I'll be honest, I love RaHi. There are no two thoughts about it. I have started thinking that many people believe that PanSh is my bias. Well no, my equation with PanSh is totally different. With this topic I'm gonna make it official:
RaHi. RaHi. RaHi. Before anything and above everything, I hold RaHi the most special in TBP.
With that being clarified, let's move on! Long essay ahead so brace yourselves.
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RaHi. I used to call them "Magic". It was one word that was always used by me while describing them. Their simplicity, the realness of the characters and the casualness of their relationship; it was nothing short of magic. It was unique because it was real. They held some sort of a charm for me. Whey they were together, when they interacted; I didn't dare blink else I might've missed some important moment between. Why? Because their moments were so casual and were not exaggerated or dragged.
Sucks that I am using the past tense here :| Sucks that the clock has already struck 12 for them. Magic lost, party over, time to head home.
Let me start from the very beginning.
Character Intro Promos: RV was the same playboy who was "scared" of love. Not a disbeliever, but scared. That one word, "darr", hooked me to him. He seemed like a different kind of a teen Casanova. Panchi was sort of an inspiration for me in the promo. Though I can't help but notice that her character has been drastically changed during the time between the episode and the promo. The promo was shot quite early as everyone has observed that the uniforms were different. Anyway! Now she was a chubby/over-weight girl who did not go around whining about her weight but instead was completely cool and chilled about it. Yeah, she did have problems but she didn't let them get into her head. She knew what she was and she was happy and accepting about it. Mind you, this is what I thought about her in her character promo.
Character Promotion: The channel promoted the show heavily, using its that time on-air shows to give a little insight about the main characters. Maybe I missed RV's was combined with KD. Something along the lines that RV and KD can never be friends as they hate each other. This part, I'm glad to say, has been justified till now. Their hatred is crystal clear. Panchi was combined with Bobby and regarding her it was said, and I'll use the exact words as they have been etched in my mind, "No gym, no exercise. Just happy with her size." Trust me when I say, I got so excited to see her in the show! Maybe she'll set a new trend in the generation obsessed with size zero figure that your waist size doesn't decide your place in the crowd. It's what you are from the inside that makes or breaks you. My expectations were sky rocketing! And they reached a different height when it was told that RaHi are actually paired up together; as best friends. Playboy and the Chubby? Damn interesting combo! I was so looking forward to their cliched but still interesting story of best friends falling for each other!
Initial Episodes: If the promos got me excited about them, they were nothing compared to the happiness I felt seeing them together, officially in the show. First episode, first glance and a total love at first sight for me. Best friends and been that for a long time, that's who they were. A risk taker and a peace lover. God, they were fire and ice! Stark opposites yet together! A strong bond of friendship binding them together! Magic.
If their easy flowing chemistry, kudos to the actors for their awesome chemistry, ignited the spark for the fans, the flames were spread due to the relationship they shared. He teased her, she didn't mind. He flirted and she rolled her eyes. He got into trouble, she got him out of it. One word against her and he is ready to fight the world! How couldn't one fall for them? Moment by moment, they were breaking apart from the cliched path and setting their own trend. Where the girl doesn't necessarily fall for her best friend. Where the insensitive jerk can be furiously protective of his best buddy without suffocating her. Where, priceless relationship or not, self-respect came first for a girl. Where she knew that he is nothing but a jerk and he knew that she is most definitely not his type, but still they were together.
I can't even begin to explain just how curious I was to see their relationship progress! Just how can someone like them, so unique and so realistic, actually end up together? Mind you, the cliched path, I didn't even consider it! My love for the writers was so high that I was sure they won't screw up such beautiful characters in the name of "masala entertainment" and keep it realistic. Sure, even at that time there were hints that maybe she has a soft spot in her heart for him but it was only implied and not presented as a fact. That was the beauty of it! I am saying it from personal experience, it doesn't take more than one look for a girl to fall for her best friend. And here tou they shared such casual moments with physical contact, I didn't blame Panchi for having a slight crush on Ranveer. Similarly, I didn't blame Ranveer for not noticing it. Because, well, he is an insensitive jerk amongst other things
Post Freedom Party: I think TFP was the beginning of the fall for them. It began when RV, on Samar's advice, treated Panchi like the regular girls. I'm not counting him ditching her in the party because that was bound to happen. I'm not even blaming her for leaving there unnoticed and ignoring him the next day. Heck, I don't even blame her for playing that lesbian joke on him! Yeah, it was not up to par with their initial relationship, the selfless kind, but it was true to the individual characters to some extent. What I'm complaining about is the way that it was stretched and shaped.
The lesbian joke - stretched beyond its elastic limit! I can't even fathom a clear end for it now! Most probably it will end up in a fight with him not talking to her because she made a fool out of him.
Her getting jealous and insecure about her weight - SERIOUSLY?! Jealousy?! Insecurity?! WHY?!? I can't even write about it without being ANGRY! And it will show! Girl, you know him since you were KIDS! You know all about his affairs! You were the one who had said that his affairs won't last long! YOU KNOW JUST HOW RANDOM HE IS WHEN IT COMES TO GIRLS!!! And you are getting JEALOUS that he is with other girls?! Hurt because he doesn't shower you that attention which he showers on other girls? Actually taking his remark about you being a "teddy bear" to your heart and keep pondering over it!
