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I've been an on and off viewer of YRKKH since it started. I've watched it and laughed at some of the ridiculous things that have happened in the past. But I have always, always enjoyed the show - simply for the feel good vibes. Be it when Akshara had no idea about proportions for the halwa for her first rasoi or when Daddaji let her let go off her palloo. When Rajshree was sooo worrisome to now, the character has become better. I must admit I've not seen all episodes in the past, probably skipped a few. But I've been a part of most of the important transitions. I've moved away from home to study and I've been watching YRKKH regularly (just getting my fill of the India feels this way) and I'm really enjoying this whole thing now.
The very beginning of the show that focussed on Akshara and Naitik's journey as a newly married couple and their life together was endearing. It was regular stuff happening and the fact that there were no vamps like the shows at that time was a major plus. I don't think the acting was top-notch, but the actors did a great job with the characters and that's why this will always be Akshara walla show for me.
Part two was the leap that put Naitik in a coma and introduced Duggu. I remember vaguely Duggu's diabetic track and Akshara helping him get on the football team were major tracks then. There was even a super mom Akshara movie on one Sunday. 😆 A major reason why this leap connected was the good acting and seeing Akshara and Naitik as parents.
Then, the whole Cape Town leap happened and to put it mildly, I was not a big fan. Grown up Naksh did not connect with me. The acting was subpar for me and the plot was not well written. Bhabimaa exiling Akshara for no fault of hers was annoying. But it was a small glimpse of how Naitik, Akshara and the kids would have lived as a nuclear family. Another major complaint for me was how Akshara and Naira didn't really have as many bonding scenes. Akshara and her Duggu were the sole focus in the past and I wish they'd established the mother-daughter bond too, in addition to the papa-princess bond.
And finally the Rishikesh leap happened. I started watching to be amused by what was happening and initially I felt a disjoint, cause the whole Maheshwari family was scattered everywhere, Naitik was away and Muskaan and her husband were not even mentioned. I didn't instantly connect with the new characters. Naira was fierce and angry and quite frankly, a badass. Her continued disdain towards her mother irked me. But eventually, her character grew. She saw the error of her ways and reconciled with her mother. I feel terribly for the girl - she missed her entire childhood, almost lost her father and never got much of a shot with her mother as her mother died before they could catch up on the many years lost. But she's a girl of steel, she didn't let situations deter her, she let them make her stronger.
Yes, it was Akshara's journey and now it is Naira's. And how beautiful is it that the two characters and their journeys are so different. Akshara went from being a demure girl raised in a beautiful family, married off at 18 to a responsible woman with a loving family. Naira started as a girl brought up in a nuclear set up, shown jealous of Gayu when Naitik showered his niece with love since she wasn't used to sharing her father to growing up all alone, but bonded with love to the kids at Rishikesh. And that experience shaped her. Of course, she loves her family. She'll always love them. But staying away from them gave her character that spunk, that outspokenness, that smart wit. And that's why Naira is a different character from Akshara, yet so similar in the fact that family for them is prime.
Now coming to the ship that is keeping the show sailing - Kaira. I was not immediately a fan. I enjoyed the tar-tar in Rishikesh. But the Kaira relationship wasn't for lack of a better word, obvious to me. Yes, they were squabbling. Yes, he loved her strong moral compass. Yes, he helped her family. Yes, he was a great human. But there wasn't a lot of real conversation that happened between them. Kartik's dream sequences, some of which were really good - there was a Radha Krishna one I think which was sensuous, were still dreams. He probably had a lot of reasons to fall for her, but it happened far too quickly for me. I know love is supposed to be quick and easy, but I wish there was a little more communicating that happened. And this is a major reason, why I liked Naira rejecting Kartik. A girl with severe abandonment issues did not want to think of him as beyond a friend. Kartik constantly pushing Naira for an answer didn't help too. And she was bound to react that way - outright rejecting him. But he'd gradually seeped into her existence - there was a sequence like Jaanam dekhlo from Veer-Zaara and I loved it. That's why I loved how Naira's realisation unfolded - gradually.
So, when exactly did I really start adoring the couple? Nope, it wasn't their confession or Yash-Rose's wedding scenes. It was actually, when Naira and Kartik are taken hostage and they are squabbling, fighting - only this time not with each other, but for each other. 'Yeh maal hai, par sirf mera' is one line that I absolutely love! And another scene, I really loved - the Yaha Waha sequence at the engagement. I loved how it was shot. Those two are major stand out Kaira moments for me.
To be honest, I wasn't sure the show could survive not having Akshara (the character) and Akshara - Naitik (the original actors), but I was pleasantly surprised. The introduction of the Goenka family is interesting. The significance of the Maheshwari's post Akshara's death is something I'm looking forward to. And one major thing that's working in the shows favour? Good acting. All the actors are so good. Naitik is fab - he has fit in so well as a father of two grown kids. Swarna Goenka is a character that I'm enjoying. And I know that Naira will ease the distance between the stepmother and son duo, but I just want her to give Kartik a push, he should do the bridging the gap together, with Swarna. Manish Goenka is another interesting character - him bursting out laughing reading the kachodi message was so much fun. It's going to be interesting watching the Goenka-Maheshwari-Singhania dynamic. I hope Naitik stands up for his in-laws, I would like it more than Naira-Kartik doing it (they definitely have too many problems to deal with 😆). And finally, Naksh. I'm looking forward to what happens with the character. Initially when Kirti was to be paired with the old Naksh, I found it to be a complete mismatch. But now, since the new actor shows so much promise, I'm looking forward to the Kirti-Naksh relationship too.
With this new journey with the Goenka family entry, the show has opened up many new windows. And I'd say, bring it on.
P.S. Since Mansi's track opens up Akshara's death sequence again, can we please have a scene where Naira breaks down with Kartik? Since they mixed up Kartik getting arrested with Akshara's death, that entire track was treated very shabbily. I want Naira to let herself be vulnerable with Kartik.
P.P.S. Kudos if you've made it this far. This post is way too long.😆
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