29/2 - Epi 198 ... RTR - Adding the Mileage

29th Feb Wed

Arnav bitwa felt bad at Buaji's words - A few miles taken off the RTR.
He didn't say or do a damn thing - neither to her nor to Manodrama who was on full steam - those miles just got added back.
He dumped Khushi on the road again, with a completely unnecessary jerk of brakes - a hundred miles added.
He said - Get out - a thousand miles added.
He remembered the flashbacks of himself with Khushi - Diya hopeful :)  Bitwa's brainwa is returning - hundred miles taken off.
He threw the bangle out the car window - Diya's hopes crushed :(  Bitwa's brainwa took the scenic route back, now touring Greece and Cypriot islands - another thousand added.

I liked today better than yesterday - far more in synch ... Sanaya almost made me tear up a few times, especially when Khushi was sitting and sobbing quietly at the poolside, and Arnav redeemed a few more miles there as he stared at her helplessly. He was ready and willing to obey Di's order without any fuss at all ... it was what he wanted to do.
Liked the car drive, the exchange of looks, ... Khushi still searching for answers ... Arnav trying to stay impassive, but affected despite himself ... both trying to find even ground after the huge emotional breakdown on Monday - am going to pretend Tuesday never happened.
Loved the way the sound of Khushi's bangles was affecting Arnav again in the car.

Khushi found a new friend, Lakshmi ... can I say, as an ardent dog-lover and pet lover - good choice, Lakshmi won't ever let her down. How I wish the Raizadas had a beautiful Retreiver or a Lab as a pet - it would cheer up Khushi no end.
NK is back ... :) ... and so is RS :( ... but RS seems to be biding his time for now.

Will the ultimatum come tomorrow or on Friday as the last scene?

*Edited*
Khushi got new clothes - hurrah! But how? Please explain - are they borrowed or her own? Did her husband wake up to her wardrobe-less state when she borrowed his shirt, or did Anjali do the needful? Or is this one of those unexplained miracles, like how the Guptas were able to afford fancy new clothes for all the wedding functions?
Anyway, good to see her not struggling to find something to wear, and not being handed out her daily dress ... so that was the first plus point today :)

I thought Payal had decided she couldn't stay mad at Khushi any more? Then why the nakhras? But loved the way Khushi just doesn't give up - liked the sisters' scene, as Khushi tries to get back to teasing and bullying Payal to talk, realizes Payal is still too angry, and then goes on to cajoling her, puts kala tika, and goes off into her usual bak bak, feels hurt as Payal doesn't respond, and then her tearful, hopeful joy as Payal finally gives in ... 'phir humein bhi kajal laga do na, jiji' ...

And Payal is as tenacious as Khushi, she also won't give up trying to find out why Khushi did this, so no unqualified forgiveness, but again - you hurt your parents, you know that, don't you ... again the plea for Khushi's confidence ... why did you do this? And why can't you tell me ...
But of course Khushi can't ... and Payal is not mollified ...

So Khushi finds her new friend, Lakshmi ... being an animal lover, I am not upset at all at this one ... animals and their unconditional love and acceptance can be so comforting ... and animals are great judges of character! So Khushi gets her spirit back ... I will not give up till everyone forgives me ... nice to see the fighting Khushi back, who just never gives up - second plus point for today, third if you count her new best friend :)

Buaji arrives to take Payal for pag phera - NK is back, and as usual, he's on the ball - how are Khushi's parents now? Buaji doesn't want to talk about Khush, but she can't be openly rude to NK, so she just looks non-committal. Mami arrives with gifts and taunts ... gifts ke saath, ek taunt muft ... as usual, she puts her finger on the facts - yeah right, we get to keep the girl, you can happily wash your hands off her ... her words were crude, but the truth - is it so easy to wash your hands off your child when they make mistakes? And as Nani points out, well, the mistake is done, now we have to accept it and move on ... but Buaji is not willing.

I think this scene was put in just to add to the Khushi torture ratio, and make Arnav drop Khushi ... otherwise it was singularly graceless of Buaji to pick up one daughter and not the other, especially when told in so many words by the in-laws.
And why can't Nani ever shut up Mami when she gets too much? Just looking down in embarrassment is not good enough. Good for NK that he spoke up ...

Khushi appears ... again Buaji's first reaction is pleasure ... before she damps it down sternly ... and Mami loses to time in throwing in another taunt ... aren't you taking her as well?
Khushi runs to get ready, all excited about going home, and manaoing her family ... or trying to ...

Arnav comes in and greets Buaji hesitantly, again pangs of guilt rising, he has wronged the entire Gupta family too, not just the Raizada family ... Buaji is forced to respond ...
The Guptas were nowhere as close to Arnav as Nanai and Anjali were to Khushi, hence they can't say a word of censure to him ... their entire wrath falls only on Khushi. Plus he's the damaad's older brother and the head of his family, not just the older damaad. While Khushi gets it from both sides ... unfair but again, understandable.
So Buaji wants to leave with Payal alone ... Nani is shocked, so are Akash and NK, ... and Arnav. He can't believe this ... Hearing Khushi say that she got orphaned again is different from actually seeing it happening in front of his eyes ... Nani tries to reason with Buaji, but Buaji is adamant ... she's not a part of our family now.
As Mami put it ... Waah! So you're so happy to abandon her so easily?! Throw her out so quickly ...

And Arnav is finally appalled at something he's done ... and how badly Khushi has been affected ... again, how can he still think a girl who is so close to her family, for whom family means everything, could ever be a homebreaker? And whose family has such strict principles that an elopement between two consenting adults is a crime ... when Khushi is so upset at her family's upset at this supposed crime, would she ever risk committing an even bigger crime of getting involved with a married man? Think, Arnav DB ... for heavens' sake, start thinking ...   

Buaji starts to leave with Payal, Payal darts a quick look up, hoping to see Khushi coming, because Buaji won't be able to leave her if she sees her - is Khushi coming?

But she doesn't ... and Buaji and Payal leave ... just as Khushi comes hurtling down the stairs, brushing past Arnav, not even seeing him ... and her crushing disappointment as she sees that Buaji has actually left her and gone ... as Mami gleefully points out. (also, Buaji apparently brought Khushi's clothes, so Khushi's wardrobe problem solved for the time being ... cheapskate Raizadas!).
Nani and NK feel bad for Khushi, really bad, as they see the young girl's disappointment and her tears ... and Arnav too.
And Khushi goes back slowly up the stairs, trying to take in the shock, so upset and shattered that she again doesn't even look at Arnav as she passes him, not even to give him an accusatory look ... she doesn't care about him or anyone else right now ... she wanted so desperately to go home, to see her parents, get a chance to talk to them, cajole them, even get scolded by them ... but get out of this nightmare for just a little while ... and she can't ... she can't go home ...
And she sits and cries quietly to herself at the poolside ... while Arnav looks at her, and feels her pain ... yes, he does, but this is what he wanted, isn't it? He wanted to hurt her for betraying him ... but her tears still hurt him, her pain still bothers him, even though he doesn't want it to ...

RS and RB return, Anjali all happy about her sonography and the baby ... she has to be the densest creature on the planet if she can't sense RS's complete disinterest and lack of excitement!
Anjali appalled that Buaji left Khushi behind, and that Nani allowed it ... Shyam twitches his face some and then some more ... he needs some new expressions, cannot figure out whether he's happy, sad or upset.

Anjali goes to tackle Chotey ... as Khushi hears her voice, she wipes her tears quickly, while Arnav looks at her frantically ... what if Anjali sees her crying? His cover story will be blown ... fortunately for him, Khushi is smarter, she wipes her tears and comes in even as Anjali's eyes search the room for her ...
Anjali might be a dimwit but she has gathered that Arnav and Khushi are not exactly the epitome of a happily married "we're so madly in love that we couldn't wait to get married" couple ... so she merely tells Arnav ... take Khushi home for her pag phera. Khushi looks at her with a mixture of hope and apprehension ... but Anjali is firm ... don't you want to go home and meet your family? Or are you happy with the situation the way it is?
Of course she isn't ... whether or not Anjali overheard her conversation with Devi Maiyya or not, Anjali is being the most sensible and empathetic of the whole lot right now - this situation cannot continue this way ... plus she actually has the power to pull some strings.
So Chotey agrees ... he didn't have much choice ... plus I think it was what he wanted to do, ever since he saw Buaji leave without Khushi, and her upset ... this was one order he was glad to obey.
I liked the way Khushi barely looked at him all through ... right now, seeing her family again was the only thing on her mind ... her gratitude to Anjali and the briefest of looks at Arnav, only to check, was he agreeing?

A silent car drive, punctuated only by the sound of her bangles, as she puts the packages away, belts herself in ... and then looks up to find him looking at her hands ... her bangles ...
And her gaze is arrested ... why is he looking at her like that? As he drives, she continues to look at hi, search his face, still not giving up, still looking for answers ... their eyes meet briefly, then he looks away, scared of the questions in her eyes ....but she doesn't ... doesn't stop questioning, her eyes fixed on his face ... 

Okay, really what was the need for that jerking of brakes, the Get Out, you can walk the rest of the way ... fight your demons yourself, don't use her as ammunition ... RTR - plus thousand miles ...

