The Raizadas and the Guptas had always maintained a cordial, respectful, and clear relationship. Two families from the nawabi city of Lucknow, both families rooted in tradition. Both families were religious, they followed similar values, morals and ethics. The bond between the two families was always close. However, with Daadi pointing at Garima as the woman who wrecked Naani's and Daadi's children's and grandchildren's lives, the two families face a barbed wire fence between them now.
"If Only" was the refrain from Naani... "If Only Garima had told about this before..." Naani knows that even if Garima had brought this out before, their reaction would probably be the same, but the hurt, the pain might have been lessened if Garima had said it herself instead of them having to hear about it from anyone else. "If Only Garima had come to them before they would probably find it easier to forgive her." There can be so many more "If Only's" but it doesn't change the fact that the damage would have been done anyway, but just not on such a day of wedding bliss - when instead of two families joining together in the union of their children, they are driven apart by the past.
It is not easy to be reminded of one's child's death. Devyani Raizada didn't see this coming. She was angry with her son-in-law for driving her daughter to suicide. She never spoke about it much except in times in which ASR mirrored some of his father's actions. Therefore, to be told that the woman who snatched away her daughter's life was right there in their midst must have pained Devyani to the core.
The woman who robbed her of her daughter was alive, while her daughter was no longer by her side. Devyani still had a large heart to say that she was not sure if she could forgive Garima... she didn't say that she would not forgive, or that she held Garima totally responsible.
What a stark difference between Daadi and Naani - one set out to inflict pain on the so-called culprit without realizing that this action would inflict pain on her own family members, while the other one though devastated by the news, was worried about her grandson's condition. Devyani understands how important Ratna Malik was to Arnav, and she knows that Arnav would be in a great deal of pain at the moment.
"woh kitna khush tha" she said, tears brimming over as she wept for the loss of her grandson's happiness. She knew the value of his happiness, a happiness he didn't have in his life all this while. A grandmother was left pricked at the thought of her grandson being deprived of happiness yet again.
The barbed wires penetrated the very heart of Garima as she witnessed her daughter being declined the honour of being welcomed into her new family due to a secret that she, Garima, had kept all these years from everyone. Khushi had accepted her as her mother in the truest sense ever since her parents passed away. Even after being made conscious of the fact a few times that she wasn't the true daughter of Garima or Shashiji, Khushi kept loving and acknowledging Garima as her mother. Never once did Khushi call Garima "maasi", and more than that, she had always been a true daughter to Garima, a daughter more real than a blood daughter might have ever been.
The amount of trust, love, faith, belief, and loyalty that Khushi deposited in Garima has pricked her terribly today by the unravelling of the truth. Not for one second did Khushi believe Daadi's accusations against Garima, and what had Garima done to Khushi? To Garima, she had destroyed every chance, and hope of a happily-ever-after-life for the innocent, pure-hearted daughter Khushi. True she had kept quiet about the past for this very reason, but the past would have come out eventually. Khushi never deserved this. Garima knows that, and the barbed wire of this guilt has placed itself firmly within her heart.
However, the most important and significant relationship to be brutally stabbed by the barbed wires was of course, Arnav and Khushi's relationship.
This was the day, the moment they were both looking forward too with all the impatience of a couple irrevocably in love. Their love has undergone many a test, many trials, many threats, and many traps - it came sailing through all of those, albeit their boat of love tossed and turned in those heavy tides. This time though, their love faces the fire - an agnipariksha, if you may.
When I saw Khushi sitting in front of the holy fire, and saying the line "Ye humaari pyaar ki imtihaan hai", all I could think of was that the fire symbolized the agnipariksha that their love had to undergo this time around. Khushi stared at the fire with full faith and conviction that Arnav would come and marry her. Her love is pure, and a pure love like hers will call upon Arnav's love to be together, and to pass through the ring of fire circling them.
Khushi has always been the eternal optimist, she is the girl who never loses hope no matter how dreadfully bleak the situation is. These qualities of hers are further strengthened by her unfailing trust and faith in Arnav and in his love. "Humme aap pe, aur aapke pyaar par pura vishwaas hai." Saying that, she had given herself trustingly to him. The same belief in their love keeps her conscious even as she almost faints from the overwhelming turn of events on what was to be the happiest day of her life. She repeats "Arnavji aayenge" like a mantra, a chant keeping her hope and her faith in him alive.
Khushi remains true to her character as she notices everyone else's tears except her own! She sees her family weeping, she watches as Anjali breaks down, she is deepened with sadness as she sees Nani crying, but not once does she realize that her tears streaked her blush filled cheeks, that they drip down involuntarily off her eyes, that they speak of her fear and dread over Arnav's reaction, over his decision, over the future of their love. It is only when she sees everyone else bereft of hope that she questions the fear she had tried brushing aside at first, "Jiji, agar woh nahi aayenge? Agar who nahi aayenge toh hum kya karenge jiji?" The possibility of this coming true was never acknowledged by her until now. She hugs Payal for support, for strength, for comfort... trying even then to deny the reality of this possibility.
The possibilities of Arnav's reaction are varied. The man himself is in dire searing torment. A similar torment was unleashed in his life the night his parent's committed suicide. It took him 14 years and the pure love of a girl to diminish the aching wounds of his past. Just at the brink of happiness, same as 14 years back, a new wave of unnerving pain has cascaded full force onto Arnav. This time, the weight is heavier as the face of the woman held responsible for his parent's death has been made known to him. What drives the barbed wire twisting painfully into Arnav's heart this time is that not only is the woman his lover's mother, but also that his heart is at war between honouring his mother's memory, and committing himself to Khushi thereby being reminded of his mother's death every minute.
The worst war was not his Mind vs. Heart War, but the war among two dearest and most loved people in his life
- his Mother and Khushi -
Heart vs. Heart!
