Okay, today while we started with the aaghaaz of the best bahu competition week, I am going to take this moment to thank the makers for giving us what we have been asking for since the truth reveal - A glimpse of our powerful Imeliya & 2 Adilie scenes (we got 2 in one episode, yeh meherbaani kaise hogayi😆) Baaki ka episode was also not too bad, which was quite contrary to what we expected as well.
So we start with getting some continuity from Saturdays episode (I am shocked😵 that the makers actually gave us that conversation) with Adi coming to see Imlie wrapping up his gadda to send him packing back to his room (told you she won't keep him there long😆kya bade bade sapne sajaye the of seeing them have conversations there, sab chakanchoor kar diya😆). Adi gets all upset asking her why she was wrapping his gadda and he is not going back. He explains that just because they faced one obstacle, they cannot give up. They knew they would get such problems and tries to make her understand that this is the time to stand together rather than stay apart. Imlie tries to explain that their decision to be together is shaming their elders, which she cannot see. Adi gets mad at her and tells her that his elders are taking the opinions of people to heart, who are judging Imlie based on the fact that she is from a village & does housework. He says that such opinions do not matter to him to which finally Imlie bursts out saying that it matters. Such people's opinion matters as no one can function alone. They have to live among society that is made up of people who are related to us in some form or the other. She explains how despite everyone knowing her mother so well, were the first people who came to taunt her mother when she gave birth to her. How she and her mother have heard so much worse than he can even imagine, including from her own NN. How she and her mom have hidden their tears from each other as what people say matters and hurts, no matter how much one tries to ignore. She promises to him that she will heal the wound to her elder's name and pride no matter what it takes. Adi asks how she will do it, to which she responds that she will do "pure dil se" baaki toh sita maiyya sambhal legi. Adi understands and leaves with his gadda, trotting back to his room, leaving his jhalli behind, giving her his saath ka assurance, by cupping her cheek.
The next day we get the first announcement of the best bahu competition, where society ki ladies come in the house to meet the T ladies, disregarding Sundar as he is just a "naukar". They quip that hum naukaraon ki baat nahi sunte, unless they are going to announce that Sundar is their dammad. SUndar stops Imlie from meeting them, as he does not want her to get insulted from them again, specially after what he just heard (He is such a sweetheart, never stops to protect his chipkali from pain🤗) The society ladies start their insult session for Aparna as they feel she does not have a pretty bahu to compete among the others, being that Malini is no longer available. BTW, ek lady ne bade correctly pakad liya that Adi ka pura ka pura dil uspe aa gaya, toh koi kya hi kahe. I wanted to say, thank you madam, shayad yeh sunkar T wale elders bhi maan le that Adi ka dil, jigar, intestine, sab ka sab humari Imeliya par hi aagaya and anything they do is not going to change that😆
We then the first glimpse of our powerful Imeliya and I swear I wanted to cheer her on, she was that good. She came and introduced herself as Aparna's bahu and made sure to show each one of them of the skeletons in their closet. She reminds them that the perk of being a "naukar" is that you know more about everyone's houses than sometimes even they are aware. Her words reminded me of how true this is. To really know someone and their true character, as someone who works for them. The entire community of helpers know the deepest and darkest secrets of any house and Imlie reminds them of this very well. She asks them to be thankful that she is not the type to spread gossip, but she is also not one to see her family get insulted like this. She also mentioned that how during Adi & Malini's marriage also, these were the same ladies who were commenting on how Aparna ne bade ghar par haath mara - basically calling out their hypocrisy and showing that no matter what, they will never be satisfied. While all this fell on deaf ears, Imlie made a very strong point that these people just come to throw stones, while their own houses are made of glass. Aparna stops Imlie and asks her to go inside as she cannot take her insult in her house because of Imlie. She sends the ladies packing, assuring them that they will come later to register Pallavi's name.
