The Week that Was

The Week That Was 19^th – 23^rd Mar

This week will be short, not worth writing too much. Don't expect the coming week to be much better, with Sanaya on leave. Hopefully the cv's will get back to business the following week. In the meantime, a brief re-cap.

I ended last week's TWTW by wondering if characters in daily soaps didn't hide thins from each other, how would stories progress? Add to that this week, if characters in daily soaps didn't conveniently lose their memories (or speaking powers – as in the case of Babuji) at crucial times, how would stories progress? Or rather, how would lazy unimaginative script writers progress stories? So they wanted to give us a light and happy Holi week – they did, ending with a beautiful confession. And this week – break over – back to status quo.

Mon 19^th Mar – The Biter Bit

I stand corrected - not quite back to status quo – Arnav remembers, Khushi doesn't. How much does Arnav remember – apparently only his confession, not Khushi's. See what I mean about lazy script writers – how convenient.

Arnav learns first hand what it is like to be accused of doing something you haven't done, and being unable to give any defense, being disbelieved. The biter bit – all along, that's exactly what he's done with her … a few rash words over sharing a bathroom, an unthinking threat which he never meant, and he's in the dock. And when he sorts things out, he doesn't get the credit either – damned if I do, damned if I don't.

And Khushi loses her patience finally – she has begged, pleaded, cajoled, asked, threatened, blackmailed … done just about everything to ask him the reason for the marriage, all the time keeping the secret from everyone, for reasons she doesn't even understand. Yet he refuses to tell her, and expects her to sit unquestioning and uncomplaining for six months, with ever-present threats hanging over her head. Well, too bad, she's not going to do it. If he won't tell her, and won't let her leave, she will make him throw her out himself.

Shades of the office track, with slight reversal where he was the one trying to push her into leaving by giving her grief, and she was determined to stay … here, she's the one giving him grief to goad him into pushing her out, while he will put up with everything to keep her here – Arnav is on the back foot already here.

(And I'm already apprehensive … Arnav was vicious, nasty to push Khushi, Khushi can't be vicious or nasty, she can only be irritating and stupid. And for these writers, irritating and stupid is equivalent to brainless and loud. This is not going to be fun.)

So she starts – sneezing all over him early morning … Score One.

The only scene I liked today – the smidgeon of a scene where Khushi runs to stop Arnav eating the wrong tablet.

Tues 20^th March – Capturing Key Enemy Points

Attack phase one – use swanky poolside as dhobighaat, couple it with some very untuneful loud singing (reminded me of Cacophonix the bard) and first capture is complete. Takeover of Bathroom – check.

Attack phase two – fire over Anjali's shoulder. Takeover of Wardrobe – check. And Khushi further consolidates her position in enemy territory, but he's still not throwing her out … symbolism here – the mixing of the bright colors of Khushi's wardrobe with the dull blacks and browns of Arnav's dark, colorless life …

SN – BD's for Barun again?

For once, the best scene wasn't ArHi – it was Khushi –Anjali – Shyam – Abhaas was excellent as the lecherous, sneering, confident sleazeball villain, confidently encouraging his trusting wife to keep her eyes shut, while enjoying the sight of Khushi's helpless discomfort as he leered at her. And Khushi manages to get Anjali to open her eyes before its too late … the shape of things to come? And she starts worrying about Shyam and his antics, and how to keep them under control – he's getting more and more bold, first Holi and now this …

But again the next day she goes into temporary amnesia *head desk* … but this happened with the Shyam exposure as well, Khushi started suspecting slowly, gradually and the exposure built up over a few weeks … so I guess the same thing will happen here.

Nice one-liner of Khushi's today – Arnav asks her at the late poolside, current dhobi ghat - what are you doing? And she replies – playing cricket! Duh, what does it look like I'm doing, dumbo?!