And as he drives away, they both have flashbacks ... of bangles ... different bangles ... he bought her bangles ... he took out the broken piece from her wrist ... did you buy them for me? ... and the last, most painful question ... why did you buy them for me?
Because he loved her, and he couldn't tell her ... and now he can't ... he can't tell her, and he can't love her ... he shouldn't love her ... but he does ...
And he doesn't want to ... he won't ... he rolls down the window and throws out the broken piece of bangle ... this is one memory he doesn't want to keep ... 

Why I liked the episode ...
- No forced fake romance - it just didn't work for me yesterday.
- No forced comedy, no klutzy Khushi. When Khushi is shown as being brainless or her character is distorted, it spoils the episode for me, I'd much rather see Arnav brainless!
- Buaji's reactions - harsh but still true to life - my uncle eloped many years ago and married against the family's wishes, and it took his father and siblings seven years to come round. It's barely been two days in IPK land ...
- Anjali being tough ... and Arnav not arguing or even wanting to.
- Arnav feeling the guilt more and more ... but remember, he still thinks Khushi is planning to break up his Di's marriage ... so the fact that he's furious with himself for still caring for her is a plus. Much better than the 'let's pretend we're happily married in front of Mami and I'll shove you away as soon as Mami isn't looking' ... now that was despicable! I'd rather he fought his battles with himself, rather than make Khushi the scapegoat, she has enough to contend with in all the rest.
- Arnav's flashbacks about the bangles ... it was a start, at least he started to think about the time he felt that Khushi loved him and he loved her ... the good memories ... 
- Khushi finding a new friend ... hey, Lakshmi works very well for me :) ... though like I said, if only the Raizadas had a Golden Retriever or a Lab ... or a cocker spaniel ...


My guess -
Tonight will be Gupta family drama ... maybe with some RS/RB scenes ... NK's farewell? :(
Friday night will be the ArHi confrontation at the temple ... leaving us on tenterhooks over the weekend.

Girls, I leave for Delhi in a little while, so will be offline till later tonight - will make tonight's post around 11-11.30 India time ...

28/2 - Epi 197 ... Meh

28th Feb Tues

A meh episode for me ... although a lot of our predictions of yesterday came true, showing that the show is still sticking to its characterization.
Mami telling Mama ... Arnav overhearing and moving to do damage control - umm, really? Was this the first time he realized his Happily Married facade was slipping?

The ArHi scene ... I felt really bad for Khushi, so totally clueless as to what had got into her bipolar husband this time, after the bitter slanging match of the night before ... suddenly so much TLC, you could see her incredulity, her disbelief ... and was there the faintest smidgeon of hope rising .... and then he crushed it again ... though thank god Arnav explained after Mami left, or I would have been after him with dandas today.The ArHi magic was completely missing ... well, it was meant to be ... I would say kudos to the actors for being able to switch it off and on as required. And the meaning of the kangans completely lost ... didn't Arnav feel anything at all, any sadness that he was putting the last nishani of his mother so unfeelingly on her wrists ... did it mean nothing to him at all, other than the need to fool Mami? I thought he was sentimental about his mother, if no one else. And I didn't see the need for Khushi to be so comically klutzy suddenly :(  ...
And he didn't tell her to move back into the room - he just told her to tidy up her sheets and quilt every morning  x(
Nope, not feeling happy with bitwa today at all ... 

The guests loudly insulting the Raizadas and Mami, Nani and Anjali all mutely listening to them - very, very typically SP-ish, Ekta-ish ... really, in that kind of society, who would be so loudly and obnoxiously on-your-face rude? Could see huge SP influence here ... hated the scene. Good that Arnav defended Khushi - well, if he had kept silent, the RTRW would have another few hundred miles added to it.

The only good thing was that Arnav made his point to his own family, Mami included, that Khushi was his wife, the relationship was legal and valid (though that is still questionable) ... and that he wouldn't allow anyone to say anything to her.

But the entire episode was long on drama and short on emotion ...especially after the very charged episode yesterday.

Acronyms

Another vela post ...

Acronyms piling up here, so making a list ...

ODG - Our Dear Girl
ODB - Our Dear Boy
KJ /KP - Kameena Jija/ Kamina Pati
            Also known as RS - Reptilian Spousewa
RTR - Road to Redemption
RTRW - Road to Redemption Walk
FS - Frankeshyam
FSE - Failed Science Experiments
MIG - Mind in Gutter - add *alert* ... although we're all adults here :)) 

CSL - Creepwa Science Lab
Ahh, yes, I was trying to remember that one - thanks, Sandy :)

MIG - Mind In Gutter ... comes with *alert* =)) we are all adults here ;)
SR - Suhaag Raat 
DM - Devi Maiyya
R&R - you all know that one! ;)


More additions -
MB - Manorama Bond
DB - Dimwit Bitwa

And more :)
LG - Laad Governer
RK - Rakshas
KC - Klutzy Chamkili
KK - Klutzy Khushi
PK - Pataaka Khushi
CLG - Chui Mui Laad Governer

More :)
RRR - Resident Raizada Reptilewa- promoted from RS ;)
TF - Twitching Ferret

TQ - Tragedy Queen - Anjali
LQ - Laundry Queen - need I name her? =))
DQ - Dadagiri Queen - Buaji

More added 28/4

HH - Hotwa Hubby ... also Hot tempered Hubby according to situation ;)
paired with
BB - Boiling Biwi - as hot tempered as her hubby
B& B - Beauty and the Beast

DR and DDR - Dettol Rinse and Double Dettol Rinse - to be used for cleansing purposes when talking about RRR and ODG in the same sentence :))

SN - Side Notes
DN - Dia's Notes

DBG - Dandebaaz Genie aka Shwetha :) Also known as BG - Blog Genie ;)
BDJ - Blog DJ's - Rekha and Sandy
BOTB - Baby of the Blog - Gargi :)
BBE - Blog Blooper Expert - Jaya
BFE/BMIGE - Blog Friskiness Experts/ Blog MIG Experts - umm, all of us, I guess! =))
BSE - Blog Symbolism Experts - Opti and Sandy

Sandy - Sandhya/ HAA ... newly unveiled - much like the Raizada bahus :))

*edited 9/3/12*

More names for our favorite Reptilewa
GGm - Gormless Gander (male) - not to be confused with GGf - Golden Goose (female) ;)

DaDiDa ... Daadi, Di and Daiyya Ho ... the trio everyone loves to hate

AD - Asli Duniya
SKD - Sapnon Ki Duniya ... where all our shiddats reside ;)

WWAD - What Will Arnav Do
WWKD - What Will Khushi Do 

27/2 - Epi 196 ... I Hate You ... because I Love You ...

27th Feb Mon

And Khushi rises =D>  Can't keep this girl down ... Arnav is small matter, she doesn't even spare Devi Maiyya =)) Loved her vow to Devi Maiyya ... no more tears, and I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Good thing too ... because from Arnav bitwa's flashbacks and his outburst, his dimaag ka holiday just got extended to include a trip to the North Pole. Good, maybe his anger might get the ice cold shower it needs. Arnav bitwa, there is absolutely no use fuming and fretting silently when your Mami insults your biwi in the choicest saas-bahu dialogues ... you may look pretty with that clenched jaw, but you need to do a darn sight more to impress your wife ... oh and the girls here. ;)

Reminded me of what my mother always says - gussa buddhi bhrasht kar deta hai ...
Found two very apt quotations for today for Arnav bitwa ...
One from good old Othello, the father of all texts on jealousy ...
"Oh beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster that doth mock
the meat it feeds on."

And a second, equally apt
"Jealousy feeds upon suspicion, and it turns into fury or it ends, as soon as suspicion turns into certainty." La Rochefoucauld

So Arnav's fretting and guilt pangs have started already, but they're not taking him anywhere useful at the moment. Quite the reverse, he manages to fire up our tigress completely, and since she's kind of fed up of playing the dutiful bahu, a job she didn't even want ... she gets mad ... and when Khushi gets mad, she gets going ... especially at Arnav! You Go, Girl!!! =D>Yell, shout, scream at him ... this is the girl he fell for ... the girl who can give as good as she gets.

Doesn't he notice that she mentions all the relationships that are important to her - her mother, her sister, his sister, his grandmother ... these are the people she values ... and not two-legged reptiles ... wake up, dimwit!!!

Akash and Payal ... yes, something went the way we predicted! Am proud of Akash, he might not have much of a spine, but he still has ... that rare commodity ... a brain!!! =D> And a heart - Payal, you sure got lucky ... oh well, to compensate, you have a saas.

Anjali and Mami getting suspicious ... now where will this lead? This I did not expect. And will Anjali confide in her reptilian Spousewa?

And will Arnav finally realize that the way he's behaving is not like a "happy married couple" behaves?

And Khushi is truly back ... including the klutzy Khushi =)) never been so glad to see her clumsiness before! Now Arnav bitwa, if your hormones don't go raging at the sight of your gorgeous wife in your shirt and not much else, you need a checkup with a specialist pronto! And for God's sake, please don't blow your top again, dear boy? Devi Maiyya won't be pleased. 

