Director' Cut : 10th August, 2012

No Longer a 'Good Day'

The timing of the arrival of Dadi in the Raizada Mansion is no coincidence. She has come here with a purpose, correction, she has been brought here with a purpose. She has to bring the darkness - Shyam (which means black) - into the Raizada house.

When Shyam Manohar Jha stood in the middle of the living room, deflecting the arrows from Khushi and Payal and NK, he weaved monstrous stories, lies, and vile accusations against Khushi and Payal. He danced around their accusations and made counter-claims, none of which he could back up either. But no-one had asked him to support his words either.

He sowed the seeds of doubts about Payal in her husband's mind. Those seeds flowered and for a time, they smothered the love that Akash had for her. It is only now that Akash and Payal have mended their relationship. Their love is perhaps a little stronger now, having weathered one storm together. An adversity in a marriage can strengthen it, or break it. Payal and Akash's marriage is on course to be strengthened.

Shyam cast aspersions on NK's maturity, his ability to be fooled by a beautiful woman - a loose one, who wanted the attentions of not only her husband but that of her cousin-in-law and her brother-in-law. NK is perhaps the purest soul in Raizada mansion. He was not affected by these accusations and even today defends Khushi every time she needs it. He has won the heart of Payal, and her friendship. Together, he and Payal, are Khushi's staunch supporters.

But Shyam had revealed the ugly side to his nature to the entire Raizada clan. And slowly, they seem to have come to terms with his abrupt departure. They accepted Arnav's explanation and with Nani's support, have also made their peace in their own way with Khushi.

It is a happier household now.

Until Dadi's arrival.

Subhadra Malik lives in the past. She cannot let go of the memories of her son, who committed suicide. She cannot let go of Anjali's memories of her husband, who has been thrown out of his house by his own brother-in-law.

She has been away for 14 years, fourteen long years in which things have changed. Living in a sequestered ashram, time has stood still for her, while the outside world and the Raizadas have moved on.

When she first walked in the door, and met Anjali, it was the latter who hugged her Grandma. At last, here was a person who she could confide in, talk to about her loss. In Anjali's mind, Chotey had changed and the cause for the change was Khushi. Even on Raksha Bandhan, she recognized that Khushi had achieved what she had never been able to do, get Chotey to put on a kurta. She recognized the power that this slip of a girl wielded over her brother.

Did she forget the innumerable instances when she herself used this girl to get her brother to do what she wanted?

The aarti for Janmashthami last year - Khushi's idea.

The Diwali decorations - Khushi's idea

Getting Chotey to agree to the Sangeet - Khushi's idea.

Then, she welcomed those ideas - because it got Chotey to do what she wanted.

Yet now, Chotey was buzzing around Khushi, and it was not what she wanted. To her, Khushi is the reason for Shyam's departure. And while on the surface she seems to accept her brothers changed status, she does want to bring her own life back to its status quo. Shyam as her husband, by her side.

So today, she has started hiding things, lying and avoiding her family, getting mysterious phone calls and text messages - and finally a date(?!) with this mysterious person. All of which she is keeping hidden from them and especially Chotey. She has started saying the things that she knows he wants to hear, much as he has said the things that he knew she wanted to hear. There is a rift between this brother-sister duo, and they are not even aware of it. Each has done their part in putting that rift in place. The tie between these two is loosening. It remains to be seen how much further apart they will drift. Except we know Chotey will do all in his power to protect her.

Enter Dadi. She has heard her little grand child's story. We were not witnesses to that conversation. Dadi has come with a well-thought out preconception of Khushi - this much is evident. There is hatred and anger every time she looks at this hapless girl. Perhaps she should at least look at the other people around her and try to find out if what she knows about Khushi is true. But she doesn't ask. Because after all, Subhadra Malik is always right.

What she hadn't reckoned with is a grandson who is more than ready to face her down. She hadn't expected a grandson who would not comply with her wishes.

And what is her wish?

That her damad must be brought back to the house.

Truly a closed mind. Without even enquiring about the reasons for his departure, she is demanding that the whole household bow down to her wishes. It is after all, her son's son's house. Nobody, not even Devyani, her so-called best friend, can be allowed to have a difference of opinion. It must have been a bitter pill to swallow when this same grandon quickly and incisively made her aware that HIS wife had as much a right and authority in this home as he did. She was his wife, his ardhangini, his other half. What was his, is hers. They are equals.

And now he sets down one more rule. Damadji has been thrown out the house. She is shocked at this. She wants to know the reason from Arnav. And he tells her what made him do it. Damadji is not welcome in this house. Not anymore.

