The Week that Was

Actually this one is about The Fortnight that Was ... I was travelling and didn't post last week, but when I started writing this week, I saw too many changes happened in the Arhi equation for me to skip straight to this week.
So here goes ... this is extra long ... I hope a few people do read it! 😛

16^th - 20^th Jan

16^th Jan - The Challenge - The Arhi kitchen scene continued ... and it seems the cv's have received and registered the complaints about Khushi being juvenile and the senseless overdose of comedy, the change is so evident, so drastic and oh, sooo welcome!!! The Arhi conversation was between two adults, two sane, mature adults ... and sexy ones at that ... the undertones in the conversation and the unspoken exchanges through eyes and expressions were completely delicious.

So Arnav challenges Khushi ... what if you lose, and Khushi replies with complete confidence ... I'll do anything you say.

Attraction there has always been between Arnav and Khushi, but two more things were required to deepen that attraction into love ... trust and respect. And in the challenge track, the beginnings of trust and respect are sown and they grow and strengthen as the track progresses.

Khushi's 'kuch bhi' was her trust ... regardless of what has gone between them, or more accurately, because of what has happened between them, somehow she has developed trust in Arnav ... a blind, unspoken trust that he would not willingly or purposely do anything to hurt her. And though later she does worry and fret as to what he will make her do, she never rescinds her challenge, never rescinds that trust ... he might taunt her, throw jibes, insults, make her do something embarrassing, but it will stay between them, and he will not do anything to seriously hurt her. And the blind challenge is evidence of that trust ... a huge change from the office challenge where the terms were spelled out clearly before the start.

And Arnav returns the favour ... accepting the same terms for himself ... his respect for Khushi. What is good enough for her is good enough for him ... they meet as equals. And he respects her trust ... despite all that he has done to her, she has recognized the real Arnav, the real man behind the cold faade, and she has given him her trust. He will respect that trust ...

He even checks with her again ... kuch bhi karogi, right? As though giving her a last chance, if she's scared, if she's not sure what he could do ... she can back off.

But she is ... nervous, yes ... but sure.

And Arnav's expressions here when she said that showed his respect again ... respect for the fighter and her feisty spirit.

It's been a long hard journey till this point, but without reaching here, their love story could never have progressed further. That's why I had to mention this scene.

And also because this respect is what made him goad her to fight later ... he wants her to win this challenge fair and square, or lose fighting ... not go down tamely without a fight ... because that's not his girl.

17^th Jan ... Don't Back off ... Arnav worried that Khushi backed out, relieved that she came ... that's his girl, she's not one to back down. The "that's my girl" expression came so many times during the week that I lost count!

And the Arhi eyelocks,her looks defiant, his challenging her when she was looking, and soft with satisfaction and pride when she wasn't ...

Ah, almost forgot ... liked the sense of humour of the cv's ... Nani's and NK's bichhoo dance while Snakewa is hunting for his pet scorpion ... And boy, Nani can dance!

18^th Jan ... Kissa Scorpion Ka ... scorpion goes missing, and Snakewa spends the next few episodes hunting for it ... he reminded me of the comically inept villains from the Pink Panther movies. And I hate to say this but I actually felt sorry for the guy with his cloyingly loving, mollycoddling, smothering wife!

The Arhi scene was cute but cliched ... Khushi babbling away about how Arnav doesn't scare her, only to flee from him, clutching her scattered dignity!

Mami Buaji dance ... I was hoping that at least this time Mami would be caught ...

19^th Jan ... Triple Attack! This episode belonged to Sanaya/Khushi through and through ... NK danced very well but the cv's should have had his performance the day before, it got completely overshadowed by Khushi's triple act. And it brought in another factor very important in a relationship ... laughter and teasing.

But first ... the Arhi scene ... Arnav sees his tigress changing into a soft and rather worried little kitten, as Buaji's drunken act has lowered the Gupta flag ... so he promptly goes to do the needful ... goad her into recovering her fighting spirit. NK is trying, but NK is too sweet ... Khushi needs the fire from Arnav's taunts to spark her alight ... he provides it with gusto.

