E137: Raghav, Pallavi and the Shades of Love
Because love manifests in many ways....
The Car Scene: Frustration
The episode begins with the shady doctor telling Pallavi to sit with ‘Raja’- they’re entering uncharted waters, and he needs her support. Why? She’s as much a stranger to him than anyone else. But, it’s too small a request to be refused, as frustrating as it may be to both Raghav and Pallavi. Classic ‘foot in the door’ strategy at play here- make a small request, so small that it can’t be refused, and use that first compliance to build to bigger and bigger requests. Raghav and Pallavi were both keenly aware of each other’s discomfort in the car, but swallowed it because of the task at hand that had to be done.
At Deshmukh Niwas: Protectiveness, Fear, and Trust
My favorite part of this episode, and so, so visual. Raghav, in the background of this scene, completely dominated the area. Pallavi is earnest and genuine- she’s happy to return to this family, their young son, taken too soon, taken too tragically. Loved Raghav immediately stepping back, this is her family, how to approach this is her call, but he’s still there to make sure nothing happens to her detriment. He may be standing back here, but he’s very much taking in every single thing happening in the room, ready to step in whenever required.
Loved the framing of this scene here:
The battle line has, quite literally, been drawn, and while this may end up being Pallavi’s battle, Raghav very much has her back in it. Amrutha too, seems to be on their side, and they are standing in Milind’s half of the house- he will probably stand with them too.
Raghav, while sharply observing everything, respects the enormity of this moment for the family, and doesn’t intervene as long as Pallavi is the one running the show- making introductions, explaining the situation. But when Mandaar explicitly asks Pallavi what their relation is, he steps in- as would be expected, she is, after all, his family and he’s not one to take a backseat when matters concern his own. It’s at this point that he decides it’s time for them to leave- perhaps realizing that it’s about to get messy. And messy it does get, with Sulochana’s reveal. Another beautiful shot of Raghav stepping up next to Pallavi as soon as as she is put on the spot, and Mandaar steps towards her- he’s not about to let her go into any battle alone.
This was the protectiveness- then came the fear.
First, when Raghav’s pulling Pallavi out, and senses resistance. Even if just for a split second before he turned and saw Mandaar, he would have wondered if it were her who was choosing to stay back. Then, Pallavi- this is not the first time we’ve seen the two exit the Deshmukh house, hand in hand, but this is the first time we see Raghav taking the lead so explicitly, and Pallavi’s not only holding his hand, but her other hand is on his arm- seeking sanctuary, unwilling to be caught by anyone else again.
As for trust- the night she was thrown out of her house by Vijay was a turning point, and she’s never let herself be led out of one since- not by Sharda, not by Vijay. She did let Raghav lead her out today though. Infact, she took strength and security from it, because she knows him, trusts him, loves him.
Back Home, Part 1: Desperation
The sheer franticness to prove to the world that they are married. In their hearts, they know that no one else could ever hold the place of ‘spouse’ or ‘soulmate’- but the messiness of this situation isn’t lost on either one of them, and they’re both shaken by Mandaar exerting rights on Pallavi as her husband. Sure, it got put off for now because there is no proof that he is Mandaar- and Raghav was pretty clear, if he proves himself to be Mandaar, he may call Pallavi his ex-wife, till then, nothing. But underneath all that bravado, they’re both extremely apprehensive of the storm about to hit them. They know they’re married to only each other, but how to convince the world of the same, when they will call Mandaar Pallavi’s ‘first husband’, like Sulochana did today?
It’s reflective of their shaken state of mind that they both earnestly believe that plastering their bedroom wall with pictures of a wedding will prove their point to the world- forgetting their own apprehensions about their wedding day being a bitter memory, Pallavi forgetting that she herself got the nail removed from the wall. Because those memories, that bitterness- that’s theirs. While it’s not ideal, they can manage that- what they can’t deal with is the legitimacy of those memories being questioned. So while neither wanted those reminders around when there was no external force around, they’ll happily put up with those instead of people casting doubts on their marriage.
Interlude: Some Valuable Advice
I’ve not always loved Jaya’s interference in their relationship, but I adored it today. She was such a mom, saying words of wisdom with a comforting smile on her face, talking them down from their frantic, anxious response towards something more constructive. She was also a woman speaking from experience, one who had known not only love, but also partnership. She knows what it’s like to stand with someone through thick or thin, and she’s helping her kids benefit from her knowledge.
Back Home, Part 2: "I Love You"
I doubt there is much left to be said about the confession scene today. It wasn’t a surprise to either of them- they both have long realized their love, and also know how much the other loves them back, but in the face of everything about to happen, and Jaya’s advice, they realized how important it is to verbalize their feelings, and they did. No drama, no extravagance- the simple, heartfelt truth. I loved how Raghav, who was desperately waiting to hear it from Pallavi before, didn’t have the patience to hear her wax poetic today. Another man had tried to stake claim on his wife, in front of him, and he just had to tell her. I thought that the words they both used were perfectly in character for them.
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Now that I’ve gushed sufficiently, did any of it not work for me? Yes. I hated the duet background song- the two singers clearly sang separately and it was awkwardly spliced together. I wish they’d stick to the OG title song, it’s by far better than all other versions. The camera work could have been better, they’ve delivered far superior shots for less significant moments in the past. But in general, the emotional hit from the episode was more than enough for me to forget these things.
As for the precap, I found them both to be so adorable. It’s like now that the floodgates of expressing their love have been opened, there is no holding Raghav back. I’ll be honest, the ‘code’ thing made me cringe (quite a bit)- but that’s a personal thing, I have a hard time enjoying overly cheesy stuff like that. It worked for the characters- Pallavi is filmy, Raghav is indulgent, and for two young people, forced to mature too soon, and way beyond their years, there is something endearing about them finding someone with whom they can let themselves be a little immature and playful and nonsensical. I’ll find a way to live with the cheese, if cheese is what they want.
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