She can't leave it alone. She follows him to his room. He is standing alone, grim, ready to face this old lioness who is now fighting for the right of her young cub. She starts with the manipulation, playing to his emotions, evoking memories of his childhood. But Arnav has come far, far away from that. He is the head of his pride, and he will defend it. Life and time has taught him how to defend his family. Like the one swift move in which he threw out the hyena. He barely lets out a growl, but it is a menacing one nevertheless. Then she makes two mistakes: She starts with the emotional blackmail - he is your sister's unborn child's father; and she mentions his father. Now the lion turns, bares its fangs, and spews out one more horrible fact from the past. His father had committed suicide. And before committing suicide, he had forced Arnav's mother to commit suicide too. Shyam will never be allowed to do that. Does he believe that Shyam could take Anjali's life? Absolutely. As yet he does not know how many times Anjali was close to being killed by Shyam.

The lioness goes for his vulnerable spot. Your mother was weak. She didn't know how to raise a family and keep them happy.

He roars at her, Enough! And then controls himself. The only thing standing between Dadi and him right now, is his misplaced respect for an elder. But he will not hear anything negative about his mother - not even from her.

Then, Dadi reveals something surprising and she reveals her hand. She is still equating the past to the present. Once more, she says, you are on the side of the wrong and not of the right.

Arnav had told Khushi - my dadi will always believe what she wants to believe, and what anyone else thinks is immaterial - they are wrong! Yes, he certainly knows his Dadi well. But more importantly, we now know that all along Dadi has known the reason for Shyam's departure - or at least a version of it. Why else would she be so convinced that Arnav is in the wrong? Why else would she be so adamant that the outcome of an event that she was not even a witness to, is wrong? It is clear that she has been fed, and fed well by someone, whose sole purpose is to get Shyam back into the house. Dadi has listened to the grandchild she did not hug, but is unwilling to give the benefit of the doubt to the grandchild she offered a hug to. In a couple of days, her allegiance has changed completely. She is now firmly in Anjali's corner.

As much as he knows her, she does not know him at all. She does not recognize herself in him. Neither does he.

She starts dragging her claws into his hide. Digging up the past, again. And finally he has had enough. Stop it, Dadi. His paw flails. He doesn't want to touch her, for if he had done so, he would have harmed her, physically. And he would not do that. He is too well brought up for that. He just wants her to stop with her constant references to a past that he has just begun to deal with. Why does she keep dragging the murky shadows of the past into the present? Does she not want them to forget it? Does she not want them to get on with their lives?

She does not. You can't run away from your past. It will always be there for you. Your decision to throw Shyam out of this house will impact the future of this house.

He is immovable. I was right then and I am right now. Then it was Dad's fault - today its Shyam's. Shyam will never come back to this house.

Devyani - the voice of reason, comes in. Asks them to stop this argument as Anjali is back. For her sake, they should stop.

It is interesting that it is Arnav who acknowledges both Devyani and her words. Subhadra does not. She walks away.

It is also interesting that this battle is about Anjali whom both claim to love. We have seen Arnav's brand of love, and we know that it is pure. He has been trying to bring the balance back into his life between his wife and his sister. It seemed like he was succeeding for a while. A little down time and thinking thing through will show him how far off he is.

But what of Dadi? What does she gain by trying to bring Shyam into this house? Dadi, as old as she is, is not wise to the ways of the Queen Bee. Lioness she may be in front of her grandson. In front of the other, she is now a worker bee - but one that might have a very powerful sting.

For Arnav Singh Raizada - it was no longer a 'Good Day'.

After thought:

Arnav on the phone saying: 'You will have to monitor their performance for a week. At least a week. Yeah. And the value of the stocks too.'

Whose performance needs to be monitored for at least a week? and what value will they add to the house? Or are they already here, but only for a week? Will Shyam be given yet another chance to stay at RM for a week? And will ASR need someone to look out for his 'performance' while he is away? Who will do the monitoring, Akash or NK? Where is ASR going? Yesterday, we saw a suitcase, today the request to someone to monitor something... Something tells me, there's travel in store for ASR and... perhaps KKGSR too?

Few years back...while I was still in school,I had scored a perfect 10 in my class tests.I came to my Mom'ecstatic'...with my exam papers overjoyed with my marks.My Mom while praising my efforts and patting me on my back..had explained to me that though my efforts and success was worth praise..but I needed to give my best when the real Mccoy is here...I mean during the final exams...

I was disappointed at first and also a little hurt...And also argued with my Mom...But then..as I thought about it..I relized she was indeed right..that I needed to score that perfect 10 at the real spot...where it mattered the most...

However talented you might be...How many perfect 10's you score at your class test...If you don't end your year with that brilliant score card...Everything else falls flat...At the end of the day..we should never forget the adage.."Alls well that ends well.."

All said and done..I hope the experience I shared above will touch you in the right spot..and hit it where it's needed'It's something that I've learnt in my life till now and felt like sharing it with y'all!!

Good Night

Sam😃