When Yash said it has been 11 months since they got married, I thought about all that both Aarti and Yash have been through and really they have experienced so many ups and downs in that short time! They have grown and we have grown with them.
I tend to agree with Sam, I think Gayatri is pre-empting Yash labeling her a 'step-mom' and trying to keep her pride intact because after the blow she's been dealt, this would be the last straw for her. She would rather appear to be in command and decide to alienate him than let it reach the point where he himself turns away. She could not bear it. I am not convinced she is faking it, I think she really is torn between both her sons as she knows it is impossible for them to live in peace at the moment. She knows very well Aakaash is wrong, but wants to turn a blind eye to it because it hurts her to see how he has turned out. She must keep lamenting his and her fate and wondering how great he would have turned out to be had she raised him.
We were all wondering how Yash would bond with Radha while he considered Gayatri his real mother. I guess that problem will now be conveniently solved, and he would feel more at ease with the situation. I just hope he sticks to calling her 'badi maa' and never switches to 'maa'. It would be an interesting loop closure to when Aarti asked her daughters not to call her 'sauteli mummy'. I am not sure whether bringing Radha in was to make way for Gayatri's exit or if it is just an unexpected twist that Zahida has to leave. I have always felt that an actress of Dolly's caliber would get a meaty role, but so far we have not seen much of her. We surely couldn't have both Gayatri and Radha live together or apart in harmony; they are individually too strong. Perhaps this was all planned, who knows?!
ZP, well, we're going to lose an amazing member of the PV family and I agree with those who prefer her character to be killed off rather than bring in a perhaps not-so-worthy replacement. She will be sorely missed, and none would miss her more than Bua! I can't wait to see what the CVs bring to the table after her death.
We have at different times wanted SP to be taught a lesson for his unfair treatment of his family members. I guess Gayatri's death will result in him breaking down completely and winning our sympathies all over again. They are moving towards that gradually by showing his little outbursts now and then, trying to stabilize things. No matter how much we wanted him to be punished, this would be too tragic! He would be grief-stricken and totally lost without her. I can't wait to see CP in those scenes - he is going to be mind-blowing! I wonder if, in addition to understanding Yash's pain at losing Arpita, SP will also begin to understand Bua's loneliness and suffering. Can this lead to her own track down the line? 😃
I have to say the CVs are fantastic when it comes to choosing the cast, be it the leads or even extras. The geyser gangster looked every bit the part, as did the mechanic back in the Prashant days.
Anyone miss the Dubeys? I surely do, especially Shobha!
Lastly I just wanted to say that even though I love DC for all the debates and analysis, there have been times when I've wondered whether we're reading too much into various scenes, looking for symbolism where there is none, and in essence, at times giving the CVs credit where none is due. I would think over a scene and wonder if the CVs meant it to turn out the way we perceived it or if it was accidental. Coming here and reading everyone's posts made me realize that I was not the only one who was mesmerized by the sheer brilliance of concept and storytelling. Today, especially, after Yash's dialog, where he tells Aarti he can read the sorrow behind her smiles, it really hit home how right we were and how tuned in we all are to what the CVs want to communicate. The subtlety, the nuances, the layering...Sigh...They really have spoiled me for any other show.