Absence makes the heart grow fonder | 08.06.16

I'm sooo super duper glad to be back to watching Shajni and being on this forum after a 2-week long hiatus😭😭 So much has happened since then!! From death to potential wedding to nakli wedding to doosri bidaayi...it's jam packed!

Apologies that I'll be commenting on today's episode without having watched recent developments, but I believe this episode deserves its own standalone praise, especially with regards to Shaan's character.

Wow. Just wow. 👏👏

Before I continue, I think it's important to state that throughout this show, we've all known that Rajni is the shining star⭐️⭐️ Not only is Rajni an amazing character, Riddhima portrays her beautifully and flawlessly which make us applaud in awe all the time.

I think this episode proved (if previous ones haven't already) that Shaan is just an important part not only as her adorable partner-in-crime, but he also exists as a potent character who has his own journey through character development. From his general aloofness at the start and irritation at most things (mostly his crazy but adorable family), and also very memorably to the sari episode, we've seen a lot of sides to this bewakoof scientist.

But, of course, there's a lot more sides to a human being than that. In this episode, Shaan portrayed the uglier side of human emotions that nobody likes to get entangled: confusion, desperation, despondence in a general air of sorrow.

From scene one, it was quite striking how confused and dispirited her looked next to Amrish. There was a lot going on in the episode, but all Shaan was doing was holding on to the trophy and leaning against it for support - the way he would on dear Rajni. When Rajni brought out the collage and Amrish praised her, he looked more upset. And finally when his mother praised her, he looked more lost that ever. On a side note, I am super duper glad we got this tiny scene where Surili acknowledges that they both love Amrish very much and hence she is happy with Rajni - this is called character bonding (FINALLY BECAUSE IT'S LONG OVERDUE HURHUR😡)

But I think it definitely intensified his fears and reluctance to hand her over, because he can see just how attached his family is getting to her. He knows giving her up cannot merely have personal consequences - it will affect others as well.

The scene in the bedroom though, is probably one of the highlights of this show so far. Rajni and Shaan always have their best moments in private - either in their lab or in their bedroom.

Shaan looked on forlornly in the distance and thought about exactly what he's giving up. At first glance, it doesn't sound very romantic

but that lines means so much to him. Shaan's priorities and goals in life have always revolved around his science and engineering. While he undoubtedly loves and cherishes his family a lot, it's quite clear, from his break up, that this defines his ideas of being successful in life. To lose it, is not going to be a small loss for him - both for his career and his emotions.

And then he continues by asking "Main yeh sab kisse bataoonga"

That line really hit the spot because a lot was said in that one small line. To me, it felt like he realised just how alone he is in this tight situation. Rajni is his biggest secret, and secret-keeper (keeping aside Dev for a moment) because he shares his most human characteristics with her. By losing her, Shaan loses a confidante and a close friend at once and the prospects are worrying for him.

He unwittingly asks her how she will feel about leaving...and he doesn't know why he asked her. It's simple Shaan - she's not just your robot!!

Shaan is so open with his feelings with Rajni, he doesn't bother to hide his anger, his annoyance and now his tears too. Usually we think that people prefer to grieve in private and not show their deep-down sorrows with anyone. But to Shaan, he doesn't step away from showing his most vulnerable side to his partner in crime (*cough*in life *cough*). When she moves her fingers up to his eye, he doesn't shudder away or stop her - he acts like it's the most natural thing for her to do.

He tells her to stop him before he starts "phut phut ke rona like bauji"...

This is probably the point that shows just how deeply he feels about this separation and how hard he is trying to not let out his feelings. He knows giving her away is the most logical thing to do - and this is what he has been working towards. But his attachment to Rajni has become so strong, he wonders how he will get by without her daily actions and the little things she does for him.

