All Saras did is love Kumud. It was the paagalpan of his family that drove him to the extreme of shutting out all love and turning to sanyaasi. And it was that paagalpan of being in love with Kumud that made him open up to the colours of life with such passion and euphoria.
But it was that love that also made him sacrifice his blood, his sweat, and his honour. Good, that's what's a true lover does...
But a story is only loveable and mesmerizing when both lovers do the same for each other.
It was that love [which I now call obsession] that forced Saras to again suffer because that's all Kumud had been making him do. If all of this sindoor and marriage mockery was genuine, then Kumud would never have made a joke out of the pure gentleness and care Saras [who's undoubtedly much more damaged than her, and has been for a much longer time than her] had used to handle a situation that is not even his own.
No, Saras. Aaj Ke thappad ne tumhe prove kiya ki Kumud doesn't love you. She never will. You are a mere object for her to manipulate whenever she is doubting that pavitra Pati she wants to sudhaar and love...
Love is not manipulative and cunning. It is confused indeed. But it is not all give give give and take take take. Kumud doesn't love you. She doesn't care. She's just used to knowing the fact that you love her and cries about it when Pramad ignores her and leaves.