Wed 21^st March – Silly Squabbles, Stiff Necks and Slimy Moves

Very forgettable episode … Khsushi continues with her Mission Irritate Arnav … redecorates (I use that term very loosely 😕😆) his room into something resembling a cross between a ten year old's room and something out of a horror story … picture of shirtless Salman and prints of multiple gods and goddesses, along with hanging mobiles, stars, chimes … the works. And Arnav moves into poolside, helped on his way with a pillow – never let it be said she wasn't worried for his comfort. Takeover of Bed and Bedroom – check.

Arnav bitwa wakes up with crick in neck – more reminders of what he put Khushi through, and he gets no sympathy from me for that one … and to the sound of loud bhavishyavani's … okay, I did sympathise with him on that … I hate being woken up to loud TV or music … I need my quiet time in the morning!😆

Some random ten year old games, he hides remote and takes bathroom, she switches off water, he has to apologise and ask her nicely … I remember my brother and me at age ten … or eight … or younger? 😕

Dining table – Mami's one liner – Hanging gardan 😆🤣

Like the little touch of Khushi coming to sit comfortably and confidently next to HHWS and giving him his breakfast ... and the teasing about the wry neck.

Shyam ogling Khushi again … one big weakness of Arnav is that he is very emotional … one look at Shyam leering at Khushi and he begins to lose it instantly … and Shyam fresh from the Holi confidence, starts to play his mind games on Arnav … assures him that he has turned over a new leaf, really and truly.

Thoughts - It says something about an episode when the best part is the villain. And nope, that's not complimentary. Very average episode ... the good points very firmly negated by the horrendously juvenile fights and the dumbing down of Khushi and Arnav to pea brained ten year old brats. And Khushi has forgotten about Shyam again … cv's, some continuity here, please???!!! Although am not so worried about that one, they will show it happening slowly.

Things I liked - the fact that Khushi finally got the bed, and Arnav chose to sleep outside. Oh, and that Khushi aided him on his way without a trace of guilt ... what's sauce for the goose is definitely sauce for the gander.

The brief moment of awareness as Khushi comes up flush against her HH's bare chested self, and feels her dhak dhak all over again ... for those few moments, reverting to being the normal hot-blooded passionate young woman that we have seen and loved, ... and her continuing to feel the after-effects in the bathroom. Didn't like the quick recovery ... when cv's bring in these Rabba ve's, they need to show some lingering after-effects ... not just squabble - rabba ve - back to squabble ... that is utterly idiotic. Makes no sense and has no effect. SN to cv's – we don't want random Rabba ve moments, we want the real thing. And this audience is smart enough to know the difference.

Arnav's wry neck - Barun acted well - holding his head very naturally all through. Have had wry necks innumerable times, and I remembered the feeling while watching him! Did he actually have a wry neck? It disappeared without any maalish/massage from biwi, don't know what it really added to the story … except for a chance for Khushi bashers to point out her lack of concern for his life-threatening injury 😆 – never mind that Anjali and Mami were also least bothered.

The best – Shyam getting back into slimy manipulative mode … my only hope that the story might move. 😛

Things I did not like - the the whole sequence of Khushi's 100 ways to irritate Arnav and Arnav regressing to the same level. Both were acting and sounding like exceptionally retarded ten year old brats, including the fight for the bathroom. Khushi involving Anjali in their quarrel by screaming - a big thumbs down 👎🏼… so far she has kept their fights private and earned our admiration for that, don't spoil it now.

The forced Rabba ve's.

The horrendous bathroom – looks like it was lifted from an LIG government flat. And the switch for the water mains is out in the open? What on earth are the set designers doing?!

Anjali's mind is in the gutter at Arnav's wry neck, how come Arnav has no similar thoughts? Isn't he the one who supposedly remembers his feelings?

Thought that Khushi should be more worried about Arnav's breakfast and lunch, rather than about repaying 300 rupees in such a hurry ... this girl really is a pea brain at times! Or are the cv's really leading somewhere with this? No clue – and the jumping from one hare-brained track to another while both protagonists have total amnesia about the real villain is now stretching the MU track to painfully dragging stage.

