23/11 - Epi 127 ... Throwing the Gauntlet

23rd Nov Wed

Yesterday Arnav was challenging Khushi ... very clearly now, from today's episode.
On Diwali night, he lied to her, he told her, it doesn't mean anything, she doesn't mean anything.

Barely a week later, she flings his words back on his face ... if she doesn't mean anything, why does her being engaged matter? Aapko kyun farak padta hai?
And the truth comes out without thinking ... It does matter, dammit ... But he can't tell her why ... won't tell her why.

So she flings his words back again ... then your being engaged doesn't matter to me either ... Humein koi farak nahin padta.
And they both know she's lying.
So now, her words back to her again ... then plan my engagement, my big day. Because it doesn't matter to you, right?
Who will crack first?

Episode starts with yesterday's scene - Arnav saying the engagement will happen tomorrow or not at all. Your choice.
And as he leaves, he looks at Khushi ... the challenge starts.
Khushi sees the others upset, especially La ... her family, friends - no one can come. Anjali says she will talk to Chotey, but Mami and Nani are apprehensive ... what if he just backs out completely ...
No one knows how to handle this one.

Except Khushi.
And Arnav knows that. So he makes for the pool - their private place. Knowing very well that she will follow him.
A side thought - is the pool under an Invisibility Cloak or something? Because as soon as Arnav and Khushi are alone there, it seems to become invisible to the rest of the family.
Poolside ... he picks up a file, pretending to be busy, knowing she will not care. Sure enough, she doesn't, she sees through his pretense right away. Well, he expected that.
Rapid fire exchange again ...

Why are you doing this?

Whatever I do, I am not answerable to you.

When your engagement is fixed for next month, then ...

Engagement is tomorrow ... with finality. Not looking up from his file.

But why are you in such a hurry ...?

He drops the file and stands ... now she's talking.
Who are you to interfere in my decisions?

What do you think of yourself? Just because everyone is too scared to open their mouth in front of you, that doesn't mean ...

She stops. He's looking at her steadily. Scared to open her mouth in front of him? She?

When Anjali and Nani have spoken to the pandit about the date then ...

She stops again ... he's still looking at her steadily. No, it's not about dates either, is it? Try again, Khushi ... his look challenges her ...

She falters again ... looks away. Lavanya needs time to prepare ...
He interrupts ... did she send you? Is that your next excuse?

No ...

Then why have you come? And if she has a problem, let her say it herself ...
She interrupts this time ... if you would give her a chance, she would say something ... she tried, but you didn't listen to her ...
And neither will I listen to you ... so just get lost.
But she's heard that too many times now ... in far worse tones. He doesn't mean it ... not this time ...

No get lost. You have to listen to me. This is your engagement, not a game ...

Oh, but it is a game, Khushi ... a well thought out game of chess ... La, Nani, even Di are just the pawns ... the battle is between the King and Queen.
You're telling me about engagements? First you handle your own engagement ...
Now we're getting to the point. To the epicentre ... what started this whole battle ...

She doesn't want to bring that in ... she looks away.

We're not talking about my engagement. We're talking about yours ...

He interrupts again, now he's got her where he wants her ... exactly! You won't discuss yours, fine, so we'll deal with mine ... yes, it's my engagement.

And then he closes in for the final battle ... quietly, purposefully ... a step closer ...

Khushi, my engagement ... whether it happens tomorrow or a week later, whether it even happens or doesn't ... what difference does it make to you? 
Very, very quiet ... and his eyes fixed on her so steadily ... piercing through her ... seeing right through her ... tell me. Say it ...
She looks down, away ... anywhere but at those eyes, seeing what she doesn't want to show at any cost ... she fumbles ... aapki sagai ho ya na ho ... 
He's still looking at her ... tell me ... just tell me once, say it just once ...

Why will it matter to me?

