One heartbreak is like a thousand lessons.Loving again is learning them.
Sandra McKendry
Akash awaits the arrival of Arnav before even exchanging the garland, while an anxious Khushi awaits Arnav's presence too, her eyes darting forth searching for him when the much awaited makes his appearance quietly, soberly with nary a smile on his face ..Arnav walks past Khushi wholly ignoring her !! A act which baffles Khushi and her eyes fasten themselves on him , wanting to figure out the feelings behind the facade , A gut feeling saying something is terribly wrong ... The ceremony proceeds adn to lighten the solemn atmosphere , Mamaji cracks a joke evoking laughter from all , Khushi too begins to smile , when her smile slips and vansihes as she gazes at the unsmiling countenances of Arnav as his two bright orbs fixates themselves on her emiting pure anger/disillusion ..Khushi is troubled, concerned, confused as to the reason for such steady anger filled glare...The ritual complete PAYASH leave for the next ritual ..Khushi who had been staring at a silent, furious Arnav leaves reluctantly, not wanting to abandon him but yet having to do her duty ..She walks past him, joining the crowd ...walking amidst them yet Khushi can't stop herself from turning back, ...That one confused glance provides the impetus for Arnav to become mobile again..He strides , cutting across the crowd.. ..he reaches her side, walk beside her,, her eyes questioning but unafraid his accusatory and filled with anger ..There right in the middle of the crowd, he holds her hand , pulls her away from the bustle and leads her away from the Mandap and towards their very own TajMahal aka Poolside ...
I loved the juxtaposition of two pairs ..One pair of PAYASH uniting in love their future together as they begin a new life, Another Pair Arnav-Khushi whose love is unraveling, their future becoming unhinged ..one bound by love and the other bound n hate & misunderstanding ... The parallel walk !!..I just could not help recollecting the previous momentous walk with the self same couples ..PAYASH, ARNAV-KHUSHI ...In the previous walk , both were attracted to each other, both loved each other , both wanted to be together and yet they were never close , there was an yawning chasm between them as they walked side by side but miles apart..always looking on longingly at one another whilst today again they are walking behind the same couple, the gulf separating them has closed , they are side by side , each looking at one another but the difference in emotions..If tenderness bound them then, anger binds them now, if love kept them going then, misunderstanding has brought them closer ..The loop closes but it is a loop of torment,suspicion,woe !!..
Sanaya was in form today...The eyes casting around looking for Arnav, the smile dipping when she spies Arnav's angry face , her growing conviction that something is off key and yet having to actively participate in marriage rituals , doing so automatically ..She was good ..So was Barun ...presenting a stony face but eyes betraying the cold, implacable rage .. his passion betrayed by the minute flaring of nostrils, tautening of neck muscles ..stillness !! Another actor who must be mentioned is Utkarsha , she was not in focus, the track was not about her yet she nailed it with suitable expression's ..
The marriage ritual begins downstairs while Deal brokering goes on upstairs .. Arnav Singh Raizada imposes certain conditions for the rituals to proceed , placing Khushi in a quandary ..Khushi listens in disbelief, her disbelieving eyes affixed on his remorseless face , trying to find that young man of y'day who teased her, worked to bring a smile on her , whose eyes lit up when he saw her ..Alack !! he was gone and in his place a stranger stood...tears rolled down as this stranger plunged the dagger into her heart mercilessly , She looked at him askance only to be met by unbending stony look ...The tears which would have had him move heaven and earth leaves him unaffected , a mild jerk of the jaw , the only response ...He awaits her answer and looks content to wait for eternity while the marriage party are getting tensed downstairs ...
Another closure [ at least for me ]...In the beginning of the episode ..Khushi had asked what would you do if ur sisters marriage was at stake ??In reply, he had torn the dori , scattering the beads implying that he will destroy the person responsible and those associated with him/her...he set to do just that ,leaving the final decision on her !! Destruction or creation depended on her action !!
Eyes devoid of emotions, voice icy, Arnav stipulates his condition's..A term where Khushi does not have any option , Tears streaming down Khushi listens as her world crumbles , the dream castles she had built shattering to the earth, the crashing sound heard only by her , her dreams die a slow death, the dying sigh heard only by her heart ..Khushi descends slowly from her rosy dreams to the hard ground , Khushi shakes herself awake m rejoins her family while Arnav takes his place on being queried, Arnav quickly assures Akash & himself that everything is ALRIGHT and stares intently at Khushi...
There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not.
La Rochefoucauld
The pheras begin, Payal overcome with emotion as the blight on her name is about to be erased .. Khushi lost in her world, a world that is imploding within herself.. unable to share her despair , her mute eues , numb with pain asking, questioning, pleading with arnav while a hawk eyed Arnav remains uncompromising ..The marriage is complete ... Buaji comes and bids Khushi to put the thaal to other side and she entreats Arnav to help Khushi ..Khushi blinking back her tears, hiding her misery, She dutifully lifts the thaal , hands it over to a watchful arnav , whose eyes never leave her face ..This silent interaction is watched in simmering anger by Shyam ..
3 actors here again... SI, BS, AM ...they were damn good..SI presenting a girl who has faced a diabolical condition, A condition which challanges the very roots of her values, beliefs, A girl who had few mins ago watched her love burning up in flames , A girl who became a stranger to the man who had considered her as his own ..She does not have the luxury of crying, she cannot afford to breakdown, She has to stand tall for her family, be the pillar her family expects her to be yet tears fill the eyes,come rolling down unbidden ..A man who was betrayed by a girl , loathes himselh as well as the girl who brought him to his knees but still somewhere in the granite corner of his heart, a residue of softness towards this girl as his eyes momentarily softens and then hardens while Shyam is watchful, impotent anger quivering , his mind racing watching the silent communication between these two..
The second closure was the Thaal ..first there was a thaal in the teej puja which was handed by Khushi when Anjali tells her to , to Arnav..a reluctant Arnav accepts under the benign eyes of the Deity ..Now another auspicious occasion arises , purified by Agni, sanctified by the mantras the Thaal changes hands again after duly sanctioned by the eldest in Khushi's family ..Arhi Accepts each other in front of the havan without being aware of it
The wedding finishes with no hitches ..both the sisters embrace each other with tears in each others eyes..for one it is tears of relief as the stigma is finally washed away for the other it is the beginning of the end ..Arnav turns away, weakened by the tears, guilt in his eyes yet resolute on his intention ..
There is no pain equal to that which two lovers can inflict on one another. This should be made clear to all who contemplate such a union. The avoidance of this pain is the beginning of wisdom, for it is strong enough to contaminate the rest of our lives.
Cyril Connolly
The next scene I liked was when the whole wedding party begin to depart leaving Arnav and Khushi alone..arnav's hooded eyes hiding his real feeling while Khushi stands there hoping for a last minute reprieve , hoping that he will turn compassionate and let her go ..but none are forthcoming..Arnav stands there as if engraved from marble..unmoved by her distress..watches her walking out to fulfill her end of the contract , Arnav walks behind her, walks past and ahead of her while a hesitant Khushi shuffles behind him , her very being protesting against the fate reserved for her but she walks ..walks out of the door which had opened in welcome , walks out into the night as the door clicks shut decisively on her way of life , on her family, on her loved one..Khushi walks away and into the darkness but not alone for right behind her is her knight !!
I loved this scene not just bec now with that shutting of the door not only did Khushi cut the link between herself and the family even Arnav DID ..Now they are a true pair , each heading out in the same direction , each thinking they are alone yet they are inextricably linked together ..Another reason why I lked it was One daughter was welcomed officially into the house while the door was being shut to the other daughter ...