"No one fights dirtier or more brutally than blood; only family knows it's own weaknesses, the exact placement of the heart. The tragedy is that one can still live with the force of hatred, feel infuriated that once you are born to another, that kinship lasts through life and death, immutable, unchanging, no matter how great the misdeed or betrayal. Blood cannot be denied, and perhaps that's why we fight tooth and claw, because we cannot'being only human'put asunder what God has joined together."
Whitney Otto , How to Make an American Quilt
Its been a while since I wrote anything regarding IPK' so this post might seem a little higglety pigglety; pardon me if it is..
Well the past week has been a draining one; a few truths came to the forefront, a few betrayals were caught, a few confrontations, a few slaps, a few low blows but most of all' a relationship that's at the very edge of the cliff' one gently nudge and it might topple headfirst into chaos, taking with it anyone and everyone who ever were witness to the budding love between the two..
And no, I'm not talking about Arnav-Khushi; not yet' its about the bond that's seemingly unwavering, between one of the strongest characters in the serial, and one of the most cosseted and most delicate characters in the very same serial..
Neither is this about Anjali-Shyam.. because as they say, "Love that does not beget love is barren". What we've witnessed the past week are the desperate measures, futile attempts and extreme actions of a man that loves his sister. The bond is such as it draws him back; back from whichever other relation he might be seeking to form..
If anything, the past week has proved that without Anjali's backing, Arnav's relations stand nowhere' the very family that he's toiled to preserve and hold together would start doubting him; if his ever supportive sister isn't on his side..
I may not be able to justify the beautiful relation the show has brought on screen, but I sure can try to describe why every time I see Anjali and Arnav, I smile a little brighter at my own brother'..why Rakshabandan, a festival I didn't even know existed a few years back means so much to me now that thought we don't celebrate it, I pray a little extra for my brother that day..
Not too long ago, we were introduced to a character that has come to be so close to our heart that we feel his each and every emotion as if they're our own. Ever since the moment he showed up on our screens, he's had us flummoxed; we hated him, loved him, were angry with him, detested him, were disgusted with him.. there were some actions of his we could never figure out why. Arnav Singh Raizada was a complex being to understand; appearingly stone hearted.. until..
The lights shifted to a woman; young, pretty with the most genuine smile ever seen; you look at her once and can't help but smile at her. ASR's stern exterior is no match to her gentle smile; his stern mask melts away to show the human within. What's this? The man we'd all imagined was a living breathing robot was looking at someone without the blank wall covering his eyes? Is that even possible? Was Arnav Singh Raizada a human, afterall?
The man steps up, or rather the little brother in him walks to his Di; he who is now the centre of a huge business empire. Not to her, though; to her, he's just Chote; no matter how many times he reprimands her not to call him that. He can fool the world; pull wool over even the ones who've seen him since he was born but not her. Before Anjali the Di, the mighty ASR kneels and dissolves into Arnav the brother.
He offers her his hand; a hand of support that has always been there; a promise that he strives to keep with his very life. She stumbles lightly and he's right there, the only one who knows when she needs his support and offers it before she herself realizes; Arnav has always known what Anjali needs; it's the way his life has always proceeded until now; in the path that will give his Di the most happiness..
Anjali seems a little unsure about how the media would take her sudden appearance; she is the one who has kept track of all the gossip being spun about her brother.. she wonders if anyone would have connected the past and asked questions to him. Because Anjali knows the level of hurt and pain her seemingly unshakeable brother is hiding and she doesn't want anything to happen that might bring it up.
"She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child." -Barbara Alpert
Did Anjali come to Sheesh Mahal that night to bask in pride while her brother records another milestone to his career? Did she come to share the limelight as the ASR's sister? Did she come to visit the house that was now hers? Did she come to visit her childhood home?
The one and only reason that pushed her towards Lucknow from her comfortable home at Delhi was her concern for her brother's wounds from the past. He was going back; back to the place where their painful past lay. He was going to face it, all alone; thinking, believing that he could get the ordeal over with without letting himself relive the events of the past. But she knows; Anjali knows that Arnav couldn't do it alone; he couldn't when he was fourteen, he still can't now because her brother, her Chote might have achieved the impossible in the world of business but Anjali has seen and she is terribly protective, of the heart that lays behind the shatir dimaag and unshattering confidence that he emanates to the world.
Anjali knew she had to be there beside Arnav as he set foot in Sheesh Mahal once again; because she had been right there when they had been thrown out. The pain wasn't just his to deal with; it was hers just as well. He wouldn't be able to put the past behind without her presence because the horrible memories that haunts them are theirs in right half. The memories of those days need to be relived and forgotten together; because alone, Arnav wouldn't have the strength to move past the pain of his Mother's death. Without her beside him to make him feel a mother's love his heart wouldn't be able to rest in peace.
