PR Today: Pot Pourri

PR today was a curious mix of disparate elements that somehow made turned out quite well. If we had been talking scents, I would have chosen pot pourri. There were, ad seriatim, the much anticipated DK-Purvi meeting, Arjun chasing the mystery man across train tracks, the usual inane bickering between Savita and Archana, an Archana-Arjun scene, the gentle conversation between Sulochana and Purvi that was featured in yesterday's precap, and finally the precap, with Ovi preparing to make a barefoot pilgrimage to the Siddhivinayak temple on the maha sankarshti day, to gain her heart's desire ( no prizes for guessing what that would be). Whew!

DK-Purvi: This encounter was as charming as one would have wanted it to be, but alas, all too brief. DK comes from Arjun's place straight to the Karanjkars', enquires after Sulochana, thanks Purvi for helping Arjun, and departs. It was vintage DK, and his indulgent smile - when Purvi says 'Arjun' by mistake, bites her tongue, corrects it to 'Arjun Sir', and blushes vividly when DK nods his assent - is mirrored in Sulochana's. The two of them be smile at each other in perfect understanding as DK places his hand on Purvi's head and blesses her in true paternal style. Sulochana would obviously be delighted to see his tacit acceptance of Purvi as his bahu-to-be; one road block the less, she must be thinking.

Arjun and the mystery man: For once, a previous thread is rather neatly linked up here. A flashback shows how Arjun chances upon this mysterious stranger – all muffled in a long black raincoat with a hat pulled down low over his face, like the villain in a 1960s thriller – stranded with his stalled car in the rain, quite near Arjun's garage. He has a strong Bihari accent, plus a dark brown mark, like a scar or a birthmark, on the left rear side of his neck. When Arjun first offers to repair the car, and then sees that it has to be taken to the garage, the chap gives Arjun the keys, and says he has to go on an urgent errand and will return for the car. Now, apart from his generally shady air, he does not ask for the name and address of the garage, which should have been enough to warn Arjun that something was fishy. The chap was obviously trying to abandon the car, with the kidnappee in the boot, and make his getaway, but our boy is too nave and does not smell a rat.

The day after this incident, Arjun spots the same man in railway ticket counter queue, where he is buying a ticket to Patna and talking loudly on his mobile to one Yadav. He recognises him, especially by the mark on his neck, and vice versa. The mystery man bolts and Arjun chases him, in true filmy style, down railway platforms and up & down flyovers, in and out of local trains, and even across the tracks as a train thundered between the two and I held my breath. Arjun is fast becoming street savvy, and far tougher than before; one cannot imagine Arjun Kirloskar giving such vigorous and at times dangerous chase to a crook.

Arjun then goes to the police station and gives all the information he has about this guy to an appreciative inspector, who arranges a dragnet operation at various railway stations. I doubt whether this would have worked even with a sketch of the suspect, which is not available, but Arjun's recognizing this chap without the shadow of a doubt is valuable to the police, as it shows that the kidnappers are still in Mumbai and have links with Bihar.

Equally important, to my mind, was the fact that the kidnapper too recognized Arjun, and he knows that he works in a nearby garage. He would feel that as the sole eye witness who could identify him, Arjun would be a danger to him. This is definitely a matter of concern for the future.

I have little patience with and even less interest in the kind of inane bickerings that Savita specializes in, and so I am leaving that out. Let us move on to the Archana-Arjun face off.

Archana-Arjun: Arjun comes to enquire after Sulochana's health, and both she and Purvi beam happily at their favourite young man. He says all the correct things about Bappa looking after his bhakts (ie Sulochana) and so on, which are bound to endear him even further to his already besotted grand-MIL-to-be. Turning down an invitation to sit down as he is due at the garage, he turns to go.

And bingo! Standing right inside the door, arms crossed, and looking like the 'before' picture in an ad for antiacids, is Archana. The poor boy blenches, and one cannot but sympathise with his plight, stuck between his nemesis (or so she must seem to him by now) and the door. He is probably looking out for the painted fingernail to be pointed at him once again, and bracing himself for the tirade to come.