But first, a bit of teasing ... Khushi tum theek toh ho? Tumhari aankhen ...

And she's on the back foot immediately with his apparent concern, her defensive prickliness dissolving, her eyes soft with confusion (Sanaya's eyes looked absolutely beautiful here, showing her uncertainty, her pull to this man.)

But that's not what he came to do ... so the taunts are back ... and Khushi has to make an enormous effort to find her scattered senses and pull back her defensive prickly shield (again her eyes were beautiful here, showing the changing emotions, the effort it took Khushi to pull herself together and reply with dignified spirit) ... she manages to reply to him ...

I can face your every challenge ...

And Arnav's eyes, so much at odds with his words ... come on, Khushi, you can't give up like that, you're a fighter, remember? And when she replies - his satisfaction, his tigress is back. That's my girl. A worthy opponent. Because she's his equal, his match, his partner.

They both spoke with their eyes in this scene, the expressions totally at variance with the words.

NK's dance was good.

Khushi rocked the stage ... first Hawa Hawaii ... the missing gust of wind? Then Ek Do Teen ... and finally, the piece de resistance ... Didi tere Jaithji Deewane ...

What MADE Sanaya's performance were her expressions, her face alight, eyes sparkling ... for a dance performance, facial expressions are as important as the moves, and both Sridevi and Madhuri are masters at their craft. Sanaya matched them ... in the expressions department for sure ... mischief, sparkling, teasing, winking, naughty, pert ... she set the stage on fire. As a mesmerized Arnav watched ... so shocked that he forgot his guest's name ...

DIdi Tere Jaithji ... hats off to the lyrics writer ... teasing, funny, spot on, without being insulting in the slightest ... telling Arnav off about his workaholic habits, his over-westernised ways and the best, Arnav-Khushi's own personal tiff-o-meter ... how he scares her with his 'what the ...' And the last bit was the BEST for me ... the way she sits down at the end of the song, her entire attention, all her focus on him, and only him ... her eyes soft, slightly apprehensive, questioning, looking for his approval and that unspoken apology as she touches her ear ... how was it? Are you very angry? ... and loving ... her eyes spoke a thousand words in that one look.

And his expression ... smiling, indulgent, a touch of pride "that's my girl" look back again ... and a reassuring smile ... 'it's ok, I'm not mad, don't worry.'

And her last look ... pure love, heartmelting, heart-touching ... "I love to see you smile" ... if he's happy, it's all right with her world.

20^th Jan ... Two confrontations - one tender, one tense

Arhi -

Arnav - backhanded compliment ... you needed me to make your performance successful ... Khushi replies back that at least he acknowledged she was a success ... and he approaches her slowly as she backs, and repeats her words ... she knows so much about him?

Laptop se ... kar do sagai ... her tone faltering ...

His look asks - You really want me to get engaged to my laptop? Not to anyone else? You, for example?

Aanthon peher dil pe hain taale?

He repeats that one ... aanthon peher dil pe hain taale? Do you really think that's true? Haven't you seen the real me? So many times ... you're the only person who has ... If I've locked my feelings out of sight, don't you know who has the key?

She falters again ... kya karen, yeh hansna bhi na jaane? But you don't smile, you don't give me a clue ... how can I know what you feel?

Even closer now ... you notice a lot about me? I didn't know you watch me so closely?

Accusing her, pushing her ... tell me why you watch me so closely, why you feel the need to know me ...

She falters yet again ... no ... no, I ...

He interrupts ... if you know me so well, why didn't you playact my role? Scared?

Why would I be scared? I just don't want to be like you!

You can't be like me. Because you don't have what it takes. I told you earlier.

He taps one light finger against her temple.

Dimaag is what it's called.

She stops him as he leaves.

I can't be like you because I have something you don't.