Anjali knows the exact chinks in the mask he wears; though many would claim that she didn't have it in her to break the wall he'd built, it was more because she understood where he was coming from, knew what made Arnav rather than because she didn't care enough about him. When you understand someone perfectly, there is no need for them to change because you know why they're doing what they are doing and though the world might see it differently, you know the why; and that, is what makes Anjali so overtly protective and defensive over Arnav. Why she never lets anyone bad mouth her brother; be it an almost stranger like Khushi; or even he own brother's wife.
But does this mean she'll let him off the hook? Of course not; she wants to know; like a mother who asks an injured child, "Why did you keep your finger on the fire when you know it will burn you?", she asks him what he is doing here, carefully avoiding the same question pointed at herself. Because she knows Arnav is aware of her reason to be here; he is asking them merely to avoid having to answer her and she's having none of it. She sees this as a chance for them to put the past back once and for all; for them to come to terms with them being thrown out.
A sister smiles when one tells one's stories - for she knows where the decoration has been added. ~Chris Montaigne
The house was theirs now, their childhood home. They could start over; or so she dreams. Still, her brother, intent on sliding over the topic of the past, explains in detail about how he has planned to bring down the house; the very place where they were born and brought up because, unlike Anjali, he doesn't see the place as anything but a bad memory. To him, the building is but a reminder of his failure and he can't tolerate seeing it again; he cannot afford to be reminded of the same events over and over. He believes that tearing down the walls and pillars would erase the humiliation of the past. Its a nave belief and he knows; yet he hazards going against his sister because what she thinks could be rebuilt, to him, has already become run down and dilapidated.
She tries, one more time, knowing that she would be pushed back and yet hoping; that this time, in the presence of the house that is the only place they've considered "Ghar", he might relent. That he might shed those tears that he'd kept banked so far; that atleast now, after achieving what he'd sworn to achieve, he'd somehow, miraculously, turn back into the Chote who had burst the balloon she'd gifted him. The very Chote who'd stuck Krishna inside the cucumber with glue; the one whose happiness came from pranking and playing; the one who smiled, laughed.
But didn't she know; that the tears that he'd held back as a child had carved themselves as scars in his heart? Even when he tries, the only thing he can feel is the sting of reopening the scar; not the warm balm that childhood memories bring. The heart that once beat and bled for his mother had by then solidified into a diamond. Sparkling, beautiful, admirable; but a stone unbreakable all the same.
She does and yet, she hopes; places her wishes on falling stars that the Almighty might send her brother someone worthy of him; someone who can achieve what she had failed to. She admits defeat; because she daren't poke and prod him so much that he hurts. No; that would be merciless of her; she would be inhuman to cause such pain for her brother, whom she loves more than her own self.
He turns away and she knows its over; the mission she had come on; that had brought her there all the way from Delhi, was unsuccessful, just like her previous innumerable attempts to bring out the real Arnav in him were.
It wasn't destined for her to do that; she was showered with his unconditional love, but that is all was her position in his life. She couldn't change him; with a sigh of indignation, she smiles for the media while giving him one last pleading look. A vain hope; a futile request.. denied, as expected.
Now why am I suddenly describing this scene, from so long back, now? Because that was the scene that had me in its grip. There were so many scenes where Arnav and Anjali where in the same frame; a few cute ones, happy ones, sorrowful ones, angry ones and quite a few where we were left speechless by the depth of the bond.
Each of them were brilliant in showcasing the unmatched relation between the siblings and yet, none, so far as my heart goes, touched me the way last Monday's scene did. Those few seconds of silent communication between the two siblings; separated not just physically but also emotionally, having a huge difference of opinion.. but still, its he she looks to for the truth and support. Its he who she believes can right all the wrongs in her life; and it is he, and not anyone that she trusts in to make her life colorful once again.
There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother. ~Astrid Alauda
That one scene gave me hope.. hope that the bond we were shown a year back is not yet so strained as to fear breaking. Anjali's first child is still Arnav; she might be blinded by her love for her husband now, but when she isn't conscious, when her mind refuses to function and her heart is in too much pain to feel anything at all, it is the comfort of her brother's presence she seeks. It is his face she looks for; it will be his arms she would have broken down in, had he had the courage to face her..
She doesn't need words; not even his presence in the room. She only needs to look at his eyes; red rimmed, tear streaked, broken; just the way hey would have been fourteen years ago when they'd lost everything in one big sweep and the realisation sinks in. Everyone and anyone could lie to her; could cause her pain and hurt but not Arnav; she trusts him to never do anything for her that would harm her. Yes, unlikely as it seems, Anjali does still believe the most in Arnav.
Well, I'd actually set out to defend Anjali and make people she that all is not lost with her even now; I'm not sure I succeeded at all but at least, it got me to rewatch the beautifully scripted scenes.. I'm sure I wasn't convincing enough..
Thanks for reading this almost pointless post...😊
Edited by Nina90 - 12 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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