Thurs 22^nd March – Don't knock the humble dabba

There is a system in Mumbai, where dabbavalas, as they're called, pick up boxes of home cooked food and deliver them to office staff. Boxes are from the staff's own homes, or prepared by housewives happy to earn some pocket money by putting their culinary skills to good use. The dabbavalas have delivered a few million tiffins at last count without missing a single one. This dabba system is so renowned that it's been used at Harvard Business School as a business case study, and Prince Charles on his first visit to India made it a point to meet the humble dabbavalas, and their representative was invited to his wedding to Lady Camilla.

So don't knock the humble dabba ... 😳

And so I liked the episode.

Mainly because many things I was afraid of, didn't happen ... Khushi didn't sell the food, she took it with full knowledge and encouragement of Anjali, and she distributed it free to the staff. Using the opportunity to set up her business venture ... but not compromising her dignity as Mrs. Raizada ... or even Arnav's ... Anjali, Nani and Mami all knew what she had done ... in fact Anjali was the one who had the idea of taking it to AR.

Secondly ... nothing makes a woman feel quite so satisfied as her husband (and children) appreciating her cooking ... spoken from personal experience, and lots of it 😃 I don't cook often - am fortunate enough to have full time help. But whenever I choose to go into the kitchen, my kids and hubby make it a point to comment and appreciate, and that's what makes it so very rewarding. So I really loved the scene of Khushi feeling so happy watching Arnav eat her food with so much enjoyment. He expressions changing from shocked surprise to disbelief 'am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?' to pure heartfelt genuine pleasure and delight at seeing her husband enjoying her home-cooked food.

And how cute was her spontaneous 'what the …?'

That Rabba ve, when she picks up the empty boxes with that smile, was for all the right reasons … I liked it.

Arnav needs to think about his image when he tells his security guards not to let his wife in, more than his image when she brings food for his employees, on a day when the canteen is shut. The latter can only enhance his image, the former is what degrades it. And it's compromised further when he refuses to eat the food like a tantrum throwing child. Keep your quarrels private, Arnav and Khushi – my main problem with the water-throwing episode was exactly that.

Akash was damn cute – he has a cast iron excuse to eat his dabba – his wife sent it! Priorities in the right order - pleasing his biwi by eating her khana is definitely greater priority than risk displeasing brother by not eating pizza …😆

Cute how CLJ and KLJ (Chamanlalji and Kishorilalji) are established as the new Mrs. Raizada's best buddies!

And Arnav returns home, again all businessman mode ... only to find wifey has taken his lessons to heart and is echoing all his lines ... this is the way I work, don't try to fool with me, I'm the daughter of a halvai and the wife of a businessman ...

Cute to see the way Arnav Singh Raizada melts into mush every time his wife claims proudly that she is his wife ... the expression on his face as he watches her talking away confidently on the phone ... indulgent, loving, proud, questioning - what exactly is this mad girl up to now? And this second Rabba Ve was also very much in place 😳

But again, am not too sure where this is going to lead ... to Khushi going into this as a business venture? Will she tell Arnav, "I have to think of my future after I leave RM" thereby jolting him ... and herself … into thinking a little further into the future? Will he allow her to go into this as a business venture, or will he stop her? Will she start this ... and succeed at it ... thereby making her more independent? Or will this also fail like her earlier ventures? And what is her main reason for doing this – to irritate Arnav into throwing her out? To return the Rs 300? Or to stay out of the house and avoid Shyam?

Or is it a filler track while Sanaya is on break?

Fri 23^rd March – KKGSR Catering Service Inc.

I like my title better than Khushi's Dabba Service one 😳

Liked both the Arhi scenes today – the first with baffled Arnav entering room (where did the chimes go?) to find businessman ki patni in full flow on phone - since she doesn't have Bluetooth, she makes do with headphones ... I first thought she didn't notice Arnav, but no, she completely ignores him ... this guy's ego is going to get a severe battering here ... as she carries on blithely with her all-important phone conversation, ends it ... and then fires an artillery of questions at a completely baffled Arnav ... what's that thing in your ear called? Where to get it? How much does it cost?