In the event, the decibel level is almost normal for a change. Archana, after having expressed her gratitude for all that Arjun had done to save her mother's life, then launches into her real message for him. She does not, she asserts at least three times, want to leave the ehsaan (literally 'gratitude', but here used for 'obligation') he had done her unrequited, and she wants to pay her debt to him by reimbursing him the expenses he had incurred at the hospital.

Arjun's always mobile and sensitive face registers dismay and a sharp twinge of hurt, as he sees the sentiments being so demeaned and his good deed reduced to a cash transaction. Sulochana's face shows open disapproval, but she says nothing, while Purvi's eyes brim over in sudden grief.

Arjun tries to refuse, saying that he had only done his duty, but he is relentlessly overborne by Archana, who refers to the money he spent as being his mehnat ki kamaayee (the fruits of his labour.As I had noted yesterday, Archana and the CVs seem to be of one mind as to what qualifies as mehnat ki kamaayee).

At this point, curiously enough, the unconcealed disapproval on Sulochana's face changes into a half smile. Arjun finally mentions the incredibly low amount of Rs.430/-, and while I was expecting him to correct himself and add a zero, Archana has handed over the notes and he is gone.

Sulochana upbraids Archana for hurting Arjun's feelings in this manner, an accusation that she refutes. But it is what she says then that is really significant, since it reveals her current mindset. "Kaun apne aur kaun paraye, logon ko yeh batana zaroori ho jata hai" (It becomes necessary to show 'people' who are ours and who are outsiders). Then comes the coup de grace that crushes poor Purvi . There is, Archana pronounces in a voice of doom, a major faraq (difference or gap) between " his family and ours", and she wants this faraq to be maintained. The oracle, having spoken, departs.

Sulochana-Purvi: Purvi turns to her SOP and plonks herself down on her bed in tears. It is now that the reason for Sulochana's sudden access of cheerfulness is revealed. Because of Archana's referring to the money Arjun had spent in the hospital as his mehnat ki kamayee, and insisting on reimbursing it, she reasons, Archana is actually helping Arjun by restoring his savings to their original level, and thus making it that much easier for him to meet her challenge. (The lines here are the same as in the precap yesterday).

This much is a matter of fact. But her extrapolation from this, and her asserting that whatever Archana might say to the contrary, subconsciously she wants Arjun to win, is quite dubious, and looks like nothing so much as wishful thinking on Sulochana's part. Wishful thinking seems to be a family trait, for Purvi perks up immediately, undoubtedly seeing a shaadi ka mandap (wedding pavilion) on the horizon already. She proceeds to hug her aaji, exulting over how well her aaji understands her aai, while I was lamenting this sudden fit of self-delusion.

This, and the rush of relief at being forgiven by Archana that was reflected in her face as she hugged her aai yesterday, show that with Purvi, the umbilical cord (figurative of course, as she is an adopted child) that ties her to her aai is still very firmly in place, and I suspect that there is nothing Purvi, or Arjun, can do to sever it. She can no more exist without basking in her mother's approval than a sunflower can do without sunlight. It is going to be a long haul ahead for our boy.

My take: Whatever Sulochana might fondly imagine and whatever she might tell Purvi, to my mind, the fact remains, as of now, that Archana does NOT want Arjun and Purvi to get married. Regardless of what she might present, to herself and to the others, as her reason for this determined nyet (No!) - that Arjun is undependable and thus not 'fit' for Purvi (an assertion that is being eroded, even in her own eyes, day by day) - the real reason, which Archana might not be acknowledging even to herself, is Ovi.

Precap: And that reason, it was made clear in today's precap, is not going anywhere any time soon. Ovi, having been thoughtlessly assured by Savita that a barefoot pilgrimage to the Siddhivinayak temple on the occasion of the mahasankarshti (which was falling that very day) would fulfil all that her heart desired, announces that she is going to make this pilgrimage. A dumbfounded Savita, alarmed by the results of her faux pas, and Teju regard Ovi with unconcealed dismay. As for us, we can sit up straight in anticipation tomorrow, for high drama lies ahead.