And her turn to come up to him, tap her hand against his chest ... Dil is what it's called.

An exact echo of his words, his actions ... dil and dimaag in eternal conflict ...

I can't be you because you think with your head ... and I act according to my heart ...

He leaves, she stares after him ... is that divide always going to stay between them?

Khushi-Shyam ... he started off trying to save her from the scorpion, she misunderstands him and tells him to leave her alone, or else ... but already on a short fuse, frustrated with the disappearance of his murder weapon, his cloyingly annoying wife and now genuine fear for Khushi, Shyam blasts ... tell the world, I don't care, stop threatening me ... you can't do anything to me, you won't dare ..

Leaving her shaken and confused, bruised and frightened, as she sees his ugly face for the first time.

And Arnav sees her in tears, reaches out ... and then withdraws ... she's play-acting her tears because she knows they affect him ... are you so scared of losing?

She interrupts him ... I'm sorry you saw me crying, this wasn't an act, and if it was, it's curtains down now ... please leave me alone.

And she leaves ... leaving him remorseful ... he misjudged her yet again . ..he upset her yet again.

23^rd Jan - 27^th Jan

23^rd Jan ... Teri Meri Prem Kahani Hai Mushkil

A reprise of the Arnav Khushi story ... from their first stormy meeting through the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the dropping from the office, the rainy parking lot, the hospital ... and Diwali. He was responsible for many of her problems, but he was also her saviour ... as he is again today. As she stands alone on stage, less worried about the competition than about the two encounters, he sees her pain again, and again comes to her aid. And as they dance in front of a shocked audience, they relive their journey ... from the day they met to the day they fell apart ... a catharsis of sorts, a new beginning ... his face calmer, serene, soft in unspoken apology, focused on her, uncaring of the rest of the world ... hers more confused, searching ... still scared to trust completely ... the dance, a meeting of bodies and a communion of souls ...

And when that frighteningly intimate communion ends, she runs ... in a reprise of Diwali, she locks herself into a room alone ... on Diwali, she broke down in tears and buried her heartbreak and her feelings for good, or so she thought ...

And today, she locks herself away again, as those feelings struggle again to the surface, not dead, as she had thought, but awakening again as she can only think of him ... looking at her, holding her, touching her ... as though he has the right ...

Arnav faces his family without flinching ... yes, I danced with her, she needed me, I stepped in ... so what? As though it doesn't matter, it didn't mean a thing.

But it did ...

24^th Jan ... Dhak dhak

The hunt is on ... Arnav calm, self-assured, confident, knows exactly what he's doing, and Khushi nervous, flustered, doesn't know what the hell is going on with him ... and with her. He's staking his claim, and she is too innocent to realise that ... the way he approaches her, comes close as though he has the right, lets down her hair, passes an oblique compliment ...

Till a couple of hours before, the competition meant everything to Khushi ... not least because she was scared of what he would do if she lost. But now that she's won, it barely registers, she can't even speak a few words of thanks ... all her attention is on the man who's responsible for her win, her eyes on him constantly ... even when she reaches home, he and the dance are all she can think about.

And the same for him ... both lost in thoughts of each other ... the challenge and the dance has turned things topsy-turvy between them, brought their hidden attraction back onto the surface ... and this time, Arnav isn't fighting it.

25^th Jan ... You don't matter to me ... or do you?

Arhi ... poor Khushi is so flustered with this new improved Arnav, she just doesn't know how to deal with him when he isn't taunting her or sniping at her. So he obliges ... taunts her about her loss, she retorts back that she won, but with much less than her usual spirit. And she prays to Devi maiyya to keep him out of her sight, she can't handle him, because he's too disturbing to her peace of mind.

And Devi maiyya, much to Khushi's subsequent distress, actually listens to Khushi ... Arnav goes missing ...

26^th Jan ... Missing ... you

Timepass episode as NK and Akash blame the missing Arnav for their gatecrashing the mehndi, and Khushi utters a startled "Arnavji?" just as the mehndivali asks her what initial she wants.