Arnav's reply ... a very intelligent sounding "Huh???!!!"

Gives up on husband as a bad job ... he doesn't know anything ... 😆

'Forget it, I'll manage ... ok, where can I get cards printed?'

More intelligent replies from Arnav, "What cards?"

More smart aleck answers from Khushi, as though to show her HHWS that contrary to his claims, he doesn't have the monopoly on brains ... "wedding cards, sweetie! We really never got a chance to ... business cards, dumbo! What do you think?! Where can I get those made?"

This time no intelligent replies, just a very baffled completely blank stare ... has she totally lost it?!

Khushi gives up on husband completely ... "Forget I said anything ... I'll ask jijaji ..."

Leaving him totally lost ... bluetooth, business cards ... what the heck is going on?! 😕😕

And Khushi disappears from the house early in the morning to start her business. SN - if they wanted fillers without Sanaya, why couldn't they have shown Arnav waking up in the morning and prowling around his room, wondering why the TV was off, why the bathroom was empty, why Lakshmi was missing ... would have loved a scene of Arnav mumbling 'shut up, Khushi' automatically in the morning, and then realising Khushi wasn't there with her early morning incessant bakbak ... Would have been fun to see Arnav already getting used to having Khushi around all the time. But no, we get Payal and Anjali and Nani choosing duvet covers for a baby that's six months or more away.

Loved the scene of CC (Crying Caterer) and CBA (Completely Baffled Arnav)

CC ... 'How could you do this without even telling me?'

CBA - 'who the hell are you and what is your %#*& problem?'

CC - 'no one wants my food, everyone's got a new lunch service ...boo hoo …

CBA - 'so what did I do in all this?'

(SN - Implicit in this question is the statement - It's none of my business who gets their food from where ... I have nothing to do with it.)

CC - 'you got married, Sir … boo hoo …'

CBA - 'I got married? ... So what problem do you have with that?' (I thought I was the one with all the problems in this marriage …

CC - 'boo hoo hoo!!!!' ... leaving the room like weeping SP bahu ...

CBA - 'what on earth is everybody's problem???'

Second Arhi scene - Khushi comes huffing and puffing to deliver Arnav's lunch ... and wonder of wonders, his brain starts working, putting together the pieces finally ... new lunch service, thanks from his employees, CC ...

LBA - (Less Baffled Arnav) - 'So you've done this?'

BBK - (Baffled Busybee Khushi - her turn now) - huh? what did I do now?

Trying desperately to keep calm Arnav - 'Sit down'

When she didn't obey instantly, losing his calm a bit ... 'Baitho!!!'

Tired Khushi (this catering stuff is tiring ... but not so tiring that she can't talk) ... 'ok, I really think I will … I need the break, you know ... been on the go since the morning ... woke up, shopped, cooked, packed, served ... so much work ... so much still left ... oh dearie me ... how do I manage?'

GTA (Gritted Teeth Arnav) - 'What the hell are you doing?'

Lost in her own business world Khushi - completely ignoring Arnav ... 'need to order supplies for tomorrow, today's are finished, carrots weren't good ... that vendor toh ...'

GTA (rapidly losing whatever little control he had left) - 'What the hell are you doing, Khushi?!'

Khushi - very brightly and chirpily - 'doing? Don't you know?' (Darling he'd know if you had told him, right?) 'I'm doing business ... dabba business.' ... I thought you'd got the gist yesterday when I said businessman ki patni ...

GTA - 'what's the need for you to do any business? Didn't you ... (pause) ... think about my image?'

What was the pause about? Was he upset about her doing business. Or about her not asking him first? Or about her not asking him for money if she needed it?

She's too lost in her own thoughts ... the name, the cards ...

He has to get up and lean over her physically to get her attention ... 'Listen to me. There will be no dabba service in my office ...'

(Not by you, is what he meant ... he had no objection earlier when he saw the dabbas, or when he spoke to the caterer.)

She still doesn't hear him ... 'the new name will be ...'

