Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki: Episode Discussion Thread - 33
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ACCIDENT MISS 20.11
Halloween Writing Contest Voting
The Dr Kaira Chapter.
Laga.::: kurte pe daaaag!!!
Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan dancing at wedding.
Sonam Kapoor Is Pregnant
GHUMAR O GHUMAR 21.11
16 years of Kurbaan
Kaun SRK??? - Vivek Oberoi
🏏The Ashes - England tour of Australia: 21/11/25 - 08/01/26🏏
Here I am at long last, having read the 7 chapters from 8-14 three times to get a grip on the whole. There is something to be said for this sort of omnibus reading, for it helps one get the big picture and identify trends, as distinct from happenings.
The story has come along very, very well, and contrary to what I had planned initially, I am going to comment on the whole of the 7 chapters at one go. But not in terms of the individual chapters, but more in terms of my take on your array of characters, and how they have been portrayed and developed in these 7 chapters. Here goes.
- Aisha (and Arjun): He is in parentheses because he is an immanent presence, not a real one as yet. He exists only in Aisha's mind and heart, but nonetheless, it is his reactions and actions that guide her and govern her, her moods, her joys, her sorrows, her decisions, including the vital decision to return to Mumbai, if not to the ETF.
Kunchu, you seem a tad discouraged about the popular response to this unusual duo, but you have no reason to be concerned about it. It is true that the readers might initially prefer a more straightforward relationship, whether of sparring and conflict or of love. But by now, they must have understood that the latter approach is commonplace, whereas your take on their love is very unusual, indeed almost unique.
To love a man so much and so deeply that nothing can take him away from you - not injury, not a disappearance, and probably not even death - is something so rare and beautiful that it should be cherished. And you have cherished it and celebrated it and showcased it in loving prose that mirrors Aisha's total emotional dependence on Arjun with great sensitivity. He is now, for me at least, as real as a flesh and blood presence could be, and it seems entirely natural that Aisha should have long conversations with this figment of her neurons, that she should consult him on matters big and small, and let herself be guided by him in all things. That is truly an achievement to be proud of for you as a writer, especially in handling deep emotions. One of your best passages of this kind is when Aisha goes to Arjun's old room in the lodge, We see it all thru her eyes and Arjun comes alive for us there.
Moreover, Aisha's Arjun is far removed from the gimlet eyed, abrupt and often acerbic Arjun of the Canon (the term used by Holmes devotees for the original stories about him written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), which in this case would mean the TV series. He is gentle, demonstratively affectionate, instinctively understanding of all that troubles Aisha, and eternally supportive, helping her make up her wavering mind and keeping her on track. Truly a paragon of a spouse.
The TV Arjun used to occasionally deviate from his grim mask in the flashbacks with Roshni, but no longer. These days, one feels that if, as they say in the fairy tales, the wind were to change when he is sporting his usual khadoos expression, he would be stuck with it for life!š
Another clever little twist that I liked was that you have left the question of what has happened to Arjun - is he alive, is he missing, or has he just gone away somewhere ? - tantalizingly open. There are scattered comments, such as the reference to a big blast, Aisha talking of Rathore and the other bosses persuading her to accept a particular line (that Arjun is no more?) which makes her leave the ETF and take refuge in Allahabad (why that city?), and Aman Ali's reference to a major calamity that befell the ETF 2 years ago. But there is not a single clear clue.
This means that you can go any way you want to in the future. But my guess - or let us say rational deduction from the facts provided, for Sherlock Holmes always condemned the habit of guessing as destructive of the deductive faculties! - is that Arjun is alive and you will produce him when you need to, with all the panache of a magician pulling a rabbit out of the proverbial hat!
- Aman Ali: He is either your ace of spades, the top trump card, or the Joker in the pack, I cannot guess which, at least as yet. He is your real discovery, and the teasing, mysterious way in which he was introduced, Kunchu, was masterly. It was so much fun, with so many red herrings floating around - the taste for cutting chai, the half recognition of Aisha - that at times it seemed almost sure that he was Arjun, and at others that he was not. In the end, when he was clearly not Arjun, we had all enjoyed ourselves so much that I do no think even a committed Arjun fan would have felt cheated.
Aman comes out as not just a brave and very capable officer, something of a maverick resistant to routine and to a bureaucratic straightjacket, but as one who can win over even antagonistic people like Shree, thru a combination of tact, sensitivity and persistence. He is refreshingly free of ego hassles, and is willing to stoop to conquer, whether with Shree or with Lisa. In short, a very good leader of men, who knows how to gain loyalty and to keep it.