NK can't find Arnav so Anjali starts worrying ... honestly, Anjali has OCD!

And she infects Khushi with her worry too, so Khushi also starts worrying, and praying to Devi maiyya, worried that DM has responded to her prayer far too quickly and efficiently ... I didn't mean it, I didn't want you to go away, where are you, please come back, I'll say sorry ... please, Arnavji, just come back ...

Not realising that all she's saying has been recorded on his voice mail 😳

27^th Jan ... Completely Kissable Cutiepie Khushi Kumari Gupta

Spent the episode going awww over super cute, confused Khushi ... she was adorable in her current confused, embarrassed, wifely worried and caught out blushing state ... am not surprised Arnav succumbed to temptation, my only surprise is how long he took to do so! So this is long ... delicious Arhi scenes, all of them deserve a mention.

First Arhi scene - continued from yesterday ... another wheel turns full circle ... when she disappeared, he was frantic, and let his concern show to La ... which finally led to the end of that relationship. Now he disappeared, and she is frantic ... and she lets her concern show ... to him directly. Much to his complete delight ... his signal to take the next step forward ...

So she turns and sees him ... the slightest of smiles on his face as he's obviously overheard the last of her rant ... so you missed me, honey?

And Khushi lets loose ... where were you, why are you quiet, when did you go, why didn't you tell anyone, I've been trying to call you for how long ...

Why?

And she stops in her tracks at that quiet why ...

Why does it make a difference to you if I went off? He wants to hear the words now ...

It makes a difference! Farak padta hai! I was worried ...

For me? A step closer.

She doesn't notice ... still caught up in her worry ...'

Yes! For you!

Oh really? A step closer ... and another ... and she suddenly gets all nervous again ... steps back as he steps forward ... silently, like a predator, he's got her where he wants her, she admitted it finally ...

She stumbles as she backs ... and tries to backtrack ... no ... I ... Anjaliji ...

Careful, Khushi ... just as she stumbles ... or I might think you were worried about me ...

She backtracks as much as possible after that damning almost-confession ... Not me, Anjaliji ... I said ...

Anjali interrupts, and Arnav's face actually shows irritation at the appearance of his beloved Di ... As Anjali goes all goo gaa over her missing Chotey, he coolly tells her not to overreact ... and adds, for the benefit of a quickly retreating Khushi ... Actually, I'm glad I went, I got to know how much I'm missed.

And as Khushi leaves quickly, and Anjali tells him to come for tea, he nods, and looks after Khushi with a very satisfied smile on his face. Ready for action ... 😳

Tea time ... Payal offers to take tea for a sulking Manodrama, and Khushi realises with horror that she's got an A on her hand, and also remembers exactly how it happened. 🤣

Arnav listens to Khushi's frantic voice-mail asking him to come back ... as Khushi rushes to the kitchen to take off that A before anyone sees it.

No such luck, of course ... Arnav tracks her down at once.

Sanaya was BRILLIANT in this scene and Barun was the perfect foil ... her nervous, blustering, 'couldn't be more obviously lying' denial 🤣 - no, I didn't call you ... and his knowing smirk as he plays her voice mail much to her horror... so you were worried ... did you think I'd vanished? He is so delighted that she cares ... she cares so much ...

But she's still trying to deny it, as she holds up her hand, he sees the A immediately ... this man has supersharp vision for all things Khushi ... and that's his next ammunition ... why have you got an A on your hand then? And he holds her hand as casually as though he's been holding it all his life ... and will continue holding it as long as he wants ...

