Diya is a strong woman and continues to be that. It is just that fans are forgetting it completely when they are seeing her seeing romantic dreams of Ratan. But that in no way means she isn't still the same brave, smart intelligent Diya.
Put yourself in her shoes ones. She has already proved that she can be independent and successful in protecting herself and others. She can run a hotel easily. That is not something that has been lacking in her life. What has been lacking is love and family and care. Because she spent 12 years all alone without comfort or kind word. You always want something that is lacking in life, not something that you already have and can get sucessfully. It is important to understand that true success means having a rounded life. fulfilled life. If you only have career and not the other side of personal life, you yourself cannot call it successful.
Do the CV show dreams too often. Yes. But Diya dreaming isn't wrong and it doesnt make her weak. It makes her a wise woman who knows what she is missing and who is beyond happy that she is getting it now when she least expected.
Think about it. She married someone she didnt want to at the time. She never expected the marriage to work. Wasn't keen herself to be in it early stages. Never expected to received care and trust in the relation - why would she when she knew Ratan wasn't into the relation and she never had anyone trust her so blindly and care for her.
Successful and strong woman doent mean one that is on and alert all the time. And we need to remember, she is in dreams only when Ratan is around otherwise she is well aware of her surroundings and what is happening there...even if she always follows her tried and tested wait, watch and then act strategy. Right now why would she be rude to KM. KM was supportive of her for the longest after marriage. Why would she now know the sly game she is playing? but she does see and know that KM behaviour has changed. Ratan did as well. But when she was pehrehaar, these folks weren't her family. Now they are. She is bound to proceed with caution now.
As for Ratan, as surbhi said, he has grown a lot. He hasnt been on about freedom and suffocation for a long time. In fact right now, he has taken on responsibility of the hotel willingly. he may push some responsibility onto Ayush once in a while but he hasnt washed his hands off it. He is always mindful of Diya, how she is really good and not hurting her now. but you also cannot expect a 21yr old to know exactly how to upfront break the heart and say no to someone he really cares about deeply. i dont think anyone here in that tough situation at that age would have know to.
I keep on hearing this thing that he doesnt appreciate Diya and doesnt know her value. IF he really didnt know her value, he wouldnt have keep on saying that she is too good for him. that she is better one of the two. that she is the one who could run the hotel singlehandledy when he cannot even fathom it, that she is stuck with someone like him who is irresponsible and immature, that what he did for her with the case is nothing compared to what she did for him, that he can die for her.
i doubt all the mature and understanding husbands would know to value their wife and appreciate them as much as he does. he also knows what it would mean to lose her and not have her in his life...he has cried enough number of times and lot his smile at the very thought of her leaving.
It is a testament of how far he has come now that he is caring for her family, her father. standing by her always. trusting her and not getting swayed by others when it comes to trusting her. as surabhi and ayesha said, the guy is going a lot of things that a good husband would do. Diya isn't dumb to fall for him without all of this. She isn't shy to point out his mistakes or pull him still when he does something funny...be it scare her wearing woman's clothes or teasing him about his OCD or getting her way with him in tiffin thing.
and it takes a lot of courage to tell the person you love them esp when you know they dont feel the same.
why do you think they are not friends anymore? in fact the old flirty, caring joking ratan and the sometimes naughty diya who knows how to do one up on him (tiffin, thermocol balls) are actually coming back. i dont think ratan ever thinks diya isn't smart, but lets not forget from day 1 of his entry he has been trying to pull a fast one on diya always and has done sometimes. did you forget when he made her do the khicdi or when he sent her to cooking class and ran away for wildlife photography or when he gave her the injection and when to torture chamber. right now he is desperate to find a way not to hurt her but have her move on. usually he would have spoken to diya or yash. in this one he cannot talk to diya. and yash is in his own funk. CT came and offered solution that he has latched on to. he cannot exactly expect his immature friends to help with the way.
re her father, you need to understand that she feels guilty and understandably so. For a rajput in her own words the two most important things are holding the honour of a promise made and self respect. when choosing her promise to Maan, she did hurt his self respect. She knows what it meant to him and what it means to her too. Think as a daughter, if your father has to keep on hearing taunts because of you, would you go about explaining the value of yourself or would you want to ensure that you no one can point a finger at him. she did marraige for her dad. i dont think the issue with her father is that he isn't proud of her or that he doesnt see her value. but he is in a position where unfortunately he is a part of a oxthodox society and in a position where he is meant to uphold the traditions of his accestors. so while he would want to change the world and the way world thinks about his daughter, he finds himself helpless to. Diya doesnt care much about what society thinks of her. she never has. but she does care if they think bad about her father. much like any daughter would.