Finally it strikes him ... why people usually go into business ... and he's slightly shame-faced, he's never given her needs a thought before this ... 'look, if you need money ...'

Vaah, Arnav bitwa, you give regular allowance to your lawyer BIL, who is capable of earning for himself and his wife, and you don't think about an allowance for your own wife?

No, she doesn't, thank you very much ... 'because you keep account of every penny, so I'll earn my own ... and I can ...'

'No one is interested in your dabbas ... not me, not anyone else ...'

She exposes his lie straightaway ... 'yeah right, you weren't the one licking your fingers yesterday, were you? And by the way, you can eat the sweet today.'

'Khushi ...'

She jams bluetooth into her ear purposefully, glares at him and leaves. Shades of ASR here.

Thought he kept his cool very admirably there ... but Khushi was too lost in her business world to listen ... Was he actually starting to feel a little guilty there that he hadn't given her needs a thought before this? Why she even needed to do this? Why she hadn't felt it necessary to ask him, tell him, talk to him - did that hurt?

Loved Nani today for the way she shut up Mami, and even more for her thoughts – 'if a girl wants to work, whether it's for her own pleasure and self-esteem, or whether it's because she wants to earn some money, she should go ahead. There is nothing more admirable than standing on your own feet, and everyone has the right to do it.'

Final thoughts for the week - I have no problem with Khushi's working, quite the reverse. Am a fierce proponent of women's right to work, especially after marriage – it gives women self-confidence and satisfaction, as well as a financial cushion, and makes husbands and children proud. I have been wanting for a long time that Khushi should think about working again - she has so many reasons to do so - she has always been working, she has been running the G's house for ages, and she knows her marriage is temporary.

But I didn't like the way the cv's showed it this week, the way she went about it. If she had to start working in a hurry, show her thinking about the reasons she needs to work - and let them not be about returning Rs 300 but about the bigger picture, her bigger problems in life.

She should have asked Nani before she started. She should have told Arnav - because it's his office and he's her husband. Not because she needs the boss's permission - in most offices, the boss doesn't give a damn where his employees' food comes from, but because he is her husband, even if in name only, and that is what gave her the initial entry into the office. If you use someone's name, you let them know. And again my objection as with the water fight - let them keep their battles private. My bone to pick with Arnav too - he gained the moral high ground by keeping his patience in the office with Khushi and by ordering her to be called 'Ma'am' ... he lost a lot of it by ordering his employees to cancel their orders.

No logic in how and where she got the money. Advance from whom? Her individual customers? I thought she took payment only after delivery?

Cv's seem to have lost their way this week. First the 100 ways to irritate Arnav track, dropped halfway (thank God), only to be replaced by the start up business track, with neither Arnav nor Khushi bothered about Shyam. Thank God with Sanaya going on leave, Arnav has started thinking about Shyam finally. But where are the thoughts about his confession – and has he very conveniently forgotten hers?

I think cv's got very lazy ... and a bit too complacent about Barun's popularity ... they forget that it's the character ASR/Arnav which is so popular, not only the hot guy. And dumbing down Khushi from her chulbuli, yet mature always caring self into a dumb ten year old just does not work ... Khushi's character is the backbone of the show, you cannot tamper with it to this extent. They tried it before, they failed, yet they're doing it again. Barun and Sanaya acknowledged in their SPA acceptance speech their thanks to the creators and the characters of Arnav and Khushi, which have brought them their popularity – but it seems the cv's themselves have forgotten those characters. I hope the recent articles and feedback do reach them in time to repair the damage soon.

And stop dragging the MU track like old, flavourless chewing gum … get a move on!!!

Oops, I thought this would be brief ... not so brief after all! 😛

Comments, feedback, your opinions?

hi always looking forward to your analysis. its always light and unbiased. not being too negative to be harsh or not totally positive as to be a simple fawning fan. i love the balance in your analysis. we women love our serials, but should not take them to seriously. And simply accept them for what they are, fun and entertainment. But of course the CV should not always put in nonsensical scenes simply for the sake of it, and some form of continuity is required to take the story forward.