Yet another denial ... I have an A in my name too ... Khushi Kumaaari Guptaaa ... oh god, Sanaya was brilliant in this bit ... I cracked up at this one ... 🤣🤣🤣

And Arnav almost did too, one could see the effort it took him not to laugh ... this must have been a riot to shoot for both Barun and Sanaya 🤣

NK interrupts, otherwise am sure the kiss would have happened then and there ... Arnav is visibly annoyed at the interruption, he was totally enjoying Khushi's madness there ... Khushi still flustered, then she sees Arnav's annoyance with NK's appearance, and she makes full use of it ... walking off with him, laughing with him at the table ... till Arnav can't stand it any more and he actually leaves in a huff.

NK goes to get his camcorder, Nani wants to give Payal kangan, so Khushi is dispatched to fetch them from Arnav's room ... Khushi very nervous, because she just can't handle this new, teasing changed Arnav, she has no clue where she is with him any more ... and she's going blue in the face trying to deny that 'farak padta hai' ...

Arnav pacing up and down remembering how comfortable Khushi is with NK ... he is annoyed ... I think it was less jealousy of NK as a guy, and more about NK impinging on his time with Khushi, a time he enjoys more and more ... that he wants more and more ... he wants Khushi to himself, he enjoys those verbal battles with her, loves the teasing, especially as he's getting the upper hand, he enjoys watching her blush and squirm, and yet fight back ... she delights him, makes his heart feel lighter, makes him want to laugh, to love ...

Khushi enters his room cautiously, and brightens to see he's not there. Picks up the kangan box and makes to leave quickly ... too quickly. One kangan goes flying into the pool. And the third Arhilicious scene starts ... a simply beautiful one ...

Her mehndi-colored hand dips into the pool to reach for the kangan ... just short ... and another hand joins hers, reaching the kangan effortlessly and pulling it out ... in a scene reminiscent of the game played by newly-weds to find a ring in a bowl of milk ... the one who gets the ring first will dominate the relationship. But here, he gets it first, he drops it back, and she picks it out again. So will the balance of power in their relationship seesaw between them? Or will it be always equal?

He looks at her quietly and holds it out to her ... nervous again at his closeness, she blusters ...

What are you doing here? I told you ...

It's my room, Khushi ... remember?

She reaches to hold the kangan, but he doesn't release it. And she's nervous again ... he's so close, and looking at her ...

I could have done it myself ...

You can't do everything yourself ... still holding the kangan with her.

In the sangeet, he told her she couldn't have done it without his help, she needed him ... now he's telling her she doesn't need to do it all herself ... she doesn't need to be brave all the time, shoulder the entire burden on her shoulders, because he's there ... whenever she needs him, he is there for her ... she just has to trust him ...

But she's still unsure ... I can do it ...

So he drops it in again ... and the water splashes onto her face ...

Tum theek ho? Again very quietly ... intently ... as though it matters ... she can't meet his gaze ... and she reaches quickly for the kangan again, as does he, hand over hers ... and he looks at her as though to tell her ... I told you, I am here, with you ... for you ...

And she looks at him, her eyes still nervous, scared to trust what he's saying ... she's been hurt too many times before ... is this going to be different?

Why are you scared?

She picks the kangan quickly ... no, she doesn't know, she can't be sure ... and she doesn't want to lay herself open to that hurt again ... I can do it ... and gets up quickly, away from his nearness which is confusing her so much ...

Only to be stopped short by her dupatta being held by ... him?

No, once she made that mistake and accused him ... mistakenly ... not again ... it must be a thorn again ...

But this time it is him ...

Leave it please.

Why?

She can't really think of any good reason why he should leave her dupatta ... she can't really think at all at the moment, the way he's looking at her ...

Just ... leave it ...

You can't do everything I can ...

No ... I ... she cannot think at all ... she cannot even speak at all for stammering ... why won't he leave her, let her go ... she tugs at her dupatta half-heartedly ... only to see him tug at it even more, wind it around his hand and pull her closer ...

If you can do it all on your own, then free it yourself ...

Yes ... I ...

Another tug ... closer still, so close that she doesn't dare to look at him ... heart racing ... why is he so close? Why is she unable to breathe?

