I was putting all the things that happened this week in retrospect and I really have to give it to Vikas. This man actually has a heart of gold. He's a gem. After all these weeks, THIS was the Vikas I was dying to see. Calm, composed, shrewd, and one who always puts his conscience above the game. Vikas has won my respect (and maybe my heart too), game or no game. He proved he is a gentleman through and through. More than playing the game, it was his character that came out clearly and shone!
- The way he consoled Arshi when Priyank passed such vile, personal comments. 👏 He was the ONLY MAN (out of 7) in the entire house who saw the implications of Priyank's words on a woman and actually DID something about it. Didn't fight, didn't rebuke rather went to Arshi & gave her the mental strength to fight her battles. "Main hamesha tumhare saath rahunga iss game mein..."" This one line was enough for Arshi and spoke volumes being that Priyank is an even closer RL friend.
- In the entire Ben-Aakaash fiasco, he stayed mostly neutral but took the correct stands for the correct people on EITHER SIDE. That's why he gracefully stood out amongst all these animals that just mindlessly fought. He didn't let his prior friendships with Ben/Priyank influence his thought process and opinions. At the same time, he rebuked Aakaash for his actions as well. Above anything, he tried to work as the mediator and not an instigator for both parties.👏👏
- In LB task. He had no business getting off of the spaceship when Hina went to take a piss. He knew getting out could cost him big time, which is why he had peed inside that garbage bag ON NATIONAL TV prior to that. However, he kept everything a side (even his enmity with Hina) and went to hold the towel for her. I want to emphasize WHY he went. It was as an instinctual reaction I feel. A woman, even if she was the one he disliked the most in the house, was in need of help and it was as simple as that. It's clear that he has always been taught to respect women, irrespective of their actions, behaviors or background. It melts my heart seeing this.
- I also want to address when Hina threw him under the bus the very next day. I loved the way he reacted. Not through yelling, not through tooting his own horn about his good deed, but simply by saying you, chose me? Okay fine. He guilt-tripped Hina badly without uttering a single WORD about how he helped her. 👍🏼 On the flip side, we saw ki Hina kinta dhindora peet rahi thi when she saved Puneesh. I'm so happy Vikas didn't stoop to this level.
- Finally, when Hina & co began s**t-shaming Arshi he was again the only one openly supporting Arshi. He vocalized that it was wrong, but first advised Arshi to just sit Luv down and explain how she's uncomfortable. After that, he would handle the rest. No gaalis, no violence, just words. Sometimes it's not always right for the man to interfere himself, rather give the woman the mental strength to fight her own battles. That's a true gentleman and Vikas did just that. 👏👏
- I feel his anger towards Luv was fueled largely by this incident as well. The funny thing is even though he said "Don't let him sleep" he didn't stretch the matter all night.
- He never says anything demeaning about women in front OR behind their backs regardless of what they have done to him. And even Arshi attested to that. With Hina, he openly says I don't like her hypocrisy but never once raised fingers on her character. Even after she back-stabbed him. His conversation with Sapna truly broke my heart. The dude was genuinely hurt and he expressed it beautifully without being bitchy.
- Plus, the way he supported Arshi again (that too behind her back) here just was the icing! He sees that above anything else--her profession, her clothes, her demeanor--Arshi is firstly a WOMAN. And no woman deserves to be treated in such a way. I salute him for this.👏
Many will say he was faking it all... I beg to differ, there were many incidents where Vikas could have "slipped"" out of his character if he were acting. Not once did this happen, even in the most minute way. This entire week and actually many weeks prior, he has shown clearly that his conscience is above anything else. And I lubs him for that.😳😳
People in this house preach about women empowerment, but Vikas displays it silently and brilliantly through his actions. He leads by example and it's so endearing to see. & you know what the best part is? He doesn't go around tooting his own horn about it. 👏👏
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Health and Fitness
