As everyone crowds around the expectant mother, as everyone has a nervous breakdown, as everyone watching on the other side of the screen slowly loses hope of seeing their favourite person on screen even today, the phone rings. Moments before there was utter chaos as Anjali collapsed in anxiety. Naniji had only seconds before shed tears. It was turning out to be an awful day in the Raizada mansion. The news that he hadn't reached London had caused everyone to go crazy with worry. And then just as the Police is mentioned the phone rings...
Are the writers just teasing us? Was it a completely worthless call and all the buildup for nothing. The promos had said he was kidnapped, so was it a call for ransom? As we and everyone in that room listened with bated breaths Anjali confirmed it was chote at the other end. Would we get to see him? Hear him? I waited expectantly. Though not as expectantly as his wife.
Atlast he is on screen before me. He looks tired. Weary. The hair is not gelled. There is a stubble. A dark background close shot and that is enough to light up the screen before me. He is here.
Di scolds him lovingly and he bows his head. A sober expression on his face and a ready sorry on his lips. He knows she must be worrying. He is in Scotland and not London. But she has to confirm one more time. Such a natural thing to do when you are worried about someone. Ask him one more time if is he really is okay. He responds with a slight exasperated air. The ASR accent, I have so missed mentioning in my takes, falls on my delighted ears. And finally he swallows. All the emotions he must feel at this minute but cannot express.
Now Nani takes the phone. He can hear her anxious voice. The strong lady who taught him so much, who took care of him, in tears because she worries for him. His expressions close in a little more. What agony does it hide? No smart answer this time, no brushing away. Her grandson wants to assure her that is all.
Through all this stands his wife listening. hanging on to each word like her very life dependen on it. And in ways that matter, her life did depend on it. He is there on the phone talking to others. Maybe she can start to breathe after all.
As mami takes the phone the sad tune of the ASR with his family, almost prayer like song, plays. Dear mamiji prattles on and a tired face breaks into that gorgeous lopsided smile. He does feel normal talking to her. Yes she was also very worried, but she is also very mamiji and has to talk about gifts and shopping. With every right that he has let her have on him, she can demand that her nephew bring her and her brother gifts from the foreign land. Everyone smiling through the tears. Relief washing over now that they think their dear one is safe.
Only the wife remains jittery. It was such an ordeal not to know where he was. Plus he left after those awful fights. She wants to believe everything is fine now, but something tells her otherwise. "bas pata chal jata hai".. That he is around somewhere close.. Same way perhaps part of her knows he is jeopardy..
Aakash takes the phone and a mature business like brotherly conversation follows. Now almost back to normal before he realizes he has to hang up the call soon.
"Aur di ka aur".. And his lips quiver as they try and form the words.. What outstanding acting.. I could see Arnav pucker his lips.. "kh" ..soundless, struggling with the intensity of emotions he feels for her.. Making it impossible to remain impassioned while saying her name out loud..
"Achcha bhai Khushiji se baat kijiye".. Both had not said they want to talk to each other.. Yet they were destined to talk today.. He remains absolutely still.. Hardly daring to breathe.. And she straining, expectant ,hesitant.. Rabba ve serenades us as we near that magical moment.. Already the spell has start to cast..
Ami mentioned this in her take. I had also felt it months ago in my first watch too.. She moves away from the family. His wife, she can talk to him alone. Their private little world. And in it are only two people. Him and her. Heaving breath. Avalanche of feelings in her. And his face so different from the sharp well kept ASR look. Raw. Human. Heavenly.
He knows she is there. That movement of his adam's apple.. "khushi?".. A lingering question in the air.. Which kicks off a storm in her.. His voice husky.. And I think this is the first time in any of my reviews I have used this adjective, but have to today. Tinkling delicate melodious piano notes. She grasps the phone in both hands. She wants him near her. Wants to hold him. Longs to reach out to him.
