Why Bhavya Should be Chutki
Its frustrating that I have to disclaimer this, but all Annika, Bhavya, RuVya bashers please refrain from using this post as a sounding board. Gauri/AniRi fans, this is not in any way, shape or form, an attack on your favourites, but a mere opinion/discussion post. If anyone believes otherwise to anything this post says, I would love to hear their thoughts but I refuse to tolerate any bashing. Apologies if any sentiments are hurt, in advance that is clearly not my intention.
So, potentially as one of the longest held secrets on IB, the mystery of who is Annika's Chutki is still at large. Originally, I think the CVs were setting it up as Annika-Ishaana (what with how they both indirectly helped each other and all), but after that track ended, across the fandom, it was widely held/hoped that Gauri was Annika's Chutki. And to be honest everything sets up for it.
Annika is missing her long-lost sister, Gauri is an orphan who has been adopted. The age gap seems to suits (relatively), as well. In the very first episode of DBO, where they have their first conversation over the phone, there is divine music in the background, and winds of change blowing. The first time they meet Annika jumps to her defence in front of Swetlana, and they become confidants and good friends in a very short amount of time. Again, like they were looking for each other, all along.
A tad bit contrived, but it was sweet and god, do these women have chemistry.
But somehow, I just feel like they both fall a bit short with each other. Post- Bhavya's entry, I can see and would rather see Bhavya as Annika's Chutki, rather than Gauri.
No harm done to Gauri/AniRi. Both women support each other like sisters, there are heaps of sister mentions thrown along the plot, and they look great together. Gauri is an absolute sweetheart, as is Annika, and in theory, they should work but maybe, maybe this is what puts me off them as siblings.
Let's look at the O-Bros, for one second. They are all from the same family, and essentially, the same trinity and yet, each brother is guided by his own set of morals and values. Setting them all apart from each other, significantly. In no way does that mean that one loves less, or more, but rather, that these three brothers are individual personas.
But when one looks at Annika and Gauri, the similarities are uncanny. They are both bubbly, both have weird language, both are wild and overtly cheery. At a deeper extent, Annika is a realist, while Gauri is more idealistic but at the preface, they resemble each other, a bit too much.
I don't know about any of you, but I have a sister of my own, and we are practically the most different individuals ever. For anyone who knows of the MBTI evaluation, she is a Thinker/Judger, and I am a Feeler/Perceiver. Poles apart, practically.
Point being that siblings do not always have to be alike. In fact, as a bit of a generalization, I don't believe that they are. It would still be believable if Annika and Gauri had grown up together, and so had developed similar characteristics, but if they are sisters, they have not seen each other since they were about 6-8. It doesn't make sense.
Instead, I think that Annika-Gauri make for a really sweet Jethani-Devrani pairing. Somewhere along the dynamics of Jhanvi-Pinky at their best, without all the fighting and the oh my matas! Both women obviously care and love each other, and I think they also prove a point here that blood relations are not everything. Whenever Gauri talks about having a deeper connection to Annika, of respect and love, I hope that this is what they are getting at. That two women, without any blood relations, can still love each other to (and more) the extent of blood. It would make for a beautiful track if one of the O-Bros does turn out to be illegitimate, because the juxtaposition would be heart wrenching.
Anyways, that leaves Bhavya as Annika's Chutki.
Okay, so I must admit, that I only watched the first three episodes of DBO, and got exhausted with watching both shows, so I stopped. However, from the basic insight that I have on Bhavya, she seems to have lost her family (in a fire?) as well. I don't know any of the details, but I think that the connections there, with Annika's past, should be noted.
Gauri, in comparison to both of the other women, has had a relatively happy childhood. She was adopted into a family, where she met her mother, who genuinely loved and cherished her. Annika, on the other hand, was either abused in the orphanage that she was in, or by the family (it was never really specified), and was left under the custody of Sahil's vile aunt. Bhavya's family hasn't been explored, has it? Nor has it been met, yet.
Personally, I think their dynamic would work better as sisters - because they are quite different. Bhavya is exclusively moral and driven, whereas Annika is self-sacrificial, and will lie to save others. Bhavya is task-oriented, while Annika will waver from her path, whether it be in love or anguish. Bhavya will run away the promise of love, while Annika craves it. Both are extremely independent in their own ways.
But I think what really makes me want them as sisters, is how they deal with their pasts. Both have obviously had traumatic events that have scarred them, but they face them so differently. Annika, who is often shown to nave and hopeful, has obviously let the memories of Chutki lie. She gets haunted by them, and she calls out to her in her sleep, but Annika has not searched for her sister in all these years. Possibly because she thinks she is dead, or because she believes that she will never be able to find her sister.
Bhavya, who is shown to be a realist and doubtful of everyone and everything, still searches for her family. She hasn't given up, like Annika has, but instead, fights and sacrifices any shred of feeling for Rudra and the Oberoi's, to complete what she has come for. Even at a point of weakness, where she wants to give up, she stops herself in time as soon as the Commissioner mentions her family.
Its sad, because the one who is usually more idealistic has given up on finding her sister, and the one who is usually more realistic, will not stop searching.
And I keep thinking, if this theory is actually correct, about what would happen when they do find out. There may be a chance that Bhavya will blame her sister for leaving her, while Annika will become overtly protective, and I daresay, desperate to make up for lost time. What about when Bhavya finds out about the forced marriage? I can see a time where she refuses to forgive Shivaay for what he once did to her sister almost as another form of his redemption, but in the process, causing a rift between herself and Rudra.
Also, do you guys remember the age-old theory that pretty much links the Oberoi's secret to one/two of the womens' pasts? If that eventually comes true as well, how will both of the women react then? I would love to see a role reversal where Annika, who always forgives, resents the family for what they did, whilst Bhavya, who is always justice-hungry, forgives them faster.
All in all, I think Annika and Bhavya have a beautiful dynamic and would work fantastically as being long-lost sisters. However, if it does end up being Gauri, I'll still be happy. As long as the weird theory where all three of the women end up being sisters doesn't materialise, everything is good.
Because come on, even for Ishqbaaaz, that is way too contrived.
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