Shyamala B.Cowsik

PS: I note that some of us admire Arjun with stubble on his face, but I am not one of them. Today, he looked very nice and fresh-faced with a clean shave, for all the world like a well fed pussycat. That is the way I prefer him, and not looking like a mawaali!

Originally posted by: sashashyam

PR today was a curious mix of disparate elements that somehow made turned out quite well. If we had been talking scents, I would have chosen pot pourri. There were, ad seriatim, the much anticipated DK-Purvi meeting, Arjun chasing the mystery man across train tracks, the usual inane bickering between Savita and Archana, an Archana-Arjun scene, the gentle conversation between Sulochana and Purvi that was featured in yesterday's precap, and finally the precap, with Ovi preparing to make a barefoot pilgrimage to the Siddhivinayak temple on the maha sankarshti day, to gain her heart's desire ( no prizes for guessing what that would be). Whew!

DK-Purvi: This encounter was as charming as one would have wanted it to be, but alas, all too brief. DK comes from Arjun's place straight to the Karanjkars', enquires after Sulochana, thanks Purvi for helping Arjun, and departs. It was vintage DK, and his indulgent smile - when Purvi says 'Arjun' by mistake, bites her tongue, corrects it to 'Arjun Sir', and blushes vividly when DK nods his assent - is mirrored in Sulochana's. The two of them be smile at each other in perfect understanding as DK places his hand on Purvi's head and blesses her in true paternal style. Sulochana would obviously be delighted to see his tacit acceptance of Purvi as his bahu-to-be; one road block the less, she must be thinking.

I so wish that the soon to be bahu and sasur scene was a bit longer. i was eagerly waiting for their meeting but alas! yup sulochana saw the interaction and was quite happy with it, n yes maybe poor lady was thinking hash one road is clear😆. The shy purvi was in contrast with yesterday's epi but i liked it.😳

Arjun and the mystery man: For once, a previous thread is rather neatly linked up here. A flashback shows how Arjun chances upon this mysterious stranger ' all muffled in a long black raincoat with a hat pulled down low over his face, like the villain in a 1960s thriller ' stranded with his stalled car in the rain, quite near Arjun's garage. He has a strong Bihari accent, plus a dark brown mark, like a scar or a birthmark, on the left rear side of his neck. When Arjun first offers to repair the car, and then sees that it has to be taken to the garage, the chap gives Arjun the keys, and says he has to go on an urgent errand and will return for the car. Now, apart from his generally shady air, he does not ask for the name and address of the garage, which should have been enough to warn Arjun that something was fishy. The chap was obviously trying to abandon the car, with the kidnappee in the boot, and make his getaway, but our boy is too nave and does not smell a rat.

The day after this incident, Arjun spots the same man in railway ticket counter queue, where he is buying a ticket to Patna and talking loudly on his mobile to one Yadav. He recognises him, especially by the mark on his neck, and vice versa. The mystery man bolts and Arjun chases him, in true filmy style, down railway platforms and up & down flyovers, in and out of local trains, and even across the tracks as a train thundered between the two and I held my breath. Arjun is fast becoming street savvy, and far tougher than before; one cannot imagine Arjun Kirloskar giving such vigorous and at times dangerous chase to a crook.

Arjun then goes to the police station and gives all the information he has about this guy to an appreciative inspector, who arranges a dragnet operation at various railway stations. I doubt whether this would have worked even with a sketch of the suspect, which is not available, but Arjun's recognizing this chap without the shadow of a doubt is valuable to the police, as it shows that the kidnappers are still in Mumbai and have links with Bihar.

Equally important, to my mind, was the fact that the kidnapper too recognized Arjun, and he knows that he works in a nearby garage. He would feel that as the sole eye witness who could identify him, Arjun would be a danger to him. This is definitely a matter of concern for the future.

I have little patience with and even less interest in the kind of inane bickerings that Savita specializes in, and so I am leaving that out. Let us move on to the Archana-Arjun face off.