The Khushi-DM scene - this girl is too cute! Scolding Devi maiyya that she'll find herself a new friend ... aww >:D<

*edited*
As Payal and Khushi get food ready, Garima calls, worried about Payal's MIL, Payal reassures her, Khushi silently pleads, and a distressed Payal hands her the phone silently ... I knew Payal would bend soon. And she's as upset as Khushi when Garima refuses to talk to her ... she starts to reach out ... Arnav watches and can't help feeling upset for Khushi ... his upset changes to anger as Mami arrives with more taunts for Khushi ... don't eat with us, we won't eat the food you cook, her burn ... 
And he goes off in anger ... how can he stand to see her being insulted, knowing he is the one who's laid her open to the insults and taunts, and he can't do anything about it except grit his teeth, because he's supposed to hate her ... only remembering that he hates her is becoming more and more difficult.

Night ... (so soon?) ... Arnav pacing up and down, starting that long walk ... agony, anguish, hate, love, a maelstorm of emotions bursting inside ... Mami's tants, Khushi's tears, his moments with Khushi, the first rain hug, the Diwali lights, but always those damning voices come back ... "I don't care for Anjali, I love you, Khushiji" ... "then why don't you leave Anjaliji, break your marriage ..."
He has to hate her ... why does he love her?!

Khushi enters the room, sees the bed with extra blankets, looks around but Arnav is missing ... she goes to pick up the blanket and make her way outside ... not seeing Arnav ... knocking over a jug ...

And he snaps ... What the! Why are you following me everywhere?! Not just her, her thoughts, her memories, try as he might, he can't get rid of her ... Go away from here!
And Khushi has had enough too ... her temper flares to match his ...
If I trouble you so much, then why did you bother to marry me and bring me here? Your one mistake has changed my whole life overnight ... my mother won't talk to me, my sister won't look at me ... Anjaliji, Naniji are all angry with me ... all because of you!
Will he realize that she named all the people who matter to her ... including his sister, his grandmother ... because she cares for them too ... she's upset about hurting them, and she would never knowingly want to hurt them ... never, ever ...
He does feel bad as she names all of them ... but when she says it's because of him, his face hardens again ... because of him? It's because of her ...
But she's not done yet ...
So I will do exactly what I want ... if I want to cry, I will ... if I want to yell at you, I will ... don't try to stop me! And you must be happy, you must be enjoying this, watching me upset, after breaking each and every relationship which meant the world to me ... seeing me orphaned again, you must be happy, isn't it ... what did you even get by seeing me like this?!
And she pushes at him again, he grabs her hands again ... sees her wince at her burn, and drops them in a rage ... he can't even hurt her ...
Yes, I'm happy! I'm happy seeing you in pain ... I did all this just to see you in pain ... and you know why I want to see you suffer?
Because I hate you ... and she stares at him in disbelief, in shocked hurt, her world crashing down again ... he hates her?! And here she was hoping ...
And even as he says it, he stops ... what did he just say ... why did he say that ... because it's not true ... not true at all ... he didn't mean to say that ...

But it's too late ... the words are spoken, they can't be recalled ... and the walls are up between them again ...
And I hate you too ... more than you hate me, I hate you ... because you don't deserve to be loved ... I was a fool to fall in love with you ... I hate you ... because that's what you deserve ... not my love ...

His turn for the world to come crashing down around him ... she hates him?! He thought she loved him ... but no, she loves Shyam and he hates her for that too ... so why do her words hurt so much?
And why can't he stop loving her?! His final burst of anger ... taken out on the furniture this time, because there's no one else ... she's gone ... he finally drove her away ...

So for the moment, Khushi's ever-present questions about WHY ... WHY did he do this have been silenced ... he gave her an answer, a truthful one too ... but not the whole truth ... he did all this because he hates her ... and he hates her because he loves her ...

Khushi has only Devi Maiya to talk to now ... her ever-faithful friend and confidante ...
Say something, Devi maiyya, how can you be quiet when so much has happened with me? You're just watching silently? Don't you have any answers for me at all? It was your smile that taught me to face every problem with a smile, which made you my friend, my confidante. I always felt you were with me, and while you were there, nothing bad could ever happen to me. That rakshas (Arnav back to being Rakshas) used my sister, my family to force me into marriage and I couldn't do a thing ... but you could have done something, couldn't you?! How did you let it happen? You did wrong ... very wrong.
Leave it ... wiping her tears fiercely ... I can't explain anything more to you, maybe it was my fault for expecting too much from you. So now, I don't want to talk to you any more ... and neither do I want to cry any more. I'm not going to accept my defeat so soon ... do you hear me?
Apparently Devi Maiyya did hear, and approved too ... as the sound of the conch shell indicated ... So Khushi will indeed be the one to ferret out the truth ... :)
Ah yes ... Khushi turns back to DM ... don't think just because I'm not talking to you, I'll stay quiet. I'll find another friend to whom I can talk ... just wait and see.
Will that friend be the Nataraj? Or will it be her own husband? Or both?

And did someone overhear her conversation? The curtain was fluttering as Khushi spoke her heart out ... if so, just hope it was anyone else but Shyam ... :(

Next day, preparations for the Munh Dikhayi of both dulhans under way ... Mami all concerned about Anjali's health ... along with usual taunts ... Khushi appears in same sari as yesterday ... will someone realize she doesn't have any clothes???!!! Nani lays down the law again to Mami ... Anjali sends Khushi back to room, she will bring her clothes - her one set for the day.

Khushi is married to a fashion tycoon ... someone get her a whole new wardrobe, for heavens' sake! Have time to prepare for all the rasams, but not enough time to get the girl some clothes!

And Anjali remembers the kangans, just as Khushi disappears ... and Arnav appears (note - haircut AND casuals ... balle balle!!! =)) )
Anjali gives him the kangan to give Khushi .. their mother would have wanted this ... and Khushi should wear them straight away ... he nods ...

A very sweet Akash Payal scene ... Payal upset for Khushi, as she remembers Khushi giving her her precious Devi Maiyya ... she can't stay angry with her any more.
Loved Akash here ... calm, sensible, gentle ... 'who's asking you to stay angry with her anyway?'
'But after what she did ... how can I forgive her?'
Akash seems to be the only one with a working brain in RM right now ... 'every coin has two sides ... and you know your sister ... she has to have had a reason for doing this ...'
Mami appears again ... 'stop crying and get ready ... guests are coming ...'

I expected Akash Payal would be silent support for Khushi ... staying true to character ... well done, Payash, and cv's.=D>

And Arnav's troubles increase further as his lies start to unravel ... so many lies to hide one truth ... Anjali and Mami come to give Khushi her clothes, Anjali notices that Khushi is still not wearing the kangan, and Khushi is clueless what she's talking about ... Mami sees the bedclothes lying at the poolside ... and is shocked speechless for once ...
Mami is sharp ... if she gets to know that Khushi kept quiet for either Anjali or Arnav's sake, then Khushi has a staunch ally in her ... just hope she doesn't blabber this to Shyam ...

Anjali dizzy, Arnav worried, Anjali brusque ... I can take care of myself ... but I want to ask you - what are you hiding from me now?
I like this serious Anjali - even more than the widely smiling one ... Arnav is deeper and deeper in the soup ...

Precap was cute ... so nice to see klutzy Khushi back :) :"> How can Arnav help but fall in love with her all over again? :)

Spoiler pics from FB ...

Members Introduction Post

More timepass for the weekend ... and I want to keep up the success rate on the shiddats of our resident genie ;)

So come on, everyone, answer the following questions ...

 - Name - or alias ;), age range, married/unmarried, kids, working/ not, where do you live - feel free to add whatever you're comfortable with
 - When did you start watching IPKKND?
 - When did you start following this blog?
 - How did you stumble on this blog?- this I really want to know! :))
 - What do you like about this blog?
- What would you like me to add? More links, pics, news articles, weekly predictions post ...

I'll go first ...
Name - Dia (that's a pen name I created when I started posting on a blog for the first time in my life - this was on a DMG blog over 3 years ago - not the IF one - it was a smaller blog, much like this one. I started posting there very hesitantly, and got confidence when my posts were liked ;) Made some great friends there and some of the friendships have spilled over into real life too. One of my friends from the DMG blog encouraged me hugely to set up my own blog to post predictions and short stories ... so that was how this blog started. Switched off from DMG when it went downhill and became really crappy, and I got hooked to MJHT instead ... the chief reason being Sanaya Irani - I loved her Gunjan, she reminded me of myself, an academic nerdy type through college ;) ... and I followed the show through its ups and downs just for Sanaya. I discovered IF when I was hunting for SBS/SBB segments on MJHT, and again joined it very hesitantly ... didn't post for ages even after joining it because the atmosphere was crazy - our old DMG blog was smaller and much more friendly and fun. Because I didn't want to post on IF, I started writing my takes on MJHT episodes here, just for myself ... I needed an outlet :) I did start posting on IF eventually, and stuck to a few friends there, Aarthi is among them ;) ... but I kept this up for myself - didn't even tell too many people about it.

When Sanaya's new show was announced, I decided to make this regular ... and make it kind of reference blog for myself with links for the SBS, promos etc - I now have a youtube channel where I add those, so have maintained the daily episode posts all through, except for when I travel. I started watching the show only for Sanaya ... I still do, but now Barun and SaRun are definitely added to the list or reasons ... I adore their pairing, they look made for each other on screen, and I love the intense love story. When MJHT was winding up, I used to pray for Sanaya to get a show with a serious love story, because the way she does her emotional, intense scenes is something amazing ... and with a good costar -(because Mohit, for all his charm, is too boyish looking - I wanted a MAN) ... and that is one shiddat which has really come true!!!

