Crooner 1.16 :When the clock strikes 12 - Updtd

Ok. So how did you feel about the episode (not precap 😛)? Excited? Intimidated? Intrigued? Bored?

I will settle for intrigued. 😊 This was indeed an interesting episode. On the surface, it was about introducing Dadi to the plot but parallelly lot of other things was running - the same segment giving away multiple messages. This episode tried to deliver at least something for everyone & finishing off with the precap, I will say they have been successful. However, this episode seemed to focus more on the storyline than the characters - how things were in past, why things are as they are and also what the future is about to bring. It must have been a decoding delight for the analysts where nearly half of the dialogues & incidents seemed to have been stating something else - full of innuendos, nuances & symbolisms. My amateur brain already on overdrive 😕 - I hope I can make some sense.

As I mentioned in the last crooner, the last episode for me was a crossroad of beginnings - beginning of closing of one base of the story - "Khushi ki Aaj" & the beginning of the revealing of the other - "Arnav ki bure Atit". So the episode rightly started with hinting the return of the past as we see a clearly scared Manoroma, apprehending the arrival of Daadi - someone who affects her BP, someone who causes "Darr", someone who "Jaha Bhi Rehe, sukhi rehe, bas yaha na aye". Payal & NK tries to get insight into the storm approaching while I keep on thinking a lot of other things. "Darr" is one of my old time fav by SRK - a story of an obsessed lover. But why did I feel there is someone else than Daadi who the family wants to stay away wherever he/she is?

At the same time, in their own castle or Tajmahal, Khushi is busy tending the rose plants of her Shaitan/ Rajkumar. Besides seeing a Khushi who is happily taking care of Arnav's plants - there were two other things that instantly struck my mind as Khushi went on with her little monologue - by the time the rose buds will bloom, the Nanhi Kali of Anjali will come to this world. The first thing that crossed my mind was what Priya mentioned in the last crooner - of many other things, Rose also refers to secrets. So I would like to settle for this meaning in this dialogue and that gives us a timeline in the story. The other thing was the very obvious essence of "Beauty & the Beast". We have discussed this over & over but let me take you through it again a bit. What caused Beauty to land up with the beast? A Rose. Beauty asks her father to get her a rose, on his travel back home. It is the picking of this rose, from the Beast's private garden, which causes the daughter to replace her father in the castle. I have never given this part of the story any significance before but somehow it ticked me today. We all know the second part of the story - keep on thinking!

So Daadi enters RM only to be welcomed with splashing waters from Khushi who wanted to water the plants outside but ends up spilling the "water" seeing a "Lizard" on the door. FYI - of the many things Lizard refers to, one is snake or serpent. 😆 There goes Khushi's first impression ' Daadi thinks of her as a servant - our very own "Kaneez" carrying a tub of water, in Kurta though married, quite in a disheveled state with "mitti" on her face. Thinking of someone so graceful like Khushi a servant was a bit OTT but being a part of the liberal audience, I forgive the CVs because they were trying to deliver a lot of things with this little "Servant" track. In Daadi's defense, she clearly has no idea of any other "Bahus" in the house and perhaps, she is not used to seeing Raizada Bahus working like that. As for CVs, on the surface, this "servant" track will draw a part of the audience who likes Saans-Bahu drama over intense romance. Other than that, a parallel story was again being played here by the CVS - something they are clearly enjoying these days. But, but, but .. this time I felt this one little segment was referring to two other Kaneez from the past - someone perhaps we yet to meet, but the other one - can it be Manoroma Mami? I will touch upon that later. Another thing that came through this segment is social stigma. We will need that little trace of "mitti" removed off Khushi's face before she becomes the Raizada Bahu in true sense. Who wants a remarriage? I do!

Moving on! No one gets to clarify who Khushi really is - let the drama continue for a bit longer. Khushi was visibly hurt & appalled though she tried to show she is taking it in good spirit. And what follows next is perhaps her greatest realization about Arnav till date, "Jisse hum itna Pyaar karte hain, hum unhe thik se jante bhi nehi hain." I will stick to my "New Book" theory of their life as she declares her love for Arnav without the slightest bit of hesitation and that too in an open space - not inside her room. And the second part of the dialogue is all about the track to come - the knowing of Arnav Singh Raizada by his biwi. As the past will reveal, understanding the love of her life will be the most important of all for her.

So Khushi goes to offer "milk with kesar" to Daadi. Daadi not only restricted her to enter the room but also rejected the milk, shut the door & pull the curtain. Daadi does not accept the "milk" from Mami either and jibes, "some people & some things will never change." Then she finds Khushi preparing for Puja and again she stops her. In the mean time, Anjali enters the house and realizes something is wrong with Khushi - the first sign of concern from Anjali in days for Khushi. Perhaps, her grudge has started to lessen? Perhaps, she no longer needs to hold any grudge against her? Before Khushi could answer she hears somebody talking about "wasted time & saving time" and there stood her Daadi in all glory. Following was an emotional union between the two ladies where Daadi was concerned to know about Damaad ji particularly when she clubbed the rest as "others". Anjali breaks down, runs to her room. Daadi follows her, learns things are not right and promises she will make everything right. Why was she not shocked learning her pregnant Granddaughter was not fine? To top it, how did she even realize Anjali was pregnant since she visibly is not? And of course, why after 14 years she is here? Let's keep thinking!

