It took me time to think and write about this episode because there was lots going on under the surface of all the lighthearted moments we saw, but here goes.
In the opening scene HS fell asleep on the couch. Did he sleep upstairs all night? If so, what progress in their relationship! Poor guy sleeps cramped up on that khatya downstairs and now on the couch, but one day he will have to do renovations in the house before he marries Babita. I do see her sending him off to sleep on that couch when she's angry with her husband.
Pyar ka Rang
We got a really lovely scene, in fact one of the most beautiful scenes of this show, when Minnie watched the colors from the crumpled sheet of paper slowly flow into the water in the jug. This reminded me of my childhood art project. I don't know if it was CG or not but just the way it was used to visualize all the colors of love was endearing. There was also another message for viewers when Minnie woke up to find the water had turned black. Life is full of colors and shades, each flowing in a different way, but if you let them all settle and mix, they become murky as they lose their individuality. Each form of love has its own place, its own beauty.
Minnie had thought all her life that she knew her mother very well, but now she has opened up to the possibility that there are facets of her mother she knows nothing about and wants to understand if there is scope for pyar ka rang.
All Yours
HS is a smart man, he already knows that sorry doesn't work every time and as always Lala shielded him from some of the blow. I loved how he laughingly tried to lighten the situation and after Babita went upstairs, the imagery he created of HS stepping on the 'bechaari' kulhaadi was spot on. I really love their dynamics and the actor playing Lala is wonderful. Wish I could find out more about him.
HS' face was so innocent but so honest as he said "sab kuch aap hi ka hi to hai". It was a slip of tongue but he didn't shy from it. If Lala hadn't been there he might have stayed in that moment a bit longer, but still he did not hesitate to tell her that she had the right to scold him. Just like that, he gave her back the right to invade his private space after having rudely asked her to leave him alone the other night. I loved how his voice softened while he said to Babita:
Haq hai aapka, manne bolne ka, samjhaane ka, daantne ka.
(By the way, I am trying to remember if he wore that kurta before, but he looked extra handsome!)
So Babita was telling him off like a thanedaarni and an outsider wouldn't even know that she wasn't his wife. She did have a point, though. This was not the first time they'd argued about his drinking. It was not just about saying sorry, it was about correcting a bad habit. No matter how many times they have these apology-forgiveness sequences, until he himself decides to stop drinking (or at least stop getting drunk), this will continue to happen. There might be a day when he will swear off it for her, but the deep-seated pain that he still holds close to his heart needs to come out first and be healed. I think when Babita really is head over heels in love and starts to pay closer attention to him, a lot of his issues will finally be discussed between them.
Pearls of Wisdom
I know some viewers are annoyed with the senior Khuranas still being around, but I think the CVs kept them around to provide another perspective on society and how some things change with time while others remain the same. Minnie could have never imagined that her grandparents would have such a beautiful romance to talk about. The flavors and colors are different but it's important for her to continue to see that marriage and love can be beautiful and successful too, as in the case of her grandparents, who are the parents of her own useless father. I actually enjoyed listening to their anecdote and Beeji blushing was very cute.
Naeem Bi continued to tease Babita, but it was hilarious when Madhu continued into a zone that Babita was supposedly clueless about. She is faaaaar off from that point where she thinks about intimacy of that kind with HS and I don't think she wants to go there just yet. I am glad Naeem Bi continues to nudge her to open her mind but to Babita, they are "just friends". Anyway, she was disturbed enough to tell Minnie off, and yes she sounded like a mom warning her child to avoid the wrath of her father.
It was just an excuse anyway, as I don't think HS would scold Minnie if he saw her sitting in that mess. Rather, he would be a child once again and join in. In fact, I am hoping she still hasn't cleaned up by the time he comes home so that he sees them both (or at least Minnie) making the pots and then uses that idea to appease Babita later on. Minnie said that their plan A was dependent on Hanuman Uncle, so let's see how that plays out.
Work-life Balance
Babita's chat with Bill reminded her of the simple truth in her life: that her daughter's happiness was above all her work. I think this is part of Babita's growth process to learn to balance her work commitments and her issues with others, versus the needs of her daughter, who sometimes just wants to hang out and do fun stuff with her mother like most kids do. After all the upheavals in their lives they deserve to spend some simple moments of joy together.