I'm in my 40's, with two teenage kids and a very tolerant husband ;) who is now a regular watcher of IPKKND - he started watching it after the Teri Meri SBS segment ... I am pretty sure Sanaya in the green sari did it for him!!! =))

Note 1- for all new members, silent and otherwise ... if you want to locate the new comments on each post without going through the entire thread, here is what you need to do -

Scroll to the bottom of the post, Click on Post Comments (Atom). It will automatically show you the link being added to feeds . You can also choose to add it to the Favourites Bar. Refresh it periodically and all the new comments you have not read will show up.

Note 2 - Silent members who are joining in, do post your introductions here - it's fun to see who we all are in real life :)

24/2 - Epi 195 ... The Storm ... and the Aftermath

24th Feb Fri

So the SR is no less than another storm ... Arnav sees Shyam ogling Khushi, promptly loses his cool again ... and takes it out on Khushi, ... first he lets loose some salvos about acting and where she really wants to be ... Khushi is clueless ... what on earth is he talking about? And thankfully Sanaya's voice is back ... hoarse, but back ... so of course Khushi loses no opportunity to start questioning him again ... if you're so disgusted by me then why the hell did you marry me??!!! Thank God for the girl's tenacity ... at least she questions things ... and hopefully through that and through those strange remarks of Arnav's about acting, she might arrive at the truth. Because Arnav has lost all his reasoning power! 
Just realized Arnav talked about acting the last time she questioned him too, and again today ... for heavens' sake, Khushi, you're the smarter one ... start putting two and two together ... start seeing the glares that Arnav gives Snakewa!

Arnav then compounds his sins by banishing her to the poolside ... now, now, Arnav, what did I say about right place for the right activity?! Bad boy ... and unchivalrous to boot! Of course he spends the rest of the night on the recliner ... bhugto, bhugto ... you really thought you would be able to sleep peacefully on the bed after banishing her into the cold.
 
Were we right or were we right :)) ... Nainital revisited it was ...  so bitwa tries to be a good boy and give her a blanket ... but our sherni loses her dimaag when she loses her temper too ... chucks a perfectly good blanket aside and spends the night shivering ... 'cutting off nose to spite face' is the saying that springs to mind ... *shaking head* ... when will these two grow up?! =))


And in the morning when Momma ... oops, Di ... comes knocking, Arnav is all heran pareshan ... like a schoolboy caught in mischief ... tries to wake up Khushi, she doesn't budge so he carries her in ... that shiddat was one heck of a powerful one =)) ... and Khushi wakes up halfway through, and instead of being all coy and shy in the arms of her beloved, she starts fighting again ... *sigh* Devi maiyya, in donon ka kuch karo, please!!!

But Khushi has started wondering more and more ... why ... what is the reason, that Arnav has not told even his sister, Anjali ... and she has already started getting belligerent about it ... I foresee that promo coming true quite soon now ... because she might be meek and quiet in front of the rest of the family, because she feels the guilty party there ... but in front of Arnav, she is the wronged one, so she will fight!

The Aftermath ... picking up the pieces ... the runaway marriage created a storm in the two families, and the pieces still lie scattered everywhere.

Mami continues to act true to form and insult Payal and Khushi ... Nani and Anjali have given Khushi her place as a Raizada bahu, so they will give her all the rights that go with it, including the right to enter the kitchen, much to Mami's disgust ... but Nani makes it clear she still hasn't forgiven Khushi, much to Khushi's distress. So many relationships scattered, so much trust and affection shattered by that one wrong step ... by both of them. Khushi will have a tough time winning back that trust and affection ... I really want Arnav to tell Nani the truth when it comes out, and tell her it was not Khushi's fault, he held a gun to her head.

Payal is still angry and upset, as upset as Anjali ... and with as much reason ... but it was below the belt to blame Khushi for the first fiasco ... that was done with full knowledge of Payal, and Payal also knows now that it wasn't Khushi's doing that she got delayed. So Payal still not out of my black books, although she redeemed herself slightly by begging Khushi again to tell her the truth.

Khushi gets burnt ... will Arnav see it ... he had better!!! And he'd better get all hyper about it too, if he knows what's good for him!

*edited*
The Storm -Anjali still looking as mournful as though someone died, Shyam still fuming ... Khushi arrives and Anjali leads her to the bed, giving her a slightly reassuring look, Khushi is nervous as she looks at the bed, wondering what is to come now ... because she has no clue why Arnav married her still - was it for this? And a slightly apprehensive look at Shyam as well - now that is going to give him mixed signals for sure ... but she doesn't look at him again as Anjali settles her and says she'll call Arnav, Khushi is too nervous about what Arnav is going to say and do ...
Arnav strides in, only to see Shyam ogling Khushi and his temper rises again ... what a pity Anjali called him just then, otherwise Arnav would have said something to Shyam and Khushi might have realized what was happening between them ... as it is, she's not even looking at the two ...

Arnav looks at Khushi - his bride ... and something starts to soften ... but then she looks back and gets up quickly ... and he's angry again ...
How am I supposed to live with you in the same room for 6 months?! I can't bear to even think ...
And she is aghast and shocked again ... then why??? Again the same question beating at her ... why has he done this?!
Then why did you marry me? Why are you doing this to yourself ... if it disgusts you so much?! Why are you giving yourself so much pain? And with you, to me too? I don't want to stay here, in this house, or with you in this room ...
And he loses it again ... I know very well where you want to stay ... but you won't ... neither there, nor here ...
And she's baffled again ... what exactly does he mean? Does he think her parents' house ... but he felt bad yesterday when she said she had lost her home, so why now ...
And remember this ... outside this room, we act like a happily married couple ... I know you're a great actress ... again, another taunt, which she wonders at ... why does he think she's acting? ...
But in this room, you're nothing to me ...
Again those words ... you're nothing to me ... every time he throws them at her and they pierce her soul ... every time she dares to hope that she means something to him, and he tears her hopes down ...
And he throws her out ... shutting the glass door between them again ... shutting her out again ... closing his heart to her again ... leaving her in tears again ... why does she always hope ...
But this time, he's hurting too ... and as he lies sleepless, he sees her shivering outside, and remembers Nainital ... he looks at her shivering and almost breaks ... wanting nothing more than to pick her up, bring her in, warm her ... but then stops and hardens himself again ... no, she deceived him ... the struggle within almost breaking him as he tears down the wedding decorations in frustration and anger ... how can he do this to her?
So he throws her a blanket ... but she wakes, and looks at him, the picture of innocence ... and she throws off the blanket ... she wants an explanation, not a blanket  ... accusation in her eyes ... as they stare at each other through the glass door separating them ... her face accusing, his hands clenching as he struggles with himself ... she looks so innocent, but she's a deceiver ... he can't meet the silent accusation in her eyes ... and he can't look away ...

Morning ... the bridal bed unused ... he sleeps uncomfortably on the recliner, she outside on the pool edge ... and Di comes knocking for the first of the rituals ... And Arnav gets up in  tizzy ... of all people, his sister can't be allowed to suspect anything ...
Frantic to wake up Khushi, when she doesn't stir, he just picks her up to carry her in, but she wakes and struggles immediately ... and then watches wonderingly ... what is he so frantic to hide from his sister? From her, she can understand, but his sister?!
Hope Khushi's dimaag is not on extended leave and she starts connecting the dots soon ... she certainly is into questioning mode ... Why? Let her know what you have done ...
And he stops and looks at her as though to say ... what I have done?!
(Note - Another carrying over the threshhold - of his room, no less ... that shiddat worked and how! So Arnav threw her out himself, and had to bring her back himself ... Devi maiyya at work again)

Anjali takes in Khushi's disheveled look ... and hands her clothes for her chouka pujan ... she leaves without a word to Arnav ...
Liked the way they did this ... Anjali is giving Khushi her rights, reserving the bulk of her anger for Chotey ... Khushi knows the distance from his sister, her anger, pains Arnav more than anything ... but she's angry with him herself ... how can she help if he won't tell her ...
And Arnav is caught between the two ... more helpless than either ...

Mami Payal in kitchen ... Mami taunting Payal as expected ... and stops Khushi from entering the kitchen ... Nani steps in to override ... thankfully ... hello, Mami is not Khushi's MIL ...
(Khushi was looking so pretty and delicate in the pale yellow sari ... )
Again liked the way they showed this ... Nani also giving Khushi her rights, but not the affection and respect ... Khushi will have to earn that all over again ...

Khushi-Payal ... not much to add ... Payal is within her rights to be angry at Khushi, to ask her why she did what she did, to get angry not at what Khushi did, but more at why she is refusing to tell Payal, her older sister, her confidante ... but bringing in Payal's first marriage and what Khushi did then, just served to reinforce Khushi's misery, that she was at fault then, she couldn't have let that happen again to Payal ... not because of her ...

Sanaya's broken voice actually worked well, as she was supposed to be all choked with tears for the bulk of the time ... but good to hear her voice again!

That one poorly thought out decision has had some huge consequences ... torn two families apart ... the storm has been and gone, but it will take a long while to pick up all the scattered pieces and put them back together ...

Thoughts - and a note to Khushi - Khushi darling, your hot-tempered hubby's dimaag is sunning itself on the French Riviera at the moment, but can you at least start thinking? He's hiding something from Anjali, you're also hiding something from Anjali ... remember? Could it be the same thing you're both hiding? Start putting two and two together, for God's sake!

