SIMI:
The look of bewilderment when her husband tells her what caused the accident, the urgency to sort things right then, anger at Mili, determination to tell her she cant stay over, the relief with which she tells Abhi that she gave an ultimatum to Mili was beautifully essayed.
The way she sought assurance from Abhi that what she did was not wrong in any way, the clarification she gives Abhi that Mili was wrong and so she had to be firm with her sister was just to convice herself that she did the right thing. And she asks him again, ...woh galat hain na, we tried telling her, that too lovingly, still she cant follow, then Mili should better learn that Iam not weak. It showed how Simi thinks of herself to be. She believes and also knows the fact that people find her as a weak one.
When Abhi explains that she needs to be all manipulative and she can never be one makes her think and ask him back like a small kid...So what do I do???
Liked Simi nodding her head away for Abhi's plan to call Mathurs because she is convinced that thats the best solution out. Still she kept on raising her doubts and it showed she is too straight forward to understand the trick to salvage a problem.
Also liked the way Simi was pacifying her mother to call the Mathurs over. I liked it best when she continued to end each statement with...Mili kitni khush ho jaayegi ..because she knows only then her mother will agree to this plan. when her father intervenes and her mother is convincing him, like the way Simi was standing behind, nodding her head in approval of what her mother was saying because she somehow wants this plan to work to send Mili away. Simi was sweet when she said to her mother.....Pyaari maa, aap bahut smart ho.....
Liked her when she rested her head on Abhi and was still in the thinking mode but soon was comforted by him and the way when she is again lost that she is hiding things from her parents and working a plan to send Mili away.
Well I feel it was a subtle and good performance from Smiriti as Simi. This is an example of what is called as ACTING. Very rarely Smiriti's talent has been utilised. With subtle responses and gestures and a subdued performance, she captured my heart once over.
ABHI:
Neil's performance as Abhi was natural enough. The reasoning he gave for the accident showed his displeasure, his worry that Mili may misbehave with Simi, the curiosity to find out what happened was good. The quick smile he gave Simi when she said I cant think of a plan really was sweet the way he is thinking that his wife is planning big time to do something when she actually can't.
It was shown what Abhi thinks of Simi, the way he understands his wife is that she is straight forward and sincere at heart.
His expressions of approval in whatever Simi was saying, to reassure Simi that she is not weak but she is just not smart to handle conspiracies was a treat to watch especially where he changed expressions for each word mentioned…planning, plotting, manipulating and scheming. The way Abhi shook his head after hugging her showed how much he cared for her and thought of her as someone who just cant change to being manipulative and with that came the feeling that Simi needed to be taken care of.
Liked Abhi trying to clear Simi's doubts to complete the plan of sending Mili away. It showed Abhi's desperation where he also knows Mili can come back again to 12/24 KB, but that need to be handled when that happens. Liked the way he was drumming his fingers and said….Lekin…phir se lekin….??
Liked Abhi tasting the food (I guess it was the sweet) and praising his wife, same time sensing Simi's worry.
This was most beautifully done.
Abhi and Simi as a couple:
I throughly enjoyed and loved both the actor's chemistry. Leads to you to forget that it is Neil and Smiriti but leaves us wanting to believe it as Abhi and Simi. The way he comes over, tastes the food, puts his hand on her shoulder and continues to talk and praises her cooking was good to watch. Even while Mili comes over with her mom, the way they both stand to show their solidarity against Mili that they are together was sweet enough.
IRONY
With the weakest storyline, these wonderful actors try and give their best. Imagine the wonders it would have created with a sensible and strong storyline in place. Let me not discuss Friday's episode. I felt it was one more step closer towards the dangerous path that the show is heading to…ultimately for drawing the curtains down.
Book Talk
Shiv Shakti
