I just caught up with the parts I missed...This is so, so lovely! Such depth of feeling and sensitivity. I love the way you write - everything flows so eloquently, and it truly feels like this is what the characters in the actual show would think and feel!
A few things I really loved about parts 6 and 7...
Part 6
Yash's crazed desire to get home and catch Aarti when she couldn't avoid him...She really is driving him crazy even though she probably has the opposite intention since she doesn't want to infringe upon the relationship and feelings she thinks Yash still harbors for Arpita...
I smiled to myself so much during Yash's mad dash to the car and his thoughts regarding Aarti going to the park with the terrible trio. "Bloody woman." LOL, the way you write Yash is so cute! I love it. The millions of thoughts that race through his head - panic, plus all those little details about the kids and Aarti's typical routine like Aarti's tendency to find new places to go, their favorite ice cream flavors - he notices SO much and internalizes it all, too. Something that I might be overanalyzing (since I'm SUCH a Yash-Aarti fanatic): all those parts where Yash asks where Aarti is, and then asks where the kids are...The way his mind flies to Aarti first and then includes the children afterwards, grouping Aarti in the family unit...Is this intentional? I feel like the pull that Aarti has on Yash at this point is definitely starting to strengthen even more than usual. Another interesting bit: "His heart raced...It must be the relief. There they were. All safe." I know he is relieved, but could his heart have been racing because of some other reason? I'm probably zooming off on a tangent, about to run into a tree. Okay, moving on!
So Mr. Badtameez makes his unwanted appearance, and I'm sitting here with a half-smile-half-frown on my face. The frown for obvious reasons (was he wearing his favorite yellow shirt?) and the smile for many more reasons. Aarti dropping her ice cream seems exactly like something our real Aarti would do, poor thing. "She tried hard to smile, but some other emotion took over..." This entire silent moment is playing vividly in my mind as I'm rereading the part: I can see Gurmeet and Kratika with those expressions that we've seen at least twice now in the promos and the episodes...Yash, with a hint of concern on his face, trying to read Aarti's face...Aarti, struggling to regain her composure after being shaken, putting up a brave front. Yash understands, and she can't hide from him.
"She really was the most stubborn woman...and brave..."
Oh, that she most certainly is! Is that an indication of admiration along with a hint of frustration, Yash ji? đ Tongue-in-cheek admission by Yash of the traits that I personally love about Aarti in the show so far...But I really love Yash's knowledge that Aarti is a fighter who won't show her vulnerable side to anyone easily (spot on with the characterization!).
Part 7
Sooo much to love about this part, my goodness! đł
"Either he could say nothing, or if he managed to say something, it was always the wrong thing. The only thing he said to her on a regular basis that he didn't get wrong was 'sorry.'"
Ahaha, this is so adorable and so true! đ I wonder if this is going to be a regular feature in the show also: Yash having to apologize to Aarti about things...And vice versa! Both of them are so cute, man! Aww.
Yash's stream of consciousness revolving around Aarti...My gosh! I pretty much died when I read this: "Suddenly, Yash felt his heart stop. Did she still love him?" That, after he sings praises of his wife in his mind, defending her character and personality...All things that he has come to admire in Aarti the "mother of his children and nothing more." Yeah, I do have a question about why on earth Aarti married that guy in the first place, but I'll blame that guy for being a blind, selfish idiot since this obviously was not Aarti's fault.
Aarti's thoughts, again perfect bearing her character development so far. She starts out thinking of Prashant (and here I was trying to avoid saying his name. Oh well.) naturally, but then inevitably her thoughts turn to Yash, and what a warm feeling here! Reflections on how her first impression and prejudice tainted the lens through which she looked at Yash, and how Ansh had been the reason behind her decision to give Yash the benefit of the doubt...Now things are different and she knows that she had been wrong in judging him before. I hope we get to see something along these lines when the time comes in the show itself...I love how you weave the actual episodes into this story - it makes everything feel so real, since we have no idea how things are actually going to turn out! Beautifully done!
Perhaps my most favorite moment:
"Aarti smiled and as she turned back, her eyes met Yash's.
Yash felt that his breath had been knocked out of him.
She's so beautiful when she smilesâŚshe seems lit up from inside.
He smiled.
Her heart did a little somersault. She felt her cheeks burn. Surprised, she tried to cover up her confusion."
Overdose of sweetness! â¤ď¸ Waise, she IS very beautiful when she smiles...I can't wait to see more smiles in the future from both of them...Him smiling, her getting flustered...Like the incredibly famous Promo 4! So sweet!
The ending of this part is incredibly beautiful. It's like a moment of liberation from the past for both Aarti and Yash...Aarti thinking to herself that Prashant doesn't matter because Ansh has a father in Yash, and she has a supportive husband by her side who will stand by her in times of difficulty...Yash desiring to bridge the distances between himself and Aarti, who is now not just a mother of his children, but his wife, a woman whose attractiveness goes beyond mere physical features and includes her strengths and vulnerabilities.
I think I've typed for long enough! Didn't even realize it! Hope you update the next part soon; I can't wait to see what happens next!
Indian Idol 16