Truly, Madly, Deeply
I think this time it's important for Babita to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with HS before she decides to marry him, rather than be rushed into it just because everyone thinks it's a good idea and because she thinks he's a good candidate as a friend and life partner. I don't think he'd have it any other way either. She's still a reserved person so I don't know if it will be the shy kind of love or if she will be madly, visibly in love and express her emotions openly. In either case, I'm in no hurry as I know her journey would be lovely to see.
I do have another concern, though. Love is not enough for them in the long run. There needs to be understanding and true sharing between them. Until recently, Babita has been focused mainly on her problems and needs, while showing caring towards HS in small things. She has never gone far into his private space and looked deep into his heart, except for that one instance when she dictated the love letter to Imarti. Even then, it was her impression of the situation and not something HS had voiced.
Till now, he has been the guide, mentor, and agony aunt to Babita. He has seen her in the worst and best of situations and knows how to deal with her. However, he has never really shared his problems with her the way he does with Naeem Bi or Lala. She is not his confidante yet. Far from it, in fact. With Minnie he does open up to a certain extent but only when it's in relation to her. Besides, she's too young to be burdened with the problems of grownups.
I think what I'm trying to say is, HS is much further into his journey to be fit as her life partner, while she has not even begun it yet. For this relationship to work and be successful long-term she needs to be his equal in that department, i.e. she also needs to be the emotional support in his life who will stand by him through thick and thin.
I don't know if HS will go through some hardship in future where he will have a tough time coping with a situation. By that I mean something unrelated to mother-daughter (not that they haven't put him through their version of hell a few times already). It's in those moments that Babita would need to step up. I think she might end up learning more about him by speaking to Naeem Bi and Lala because I don't see him just suddenly opening up about sensitive issues and past memories. I don't think she has any idea of the tragedy he has seen, how it turned him into the man he is, how it racks his soul even today. He treats her as a co-parent, but she's not quite there yet. If she knew of the circumstances of his loss it would definitely touch something deep in her heart and give her that extra push to become his in every sense.
This wonderful man has experienced far greater pain than he lets on and beyond what she has experienced. He is still hurting on many fronts and I don't think he will heal so easily. Yes, he's a tough cop on the outside but part of that is also his way of bottling up his emotions. Babita is still on her journey to become fully strong and when she is ready, she will be able to look around and see that HS needs that emotional support and someone loyal to stand by him while he heals. Or maybe she will become tougher as she learns to be strong for the person who helped her daughter and her come this far. HS is no saint - he has been giving and giving and giving. He is bound to snap one day and on that day I wish to see Babita right beside Lala and Naeem Bi to catch him before he falls.
Speaking of which, I have been thinking that it's been almost a year since they moved into his house. Would Imarti's death anniversary come up? Would he honor her and their child's memory and be a total mess on that day?
Procrastinating going home
I am once again wondering if something will happen to Lala because of the way they talked about tera ghar mera ghar, and HS feeling hurt when Lala said his house was too small for him. This was a wonderful scene - he didn't forget his friend or their bond and the easy camaraderie they share is almost medicinal when he tries to deal with mother-daughter tantrums.
I also liked that HS decided to face the music after all, not knowing how long Babita would stay angry, so not wanting to go into self-imposed exile. He respects women but he does not need to or want to be afraid of them, so he will deal with whatever comes his way.
Some of my favorite dialogues:
HS: Yo hai mhara pushtaini ghar. Kal ko pata laga bhai mother-daughter dono ne kar liya qabza. Mera to ghar nikaala ho gaya.
LM: Dil pe to qabza ho rakha hai, haveli peh bhi qabza ho jaane do!
HS: Apna ghar apna hota hai, aur main mere ghar jaane se kyon daroon bhai?
He wanted to go home and remind them who's boss - who's the kirayedaar and who's the makaan malik. Let's see if his determination remains this way because he has two lionesses paying rent to live in his house. If they are still making pots when he enters his home, I bet he will melt right away.
I also love the way HS sometimes slips into a Punjabi accent in the middle of his standard Haryanvi one, like he did when imitating Lala saying "Babita penji". It reminds us that he's a Haryanvi cop born and brought up in Punjab, who understands the ways of Punjabi society but still retains his Haryanvi identity.
Pre-cap
A lot has been said about this. I don't want to read too much into it but I still feel it's premature. If the pottery scene is to show them bonding and for him to cutely apologize, I understand. I guess they are taking it in a different direction to trigger Babita's introspection regarding HS, especially in terms of how she feels when he touches her or is in close proximity without any specific need or obligation. It's to awaken her feelings of desire as a woman and to appreciate her own self, to see her own self the way HS does.
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