The flash back scene did look like some 70's movie and looked too filmy to me. Also the recognizing mystery men was very unreal for me but i think we can expect that from the shrewed business men Arjun Kirdloskar. And the cat and mouse chase between Arjun and the bihari accent men was too much to accept. I mean how can arjun run in broad day lights in so much traffic knowing very well that he's in India only from the past few months. For me there was a link between 2 epis and salute the cv's for their logical connection but overall there was too much illogical things going on in the scene. And as they say if you want to enjoy the magic then forget the logic. But since there was no magic in the scene i concentrated on the logic part😆

Archana-Arjun: Arjun comes to enquire after Sulochana's health, and both she and Purvi beam happily at their favourite young man. He says all the correct things about Bappa looking after his bhakts (ie Sulochana) and so on, which are bound to endear him even further to his already besotted grand-MIL-to-be. Turning down an invitation to sit down as he is due at the garage, he turns to go.

And bingo! Standing right inside the door, arms crossed, and looking like the 'before' picture in an ad for antiacids, is Archana. The poor boy blenches, and one cannot but sympathise with his plight, stuck between his nemesis (or so she must seem to him by now) and the door. He is probably looking out for the painted fingernail to be pointed at him once again, and bracing himself for the tirade to come.

In the event, the decibel level is almost normal for a change. Archana, after having expressed her gratitude for all that Arjun had done to save her mother's life, then launches into her real message for him. She does not, she asserts at least three times, want to leave the ehsaan (literally 'gratitude', but here used for 'obligation') he had done her unrequited, and she wants to pay her debt to him by reimbursing him the expenses he had incurred at the hospital.

Arjun's always mobile and sensitive face registers dismay and a sharp twinge of hurt, as he sees the sentiments being so demeaned and his good deed reduced to a cash transaction. Sulochana's face shows open disapproval, but she says nothing, while Purvi's eyes brim over in sudden grief.

Arjun tries to refuse, saying that he had only done his duty, but he is relentlessly overborne by Archana, who refers to the money he spent as being his mehnat ki kamaayee (the fruits of his labour.As I had noted yesterday, Archana and the CVs seem to be of one mind as to what qualifies as mehnat ki kamaayee).

At this point, curiously enough, the unconcealed disapproval on Sulochana's face changes into a half smile. Arjun finally mentions the incredibly low amount of Rs.430/-, and while I was expecting him to correct himself and add a zero, Archana has handed over the notes and he is gone.

Sulochana upbraids Archana for hurting Arjun's feelings in this manner, an accusation that she refutes. But it is what she says then that is really significant, since it reveals her current mindset. "Kaun apne aur kaun paraye, logon ko yeh batana zaroori ho jata hai" (It becomes necessary to show 'people' who are ours and who are outsiders). Then comes the coup de grace that crushes poor Purvi . There is, Archana pronounces in a voice of doom, a major faraq (difference or gap) between " his family and ours", and she wants this faraq to be maintained. The oracle, having spoken, departs.

The whole scene started off very well, with sulo n Purvi becoming so happy on seeing their beloved Arjun. I was expecting Archana to melt down a bit but it was too much to ask. As soon as she entered the scene there was this chilling feeling on my body which made my heart skip a beat. She looked like she was going to gulp down Arjun and poor guy was so nervous when he saw his future mother-in-law that i literally went shouting is this the AK we adored and loved.

and the mehnat ki kamai made me go 🤪. I mean when he was working in his company even then it was his mehnat ki kamai. Or I think in PR manual labor is hard work and intelligence has no value. what was Archana trying to imply with the "difference" bit, kaha that woh fark when she was friends with ashna who helped her manav, at that time kirdloskar family were more then friends but now suddenly the fark comes. This lady surely confuses me.

And for arjun i always felt that "jagya tyathi sawar", means its never too late to start doing the right thing. So the day he confessed his love for Purvi, he redeemed himself and even though it was too late, it was the right thing.