We then get Malini at KC's office, who is upset as KC has dropped her case (Yeh bhi gaya) She wants to know why he did not feel to call her even to mention this and just sent back her papaers. He said to play this divorce game somewhere else, as he is tired of her not taking it seriously herself. She refuses to discuss anything about the divorce and runs to the T house when they call. He reminds her that Aditya's maa has her own bahu, and asks why does she run there every time. He shows her the mirror(and echoes the fandom's statement) that she uses every excuse to make her way back to Aditya🤣. Of course she cannot hear it and leaves after he calls her Ms. Chaturvedi.😆
We are taken back to see Aparna crying to PT that she had a cute sapna to participate in the best bahu competition with Malini and show the society ladies who is the best. But Imlie ke wajah se her sapna and beta, dono ne dhoka de diya. She quips that Adi never once thought that his family would also have some umeeden from their bahu, jisko usne chaknachoor kar diya (so we are now slowly inching towards the "you got married and did not think of us and our status in society" phase with the elders, from the dhoka diya phase) This makes Imlie decide that she will become the bahu that they always envisioned for themselves (not knowing that she already is, just dono ke aankhon mein chashma hai, T par gusse ka aur Imlie par guilt ka)
Then we get the best scene of the episode, where we get a bonus Adilie scene discussing about her participation in the best bahu competition. Adi starts his argument by confirming in his mind that his doubts that she was half mad has now been confirmed to her being completely out of it. He starts echoing the fandom's words of not needing to participate in the stupid competition and focus on her studies instead. She does not need to do any acrobats in front of the society to prove herself to be a best bahu. He understands her need to pacify the elders, but if they do not agree it is their problem. Imlie ties to make him understand that whoever's it is, there is a problem. She promises that whatever she does, she will not let anything affect her studies. Adi is still pissed at her wanting to participate in a stupid competion, when Imlie explains her motivation behind all this. She tells him that she is trying to fulfill Aparna's dream by winning this, just so that Aparna can be happy despite everything. Her purpose is very simple and straightforward and all she wishes is to see Aparna smile again. Adi tries to explain that in the current situation everyone will be more focused on insulting her and she will not have any support, to which Imlie reminds him that he is there for her. As long as BS is her chiraiyyagirlj (I assume that is what she said, coz I tried to make it out multiple times) she can do anything. Adi questions what is a chiraiyyagirlj and Imlie tries to explain that they are the people who dance when someone hits a boundary in cricket. Adi correctly guesses that she means cheerleaders and asks her if she wants him to wear a short skirt & do gymnastics for her (I am laughing at that image while just writing this🤣). Imlie goes all puppy eyes at him asking if he will not do even so much for her, to which he thunders at her to stop everything and get back to her studies. he quietly smiles to himself & reiterates what nonsense this entire best bahu competition is🤣
We are then taken to the registration desk, where Radhaji enrolls Pallavi for the competition. All the other ladies ask Aparna if she is not registering her bahu for the competition, to which Imlie makes her special entry to register Aparna's and her name for the competition, to fulfill her sasuma's sapna, all to the background of Aigiri Nandini, almost as if woh jung pe jaa rahi hai (which in a way she is - jung against society's soch.) She announces that she will make sure to give her best to win this competition. Aparna tears her ticket and asks her to go back to PD, but Imlie is unfazed & just goes back to tape back her ticket. As usual an argument ensues, where Imlie makes sure to let everyone know that she does not give up and is used to winning in any situation. Also the whole idea of a best bahu is someone who respects the janani of her life partner, which no one else can do more than her for her sasuma. Imlie's statement proved that for her, being the best bahu is to remind Aparna that she wants to show just how much she respects and loves her for giving her Adi as a life partner. Imlie tells Pallavi that she is willing to do anything, if it means she gets back to love and respect from the elders. Pallavi boosts her morale and reminds her that she is there for her and they will together show the society what they both are made of.
Of course we needed to get continuity for Malini, where she tells her mom that she fought with KC and he backed out from the case as he realized that she is not over Adi. AC gives her amazing advice that we all know she will not follow - Get a divorce quickly, so that you can get over Adi once and for all.
AC decides to make sure Adi & Imlie are not happy as they made her daughter cry and uses that as the excuse to land up in the T's society function as a judge for the cooking competition, where she challenges them to do a dish that is not Indian, to trip Imlie up as usual.
Let us see how this week pans out, but for a Monday episode, this one was pretty good by usual standards, so I am a happy camper. Bring on the cringe for the remaining week, as looks like we may still gets glimpses of GM in these episodes, so fingers crossed.
Cricket
CID
Kumkum Bhagya
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