What does one say at a time like this? Can words be ever enough at a time like this? Her tears can no longer be stopped.. He knows the state she is in.. Her tears have always affected him as he later confesses. Today it is time for a different confession.. Again the "khh".. It aches to take her name. He needs to be strong for her. "Main thik hun, okah".. She breaks down some more.. Can no longer contain those tears.. His fingers curled lovingly around his phone and her hands clutch tightly onto the phone she holds. This time he definitely breaks too. His head bent, eyes lowered. How can he make it right for her? He can't leave her in this state. Time is running out for him. There is so much he wants to say. "Just stop".. A little strictness.. Exquisite.. She cries.. Pearls fall from those eyes.. Streaking across that beautiful striken face.. Another hindi word.. "bilakhna".. A romantic sob, if I have to translate.. Her body shakes, she feels so much, but there is no outlet.. Mere acting?
"Khushi main".. That assymetrical lip, how it moves.. Does a dance of its own.. Unspoken words.. I hang onto the edge of my seat, my heart heavy.. What is it he wants to say? Why is he in this state? Is it only because he left after those harsh words ? Is it because she is crying this way? There is something else going on here. But what?
Now she waits.. Again that mehsoos. Maybe her heart knows he is trying to tell her something.. He jerks his head.. Perhaps a little impatient, exasperated.. He has never been this unsure.. And yet so absolutely sure.. "Khushi main tum.se".. The sentences that don't complete.."Farak parta hai dammit kyunki..." .. She pursed her lips choking back more tears threatening to overwhelm her completely. Again holding on to that phone. If only he were close. If only she could hold him as close. The state of incertitude conveyed so well by Barun that your heart beats in the same rhythm as his.. And then echoing in those winds.. As his face reaches serenity.. And a quiet certainty.. "Khushi I love you".. Her startled lovely eyes.. And his face finally almost relaxed.. A smile hidden somewhere.. He is relieved. He has said it. She knows now. He admitted it out loud. Yes he loves her... The solitary tear makes its lone journey down her cheek as it had months before when they both didn't know what was happening to them.. Between them..
Today they know. He has just said it. Khushi I love you.. An indescribable feeling of utmost sadness etched on his face.. He has just confessed his love. She is crying, he needed to tell her. For her sake. For his sake. And now his face gets taut again.. He has to go. This is all he can give her and himself, right now. He looks so forlorn.. Lost.. Ready for some battle.. It breaks my heart to see him this way..
An I love you like I have never seen before. No grand gestures. No flowery words. Not even in the same frame. Yet so utterly magically impossibly beautiful. Such a touching confessions that it overwhelms me. Makes me smile and cry at the same time. No matter how many times I watch it, it never fails to touch me. I want to put on my earphones so that the experience is just mine.. A private heaven.. The voice of the man as he says those simple words ringing in my ears. He has told her he loves her.. Nothing else matters.. "kisi aur chiz ka koi matlab nahi"..
What they managed to do in one scene is pricelss..timeless.. thank you for giving me something that make me feel this way.. a truest emotion.. of love..
General observations before I reached the only place that mattered..
The episode was so sweet inspite of the weird outfit they made Khushi wear. Are we supposed to remember the Delhi autorickshaw comment seeing the green and yellow?
Initially since I didn't remember how Khushi breaks the news of the phone call she received I wasn't happy that she did not immediately tell the family members about the call she received from london. If she was worried about di and nani she could have told Aakash. There is a suspenseful plot here by the creators to never give anything important to Aakash till of course they make him hand over that phone to Khushiji.
Did anyone notice that even HP was irritated with the delicate brainwa mamiji's birather.. "ye kya bol re hain?" . We understand your plight HP. You were used to Asr's shouting yelling get outting what theing and then Masala mama. Lesser men than you would have handed in that resignation right then itself. But then like us maybe you are putting up with everything knowing that the man of the house will return soon.
Lots of melodrama but I thought nice body language by Anjali as the worried sister. Her shoulders drooped as she dialed chote's number. She can lovingly boss over him, force him to temples, but in reality is completely dependent on him.
Naniji in tears. The tough matriarch but so soft where her loved ones are concerned. This character was really nice. How she handled dadi later.. Amazingly well done.
Aakash was actually very like his bhai like calm, sensible not adding to the tension as he took di inside. In fact I was remembering Sohara and Indu say they thought he could be the kidnapper. Very possible at this instant..
Hey devi maiyya I am an idiot.. That man who called Khushi was Aman? Shows how much attention I am paying in these episodes.
Just before the phone call came did you notice Shyam left the room? Should have been the sign for us.
Bade Achche Lagte Hain Naya Season
Cricket
453