More thoughts ... If Arnav finds out about Shyam's duplicity, his remorse will tear him apart all right, but if he tries to win Khushi back without telling her what he thought about her, it might be easier for him ... and shorter for the show ... he makes it a real marriage ... they get together to expose Shyam ... and that's the end ...
but if Khushi finds out, confronts him, OR if he tells her what he thought and she gets angry in her turn, then turns the tables back on him ... we keep up the pretence, only to expose Shyam to the family ... and then I leave ... that keeps the show going for longer ... because once Arnav bends towards Khushi, she has to step back ... otherwise story kaise chalegi? So to my mind, once Arnav finds out, Khushi has to step away from him ...

23/2 - Epi 194 ... Grihapravesh - check; carry over threshhold - check; SR ...?

23rd Feb Thurs

Day of frustration for Snakewa .. everything backfired on him today =))
Tried to make mischief with Anjali against ArHi ... she decided on making Khushi official Raizada bahu.
Mami caught on to his fury ... lucky for him she misinterpreted it.
And to add final insult to injury, he was designated to set up the bridal 'sej' for ArHi's Suhaag Raat. Snakewa, ab bhi sudhar jao ... samajh jao ... you're up against not only Saale Sahab, but also Devi Maiyya ... you don't have a chance!
And I really do wonder ... does Anjali know her husband better than we think? Those were some very strange expressions there ... 

Arnav bitwa, it's time you also had a few realizations of your own ... saying that you won't give her the position or respect of your wife is one thing, doing it is another. Not a peep out of Bitwa when Di made the decree official ... do all the rasams or else Khushi doesn't get the status ... glaring, fuming, staring ... but bitwa complied without a word ...
Saying you don't care about Khushi, that you hate her is one thing ... but then why do you jump up the moment she winces even slightly? Why does the sound of her bangles send your concentration haywire? 
And why did you want to stay in the room while wifey was getting ready? ;)
Carrying over the threshhold ... the walk ... need to write at length on this, so will edit tomorrow. Devi maiya in action again - her agent this time - Khushi's earring :)

Khushi looked like a dream dressed as a bride ... no wonder Arnav bitwa couldn't take his eyes off her!

We still need a full blown ArHi wedding with pheras, mantras and the works ...SR is not happening till then ... :'(

*edited*
Today was Devi Maiyya's day ... sending signals to the two dense men in her Khushi's life ... one - move IN, the other - move OUT!

So Anjali fiddling with her cupboard in very sombre mode - after all, Chotey is acting extra-stubborn, even for him, and won't confide in her ... and is holding the threat of moving out over her head. The last time she dealt with it by moving his girlfriend in ... but now wife is already in, and he's threatening to move both of them out ... which means she can't just throw Khushi out, Arnav will follow, he's made that very clear. So time to eat humble pie but do it in a way that makes him still realize the enormity of his deed ... somewhat. 
A furious Shyam adds to her dilemma ... his first slip - almost calling Arnav by name, then recovering quickly ... how can we accept this marriage like this?
I wondered at Anjali's expressions here - the way she closed her eyes briefly ... it could have been her acknowledging the truth of Shyam's words ... it could also have been her upset at Shyam's adamant stand at not accepting the marriage and what it actually meant ... cv's have actually opened this possibility ...
But she just agrees with her husband as a good dutiful wife, he adds more fuel to the fire, and Anjali makes her decision ... a family meeting ...
Abhaas was good here ... no facial twitching ;) ... fluctuating between his own frustrated anger and keeping up the face of a concerned husband... worth watching the scene to see his expressions of satisfaction as he imagines what is going to happen ... the annulment of the ArHi marriage by the family ... no remorse or concern for Khushi that she would be alone, homeless and completely helpless if that did happen ... this guy is sick!!! x(
Or maybe he didn't know of Arnav's threat to walk out with Khushi if that did happen ... yet ... you've got a shock coming to you, Slimeball Snakewa!

Family meeting ... Anjali assuming the role of spokesperson?/decision maker here ... Arnav is apprehensive, ready to fire ... Khushi descends slowly to where the rest are waiting ... her future, her life is at stake here ... Already thrown out, disowned by her own family, if she is disowned by the Raizadas, she has literally nowhere to go.
Loved the way Khushi silently comes to stand next to Arnav ... not sitting down with the rest of the family, because she is not a part of them yet ... she is still on trial ...
Anjali's first words ... You will not be accepted as a Raizada bahu ...
And Khushi looks at Anjali in shock ... devastated ...disbelieving ... her eyes filling with tears ... where will she go now, what will she do?
Payal is upset, Nani nods firmly, affirmatively ... even Mami is shocked at the decision ... NK gets to his feet, ready to protest ... aww, he's a sweetheart >:D< Arnav starts slow boil ... till he sees Shyam's smirk ... and he gets to his feet decisively ...
Fine, if that's your decision ...
We're not done yet, Chotey. Don't speak in the middle ... this is not your office ...
He has to keep quiet ... Khushi is distraught ...
Anjali approaches Khushi ...
You will not be accepted ... till you do the grihapravesh and fulfill all the rasams of a married couple ...
And Khushi looks at Anjali, in shock and disbelief ... as though scared to believe that this could be true ...
Arnav surprised ...
Shyam's smile wiped off his face like magic ...
Nani nods again firmly ...
NK's face splits into a broad grin ... that's more like it ... did I mention he's a sweetheart? :x
Payal breathes a sigh of relief, Mami still open-mouthed, Mama nods in agreement ...
(side note - I would have it was more important to make sure they were actually married, by doing the pheras again, but oh well ... this means that there is yet another ArHi marriage to come before the real SR ... ;) )

And Khushi looks at Arnav ... as though asking him what to do ... what does he want ... what should she do ... he looks back impassively ... his silence is her answer ...
Anjali gives her the shaadi ka joda ... much to Shyam's fury ...
And Khushi reaches to take it slowly, hesitantly, as though scared to believe again that this is actually happening, that she is being accepted, that she has a place, that she will belong, even if for a short while ... the wedding joda, the embodiment of every girl's dreams ... what she thought she had lost ... and has suddenly been given back again ... her shattered dreams slowly taking shape again ... And again a look at Arnav, tears in her eyes, still fearful of his reaction ... in case he says no to them all at the last minute ...  and he looks back with dawning surprise at her tearful acceptance, how much this means to her ... she wanted this?!

Back in Arnav's room ... no, their room now ... as Khushi sits on the bed with the shaadi ka joda, lost in thought ... her dreams with Payal about their Prince Charming ... Garima's words when she wasn't happy about her engagement ... don't worry, you will get all the happiness in the world after you get married ... as long as your life partner is good ...
Her words to Lavanya ... marriage is not just between two people, its a relationship respected by society ... and she just got that stamp of acceptance, of respect ... I'm sure that for everyone, there is someone just made for them ... is he that someone just meant for her? ... her own marriage, the abrupt proposal, the runaway wedding in the temple, sindoor, mangal sutra and done ... but it's been accepted ... she has been accepted ...

And Arnav enters the room to see her in tears, and he softens instantly ... seeing her distress, understanding it ... but of course, he hates her, he can't show it ... yet neither can he leave her alone ...
So laptop to the rescue ... back to her, as though he doesn't care at all ... and Khushi looks at him, her doubts, her questions rising again, he still hasn't explained to her the reason ... again she gets to her feet to face him, to ask him ...  

To be stopped by a knock on the door ... Anjali ...
(side note - wonder if this is the first time Anjali knocked on Chotey's door?) Anjali hands over jewelry and tells Khushi that they are both awaited downstairs ... only a single grim look at Chotey, which he doesn't quite face ... and Anjali leaves ...
So Anjali is still angry with Arnav, is ready to talk to Khushi but not to him ... accepting his guilt is greater than Khushi's ... Arnav feeling guilty about the distance that has crept in between him and Di ... but it's for her sake, so it has to be ... Khushi feeling guilty that because of her, the distance between brother and sister ...

And Khushi changed into wedding lehnga, starts to get ready, while Arnav sits in the same room, pretending desperately to concentrate on his work ... while every chink of her bangles shows how well he is managing ...;)
She looks at him through the mirror ... does he remember the first set of bangles he brought for her?
Her dreams again ... of getting ready for her wedding, clothes, jewelry, pomp and ceremony, laughter and gaiety ... and the reality ... getting ready alone, a silent brooding bridegroom beside her ...
The heavy necklace threatens to choke her ... she lets out a small whimper ... and he's on his feet instantly ... tuned to her every sound ... is she hurt, does she need help? And as she looks at him in surprise, he's furious with himself again ... why can't he ignore her, why can't he concentrate on anything except her? And strides out of the room in disgust ...

Waiting at the door of RM ... Payal brings the aarthi thaali and the kalash of rice ... Arnav and Shyam have a brief, fierce, silent face off ... and Arnav waits for his bride ... and can't look away ...
Sanaya looked like a dream :"> :"> :">
He only manages to look away when she looks at him, her questions still in her eyes ... and then back to her as though drawn by a magnet ...
Khushi gazes at Nani hopefully as she passes her, but Nani is still grim ... it will take a while for them all to forgive her ...
And Arnav still can't stop looking at her ...
Loved the exchange of looks as she comes to stand next to him, her face troubled, nervous, worried, questioning, seeking answers still ... his trying to stay impassive, yet unable to hide the softness in his eyes ... his bride ... his wife ... he has to force himself to look away ... much to Shyam's fury again ...

