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My Take for the Last Two Episodes
That bhajan scene was meaningful for the transformation that has been wrought in the Aarti-Gayatri relationship. If we think back, Aarti singing this bhajan for the first time, when she was trying to become Arpita on Vidhi's advice, was the first time Gayatri softened towards her. That day Aarti gathered the whole family in one place from their various corners of the house and though her methods were faulty, it was also the beginning of Gayatri beginning to see things from her point of view. Today once again, Gayatri used the bhajan to try and gather her scattered family and sure enough, its magic worked as she and Aarti answered each others' calls and sang together, filling in each others' blanks. And a bhajan which once made Yash restless in triggering memories of Arpita, now makes him peaceful in the knowledge of his wife's strong faith and her undeniably beloved position in his family which has just been upset temporarily thanks to anger and pride. This house basically needs a leader to keep it bound together. Arpita took on that responsibility when she was alive, and everything fell apart when she died. Aarti was the next to take up the mantle and try to join everyone together... and it worked for her too. Now that Aarti is gone, Gayatri is trying to take up the burden but she is not strong enough, so she is tacitly supported by Aarti and will thereby be the one to bring this family together this time!
The bathroom scene was phenomenal on so many levels. The first big difference is that the lock to this washroom is not broken and so locking and unlocking it was totally up to Yash and Aarti, whereas before, they were always locked up in the bathroom together by fate when the lock of the bathroom got stuck. I think the bathroom really represents their relationship, where before they were confined in it, often against their will, with one or the other trying desperately to get out and not confront the feelings that became all too apparent in such a confined space. Today Yash, who once ran from these feelings is welcoming them when he closes and locks the door himself. He wants to be confined with Aarti and his feelings for her as opposed to all the times before when he was the one screaming loudest to be let out. What a great loop closure! Again, before when she counted tiles it reminded him of Arpita and now he uses the same reference to get Aarti to stay with him. It shows that even though he was obsessed with Arpita in those days, his psyche was also keenly aware of Aarti in a way that all these memories got registered so strongly. When he allowed himself to let go of the Arpita shield, all these memories took the forefront as deep knowledge of Aarti.
But I think what I loved most about that scene was Aarti's actions and reactions and Yash finally getting the better of her! When he got naughty with her, she took it as a challenge, as though to say, you want it? You'll get it but be careful what you wish for. So she advances aggressively, touching his collar and basically catching him completely off guard. When he bumps into the wall, looking shell shocked, she removes her hands as though to say, don't ask for it if you can't handle it. Even though at face value it was a naughty gesture by Aarti, it also showed how little she thought of her own sensuality. Just like Prashant, she expects Yash to go running in the other direction when she comes on strong and uses that against him to try and escape for all the work she has to do. But hold on! She never expected Yash to see right through her, like this version of her and want more, and that expression when he holds her back said it all for me. She looked completely thrown but so happy at the same time! It was only after that that Aarti surrendered herself to Yash and actually let herself get lost in the tension. That whimper when he whispered her name to tell her that Palak woke up was testimony enough that she was barely breathing and her legs had turned to jelly.
And I just loved the cheeky chaval line at the end! It was as though this whole interaction was on two levels: one was the whole attraction/tension tango thing going on and the other was the verbal banter of Aarti trying to focus on all the house work and Yash trying to distract her from it. The chaval line was Aarti's way of saying the he might have won the tension battle and caused her to surrender, but she won the banter session because she didn't forget her goal in the end! And Yash's smile of acknowledgment showed how much he was enjoying this multi-layered challenge from his clever wife. In fact, I just love how they challenged each other in this scene. Very, very hot.
Finally about the jalebi. For me the situation was quite simple. Ansh, the child, had one simple wish. He smelled jalebi early in the morning and he wanted to eat some. And although I have no doubt that Aarti did not intend this, she complicates this situation for Ansh in ways that thoroughly confuse him. On the one hand she encourages him to go get jalebi from people who ultimately refuse to give it to him, and on the other she decidedly tells him not to take jalebi from Prashant who is offering it to him freely. I am not sure how I felt about Aarti encouraging Ansh to ask for jalebi from Gayatri all by himself, and I got the feeling Yash wasn't too excited about it either. I know her heart was in the right place and she wanted the kids' relationship with the Scindias to be normal but to send Ansh out there by himself was a risky business and a rejection the poor kid could have easily been spared. Of course the Prashant scenario was unavoidable but caused equal confusion and despondency in Ansh. He wouldn't dare disobey his mother when she is that upset but he also doesn't understand the grown-up technicalities. When he wants jalebi and his friend uncle is offering, why can't he have it? In all this, Yash represents a bastion of simplicity and straightforwardness for Ansh. Ansh wanted jalebi and Yash went and got some for him, no confusion. That is why Ansh lit up when Yash got there. He was seeking that clarity that he has always gotten from Yash, most recently in the issue of who his real papa is, and Yash did not disappoint.
But just like Yash is the symbol of security for Ansh, Aarti is for the girls. She sees how upset they are by Prashant, even after Ansh has been placated by Yash and so she hugs them protectively, almost as though to shield them from the loss of their innocence. They are feeling Ansh's confusion with him and it is interesting to think about what Prashant looks like from their point of view. At one point, they didn't want to share their dad with Ansh and now they are deeply disturbed by another man claiming to be his father. Similarly, Ansh did not trust Yash with Aarti at one point and was hugely possessive, but now Yash is the only man he trusts with his mother. It is really interesting to see how not only Yash and Aarti, but the kids have changed since the PV
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Episode analysis coming up!