That he has a crush of sorts on the mysterious Nadiya is evident; she haunts his memories like a will o' the wisp that he cannot pin down. He is convinced that is the same woman that he spots at the dance competition, but it is interesting that he does not want to pursue her and pin her down at once, but wants to update his data on her and her supposed death before he moves. So he can be patient when necessary. Plus he is never abrasive or cutting, which differentiates him from Arjun Rawte, and he has an easygoing working style that is as different from Arjun's as chalk from cheese.
Another of your teasers; Aman Ali hears about Aisha from her ETF colleagues, but as there is no photo of hers around, there is no way he can realize that she is also Nadiya. Which would in turn have let him penetrate Nadiya's cover. That is yet to come, but this Aisha is not the girl who was Nadiya:
She was in her cotton salwar with her hair open on her shoulder. A smile that attempted to reach the eyes. A pair of hollow eyes. Yes, she was a stranger'
Hollow eyes that mirror the emptiness that now lies at the core of her being. As and when he actually meets her, ACP Aman Ali is in for not just one but several shocks.
Plus, there is almost sure to be a classic triangular set up somewhere down the line, as Aman Ali, tracking down his Nadiya, ends up face to face with Aisha Arjun Rawte.
Sameer Rathore: A vey gentle and affectionate sketch of a genuine friend of both Arjun and Aisha. Strong willed and a tough leader, but soft where these two are concerned. His loyalty to Arjun (or to Arjun's memory) and his keeping Room 121 in the Ravi Lodge exactly as it was in the days when Arjun was living there,are both revealing and very touching. It reminded me of Sherlock Holmes' elder brother, Mycroft Holmes, meticulously keeping Sherlock's rooms at 221B Baker Street unchanged during all the years after The Final Problem till he resurfaced in The Empty House. The one difference, perhaps, was that Mycroft knew that Sherlock was alive and had not been killed in that dreadful encounter with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland. It is not yet clear what/ how much Rathore knows about what happened to Arjun 2 years ago.
This, my dear Kunchu, is much too much, and if you and all the rest are not to fall asleep out of reading fatigue, I should stop now. One final thought, or rather request, that I would like to leave with you. You have hit on something very much out of the common way for this story. The early chapters were eerie, and almost fey in the mystery that pervaded them. There has been, so far, no one even remotely like your Arjun-Aisha in this forum , and in Aman Ali, you have a delightful addition to the gallery of usual suspects in any Arjun FF. Do keep all these balls in the air, and feel free to be as unpredictable, as cagey and as mysterious as you can be. Do not worry about the readers. When you have something this unusual and this well done, they will all be there, right behind you.
Shyamala Aunty
CHAPTER 14:
CHAPTER 15:
On the same day when Aisha visited the Ravi Lodge:
It's almost 9 am. A girl in her 20's arrives in front of the Ravi Lodge, which is her den for a while now. She pays the taxi driver and turns to walk towards the lodge. She opens the front door and saw someone else was at the reception. She was about to pass her but she couldn't help but listen to the talk when she heard Rathod sir's name. Even though she didn't see the lady's face, she could try to give in a wild guess.
Rec: Room ke ek chabi tho ACP sab ke paas hai. wo aksar yaha athe jathe hai. Mien apko dusra chabi detha hu.
Ais: nahi mere paas key hai. Rathod sir ne diya tha mujhe.
Rec: acha teekh hai. aap jayiye.
She moved aside so that the lady could pass by her. And then she saw her faceā¦. Aisha?? She is back in Mumbai?? Par kab??
She knew where Aisha would be going now. There was no need of any guess now. She stayed back giving some space between herself and Aisha. And after a while she moved to the corridor. Room 121's door looked closed. But she knew Aisha was inside. She walked to her room in the same corridor, Room 128, opened it fast and then went inside. She came out quickly and went to a portrait of an unknown land that was hung on the walls and puts a mini portable camera on it, facing it towards the door of Room 121. And then she walks in and adjusts her lap and other apparatus. The screen showed the closed door of room 121. She smiled at the screen. "Take your time Aisha. I'm hereā¦"
She took out her long black leather coat and hung on the chair. She was in a black denim pant and a dark blue casual top; she looked as if she had a big party plan on her mind. She quickly rushed to the washroom and got herself fresh up ad rush back to the screen with a packed juice and a glass. "I hope tum abhi bhi ander hi hoā¦"
She sat infront of the screen, waiting for Aisha.
It took almost 2 hours for Aisha to come out. The lady who was watching her gets alert. She looks keenly at Aisha's face on the screen. Aisha's eyes said that she had cried. It hurt her a lotā¦ and then there was something else too in her eyesā¦ a sheer determination.
The lady saw Aisha locking the door and again leaning onto the door before leaving. She took her coat and hurried behind Aisha still leaving a space.