Anjali does the aarthi with a very morose look on her face, her tone equally morose ... lighten up, woman, they're doing what you wanted, aren't they? Payal is still distressed ... and ArHi can't stop stealing glances at each other ...
Grihapravesh ... check ... kalash of rice knocked over ... Akash and Payal relieved ... Shyam gnashing his teeth impotently ... Snakewa, let your dimaag ki batti light up - every time you try to separate these two, they come even closer together ...

Anjali lets loose the next rasam .. he has to carry her in ...
(side note ... of course he has to, hamari shiddat kab rang layegi?! =)) ...)

Shyam actually closes his eyes in sheer exasperated fury ... oh no!!! Not that as well!
Arnav is taken aback ... he has to do what?! In front of everyone? Of course he's already done it a few times, but heck, no one knows about those instances, not even Khushi herself !
Khushi is going all red pink with embarrassment ... sweetheart, don't worry, this isn't the first time, it's just the first time you'll be conscious, that's all ... :">

Rather liked Mami's one-liner ... Akash did the same thing, only you guys were busy in your own personal marriage, so you didn't see it!
Arnav tries to protest ... Nani has the last word ... do as you're told, Chotey.
So Chotey does ... with a grim look stuck on his face as though he really doesn't want to do this at all (although inside him, laddoo phooting ;) ) ... Khushi hesitantly steals up her hand to catch his collar, looking at him as though to ask permission, still searching his face as to the cause of this anger ... loved her expressions here, hesitant, tentative, nervous, searching ...
I would have preferred a less grim, angry expression on Arnav ... some more conflict at finding her in his arms ...
Shyam fuming all the way through ... that would have been a heck of a long walk for him ...
Mami adds salt to his wounds by reminding him of the fact that both the Gupta sisters are now Raizada bahus ... his secret keeping just got ten times more difficult, because trying to sweettalk Khushi under the watchful eyes of Arnav and the slightly blinder but constantly present ones of her sister is going to be tougher than ever!

Arnav puts Khushi down like a sack of potatoes, Devi Maiyya does NOT approve, so Khushi's earring gets stuck to his lapel ... he holds her hand to remove it brusquely, gets a bit sidetracked and ends up removing her hand ever so gently, and releasing her earring ... Devi Maiyya is happy now.

And the best for the last ... can't believe am saying this about a Shyam-Anjali scene =)) ... Anjali forces Shyam to help decorate the wedding bed for Arnav and Khushi. Devi maiyya ka divine retribution ...=)) =)) =))
And again wondered at Anjali's expressions ... does she know/guess about Shyam's infidelities? And she hands him the flower petals ... well done, Anjali!!! =D>



More side notes - Don't know whether the scenes were originally written without dialogues for Khushi, or they made them that way because Sanaya lost her voice ... either way, it didn't matter ... she said everything through her eyes, her expressions ... she didn't need a word ...
ArHi marriage means that we are going to get a lot of bedroom scenes ... now, now, minds out of the gutter, people ... scenes in the bedroom is all I meant ;) =))


Edit again ... adding links for the SBS SPA segments today ... there was lots of SaRun, looking all happy shappy and lovey dovey :"> ... for relief if the fighting on the show gets too much!

First the fighting - ArHi's first night SBS
Star Plus bahus in Red
TV actors turn Rockstars ... Balwant Kaur again???!!!
SPA promo shoot

I pasted all the links I found, I think they all have some SaRun glimpses :)

Shiddat se Maango ... WishList for ArHi - More updates

 Updated

While I wait for the episode to air here, here is the first of some random posts ... :)

Combined Wish List for ArHi (and other) scenes ... combined from as many as I could find over the last couple of days. Add your own, and I'll keep adding them to the main post.
Don't knock this - this is serious stuff ... we got the CARRYING THE BRIDE IN ... our shiddat is powerful ... =))
Niharofying seems to be the favorite on the list :) :"> 
        

 -  Niharofying … Bitwa wakes up early morning, sees beautiful brand new biwi getting ready for morning puja, pretends to be sleeping, instead is actually ogling shamelessly … wouldn’t mind a dream sequence giving a trailer of his *ahem* thoughts …

Kya yaar, no harm in dreaming, right? 

2.       - Bitwa carrying biwi to their bed … today, tomorrow, this week, next week, some time, any time … 

3.       - More niharofying … sleeping in the same bed, next morning, watching her sleep and reaching out to push a lock of hair away from her face – repeat of NYE scene. 

4.     -  From Shwetha - I hope he comes to their room finds her sleeping down and gently carries her to the bed. Next day she wakes up, surprised as to how she got here and finds him sleeping next to her looking totally peaceful.:"> ... niharofying in reverse mode. ;)

BED BED BED … NO COUCHES They should be sleeping on the bed, she trusts him to sleep with him in the same room and not the big double bed, WT??

5.      -  HAA - next time he calls her Khushi Kumari Gupta she says OH NO - that will be Khushi Arnav Raizada.

6.      -  Shwetha again – okay, this didn’t happen the morning after, but we have many more mornings to come – and once all the rasams are done, Khushi is accepted as Raizada badi bahu …

Payal comes to wake up Khushi for some arti or something. Don't see these two fighting for a long time, that would be Thumbs Down

Bitwa is still pretending to be sleeping niharofying his wife while she is getting ready (cursing himself and his KJ - Karan Johar Nahin Kamina Jija....LOL). Payal comes in and is surprised you got ready so early and says good, aarti is in a couple of minutes come down, It is your first blah blah and then looks at Arnav.
Khushi says forget about him, he does not believe in all those things. I will come down.
Payal Leaves, Arnav wakes up, Khushi informs him that she is going down and glares and leaves with a slightly disappointed look, Arti starts and down comes Bitwa.
Nani and Anjali are shocked, look at Khushi and all their gussa evaporates. :)

7.       - General Consensus - Barun – GET A HAIRCUT!!!! CHECK 

- Gargi - Arnav carrying Khushi over threshhold of their room - CHECK 

Sama - Ruthless ASR back - CHECK Khushi remains tigress - CHECK
            ArHi marriage - Shyam helpless - CHECK  

     Shwetha - Khushi being accepted as Raizada bahu by Nani and Anjali post rasams - CHECK  

     Arnav - Payal conversation - CHECK
      Khushi  going  off  to a temple and Arnav goingnuts finding her - I'd forgotten we had this on the shiddat list - CHECK :) 


     Arnav showing HMC moments to family - well, he's showing them piecemeal to one family member at a time - chalega - CHECK 

     Added latest ones in brief - 

     Khushi Fainting ... in temple tonight, at any other time, and Arnav catching her 
      
     Khushi turning tables on Arnav in his HMC moments, and leaving him high and dry, saying act's over, boss ... you can stop acting now. 
     
     Khushi occupying the BED in Arnav's room, and Arnav moving to couch/floor/poolside ... his pick - we are generous people :)
     
     Anjali feeling unwell, moving into Arnav's room so Khushi can look after her, Khushi and Anjali share bed, and Arnav takes couch ... and SEES for himself Khushi looking after Anjali


     Some Holi scenes - Khushi gets rang on Arnav by mistake, gets scared, Di is watching, better still Snakewa is watching and Arnav lovingly puts rang on Khushi - if it's red and on her maang, even better ... cheese alert :)



     Shwetha, Dia, Opti, - Arnav sees the burn mark, scolds Khushi and rushes to bandage her

-

22/2 - Epi 193 ... Rama Rama Kya Hai Drama

22 Feb Wed

Lordy, what a lot of drama ... they eloped and got married, for heavens' sake, they didn't exactly commit murder.
Unless it was murder of all those paramparas and parivar ki izzat nonsense that Anjali was mouthing ... which century is she living in?! :-o

It was good to see Arnav finally get tired of the drama ... he had had enough. What was all the fuss about ... true, he did a mistake, but he married a girl they all liked and had already picked out for him ... Make a fuss, all right ... but acting as though the end of the world had arrived ... :-&
I liked Anjali's face when he told her he and Khushi would leave if their relationship was not accepted ... she looked like her world would end. Obviously, who would finance her million and one puja's for her loving husband?

Was it a filler to give Sanaya some break time to recover? She barely had any dialogues at all, and the couple of lines she had, were dubbed.

Rather liked Mami being all scornful about Payal's goody-two-shoes attitude ... what are you hoping to achieve by not giving prasad to your sister? And rubbing it in that Khushi is now officially Payal's jethani ... Payal seemed okay yesterday, but this morning she was all holier-than-thou ... and not even conflicted about it.

Anjali is dangerous ... pure and simple. She might come round this time, and insist on a re-marriage with all the rituals ... but in future. she could be very dangerous ... she likes getting her own way in RM, and doesn't like it when Chotey is not under her thumb. What is she going to do when he and Khushi get closer and closer? The fact that Arnav did something without telling her was bad enough, what was worse was that he shared it with someone other than her. Anjali bitiya, you have to realize Arnav might grow up one day and get tired of being attached to your pallu all the time ... and if you paid less attention to him, and more to your own husband, you might have a better marriage. It really seemed that Anjali was clinging on to her mother's kangan because she wanted them for herself ... symbolism in that too ... that she wasn't willing to give away her Chotey to anyone else.

I was glad Nani brought up Arnav's father again ... I thought they had forgotten about that part. Liked the instinctive looks Arnav and Khushi exchanged during the scene ... silently together in their shared mistake ...

