is when he did tell him). I understood his stand point but after 18 years you would think he would loosen up a bit but he just never let up.

Anyway the above is my synopsis.