And now i would dedicate one proverb again in gujarati to arjun that "tipe tipe sarovar bandhai, kankre kankre paad bandhay", means Rome was not built in a day and similarly arjun please take time to earn your money and be patient, the day you earn your 10,000 Rs your sasuma will/might appreciate your mehnat😕 even though she don't want to. And by mehnat i meant your manavnic avatar (manav+mechanic = manavnic).

Sulochana-Purvi: Purvi turns to her SOP and plonks herself down on her bed in tears. It is now that the reason for Sulochana's sudden access of cheerfulness is revealed. Because of Archana's referring to the money Arjun had spent in the hospital as his mehnat ki kamayee, and insisting on reimbursing it, she reasons, Archana is actually helping Arjun by restoring his savings to their original level, and thus making it that much easier for him to meet her challenge. (The lines here are the same as in the precap yesterday).

This much is a matter of fact. But her extrapolation from this, and her asserting that whatever Archana might say to the contrary, subconsciously she wants Arjun to win, is quite dubious, and looks like nothing so much as wishful thinking on Sulochana's part. Wishful thinking seems to be a family trait, for Purvi perks up immediately, undoubtedly seeing a shaadi ka mandap (wedding pavilion) on the horizon already. She proceeds to hug her aaji, exulting over how well her aaji understands her aai, while I was lamenting this sudden fit of self-delusion.

This, and the rush of relief at being forgiven by Archana that was reflected in her face as she hugged her aai yesterday, show that with Purvi, the umbilical cord (figurative of course, as she is an adopted child) that ties her to her aai is still very firmly in place, and I suspect that there is nothing Purvi, or Arjun, can do to sever it. She can no more exist without basking in her mother's approval than a sunflower can do without sunlight. It is going to be a long haul ahead for our boy.

the scene between dadi and pothi was very nice and Purvi's fear was justified but sulo's reply was way too much of a blind guess. Unknowingly Purvi will try to find change in archana's attitude when she insults arjun and will also start to believe that her aai will accept Arjun. archana will support arvi no doubt in the future, but the present story will set the stage for future plot and from what i am seeing archana is not going to melt soon.

My take: Whatever Sulochana might fondly imagine and whatever she might tell Purvi, to my mind, the fact remains, as of now, that Archana does NOT want Arjun and Purvi to get married. Regardless of what she might present, to herself and to the others, as her reason for this determined nyet (No!) - that Arjun is undependable and thus not 'fit' for Purvi (an assertion that is being eroded, even in her own eyes, day by day) - the real reason, which Archana might not be acknowledging even to herself, is Ovi.

Precap: And that reason, it was made clear in today's precap, is not going anywhere any time soon. Ovi, having been thoughtlessly assured by Savita that a barefoot pilgrimage to the Siddhivinayak temple on the occasion of the mahasankarshti (which was falling that very day) would fulfil all that her heart desired, announces that she is going to make this pilgrimage. A dumbfounded Savita, alarmed by the results of her faux pas, and Teju regard Ovi with unconcealed dismay. As for us, we can sit up straight in anticipation tomorrow, for high drama lies ahead.

Shyamala B.Cowsik

PS: I note that some of us admire Arjun with stubble on his face, but I am not one of them. Today, he looked very nice and fresh-faced with a clean shave, for all the world like a well fed pussycat. That is the way I prefer him, and not looking like a mawaali!

Sasha ji,I think you should be a script writer:) After Arjun and Purvi I am your fan :) I mean it.

Shyamala, I have yet to watch the episode...but your analysis, as always, is fast becoming my benchmark! After reading I always watch out even more closely for the things you point out..😉..

I knew that Archana will not change her opinion this fast...what she did on Monday was only because Arjun saved Sulo and she didn't have a chance...she had to keep her Mahaanta act together right...

Hi Shymala wonderful analysis as usual 😉 but I tend to disagree on Archu's situation.(Agree to disagree as usual 😊)

Originally posted by: archverma10

Shyamala, I have yet to watch the episode...but your analysis, as always, is fast becoming my benchmark! After reading I always watch out even more closely for the things you point out..😉..