Didn't like it at all when Anjali said in the precap  that Khushi will never be accepted as a Raizada bahu ... will she go on tomorrow to add the rider about re-marriage? Hope so.


*edited*
On second watch, after the initial irritation of the glycerin overdose subsided, I realized that there were a few subtle points made in the episode.
One - Khushi is the elder Raizada bahu, no one can withhold or bestow that right, she has it already by virtue of being Arnav's wife. Even more so, because Arnav is the karta-dharta, the decision maker of the house - the real head. So the question of inviting her to attend the aarti doesn't arise - it is her right. Besides, no one can stop anyone from entering a temple - a temple is where only God's will holds sway, not mortals'.

More as the episode progresses ...
Anjali starts the aarthi alone - she is alone in spite of being married ... in spite of being the de facto authority in the house - although it is an authority that has been bestowed upon her, not hers by right. Especially now that her brother is married - that right belongs to his wife.
Payash enter together ... they will stand together during all the drama to come ...
Two - the diya holding - a related point - Anjali holding the thaali, stumbles, Payal reaches to help ... the diya flickers, and it is Khushi who saves it.She may not be allowed to hold the thaali yet, but she is still the guardian. She hasn't been accepted and given her rightful place yet, but it is hers - the position and the responsibility.

A sombre aarthi ... Mami lets loose another salvo - Khushi attending aarthi, uninvited - like I said, she doesn't need any invitation ...
Payal asks Di for permission to distribute prasad ... Payal stepping carefully, not putting a foot wrong, but still seems very keen to take over the role of Raizada bahu as soon as possible. And what was that about not giving the prasad to Khushi? As Mami very rightfully pointed out, what was she trying to prove? And Mami points out another change in equation - Khushi is the elder bahu of the house now.
Mami staying true to character - not losing any opportunity to put down either of the sisters, but her words hold a ring of truth ...

And all hell breaks lose and they discover Nani has not taken Lakshmi for a walk (digression - do goats go for walks?! Never knew that one! =)) ) ... but is locked in her room. As the rest of the family runs, Shyam seizes the opportunity to talk to Khushi ... is the guy seriously delusional or what? Asking her why she did this, got married, as though firmly convinced that yes, she is in love with him ...
She runs just as Arnav enters, but he sees her, knows Shyam and she were talking ... so the misunderstanding will continue ... was Arnav out the whole night?
He will talk to Khushi later, if he does ... but his face as he strides up to Shyam shows exactly what he's going to say ... I told you to stay away from my wife ...
Before he can say anything, the Nani drama starts ... as usual, Anjali paranoid, quick to believe the worst ... mami quick to point fingers at both sisters, Payal's accusatory look at Khushi ... Khushi's guilt again ...

Arnav breaks the door down ... Anjali starts waterworks again, Nani has fever ... someone do something ...
All Anjali acually does is cry, though ... asks Shyam to samjhao Nani - samjhao her what? To not have fever? Shyam slides in a glib line about being worried for Anjali, earning him a glare from Arnav ... Payal starts to get water for Nani, Khushi has beaten her to it ... while everyone else is crying and wailing, Khushi quietly goes ahead and does what is needed - another similarity between her and Arnav ... but of course, Payal has to be the one to actually give the water, as Khushi is currently in disgrace ...  Arnav starts to call the doctor, Anjali refiuses ... he is in disgrace, they can do without him, thank you very much, Akash is the dutiful son, he will do the needful ...
Anjali sending Arnav on a guilt trip again ... as manipulative as Shyam here ... emotional blackmail her biggest weapon.And Khushi sees Arnav's hurt, and feels his pain ... how can Anjali do this to him? 
And both Arnav and Khushi stand isolated from their families, from the sisters for whom they have taken this step ... the sisters who refuse to understand them, and can only crib and sulk that they were not taken into confidence ... 

So point three .. Arnav and Khushi are in this together ... they only have each other because their families have turned their backs on them ... even though Khushi doesn't know why Arnav did what he did, she stays quiet, and does what she has to ... enough trust in him to know he has to have had a reason, and a good one at that ...

Anjali lets loose at Arnav again, his letting down the family ... he and Khushi ... and not telling her the reason ... of everything, that seems to be pinching her the most, how could Chotey not tell her? After all, she loves him the most, she wanted Khushi for him ... why did he do things this way? How could he leave her out of the loop?
Nani is more worried about the past ... is Arnav more like his father than she thought? And feared? And Arnav gives Anjali a look - their shared past, their shared pain ... and he leaves the room ... his usual reaction, because when his pain gets too much to bear, he hides from everyone.
And Khushi registers the conversation ... puzzled, thinking, wondering ... starting to see more layers in Arnav than she had ever seen earlier ... 
Point four ... the past raising its head again ... will it finally be revealed during this track or will it go into hibernation again?

Anjali crying over her mother's letters and kangans ... again, it seemed to be all about her ... her Chotey, and what he had done to her ... Anjali is one possessive sister, she has to come first in her brother's life, and it seems to be killing her that he didn't confide this to her, that there is someone else who shares a part of him that she doesn't.
With La, it was never a problem ... La was as subservient to Anjali as the rest of the house, she needed Anjali's help to get through to Arnav, Anjali's and Khushi's ... so Anjali's position in Arnav's life was unchallenged. But now, that position is shaken ... Khushi was always able to get through to Arnav, but she always did so on Anjali's request, at Anjali's urging ... as far as Anjali knew. Anjali has no clue of the bulk of the ArHi close encounters ... the kiss she saw was just the tip of the iceberg. But now, suddenly, Khushi seems to be privy to a part of Arnav which he is refusing to share with Anjali ... how can he do that, when Anjali is and should be everything to Arnav?

Arnav doesn't think so ... he's had enough. Di, how long is this drama going to continue?
Anjali appalled ... you call this drama? Do you even realise what you've done?
What's done is done, the sooner you all accept it, the better.
No, she won't ... and as he makes to leave, she stops him firmly ... is he beginning to see a new, stronger, less recognised side of his sister? Will he realize that she is not as fragile as she looks? That she manipulates people through emotions as much as he does through money and power?
He agrees he made a mistake, but the family has to accept that he and Khushi are married. (Thought he had told Khushi that he would never acknowledge her as his wife? Another promise down the wind ... like the others where he vowed to stay away from her, to never speak to her again, to not think about her ... ;) )
She tries again to tell him how he has broken the parampara, the izzat, etc. of the house ...
Enough! If you can't accept this rishta ... Khushi and I will leave this house. 
(side note ... balle balle =)) ... Khushi and he ... not him alone.
Second side note - but of course, he can't leave Khushi alone in the house, vulnerable to the advances of the Snake ... she has to stay with him, where he can keep an eye on her and on Snakewa's activities. Chalo, whatever the reason ... )
And Anjali shell-shocked ... a repeat of the Lavanya track .. except that this is a darn sight better, isn't it ... they're married, he was going to live in with Lavanya, for Gods' sake ...
Oh well, there had to be high drama to force Arnav to agree to go through all the rasams and a proper wedding ... so be it ...

So Anjali caresses her mother's kangans again ... honestly, I felt NO sympathy for her in this episode, she came across as selfish, manipulative, possessive and completely non-understanding ... Khushi had no clue why Arnav had done what he had done either, Khushi was by far the more injured party, yet she quietly stood behind Arnav, her questions only in private ... in front of his family, she was silent, supportive ... an equal partner in his crime ... even if she didn't know why.
And the way Anjali caresses the kangans and then looks determined, made me certain Khushi is not going to get those kangans in  hurry - not from Anjali. I don't mind that - I want Arnav to be the one who gives them to Khushi ... puts them on her hands himself, in full acknowledgment that she is the girl his mother would have wanted for him.

More Nani histrionics ... Khushi brings fruit, rudely refused ... Khushi almost lets out that she herself didn't know ... but then she stops ... did Payal get that hint?
Nani-Anjali ... okay, I seriously didn't understand this bit. Arnav didn't cross the family's maryada by bringing in a live in girl-friend, one Nani never approved of at first .. heck, Nani and Anjali brought her in, even welcomed her with aarthi, trained her to become a good bahu ...
But by eloping, that too, with a girl they all liked, he crossed that maryada ... how is this worse than that? Because he did it without their consent? Is a live in relationship more acceptable than a runaway marriage?
Apparently so ... and bringing in their mother again, seems to imply that the skeleton in the Raizada closet is related to an elopement or runaway marriage. So both Nani and Anjali are firm ... they will not accept Arnav so easily.
I think this is leading up to the re-marriage with all the embellishments, but they're sure taking a long time and lots of drama to do it ... I hope the past does come out during this track, though ...

Precap got me mad ... Khushi will not be accepted as Raizada bahu ... Khushi shocked, Arnav even more so ... and angry ... Anjali had better insist on the re-marriage and nothing else ... or I will be rooting for Arnav to walk out with Khushi ...

21/2 - Epi 192 ... The Tigress Unleashed ... Tell Me WHY!!!

21st Feb Tues

The all-important question ... finally she asked him. Not just asked, she pounded it at him ... tell me why!!! After destroying my life, that's the least you owe me.