I swear, seeing her actions I just wanted to get inside the screen, grab her by the shoulders and shake her till she came to her senses! This is NOT you! No! This is not the one you were in the initial episodes! This is NOT the Panchi that was promised to us, to me. And I'm hurt. Gravely hurt by her actions.
I'm over-weight. I know it sucks. I know how hard it is when people judge you for your weight. When they give you mocking glances, it is not easy dealing with them. And what sucks the most is that no one in my life has come up to me and said, "You've got to lose weight because it's not good for your health! You'll have problems in the future." No! Everyone has said, "Lose weight and you'll look good." "The boys will notice you." "You'll look pretty." "You'll have confidence." And I just want to scream at them, "NO! My weight does NOT define who I am." This is just me, I've moved on. But there are literally THOUSANDS of teenage girls having weight issues who look up to fictional characters on TV. I honestly thought that the character of Panchi would change that norm. Maybe she will balance it perfectly. Spell it out that lose weight for your own health, not because you are under some pressure of gaining attention. That is just WRONG! Plain WRONG! C'mon! Not every teenager girl having weight issues has this kind of thinking. There must be someone who doesn't think like that. I honestly thought Panchi was that "someone".
Such a misfortune that I'm being proven wrong.
Khair, the Chamatkari Baba Churan track and wanting to lose weight just because she wants RV to "notice" her is nothing but ridiculous and a mockery of the RaHi which was shown pre-TFP. RV falling for a random girl on the internet, fine. Her being a little jealous, also fine as I'll let it slide. But her planting doubts in his mind regarding that random girl? A big No No! From what I judged, I quite honestly thought she would be accepting of his affairs as long as he didn't get himself in trouble. Because that was her character. Warning him beforehand as a genuine friend, was her responsibility which after being fulfilled, she should've just waited and let time take control over the situation. Alas, she didn't do so. She is interfering, snooping, behaving like a desperate clingy girlfriend; in short she is turning into someone he uses, not cherishes.
It's funny how after some initial hesitation RV accepted her sexual preferences with just this thought, "as long as she is happy." Isn't that what friends do? And it sucks that she can't be accepting of his relationships. Her insecurity is kicking in. She wants to tie him with her, bound him. Do everything which would ultimately suffocate him and that is never good.
How old is Panchi anyway? 17-18? In today's time, by 16 a teenager becomes mature, generally. He becomes aware of his surroundings and people in his life and learns to deal with them. And someone like Panchi who is everyone's best friend, her friend's go-to-gal in times of troubles, who has neutral and logical advices for every situation; she can't figure out her own best friend? That is so wacky and unrealistic!
Day by day, my expectations are falling down. Forget about them being unique, I am dreading that they won't even be special now. Flawless chemistry can't take you far unless the treatment to the story is done aesthetically. Just a month ago their half hugs, hi-fives, that kiss on the forehead etc, they were treated so casually and it passed in a blink that the effect it produced was long lasting. I don't know about others but I could not see that scene where RV hushed Panchi up by putting his finger on her lips and she felt all butterflies. It was so stretched that I was embarrassed to watch it! That was NOT my casual RaHi. That was just another random couple on any random show of any random channel. That scene wasn't unique, wasn't special, wasn't magical. It was been there and done that! And I used to think that RaHi were anything but ordinary.
Now they have become so typical and I can almost predict them. She would on-surface support his relationship with Aisha but behind him, do all in her power to make sure that they don't hook up together. She has already started on that. Her jealousy and insecurity would continue to a bitter extent, so much that the already fading charm of her character would be completely gone. He would be himself, dazed and confused at the turn of events. Voila! Her secrets (churan, lesbian and Aisha thingy) are out and in comes the fights and misunderstandings.
Yawn.
I won't watch that. I don't want to watch that. I don't want to waste my time on ordinary. I want special. I want magic. Everyone wants magic. The magic that was shown in the initial episodes. The magic that made me believe that no jealousy or insecurity would make them realize their love for each other. The magic that made me wish that circumstances would make them fall for each other. Maybe her unmoving support for him would make him think of her. Or maybe her letting go would do the trick. But yeah, situation and circumstances not jealousy or some third person should be the key.
Anyway, I still believe that their is hope left. Things can still turn around. The path on which the characters are treading would change from cliched and back to being realistic and unique. The casualness will return. I'm not even asking for their love track to start now. NO WAY! Their friendship, the one shown in the initial episodes, is far more precious than their love could ever be. My fingers are crossed for them to set a different trend. Hopefully they'll create a space where love and friendship will coincide without one having to over-power the other. The balance will be perfect. Still, not all is lost.
Because even when the clock struck 12, the story went on till the glass slipper was found and returned to its owner. And just as the shoe fit, the magic re-created and the happy ever after bells rung.
RaHi just have to find their magic slipper now and make it fit and within a blink, the magic will be there <3
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Agree? Disagree? Want to add something? It's open for discussion!
Love,
Mais.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
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