Another soft, low-voiced challenge from him ... what I'm going to do, will you be able to do?

She nods without thinking ... she can't think anyway, he's so close ...

And he bends and kisses her very gently, unhurriedly, purposefully on her cheek ...

28^th Jan ME - Next Challenge ... Kiss Me Back

Another Arhilicious episode, except the horrendous editing of the door scene ... which could have been a brilliant scene but for the cut-paste shots of Arnav with a fixed glare ...

Loved the first bit ... after his kiss, Khushi is too flabbergasted to do anything other than run away ... and she can't stop thinking about the kiss even when she's back home ... eventful week for Khushi, first that dance, then the kiss ... 😍

Loved the sisters' scene ... Khushi feeding Payal, one bite for each family member, and she puts herself last ... the smallest bite ... is that what she thinks of herself and her importance in the family?

Proprietary Arnav - Khushi laughs at Arnav's haldi smeared face, and he coolly grabs her dupatta as though it's the most natural thing in the world, and his birthright ... and cleans off his haldi ... lo, one more rasam done! And he reminds her about the challenge ... the guy wants his kiss 😆. And he will get it, even if he has to goad her into giving it. Because his tigress doesn't back off from a challenge. This is one challenge Arnav Singh Raizada is dying to lose. 😆

Loved the way Khushi shook off Shyam's touch as though it defiled her, and that Khushi never took a bite of Shyam's jalebis.

Protective, possessive Arnav ... NK can't help admiring Khushi's exposed back, Arnav pulls her hair tie off and covers it from NK's gaze. HIS woman ... no one can sneak looks at her. And he scolds a bewildered Khushi ... you don't even know what you're doing, you don't know what's happening around you.

Full circle - at their first meeting, he ripped her dori, and she covered her back with her hair, today he covered her back from the gaze of others, even an innocuous bystander like NK ... no one gets to look at his Khushi that way, except himself.

Pole-axed Arnav ... 😆😆😆 Notable event ... Khushi kissed Arnav back. She won the challenge

And Arnav flummoxed ...did she actually do that? Did she just kiss me in full view of my family?

Seems Arnav was a tad disappointed 😆 ... that wasn't the way he wanted his kiss. Not in public, in full view of the family, where there was no possibility for any follow up action on his part ... hence his annoyance in the door scene ... what was that? And her rebuttal ... I did it, I won the challenge ...

Was that only for the challenge? Therein lay his disappointment ... did she just kiss him to complete the challenge? No other reason? So a counter-attack ... then why are you blushing so much?

And she counter-attacks right back ... I think you're the one who's not all right ...

Both prodding the other ... tell me how you feel, tell me this bothers you as much as it does me, tell me this wasn't just about the challenge ...

But of course, they won't say it ... so she flees.

Event of the ME ... Anjali and Nani's tubelights finally flicker into light! What that public dance didn't do, what the A on her hand, and Arnav's smirk didn't do, Khushi's public kiss and Arnav's stoic acceptance of it seems to have done.

Heartwarming scene ... Khushi and Arnav both totally lost in memories of the two kisses. 😍

Shape of Things to Come? Khushi packing her clothes absentmindedly instead of Payal's.

This got REALLY long, but I'd really appreciate feedback ... please do leave your comments and your own favourite parts ...

Diya. This phenomenal..and I have not even finished reading it as yet.

Awesome post dear! Great Effort!

Thanks.
Relived one of the best fortnights of Arhi romance through your post.

awesomee post after an awesome week

Awesome recap. Barun's expressions' cut and paste for the door scene was disappointing. I will forgive them for that since they have given us such other memorable scenes... I think you are right that Annie wanted a private kiss from his girl , not a public one which he cannot return😉

Loved reading this super long post! There were a lot of points that I agreed with and made similar comments about in my own posts :D

what an awesome analysis...👏

Beautiful description of one of the best fortnights of the show...Sorry cant pick a fav part, u hv penned down each interaction uniquely.

Hi Diya!