</div><div>The more I have seen and heard up until now...I have to agree...sadly...that it looks like all indication points to the fact that Archana is indeed unable to accept Arjun...not for any real reson but only because of Ovi's feelings.

</div>

I cant helpbut see that it is true...even if she doesnt want to admit it to herself. She does love Purvi truly...but cannot see Purvi succeed where Ovi has failed. Subconsciously she does not want Purvi to get to have what Ovi wants and cannot have. If Arjun was a separate guy that Purvi fell in love with, that had nothing to do with Ovi, Archana would have been fine with it.This crapabout their families being different,his behavior over the engagement, and distinguishing between strangers and their own stuff is a bunch of BS. Ovi is the factor here: there is no doubt about it. Its obvious that Arjun loves Purvi greatly and he is a good boy. She herself clearly said to the Police Inspector that he could never do anything like what he had been accused of, and she knew his family well: his mother and she were friends.

At this pointits not even about Archana accepting the truth. You cant accept something you havent even acknowledged in the first place. Archana is not willing to even face the facts. So having any hopes in terms of her warming up and accepting Arjun either because it is the right thing to do or even out of love for Purvi is probably not a good idea at this point. Always Manav and Ovi will come first to her. Thats the fact.

As for Ovi...she can do cartwheels all the way to the mandir as far as I am concerned. It wont do her any good---actually no----I take that back...unless you count the very real possibility of her running into Arjun and Purvi at the mandir happily doing a puja to ask for blessings for a life together...and caressing each others hands while tying a bell on the tree together..

Seeing that scene in front of her face may do hergood after all so she can finally stop acting like a crazy womanand move on!!

<div>More after I watch tonight...

You are right. Archana can see that Arjun and Purvi love each other, but she will never acknowlege it and as long as she doesnt, she doesnt have to accept it. Then she can easily keep taking a stand that he is not the right guy. She is in big denial about it. It doesnt matter how hard Arjun tries, or that he earns the money, or how obedient Purvi is to her dikhat, she will never say yes to them. That is a given. It is just Purvi's blind love for her mother and Arjun's naivete that they believe that meeting this challenge following all her rules will get them there.
I do agree that Ovi is her concern and what Ovi cant have, Purvi cannot either. All this talk about class diff ia just total BS. She started this new line suddenly. Why didnt she think about this when she gave the challenge? Now that she sees that Arjun is really comitted, she is clutching at straws.
But, I think that more than Ovi, her stubborness is more of fear of displeasing Manav !!! Since she has already disappointed him so many times in the past, she does not want to be proved wrong there.it is definitely going to upset Manav if Arvi get together, and she does not want that reflected om her. Once Purvi marries Arjun, she loses all chances of reconciliation with Manav and her kids. Which is her biggest issue. Doesnt matter if Purvi is hurt in the way. She just thinks she will get over it. Actually she has closed her mind to Purvi's feelings.

I dont see a big concern for Ovi also from her. Iam talking about Ovi's feelings. She has not once broached about it with Manav. Her worry about what Manav wants and feels take precedence over her kids. You can see the way she was explaining to manav after coming back from the hospital. Almost apologetic that Purvi bailed Arjun out. Why so? In some ways, Manav is a much better parent among the two, i feel. Atleast for him, his kids are more imp than his 18 yrs estranged spouse.
Mind you, i am not saying that Archana doesnt love Purvi, but right now Purvi is not her priority even though she claims that it is her future ahe is concerned about.
The sooner Purvi realizes it, the less heartache for her. Because, Purvi is in for a big letdown from her Aai. At that point, I definitely expect her to stand up for Arjun, which I think she will.

Btw, for all our predictions of Soham being a cop, lawyer, businessman etc he turned out to be a thug !!! If the absconding guy is Soham, ofcourse !!! I never saw that coming!! Looks like this vrat/padayatra will bring some new twist for us. Hopefully not too bad from Ms.Ovi :) the bonus can be a cute temple scene from Arvi :)

Very good analysis..Thank you Shyamala.

Dear Shyamala,