She doesn't matter to him, he said it himself ... he cut her to ribbons ... how can she forget that? And he will do it again if she gives him the chance ...
She looks at him more surely this time ...
Humein koi farak nahin padta ... it doesn't matter to me ...
His own words back at him ... but her eyes search his ... he knows she's lying, they both know ... but he also knows she won't break ...
His own fault ... he did the damage on Diwali night ... and undoing it will take more than this. Because she's not his Queen for nothing ... she's as strong as he is, if not stronger ...

I'm only saying it for everyone ... she falters again.
Not everyone. This is between only him and her. I know you're lying, his eyes tell her ... and she can't meet them ... yes, she knows she's lying too ...

And he holds her hand and takes her to the rest ...
This guy doesn't leave a single chance to hold her ... with full authority ... she is his. Always has been, always will be.

La trying to explain to her mother about the rush ... Arnav and Khushi reach there, he releases her hand only when in full sight of the others.
Khushi has convinced me to postpone the engagement ...
Not even trying to hide Khushi's influence now ... bringing it out in the open ... now try to hide what's between us, Khushi ... because I'm not hiding it any more.
And Khushi wonders ... now what is he doing?
The engagement will be next week. No longer. 
Relief on everyone's faces ... perturbation on Khushi's. She knows he's up to something, she just isn't sure what. And her defences are weak ... very weak.
Next bombshell.
Khushi will handle all the arrangements. After all, she is responsible for this rishta ... barbed remark ... sure, she is, nobody but the two of them know just how responsible she is ...
A solicitious 'is that okay with you, Khushi?'

La is overjoyed ... of course it's ok with Khushi.

And a final barb before he leaves ... I hope tumhe koi farak nahin padta. 

Ohhh, that stung him ... ASR can dish it out, but he sure as hell can't take it ... I am so rooting for Khushi to win this round ... he wants her to confess her feelings, to tell him it does matter to her ... but she can't. For more reasons than one ... not just her own unhappy engagement, but the circumstances in which it happened, her loyalty to La ... and her confusion as to what he wants. Is it only about his ego, or is it about his feelings too? And till he clarifies that, she will hold strong ... she has to.

Preparations start ... Akash volunteers to distribute invitations ... especially to Khushi's house *rofl* Both brothers just don't give up ... only their ways are different.
Khushi leaves for her tuitions.

Later ... Anjali taking Arnav's measurements ... *rofl* is she going to stitch his clothes herself? Arnav not interested in arrangements or ring shopping ... but he is interested in Khushi's programme.

Anjali annoyed as usual ... she can't understand what's going on in Arnav's mind. *rofl* of course, she can't ... it's Operation Khushi as of now ... Shyam takes the opportunity to slime off again. Did Khushi overhear his voice on the phone when Anjali was talking to her?

Khushi making jalebis again ... and talking to Anjali ... Shyam arrives ... slip no. 1 ... you have so many responsibilities ...

How do you know?

Slimeball slimes out with a longwinded excuse ... too long winded? He tries to tell her she should stay home more ...
Liked the way this part was done ... he starts to leave and she talks about the phone call ... did his long winded smooth talking ring a bell? Slimeball flustered ... no, I didn't call anyone ... he goes further, in fact, I didn't have network today ...

I just said his voice sounded like yours ... not that it was you.

He beats hasty retreat ... leaving Khushi very thoughtful.

Khushi ... pleeeaassee don't be a tubelight like Anji!
What I hope will make the difference is that Khushi would be very motivated to find something which could get her out of this engagement ...

Akash-Anjali about Payal ...
Garima talking to Payal Khushi ... didn't see the point of the scene, except maybe to reinforce to Khushi that she is stuck with Shyam ... unless she can find a really good reason to break it off. Garima encouraging Khushi about Shyam ... really? When she knows her husband was not happy with Shyam?

Precap - Akash arrives at Gupta house to invite them ... all that is fine ... but I can see Shyam getting trapped ... entire Gupta family at RM for an engagement which he will have to find a really good excuse to get out of attending? Makes me more and more sure this engagement might not happen.