Originally posted by: swathibalan
Ruby- fab post as usual
Will start with Shagun and Ishita - the difference between them can stack libraries.
Yes, insecurity is a thread that's common to them. There's also a Choice that life offered both
One made a choice to put love for material above love itself. She traded a bond of love for material.
For the other Love is not a choice. It is not something to be traded off. She instead made the choice to get into a bond, just for love.
So, another thread that binds them is love.
For one it is about I, me, myself while for the other it is about just - pure giving.
A Narcissist Vs an Altruist, as you wrote. A human being Vs being human.
One is a woman that needs a man to satisfy her desires, while other desires to be the woman her man needs.
One is so blinded in love for material that she can't see the pain/confusion of her loved ones, be it her son, her husband or her brother.
She uses her son to self-assure her importance in the lives of the 2 men, her past which she doesn't want but can't let go because of her self-obsession and her present which she wants - to get an assured "Status" in the society
While Ishita uses love as eye openers. She shows Mihir and Raman the path to healing. She heals a child from neglect and a feeling of being unwanted. She heals every relationship that the former had wounded.
At the end, one was satisfied by getting a 5-carat ring, while the other for solidifying her trust in her husband and gaining the trust of her man in return and becoming his strength.
Both women - one is a noun and the other is a verb. One is all about skin and the other is all about soul.
Also, both lost. Lost the joy of motherhood - One biologically and without a choice while the other lost it because of her choice.
Both were rejected - one for not being able, biologically, to be a mother, and one for just not being a mother
While one was ready to use her son as a pawn to show her upper hand over her ex - to her boyfriend, the other fought like a tigress when her daughter was used as a pawn.
A clear difference when Shagun degrades Ishita in her converstation with Adi while Ishita ensures that Shagun doesn't fall in Ruhi's eyes.
Both mothers - one is a verb and one is a noun
Both had an attack on their self-respect. One fought for it, even left the house, only to return when her man asked her to come back, assuring he trusted her always.
The other gets satisfied by a glittering bracelet, the attack on her self-respect forgotten.
Do we need a clearer difference?
She tries to put down her ex's wife at every occasion, keeps comparing them but falls from grace every time. She knows that her ex has moved on. He is not interested in her anymore, but the narcissist in her cannot accept that.
The palak paneer episode was a revelation to her. Raman is not affected by her in anyway. No love, no hate. Only indifference, which is worse.
She tries to show her value in front of her boyfriend, who under the influence of his brother is not sure of the relationship anymore. Only to fall from grace again. This time in her boyfriend's eyes too as her pretentiousness came to the fore. She says," I have made it with love", only for her boyfriend to sarcastically comment "I know that! You didn't even care I have an allergy to palak"
So she is definitely going to find ways to hit back at Ashok and more importantly at Raman and Ishita, once her marriage plans go kaput. To what extent she will go- will be interesting.
She has used her children and her life as pawns before, that shows how vicious she can be. And a wounded animal is most dangerous.
----------------------
Now on Ishita and Raman
For me, theirs is one of the best love stories on screen. A slow yet steady growth. A heady mix of spices.
The current jealousy track is just one more spice in their lives. I too agree that it should be used only to push the relationship to the next phase and not a parallel track, else it will become bitter.
In the truth and dare game Raman says that Tho I didn't hear properly, I am sure Ruhi meant that Muthu means a lot more to her than she thought and she loves Muthu
Of course he meant about Ishita and her feelings for him, but I felt he told the truth, he didn't hear her monologue.
Her reactions regarding sanjana did prove to him that he meant a lot more to her.
He told her how jealousy inflamed her otherwise calm demeanor, he called it a feminine trait.
He touches her, holds her hand - indicates that he desires her, yet wants her to be comfortable with it as for her it's a first in terms of physical intimacy. He goads her to accept it. First in the room and then in the car. He realizes that she is attracted towards him physically also, and tries to tease her by sleeping on her shoulder. Assuring the attraction.
She thinks- Dil itna zor se kyu dhadak raha hai - jaise bahar aa jayega..
She hears her heart beat for him.. so beautifully shown.
But when she still doesn't spell it out, he steps back and says he'll wait for her.
But jealousy knows no gender. In comes Mani, her best friend.
At first he is not troubled that she had a nice time with a friend.
She had returned home the previous evening thoroughly enjoying herself that she didn't even want to fight with him, the small fights that he was enjoying. He didn't take it seriously then.
Trouble starts when he comes to know that the friend is a male - a man with more virtues than vice
So what is it in this man - who makes his wife smile, takes care of small things, probably understands her needs, who doesn't taunt her. She calls him best. Better than him? The question arises.
But she used to love his taunts. She herself told that. She likes the "Ravan" in him more. So why is he being compared?
He had been rejected once in life, for lack of looks, lack of money, lack of ambition. He has all now, but still someone else is making his wife smile.
He sees his wife getting decked up to meet her friend. Of course he is heckled, but cannot show it. Ego?
But he can't rest till he sees his nemesis. He follows her and sees her with a guy, who as per him is less in looks, seems lower in money and in ambition - a chusa.
Feels slightly reassured and heads home. But it still troubles him as he knows Ishita is not someone who runs after materialistic things. They don't matter to her. So what is it that this friend does that he may/does not?
His wife gives him the answer. She tells him to tame down his ego. Adds "Maine aapse choti choti cheezon maang rahi hun, koi badi mohabbat nahin maangi".
But wasn't that what he wanted her to ask him, what he wanted to give her?
But didn't she want that? So where does she want? Care, thoughtfulness. And is she wrong?
He has done a lot for her which she has acknowledged every time
He has changed for the good- for her,because of her - which again she has acknowledged time and again
So where is he going wrong? Where is he losing and why?
These questions are going to trouble him and also show him the way. He is definitely going to set it right, win her over, how is going to be a delightful watch, am sure.
As for Ishita - Mani, I feel, has come at the right time. He has perfect qualities as per her, care-chivalry-thoughtfulness, but she is clear he is not her Raman, but yet she is unable to recognize and confess her true feelings for Raman.
Mani gently but firmly pointed out to her not to compare. That's a true friend. I believe, he will guide her to self-discovery.
Mani is only going to be the catalyst in this beautiful chemical reaction between husband and wife. A catalyst which will trigger and speed up the realization yet will keep the relationship of a true friend with Ishita without change.
A reaction which will heal both of them completely.