Aisha unaware of all these, takes a cab to home. And she was following Aisha in a cab too. Aisha reached her home and walked towards her door. She felt someone behind her. She turned around. There was no one. She looks keenly all around and then walks in closing the door.
The lady comes out from her hiding. The moment Aisha had turned; she did duck behing a wall. And came out when he heard the door locked. "at last you are back Aishaā¦ good to see you, though its our first meetā¦ don't worryā¦ do din aurā¦ aur uske baadā¦ I'll be with youā¦ hosake tho ek saaya bankeā¦do din aurā¦ it's really good to see you backā¦really goodā¦"
She hails another cab and reach back at the lodge. While walking back to the room she picks off the mini camera from the wall. "thanks buddyā¦" she smiles at the small device and walks to her room. She throws off her jacket and falls back to the bed. She was too tired ā¦ but the day she just had was rolling as a film in front of herā¦ was it coincidence?? Or just the so called destiny??
What ever it isā¦she was now going to believe in bothā¦ after all she saw Aisha todayā¦ and that too after what happened yesterday nightā¦
Last night:
She was in her dark blue top and denims. She looked at the mirror in the hall. She couldn't help a smileā¦ "hmā¦ I look good". She walked to the partyā¦. The Ultima partyā¦
Be it any other day she would have enjoyed the whole night dancingā¦ dance till her heart was filled. But not todayā¦ today she was waiting for a person... some one else was relying on her tonight. And she didn't want to let him down tooā¦ after all she had gathered his trust with great difficulty. How could she break it? So she waited for himā¦
And then he cameā¦ ACP Aman Aliā¦ she looked at him through the corner of her eyes. He never noticed her. He was looking around. Obviously he was not in for a partyā¦ and she knew itā¦She smiled. "banda looks hotā¦"
She took her mobile and texted: he is hereā¦
She was following him with her eyes. A reply came back: how's he?
She looked at Aman again who was now posing with a glass filled with a drink, which she knew was just a prop for him. Hotā¦
She smiles as she sends it. It took only seconds to get the reply: focus.
She rolls her eyes. Godā¦ ye nahi sudrega. Ab hot insaan ko hot hi bolega na??? She looks at Aman again. He was looking casually around. He wanted to see how he was going to take Raghav out of there. He saw many CCTV cameras around. She was thinking in his lines too. She knew what or who was going to help him nowā¦ SREE!!! Both Aman and she said the same name in mind. He looked confirm on his decision and she was sure that he had made the decision too. She turned back to her mobile and texted: he'll need Sree. And I'm sure he will need more help tooā¦
Reply: can you help??
She: of courseā¦
She looked at him again. "why can't I meet him right now??" She thought for herself.
Her mobile beeped in answer to her thought: don't even think about it now!!!
She looked at the screen in shock. How does this guy know what she was thinking when he was miles away?? Well she would never get her answerā¦
Aman wandered about posing to enjoy the party and left after some time. She messaged it to him: he's goneā¦ now what?
Reply: take rest. He won't come tomorrow. He'll need Sree as you said. So both of them will be here on the day after tomorrow. Make sure Raghav is here on that dayā¦ and you tooā¦
She smiled at the reply. "WOW aaj pehli baar ek lamba sa message diya haiā¦ hm, improvement tho hai!!!"
She went out and took her cab to Mumbai. And that's how she reached the morning.
Now:
She closed her eyes. How could all these happen in a sequence? How could she meet him? Gain his confidence after a long effort?? Help him out in any way? And now Aisha??? How did she come in now?? Why is he helping this ACP Aman??
Loads of questions filled her head. Her mobile beeped loud.
"Reached back at lodge?"
She smiled again. Always concernedā¦
"yupā¦" she replied.
Beep again: "you ok??"
She thought for a while what to answerā¦ : "someone else was here"
After a few sconds: "Rathod?"
She sighed heavilyā¦ "Noā¦ it was herā¦"
There was no answer now. She didn't expect an answer too. She sighed again and placed the phone back on the bed. But then it beeped again. She took it quickly. "take careā¦ and thank youā¦"
She smiled again. That was the only thing he could say now. No questions about herā¦
***
Somewhere else, he looked out of the window. A knock brought him back. An old smiling man was there at the door with a bowl in his hands. He wrinkled his face, while the visitor smiled at him affectionately.
***
Aman's POV:
He walked in the Ultima party last night only to understand the situation there. It was a fortress as he had guessed well. And he knew he would get Raghav only from there. But how?? With that many cameras around any one could catch him. Unless he show them what he wished to show them. And for that he needed a mastermindā¦Sree!!!
