It takes a village
"Parenthood has the power to redefine every aspect of life - marriage, work, relationships with family and friends. Those helpless bundles of power and promise that come into our world show us our true selves- who we are, who we are not, who we wish we could be." - Hillary Clinton
The past few episodes have been an emotional roller coaster for a lot of us but the beauty is in the execution by the actors, storywriters, dialogue writers and technical team. The episodes have been hard hitting and have affected me a lot for some very personal reasons and this is why I love this show. If we look past a few snafus and the TRP driven drama, there lies a beautiful story of a family fighting all odds to stay together. The realism of the characters and the show are so refreshing to watch on Indian television.
There is a Nigerian proverb in (not in Swahili as pointed out by Rajkona) that when loosely translated in English, reads It takes a village to raise a child' and Ishita professed the exact feelings today in that courtroom. Ishita cried her heart out as a mother and plead with the justice system to look beyond the surface at the deeper significance of her family. The reason I love Ishita is because she is resilient, honest and always loving, today her heart was bleeding, she was scared to lose her child, her family was at the precipice of breaking apart yet she was honest. She admitted that she hasn't been the best mother and her family hasn't done a good job at shielding Ruhi from all the problems but their failure as a family and her failure as a parent doesn't mean that Ruhi isn't loved, cared for and adored. She laid out in court that to raise a healthy and a happy child you need support from the village'. Ruhi might be growing up before her age due to the circumstances around her but she is adored by her grandparents, indulged by her aunts and uncles and loved by her parents. Today Ishita acknowledged the truth about divorce, children pay the ultimate price of their parent's mistakes, Ruhi's tiny shoulders are burdened with worries way past her age for no fault of her own. The only to way to correct a mistake is first to acknowledge it, and then take necessary measures to avoid the same in future. Today Ishita acknowledged her shortcoming as a parent, and so did Raman albeit silently but he did, now they will take all the necessary steps to ensure that their little bundle of joy retains her innocence and enjoys her childhood by giving her the security of certainty and a loving a home. "Knowing what to expect next gives children a sense of security." - Hillary Clinton
For the past few episodes seeing Raman and Ishita struggle and fight to keep their family unit together has been heart touching, and beautifully melancholic. However dysfunctional but they have built a beautiful family with their naked souls, their fierce determination and unending love, reminding me of the song, Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raine from the movie Abhimaan.
Tere mere milan kii yeh rainaa
On the night of your and my union
Nayaa koi gul khilaayegi
A new rose will bloom
Tabhi to chanchal hai tere naina
That is why your eyes are playful
Dekho na! Dekho na, tere mere milan kii yeh rainaa
Look! Look at the night of your and my union
Female:
Nanha sa gul khilegaa anganaa
A small rose will bloom upon our balcony
Suunii baiyaa sajegii, sajnaa
She will decorate my lonely arms, beloved
Male:
Jaise khele chandaa baadal mein
Just as the moon plays with the clouds
Khelegaa woh tere aanchal mein
She will play in the folds of your saari
What a beautiful song and how apt for our beautiful couple caught in a moment of despair. Ishita and Raman's union was for Ruhi ke liye'. You know in all honesty, we are all happy that their relationship has moved forward from the 'sirf ruhi ke liye' but I for one believe that it can never completely move on from 'Ruhi ke liye' because Ruhi is the reason for their relationship's existence and no one can change that fact. They love each other and want to make this relationship work for their happiness but the Ruhi factor can never be removed, she is the soul of this tiny family! The most endearing part of this little family is that Ruhi gave birth to Ishita and Raman's union, but it is the strength, love and resilience of her parent's union that has given birth to a secure and loving child. Ruhi was reborn as a happy, loving, innocent and secure child after her Ishita and Raman's union, before she was a child craving love, security and happiness. Ruhi was a broken child that was healed by this delicately beautiful union. How ironic that a relationship created by a wilted flower has turned into a garden of lovely blossoms.
Today through their tears we could still see hope and dreams in their eyes, their eyes fixated on their daughter, bewildered by her maturity and softened by her innocence, saddened by her pleas to stay with them and proud of the resilience she embodies. What a transformation has it been for Ruhi from a child of a divorced relationship to child of a divine relationship. I will start tearing up again if I say anything more about Ruhi and her plight so I will take the easy way out and leave you with a song that does full justice at describing the amazement called childhood. The song is Taare Zameen par, written by Mr. Prasoon Joshi.
Kabhi Baatein Jaise Dadi Nani
Sometimes they talk like our grandmothers
Kabhi Chalkein Jaise Mum Mum Paani
Sometimes they spill like the lukewarm water
Kabhi Ban Jaaye Bhole Sawaalon Ki Jhadi
Sometimes they become the bush full of innocent questions
Sannatey Mein Hansee Ke Jaise
Like the laughter in a silent environment
Sooney Hothon Pe Khushi Ke Jaise
Like the smile of joy on someone's dry lips
Yeh To Noor Hain Barse agar Teri Kismat Ho Badi
Your fate must be blessed to come across these gems
Ishita and Raman are blessed to have a bundle of joy in their life, a hurting child created their union and their union created an innocent child and there in lies the beauty of life.