While Khushi sat at the altar waiting for Arnav under the bright lights of hope that he will come, Arnav sought the comforting darkness and shadows in his mother's secret garden. While Khushi sat amidst family members, Arnav sat alone, left all to himself. The few lights of hope shining on him too dimmed and left him in the grey depths of uncertainty. The mists and hazy fogs of the past swept around behind him as he thought of Khushi, of her love, faith, belief and trust in him. A broken "Khushi" escaped his lips, voicing how torn he felt inside, how ripped his heart was, how wrecked his soul was.
The sound of Daadi's voice naming the woman responsible for his parent's death resounded and echoed in his ears as he sat before the roses in his mother's garden. Unbridled rage erupted from within the depths of Arnav's soul and ravaged everything in sight. His seething, rippling anger and fury made themselves heard through a roaring cry that shattered the tranquil peace of a moonlit night - exposing the shattered soul and heart of Arnav.
The little boy stumbled along, tired and weakened after releasing his pain of 14 years to the Universe. The little boy was unable to hold himself together anymore, and he fell to his knees, weeping, crying, and pouring his barbed wired dilemma through his soul choking tears of pain.
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Personally, I feel that Arnav will return to marry Khushi. There are various possibilities about the marriage though:
1. Arnav returns to find Khushi fainted from the trial of waiting for him, Garima's presence there by her daughter's side may only serve to renew the pain of his past.
2. Arnav returns to marry Khushi, they do get married, but due to Garima being involved in his parents deaths a wedge may exist between Arnav and Khushi. Khushi will understand his pain and give him time as well as support. However, if Arnav plays the childhood hatred card against Garima, then Khushi will defend her mother. 4th promo plays out here. "Nafrat paas aane na de, Mohabbat door jaane na de."
3. Arnav seems to be in the throes of emotions yet again, if he has learnt anything from the past then he should ask Garima for her side of the story, though it wouldn't help much since Garima hasn't told till now who the "married man" was, for all we know, he may turn out to be "not ASR's father" but someone else altogether.
Personally, I feel there is a low possibility that the re-marriage won't occur. I don't mind either way, since they are anyway married, just the rituals were never completed, and by 'married' I of course mean the deeper, sentimental, truer, purer version of marriage ā unity of souls marriage!
4. Even so, taking this possibility under consideration (of no re-marriage), we may find Khushi either fainted, or exhausted, waking up to find that the night of her marriage has long gone and Arnav didn't return to marry her. She will understand why he did it, but will be broken from inside. She will defend her mother if Arnav chooses to bring Garima as the bone of contention. 4th promo plays out more excitingly in this scenario.
Okay, I've run out of other possibilities though there are half baked ones cooking in my brain, but owing to the late hour and dawn of sleepiness, my brain stops working here. š
Continuing on some of the scenes that were good:
Garima begging to be served the punishment but to spare her daughters from any pain. I just loved how the three women (Garima, Payal and Khushi) were by each others sides. The extent of Garima's love for her daughters was presented very well today.
Shashiji and Garima. Shashiji seemed a bit shocked by whatever Daadi said, and Garima's request for forgiveness seems to show that she had said a different fact to Shashiji. Which is the lie and which is the truth? And what in the world is the actual truth now?
Khushi stopping Daadi from dousing the holy fire. Sign of re-marriage on? Besides that, loved it obviously because it was Khushi who screamed out "Nahinnn" and ran swiftly toward the altar and stopped Daadi from pouring water over the holy fire. I loved how Khushi stood up to Daadi yesterday and today!
Payal stating that if Khushi isn't welcome in RM, then she too will stay with her family was too good! That's the way our old Payal was, someone who knew when to speak up and stand firmly upto the humbugs! The fact that she said it right after her own sasu-ma rebuked Garima was applaud-worthy!
Yet again, Payal being continuously by Khushi's side reminded me of the old sisterly bond. Old charm of IPKKND is back, a slight bit though. Loved how Khushi sounded out her faith,fears, doubts, and helplessness to Payal, and Payal did her best to just be there and hold Khushi from crumbling.
NK!!! Haven't we always said that NK ā the court jester, hides a very mature, sharp, sensible brain behind his comic avatar? He made Maami relaize that her taunts, and jibes would only make things worse in an already bad situation ā loved the polite, slow, measured, and mature tone of voice used here!
Aakash back in character. The calm, unruffled person busying himself in standing by others, by being there, by helping. Loved his quiet support, help, and dependability for others.
Barun Sobti: You have super outdone yourself again without words in an entire episode! Okay, just one word "Khushi!" but even that one word was said in such a heart-breaking voiceā¦. I have never seen such convincing acting on TV. Loved the way you screamed, and lashed around ā brilliant! The twitching of anger and fury in your face too was done so well! Standing ovation for such a heart-touching, tear-jerking performance!! š āļø
Sanaya Irani: You were simply too good today! The pure love of Khushi reflected through as you sat down at the mandap waiting. The dread the fear over Arnav not coming, and staying by your mother's side all made me cry freely! A very natural performance by you! š
Karan Goddwani, Deepali Pansare, Pyumori Mehta, Swati Chitnis, Jayashree T, Sanjay Batra, Akshay Dogra: Loved each of your performances a lot! Your performances added that extra magic touch to the scenes and the episode. āļø
Daljeet Bhanot, Abhaas Mehta, Abha Parmar: Good performances. šš¼
Thank you so much for your likes and comments! š Please do PM me your comments since I do not come online often. Hope you are enjoying the episode, and not to fret, Arnav Khushi will anyway be together, now on they won't hate each other, but there will always be some kind of discord, disturbance between them. Love always triumphs! ā¤ļø
Love,
Nia
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