Raizada Bahus Revisited:

I am happy I decided to write a little bit on the Raizada Bahus in the last crooner since it was bothering me for the last couple of episodes. An excerpt from what I wrote - "I feel Raizada Bahus perhaps have always needed to work really hard to make their places in the family. That has to be one of the reasons why Manoroma Mami is also giving a tough time to the girls." And it came into play today again, with the entry of Daadi. "Some people & Some things never change" - this can refer to a lot of things but on the very surface, it was directed to Manoroma Mami from whom also Daadi did not accept the milk. It is not only about the Bahus, it is also about their social class. Apparently, the gupta sisters & Maami - all are from LIG. I could smell an inherent dislike about this class in Daadi - this could be familial or triggered by some incident in the past. Whatever it is, Khushi is not going to be accepted by her very soon. Besides, I cannot stop thinking of the times I have not liked Naani for taunting Manorama.

Anjali-Dadi vs. Family:

Anjali has finally found her anchor. She has been waiting for someone to tell her, "Saab Kuch Thik Ho Jayega". And Daadi says that to the word which even Aranv could not say. Anjali prompted Arnav asking for this assurance after she attempted to harm the baby but he avoided. Though she mended things with Arnav, her insecurities were visible and that perhaps was one of the reasons why she kept doubting the intentions of Arnav-Khushi. She wants to start afresh & with Daadi by her side, she will leave no stone unturned to get what she wants. And yes .. perhaps, she does not need to hold any grudge against Khushi anymore. The closing shot was interesting - I am sure none of us has missed it. Arnav-Nani& Anjali-Daadi facing each other as the other family members look on - we can try making a guess what may cause the family to stand like this in the future.

Brain Teasers:

1) The Baby Krishna - there has to be something about it. Due to my lack of knowledge in this arena, I will leave this to you. 😊

2) We heard "BP" & "bartan" again. Is Daadi carrying some "bartan" of peetal? And how many times has she referred to "Shuddhi"?

Scene of the Day: Precap!! 😍 .. will analyze when it airs.

Performance:

This is an episode I am happy with everyone. Going with my tendency to favoritism, a special mention to the man of the show 😳 - you surpassed all in that just 1 minute shot.

On a Lighter Note:

Anjali Darling, don't bend like that on someone's lap! You are pregnant for God's sake! 😲

Congratulations Shwetha, Indranidi, Suba and Nishi...👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Brilliant crooner is less said'👏👏👏👏

Fell in love from d first quote'.

Two elements women and servant:

Now what was that? Should I just overlook d whole segment as TRP garner'.typical SP kitchen drama'.and frm which angle does our KKG looks like one? Ok if working in your own house makes you one, or not being decked up as Christmas tree at home makes you one then it's a different issue.

I wanted to shout bravo when I read your reference to Ram and Shabri.

For me the yippie moment in d epi was Khushi nurturing the rose plant, planted by her husband, watering it, caressing d bud. Nanhi kali'rose standing for beauty, secret, lots of time referred in fairy tales as means of transformation, and its bud d symbol of innocence, d symbol of love in nascent stage.

Khushi's monologue: jisse hum itna pyaar karte hain'.unke bare mein hum thik se jante bhi nehi hain''bound to happen girl'such is his charishma.😉😉.her first acceptance of d paramount love she feels for Arnav'she just needs to be aware of what is in Arnav's mind'love is already there..they understood their magnitude of love when they were on d verge of losing each other..what made matters go wrong was d reference to d contract again on that satsang night.

Khushi is always ready to love, to learn to make others happy especially her Arnavji but she still doesn't know much about her husband..what pushed Arnav to resort to bring in d contract that night'why did he even mention that'Arnav d ocean is too deep'khushi has to dive in that ocean to figure out d actual reason behind his every tough talk'.

Arnav has already pronounced his love, his yearning for her hume bas Khushi chahiye..in pursuing that he is not going to leave any stone unturned...he wants khushi next to him...whatever it takes him to do that...he is not used to lose any deal...and he is confident that once Khushi is close to him he will win her back. As Priya says, he needs to denounce that contract to bring back Khushi's confidence ,her trust her faith in that institution called marriage'

Enter of d dragon ooops sorry dadi: severe case of talk to my hand syndrome

Dadi enters and gets a watersplashed welcome from Jhalli bahu. I believe she is from old school of thoughts but untouchability and naukarlog ka aukat and naukarlog should not touch puja things..i guess CVs are walking on very thin lines'.will see where it leads to.

Janmashtami, Goverdhan, subhadra and time details: I always refer to Bal Gopal or baby Krishna as d god widely worshipped when ppl are expecting or want to have a baby specially'so a janmashtami celebration round d corner'.sorry my mind just went to visit those scenes last year. 🤪

Suvadra I can relate to Arjuna's wife, more of Abhimanyu's mother who didn't knew to come out of Chakravyuh'I refer to d seven circles of Diya shown in Diwali'and somehow believe that our Arjun will be able to break through it.

Their past is going to spill a can of worms'however horrid it will be added with d re surfacing of Shyam'Arnav d purifier will bring an end to it.

Isn't she too coming from a so called servant background? That's why probably dadi refuses to take milk from her too. the dadis and nanis of raizada and maliks should by now accept that all their boys from all generations are big time lover boys,,,,all re incarnations of majnus and Ranjhas...😆😆😆😆

U cant address d daughter in law as servant'actually to be honest which normal person refers to their maids as a naukar in front of them'.which class and upbringing Raizada are boasting of?

Return of ASR: every action invites an equal reaction.😆😆 Cant explain how much I screamed and jumped at d precap'.previously we have always seen how ASR always pulls up Khushi next to him'.but today he followed Dadi's gaze and took that step to stand next to Khushi'his wife'.we have discussed it time and again how Arnav has accepted her wholeheartedly'that's where tumhara haq hai mujhpe hain comes '..lets wait for a dabaang episode tonight with ASR back ground score'.

1.Why was Anjalidi's and Arnav reaction to their Dadi diametrically opposite?