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Ever since i knew YHM is a adoption of Custody, i wanted to read it. But after reading it, now i'm thankful its not the same. Just the first names of the characters are the same. Nothing else... Right from their characterisation, everything is different. Assuming that there has not been a topic comparing the same, i'm making one.
Basic story: Novel starts with the turmoil of a woman having a extra marital affair, her guilt, her helplessness to come out of the same. This is Shagun Kaushik, a green eyed beauty and the man, Mr.Ashok Khanna who finds the woman irresistible and finds true love in her. We are introduced to a loving husband, a doting father and a dutiful son-in-law, Mr.Raman Kaushik. Though Shagun is never a responsible housewife, he never fails to satisfy all of her demands right from taking care of mom-in-law, opting for a nuclear family, planning vacations,etc... He idolises his new boss Ashok and a is extremely hard working employee. Shagun mom, Mrs.Sabharwal get to know of her daughter's affair but stays silent with guilt killing her. Ashok wants to have Shagun for himself but Shagun is hesistant thinking about her children. As she starts distancing herself from Raman, he is havings doubts and reluctantly hires detective agency to find what's troubling her. He gets to know about the affair and plans to defame Ashok. However, all he succeeds of is getting him a transfer. Raman tries to mend his relationship but Shagun refuses to budge. Raman suffers first attack due to stress and the family starts doubting stuff.
Meanwhile, we are introduced to Ishitha Rajora who was married at a early age of 22 to Suryakantha, 25 years, only son of the family. After her inability to conceive for 18 months, they consult a doctor to get a shock of her life. Frozen fallopian tubes due to side-effects of TB in her childhood. After waiting for a year subjecting herself to humiliation with continuous therapies, he leaves her in-laws house after being faced with dejection, rejection by family and her husband. After her divorce, she works with a woman teaching underpriviledged children. At 30, her mother and father are trying to get their married again, with Ishu being their only daughter.
Ashok finally decides not to send Shagun back shocking Raman and children. Raman refuses to give divorce by mutual consent making Shagun take away the children from Raman. Raman files a custody case stating the loose character of mother. Their elder son, Arjun starts becoming uncomfortable with new situations and Ashok getting close to Shagun. He develops pain in knees and stops going to school. Ashok suggests to put him in boarding school, Dehradun Public Academy (DPA), where he did his schooling. Though Arjun is unsure about getting away from his parents, he's relieved to be in a new environment and accepts to go. Raman enraged tries to stop the same. Court judgement allows Arjun to go to DPA with visitation rights given to Raman over weekends. Ashok gets transfer to US and Shagun who is yearning to go with him offers Raman the custody of the children with visitation rights in return for Divorce by Mutual Consent. Raman agrees and they get divorced.
Mrs.Leela Kaushik, Raman's mother and Mrs.Rajora, Ishu's mom are good friends and they decide to let their children meet each other. Ishu, reluctantly visits Kaushiks house where Raman has arrived for weekend visit with Roohi. Roohi and Ishu bond well making Raman and Ishu close. With their past open, they pity each other. Intimacy and Roohi leads to their engagement. Children meet Shagun during their vacations but it makes them even more sad after every visit, particularly Roohi. Arjun distances himself from Raman and Roohi starts having strange dreams. Raman is afraid if their children can accept Ishu but still his love for her, conquers everything and they do a court marriage unknown to their families. Ishu starts feeling possessive about Roohi and stops sending her to her mother citing health issues. Arjun hates Ishu and this leads to Ishu distancing himself from him eventually hating him. With Ishu's insecurities about Roohi increasing, Raman files a case for sole custody of children citing Roohi's mental trauma. Ishu tries to influence Roohi by asking her to choose her. In the court, finally Ishu is given 7 and half year old Roohi's custody and Shagun, arjun's custody (15 and half years old).
YHM starts at the point where custody ends. The atmosphere in the story was so gloomy that after a point, it feels as though the story is being unwantedly stretched. If a small push of Raman is unforgivable in YHM, children are being emotionally tortured in the book. Its disheartening to read the same. Arjun's change in the book is fine as he's unattached to both the parents and there's a small inclination towards the mother but in YHM, it is difficult to relate to the grey shades of Adi. After Roohi being unwanted kid in Shagun's life, she's still able to love Roohi but in YHM, Shagun is quite detached to Ruhi. Ishu and Raman's love looks more like passion than love but in YHM, its going to be a beautiful journey. Thankful to maiya. Wish she makes us love it forever.
A long post but i always wanted to relate YHM to Custody. So, bear me with it...😊
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Indian Mythology
Sampoorna
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