He called back to Rathod that night. "Rathod, I need some help"
Sam: ha bolo Aman. Everything alright?
Aman: ha I'm fine. But mujhe Sree ke help ke zaroorath hai.can I have him for 1 or 2 days?
Sam: why not? Yaha uske kaam Neha sambhal denge. But everything alright? Raghav ko mila?
Aman: I know I can get him in at Ultima. But to get him out, I need Sree.
Sam: ok, I'll tell him to call you.
Aman: thanks Rathod. And bye.
Sam informed Sree about the work and he went to Aman after calling him, with his equipments.
Next day:
It's almost 10 am. She decided to take another step today. She took a cab to the ETF office. Outside the office, she felt so nostalgic. As if she could see her olden days in front of her. She took a deep breathe.
"its ok Aishaā¦ come on you can do itā¦"
She could hear him again. As if he was standing right beside her. She nodded and walked in.
She walked to the reception. She was still the old person. Diya stood up at the reception. "mam aap?? Yaha? Good morning mam!!"
Ais: good morning Diya. How are you?
Di: great mam. Ek minute mien abhi sir ko bathathi hu.
Ais: ek min Diya. Koi case chal rahe hai abhi? (She nods no) ok then I'll go in by myself.
Diya nods yes and Aisha walks in. it was a walk to her memory laneā¦
She reached the main hall. All were busy over there. Hardly anyone noticed her. But then came out a scream. "AISHA???"
She looked at the voice. Liza was standing there hell shocked. All looked at Liza and also followed her eyes only to meet Aishaā¦ a much different form of Aisha. She gave out a smileā¦
Liza ran to her and hugged her tight. Aisha could feel the warmth of an old friend.She had missed this for a long time. She hugged Liza back too.
Liza's scream had brought Sam, Chotu and Neha out of the hall. Sam was looking very happy to see her back in the office. Aisha looked at him over Liza's shoulder.
She left Liza and walked towards Sam and group. "Good morning Sir!! Hi Chotu... Nehaā¦"
Sam: welcome back Aisha!!!
Ais: not yet sir. It's just a casual visit. Hope I didn't disturb you.
Sam: stop it Aishaā¦ it's getting too formal now.
She smiles after a long time and then turns to Chotu. "hey Chotu. Aise kya dekh rahe ho? its me"
Ch: nahi Aisha, its not you. Agar hothe tho aise formalities ke saath nahi khade hothe"
She smiles at him and comes forward to hug her friend. He hugs her back. "ab lagtha hai ke tum hi hoā¦kaha the tum Aisha? Ham sab ko miss bhi nahi kiya??"
Ais: aise math bolo Chotu. (Breaking the hug) miss tho bohot kiyaā¦ par khairā¦ kaha hai wo??Sree!!
Ch: wo aaj nahi ayeā¦wo thoā¦
He stops in between and looks at Sam for help.
Sam: Sree hamare team ke naye member ko help karne gaye hai. Wahi jiske bare me meine bathaya thaā¦
Ais: oh...
She slowly turns to the cabin. All look at her too.
Sam: agar jana chaho tho ja sakthe ho. bilkul waise ke waise hi hai. Aman just used it 1 day.
She nods no first. But then Liza holds her hand and smiles assuringly. Aisha walks towards the cabin. She stood at the door for a while and took a deep breath. And then opened the door.
***
Sree reaches the place where Aman was staying. They have some chit chat and then spread out the work materials.
Sr: sir video feeds tap karke usse hamare feeds ke saath replace karthe hai. They will just see what we show them.
Aman: that's good. I hope you have an entry pass.
Sr: (mockingly) if I can make an entry pass for you, then why not for me?
He waves his entry pass in front of Aman. He snatches and reads it. "Ricky Farnandaz!! Kafi trendy naam hai!!"
They have a small laugh at it.
Sr: but sir, apko kaise yakeen hai ke Raghav kal waha hoga?
Aman: kal waha ek bada party organized hai. one Mr. Gupta's ke business ke 37th anniversary party. Aur waha kal ithna bheed hoge ke usse aur uski saathi jo kal ane wala hai, ko koi dikhath nahi hoge. So we can use this time well.
Sr: bheed hai. Problem hai.
Aman: koi problem nahi hai. Just get ready tomorrow.
And there she was ready too. For tomorrow's party. She had made sure the 'friend' of Raghav to lure him to the Ultima on time. She was wiaitng for the party now. Her mobile beeped : all set?
She replied: yup. Done.will be at the party on time.
She got back a reply: you may help. But don't get in their ways. And do take care tooā¦
She took a deep breathe again. "I wish it was you hereā¦ Arjunā¦"
Again no reply cameā¦ just as she expected.
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