My thoughts on April 18th Episode

Abhi hasn't lost complete trust in Akshu. He recalls snippets of the moments she tried to tell him the truth. He is starting to piece together the connection between her silence and panic attacks. We see his denial of the private investigator's (PI) information as he repeats, "Akshu asa nahi kar sakti." He stops to glare at his ring and then stumbles and falls outside the sangeet venue, which symbolizes his struggle to pick himself up and reconcile his image of Akshara with these facts. The ring was shown to precede the fall, meaning his relationship with Akshu and their happy moments where she left him unaware of the truth post-accident that threw him off balance. Then, his insecurities prevail with flashbacks to the hospital-heart attack conversation that broke his confidence in Abhira's relationship.

When comforting Akshara about Abhi's sudden disappearance, Neil said he too feels anxious as if his happiness were to be snatched away shortly. I know he said everyone feels that way, from time to time, but it felt too personal for me. Is the fear he's referring to the possibility of Harsh breaking Neil's ties to the Birla's, or is it his worry that Abhi's happiness won't last (Neil is shown to be the kind of person who absorbs others' pain)? I want the writers to dive into his character more cause what we've seen of him so far is his strong bond with Abhi and references to his orphan past. We don't know much about what goes on in his head. As an audience, we infer most about his character and Akshara, as Abhi and Aarohi get inner monologues, Tandav's, and conscience visits to explain themselves.

Shefali's reaction was intriguing. When the Birla's were trying to palliate Abhi's disappearance to calm Akshu, Parth said "Abhi ke paas asa koi nahi tha jo kahe sake ki ghar jaldi aana" and the shot shifted to Shefali's confused expressions. My initial interpretation was that Parth was communicating his grievances to Shefali coyly, and that's why she was annoyed, but I'm not so sure.

When Aarohi said "jis baat ki tension hai, woh sorted hai", illuding to the accident truth and Abhi's reaction, Akshu's face stilled with hints of incredulity. The incredulity is likely due to Aaru's nonchalance about the well-being of others, but the stillness. I don't think Akshu's as naive as the fandom expresses on IF. I think she is skeptical of Abhi's (assumed) forgiving attitude, and the happiness we've seen is her version of denial. Especially after his sudden departure from the sangeet, she consciously connects the dots. Furthermore, in their discreet conversation about Aarohi's slip-up, Akshu rushed to add in "main bhi Abhi se bahot pyaar karti ho," as if she was trying to assure herself of Abhi's forgiveness and her feelings.

According to Hindu scriptures, the Rudra Tandava is a frenzied dance that Shivji performed when his first wife, Sati Ji, sacrificed herself. The dance, a symbolization of affliction, grief, and outrage, precedes destruction. As per YRKKH3 tradition, it precedes Abhi's self-destructive behaviour where he does something that puts his happiness at risk (proposes to Aarohi, for example). But what I find most interesting is that Akshu's situation can be interpreted as a parallel to Sati ji's predicament. Sati Ji sacrificed herself in her father's fire, and Shiv Ji could not save her. Likewise, Abhi often finds himself helpless when Akshu offers herself in Aarohi's conquests. After Sati Ji's death, Shiv Ji was left alone, suffering in anguish and isolation, which I presume Abhi will do. I am not an expert on Hindu mythology, so I'd love for corrections or further insight any of you can provide.

There is a shift in Aarohi's perception of the wedding. Initially, we saw her do little tantrums that destroyed the fun of the celebrations (throwing the Aarti tray off balance in the tilak). Still, we've seen her be indifferent to Akshu's marriage or supportive since the accident. The accident put her career on the line, and I think it redirected her priorities. In today's episode, besides the accident worries, we see her happily dance with Akshu around cardboard Abhi and smile as she pulls Akshu down to resume wedding planning.