Such a pity it wasn't Sanaya's own voice ... would have made the scene ten times more effective with her voice modulation ... but her acting, expressions, body language - all fabulous - as usual.  A reminder of the Guesthouse scene ... so one item on our wishlist - CHECK ;)

And Arnav too ... my first thought when I saw him pacing up and down was ... has his dimaag finally started the return trek from its holiday? Because he seemed to be waking up to the realization of what he had done, and the repercussions on the entire family ... the effect on Di, Khushi, Nani ... everyone he loved ... and he does love them all ...

One thought which came to my mind as Khushi ascended the stairs slowly to Arnav's room, entered and shut the door ... she is one brave girl. Bearding the wounded lion in his den ... only she seems to be up to the challenge ... and he seems to be expecting her ... She entered the room, closed the door and went to face him, to question him ... as is her right ... she is his wife.

The Shyam showdown ... so Khushi gave Shyam one last chance, Arnav has given him one last warning ... behave, or else. And leave my wife alone.

Precap - he threatens to leave the house ... with Khushi. And I was glad to see that Nirupam Roy was gone, and Arnav was back - leave me alone, Di, accept my decision, accept Khushi, or we're off. Not me - we.

Episode went pretty much as expected ... no major surprises, SO good to see the fiery Khushi making a comeback already ... the wish list gets its first tick mark ;) You just can't keep this girl down - she is a fighter all the way.
Payal let me down, but I still haven't lost all hope in her somehow - her and Akash.

I like the new montage :">

*edit later ... and I have become spoiled ... I expect at least ten comments by the time I log in tomorrow morning :) *
*Edited*- this is going to be long ... :) but I guess everyone is used to that by now! :p

Khushi stands abandoned by her family, lost, broken .. and Buaji deals the final blow ... 'today you proved that you're not our blood, you're not Shashi and Garima's daughter ... not my niece. We took you to our hearts, loved you, looked after you ... and this is the way you repaid us.'
How does she tell them that everything she did was for them, for Payal ... this is the cruelest blow of all ...

If Arnav has his demons ... of being orphaned, being deceived, being thrown out on the street, then Khushi has her own - of abandonment, of being orphaned, of having no one of her own ... no one to whom she truly belongs. And all her life after her parents died, she spent trying to make herself indispensable to her adopted family, doing everything she could for them, shouldering burdens meant for far older, stronger shoulders, turning an ever-smiling face to them and hiding her tears always, just so that she would be a part of the family, she would belong somewhere, to someone ... and they all let her. And today, when she has done the same, made the biggest sacrifice of her life, of her ideals and values, they don't understand ... and her worst fear, her deepest fear comes true ... that of being left alone again ... with no one to call her own.

And even her marriage is a marriage in name only ... for six months only ... and then what? She is alone again ...

Utterly broken, devastated ... Khushi moves slowly, dazedly inside, stumbling against the door blindly, not knowing, not caring, not seeing where she's going, what she's doing ... her whole being lost in those demons that have just caught up with her again ...

Payal and Akash are the only two people left in the hall, waiting for Khushi ... liked the little touch of Akash nodding gently, understandingly at Payal and then leaving the sisters alone to talk ... again, I have hope from these two.
Payal truly upset, distraught for Khushi ... she begs Khushi, tell me, at least tell me, I'm your sister ... you have to tell me, I know there has to be a reason ...
I liked Payal ... she believed in Khushi, knew there had to be something big for Khushi to have done this, she wanted to know, to share her pain ... and Khushi wanted to tell her too ... was deeply tempted, because Payal had always been a support for her ... but then this was about Payal ... if Payal decided her sacrifice was not worth it and demanded to let Arnav do his worst, if that broke Payal's marriage ... no, Khushi couldn't let that happen ... 'no, i have nothing to say ... and it won't change anything ...'
And Payal in turn grew angry ... so you don't trust even me? You can't tell me? You don't think I'm your own sister? You don't think we're your own, do you?
And Payal is hurt too ... I've always thought you my real sister, that you would tell me everything, but you haven't thought me that, have you?
Payal didn't say Khushi was not her own, she was hurt that Khushi didn't confide in her ... because she KNEW there had to be a big reason for Khushi to have done this ...
And she leaves Khushi alone too ...

And finally Khushi can give way to her tears and to her pain completely ... as she sinks to the floor, sobbing her heart out ... completely alone, completely broken ... but not for long ...
I said Khushi will rise ... this is her nadir ... no way to go but up ... and that's what she did ...

Arnav in his room, battling his own demons ... starting to realize the enormous repercussions of what he has done in his anger ... hurt Anjali ... caused Khushi pain ... and as he remembers Khushi's slap, Khushi looks at her mangal sutra ... what it should be a symbol of, and what it isn't ... and she wants some answers too ...
Arnav remembers ... shutting Anjali out, Nani angry, hurt ... eyes close in despair ... what is the way out of this mess?
Anjali sobbing in her room ... Shyam sees her, is least bothered, all he's worried about is that Arnav stole a march over him, and Khushi is no longer free ...  he couldn't care less about Anjali ...
Nani, Mama in mourning ... Mami had the right attitude, I thought, ... really now, what's all the fuss about ... no one died, did they?
Payash also upset ... their wedding day became Drama day ... but they are together in this ...

Arnav Khushi again ... in their private hells ... they did what they did for their sisters ... but now they have to face the music ... and each other ...
And Khushi starts ... slowly getting to her feet ... a hell of a wedding day ... left alone by everyone who matters ... but she is not giving up ...
Slowly, more and more surely, she moves to where she has to go, where she wants to go, to get her answers, where she has the right to go ... pauses at the door, seeing him sitting lost in thought ... as lost as she's feeling ...
And moves inside, shutting the door ... shutting the world out ... now it's the two of them ... only them ...as it was always meant to be ...
Directorial touches in this scene were fantastic ... the way Arnav doesn't look up, doesn't move  a muscle at her entry ... he knew she would come to him, he knew she would be there, he knew she would have questions for him ... that she has the right to ask those questions, because he has wronged her ... wanting her , needing her to ask those questions, because he needs to justify himself to someone and she is the only one who will dare to question, and fight for the answers, the only one he cannot shake off with his brusqueness ... he lets her see him in all his uncertainty, his vulnerability ... the complete and utter acceptance of Khushi in his room and his life ...

And Khushi in her turn, opens herself to him, heart and soul ... exposing herself completely in her turn, her biggest vulnerability, her biggest fears ... and he just listens quietly, only his clenching jaw showing how much he is affected by her words ... because that is the biggest thing they share ... the same vulnerability, the same sense of loss, of abandonment, of being orphaned ...
And when she says, without looking at him ... today I've been orphaned again ... whatever I did today, because of that, I've been orphaned again ... and he finally looks at her ... his eyes saying what he can't say ... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry ...
and then she gathers herself together ... to ask him what he knew she would ... expected, and dreaded ... Why???
And she looks at him ... Why? 
I know you had a reason ... you must have, you have to have ... tell me ...

But he can't ... he can't face her ... and he moves away instantly ... but she won't let him now ...
One minute, Mr Arnav Singh Raizada! This is not your office that you can walk away ... you cannot walk away till you explain to me why you did all this! 
This is my right ... my right to know ... you destroyed my life, you have to tell me why ... and I will not let you go till you do ... because it's my right!
A flaring Arnav-Khushi confrontation ... where a furious Khushi blasts ... do you even know what this mangal sutra and this sindoor which you put so casually, even means? What it means to a girl ... to me? You blackmailed me with Payal's wedding ... what did you want to get? What did you achieve?!

Yes, she knows he has a reason, a reason he's not telling her ... she will get it out of him ... 
Does he stop to think that if a MS and sindoor mean so much to her, she wouldn't snatch them from another woman? Or was that his thinking ... that she is only waiting for Shyam to break those bonds legally, only then will she be his? And so he threw another breaker in - her own bonds, which he also knows she won't break in a hurry, especially with the threat of Payal's marriage? So he has wrest back control of the game from Shyam again ...

But her questions don't stop, so he throws the 'aukad' dialogue at her again ... it always hurts her badly enough to shut her up ...
'why are you angry? You got what you wanted - a rich man. Didn't you?'
Not this time ...
'That was not the answer to my question.You're not getting away with that this time.'

And of course he has no answer - none that he can give her. So he leaves ...  leaving her upset, hurt ... but fighting still ...

Why doesn't he want to tell her?
The reason he gives himself - for Anjali. He will keep her married to him for as long as he needs, to safeguard Anjali's health and happiness. Not necessarily her marriage.
The real reason - he's scared of her answer. Of hearing her say, yes, she loves Shyam, and the moment Shyam is free, she will marry him ... Arnav can't bear to hear that ...

Arnav- Shyam face off ... Shyam burning over the sudden wedding, which he knows the exact reason for ...
Arnav coolly retorts, of course you know. That's why I'm doing it.
Shyam bursts ... she would never have married you, you forced her! The guy is seriously delusional ... but it feeds Arnav's fears ...
But he doesn't show them ...
Think what you like ... the fact remains, I have married her ... and now it's you who can't do a thing.
And Shyam gets another chance from Arnav - forget Khushi, stay with Di and child happily ...does Arnav really think that's gonna happen?
And yes ... one last thing ... Khushi is my wife now. Don't even dare go go anywhere near her.

Precap - finally Arnav returns ... Di, stop overreacting, this is my life, and if you don't accept this relationship, then Khushi and I will leave this house.

The new SPA ArHi snap ... they just get better and better ... :">