Habit is a powerful thing. In normal situations, habit increases efficiency when we become used to doing something, like knowing how to type in our mobile phones without looking at the screen. But when we become habituated to people, it becomes more difficult to let go. It's why we feel sad about moving house, graduation from school and other life events, because it represents letting go of things you are comfortable with. Whether or not Shaan has any romantic feelings for Rajni, it is certain she has become a habit for him. Recently, my 4 year old cousin from overseas visited me and stayed for a week. A week is not a long time, but the moment she left I realised that I wouldn't be hearing her voice, watching her run around the house or seeing her jump from sofa to sofa for a long time. I know I can talk to her on the phone, but it you feel a pang of sadness from a 4-yearold shaped hole in your heart. For Shaan, Rajni has found herself a cozy spot in his life where he can feel all sorts of anger and annoyance at her and she won't break. But he suddenly realises that he might have to break this habit forever if he gives her up. And it won't be easy to break a habit, especially not one as spectacular as Rajni.

The highlight of the scene is right at the end, when he asks her to sit next to him and hold on to her and rock in his seat. To me, it was a very poignant moment because it resembles how a small child finds his mother in his times of despair and she holds onto him and rocks him to soothe his fears and worries. Holding on to her is his natural way of reaching out for comfort and solace, and he wants to hold on to her before he potentially has to give her away. Shaan always seems to want to stay away from the mess of human emotions in life and he doesn't behave as affectionately towards the rest (minus Kuhu). But yet, his head always finds its cradle on Rajni's shoulder whenever he is exasperated or exhausted. He will definitely miss her.

On a side note, when Shaan says she loves him more than a human wife, Rajni doesn't respond!

For a robot who is quick to correct anything anyone says illogically, the fact that she doesn't contradict Shaan's comment, might suggest a lot of things...is she suddenly attuned to his sorrow and doesn't want to pareshaan him more by contradicting him? Or is their a small amount of truth to what he has said?

Another thing that struck me, is when Rajni mentioned his ex to him. Throughout the entire scene, as Rajni keeps talking, he just gets more and more upset and crestfallen😭😭 Rajni (bless her soul) tells him very spiritedly that she will get him together with his ex-girlfriend. To her, this is her way of setting his life straight. But oddly, Shaan seems to have no response to that at all! His eyes don't light up, he doesn't get very happy, his expression doesn't even change! For a guy who spent a good 10minutes laying his heart bare about this girl to Rajni, his response is quite subdued as opposed to his sorrow over having to let go of Rajni.

Is this possibly a sign? Could Shaan's attachment towards Rajni overshadow his past flame for this ex??

On a side note, I was really happy with Rajni here. The way she tells Shaan that his ex will become proud of him and will return and no longer think he's a lukkha, shows how much she actually cares for Shaan. For a programmed robot to be an adarsh bahu, she certainly goes out of her way to make sure that Shaan is not just safe, but also happy.

That seems a little like love to me, don't you think?😉

Throughout the episode, Shaan has been utterly confused, deeply down-hearted and probably more helpless than we have seen him. At the very end, his natural reaction is to hold on to her for comfort and consolation. Shaan may not have lost his Rajni yet, but he can already feel a deep sense of longing for her before he has to let her go.

Hello, hello! Welcome back! 🤗 So glad to see your list and elaborate points about today's episode, Tavita!

For now, I just want to single out a part of your post that jumped out at me immediately...

That, my friend, is exactly what I said in one of my reviews this week! 👏

I'll be back to update this post later! 😳

Hi hi hi hi hi hi hieee!! So excited to jump back on the train😆

Thanks so much for your uber quick read dear!! Super duper looking forward to your comments on the episode myself!!

@quote: Wow!! I'm so sorry I haven't read any of your previous few posts because I'm holding off till I get to the actual epis...your posts are an amazing break-down and wrap up of the best parts of each episode!

And I'm so so glad that you've picked up on this too!! Great minds think alike😉😉There's just so many ways to express love and affection - I'm so glad the creators have put forth it in such an adorable manner that makes me so much more hopeful for what's in store for this two :)

Looking forward to our rambles and rants!

Thanks for your comments swriter, and I completely agree with you!

@Kala jaadu type: Too many shows are taking this route nowadays! It's become an alternative method of stringing along a show that clearly isn't able to survive on the plot itself, and so writers think it's easy to just throw in any chudail, dayn, bhoot, atma etc...

I'm so glad we've got a show that not only looks at a rather unexplored genre of sci-fi, but also puts in the right doses of comedy, sorrows, happiness and fun!