Though there were less of Kesar Gulaal scenes today, what was shown was significant in showing the progress in their relationship.
Before starting with Kesar and Gulaal, I would like to say though I was impatient about the absence of K and G in the start; I did enjoy the confrontation between Giga kaka and his useless son. It was nice to see Pankaj Tripathi aka Giga Kaka's performance. He had his share of performance in the show which was superbly done.
Waiting up on Kesar
Gulaal was absolutely in the wifey mode waiting up at the entrance for her husband to return from work. She looked pretty happy in this settlement with him and there was no gloom on her face that I feared. She has quickly adapted to her new environment in this new house with Kesar.
Kesar makes a grand entry on his bicycle. I must say I have watched Neil''s grand entry in his jeep in Karol Bagh, and then his grand entry fighting the men in Gulaal and later Kesar had his own style when he rode his bike marked with his initials "K". Today's entry of Kesar on his bicycle had its own grandeur. I may be biased since I root for Neil as an actor, but it is not an exaggeration when I say that Kesar rode into his home on his bicycle in style.
Gulaal's spirits were high as she saw Kesar and it did bring a smile to her face. Kesar was highly excited as he reached home. He calls out to Gulaal excitedly with a 'Dekh Gulaal" and informed very proudly that he has brought everything within his understanding of grocery shopping, very calmly yet happily announces that he found a job when she enquired about the bicycle. He shared the difficulty he went through in finding a job in the village, credited Kunal for his new job and detailed out in excitement about his new job, of what he has to be doing, that he needs to commute for taking orders for the saree business, and hence the factory has given him the bicycle to aid his work. And in spite of the long and exhaustive day that he had, he is as eager like how he was in the morning with enthusiasm brimming over that he happily invites her in to make the dinner arrangement.
The Chulha scene
Gulaal was busy getting ready with the dinner. Kesar has freshened up and comes over to see Gulaal struggling to light the fire due to the use wet logs. He smiles seeing her from a distance but quickly gets worried seeing her struggle. Kesar walks in to help her out with the problem and gets sentimental saying he can't see her in tears. Gulaal tried to explain that she wasn't crying but it was the smoke from the chulha that caused her to tear up and not to bother himself. When she says it is not within his capability he takes it up as a challenge, reminds her how he did the cleaning last night, boasts that there isn't anything in this world that he cannot do and forcibly attempts to light the chulha. He tries once, a second time too and he tries to keep up her patience by saying " hoga, dekh abhi dekh". I love the way she allows him to attempt it and responds with "Hmm'" When he goes into the coughing mode, it was really funny the way she took out that sweet revenge on him by asking "Bhuj gaya?"as if she was more concerned for the doused fire. Kesar was still struggling with his coughing up when she goes to fetch a glass of water for him though she did not waste an opportunity to mock him by saying she believed he would do it seeing his enthusiasm and self confidence just like how he did the cleaning similar to his hostel days. Gulaal reminded me of the perfect and typical wife who does not forget anything that a husband would have mentioned to her once and stored it for future references to get back at the husband in case the situation demanded.
Kesar's body language and the way he hits his chest once suggested he was in no mood for this sermon from her when he was suffering like this. Very sweetly she gets the water for him and rubs his back to help him ease his coughing. Kesar and Gulaal have very conveniently got accustomed to each other's physical proximity. This time Kesar became consciously aware of her gesture because he was too overwhelmed by what she did. He had always wanted that attention from him since he was young. When she gave that care that he once demanded from her and she refused to give citing "his desire" for her as a wife, he was too overwhelmed. The brief glance that they shared was very informative. No dialogues between them but it showed Kesar's love, his pain, his gratitude for the simple love she showered him with hope in his eyes whereas Gulaal acknowledged his unsaid words, she realized the momentary closeness that they shared. Both of them are aware of the momentary awkwardness but both of them let it pass and got back to what they were doing.
Kesar challenges her saying he would have to go to bed hungry and we could see Gulaal taking it up saying dinner would be made provided he does not distract her by adding up little troubles under the pretext of helping her. When she wards him off to be seated quietly away from her, he is first surprised that she is actually asking him to leave, plain unhappy for being labeled as trouble-maker, irritated at being forced to obey her order and leaves her sulking with a " karo apna kaam". When he does sit far away from her, all he can do is still look at her lovingly , I would say with painful love and probably recollecting what just passed between them. Gulaal on the other hand manages to light the fire and very sweetly says " Jal gaya", very proud that finally she has managed to light the fire without his help. Now do we take an underlying meaning to it for the ignited passion between them?
First Dinner in their new home
When Gulaal brings in the plate for his dinner, he is too happy that finally they are having dinner. Poor guy has been hungry along with her since last night. He asks about her plate. When she says she would eat later after he finishes, Kesar has a ray of hope. Kesar feels she is treating him like a husband in the real sense like in traditional households. A smiling Kesar has momentary happiness when he says 'Tu toh mujhe sach mei pati ki tarah hi" and trails off in his sentence. Somewhere in his heart though he believes it can't be possible, he yearns for her love in entirety and for a complete relationship like a husband and wife. They do share a brief exchange of glance there, his eyes so full of hope.
That long glance at her almost has a varied shift of expressions that seek answers from her to his questions "1)Is it really the reason for eating later, 2)can't I have this expectation and when she just lowers her eyes 3)he has this slight disappointment. Gulaal does not get intimidated by what he said but he senses her slight unease, but does not cut off the conversation but goes on to say that she need to do all this and that he is not old fashioned in his thinking. She puts a full stop to his hopes when she says that she had brought in one plate since only one plate was available. Yet we can see Kesar voicing out thoughts saying " Accha, mujhe laga ki'" and still they both exchange glances at each other. When he realizes that it was not out her acceptance of him as her husband even if temporary, he still tries to cherish the moment with some exclusiveness in the form of sharing the plate for once. Kesar can be happy with that small exclusive moment with her and he can do anything to have that moment in his life. After asking her that, his eyes reflect that earnest request with a "can't I expect this much?" as he waits hoping for her approval, waiting for her "yes" to share the plate and seal the moment forever.
Precap
Seems pretty interesting. I loved the use of the "haq" dialogue because slowly Gulaal finds it right to place her trust and faith in him to share the deepest secrets that she has held in her heart. Gulaal has progressed to a level where she trusts Kesar completely to share her past with him. It is beautiful to see her progress to this level when she once refused him that right and declared that no one other than Vasant can have such rights on her.
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
CID
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