31/5 - Epi 265 ... Jaali Rabba Ve :)

Thursday 31st May

First part was really rushed ... as though cv's were under a deadline - ArHi have to meet today or else ... so no continuity from yesterday - how come sole kidnapper is wandering around buying paan, leaving his captive unattended and unbound ... by stroke of luck, Khushi sees kidnapper with dragon tattoo .. must say , she has sharp eyes to recognise the tattoo from that blurry tv picture ... she follows him, and of course gets caught ... with Khushi, that's a given. And ArHi realise the other is there ...

The scene actually picked up once the dialogues started ... see, Mr GH, the actors DO play a very important role, the screenplay was pretty pathetic until this point, but once the actors got a grip, it picked up hugely ... Sanaya was really brilliant today ... really liked her emoting, switching to child-woman so beautifully towards the second half ... Barun was very good when Arnav started the scolding ... awww ...

Will update in detail about the Arhi meet ... I felt it was very well done ... the initial emotions just of sheer relief at seeing each other, all pretenses dropped ... well, Khushi never had any, and Arnav dropped his ... and then the realisation of where they were and why ... and his first asking slowly, as though just figuring out through his relief, that hey, she's not supposed to be here ... then annoyance and then anger ... it was cute! And Khushi smiling through her tears at hearing his scolding made it cuter! Protective ASR was on full swing ... he's the one I like best :) :">

Precap ... why couldn't Arnav use the rope? Bhery philmy ... Dharmendra he-man ishtyle ... the BW influence? ;)

Verdict ... episode was a bit patchy ... good in parts, okay in parts ... but it's soooo good to have ArHi back together in the same frame!!! :"> :)

*edited*
On re-watch, I could find explanations for most loopholes, so am putting them in. Pretty much ignoring Payash, as they do need a parallel track, and this one is better than a nine year old vamp, so let it run.

So Khushi has checked out all the numbers she got from all the pharmacies, but drawn a blank everywhere. The last place she looked, the address was wrong ... was that a clue that a wrong address had been given purposely? Especially if she just checked on people who had bought medicines within the last week. And also could have been a wrong address given purposely, because Mr Kidnapper is roaming around in town, buying paan ...
But before that, Khushi tells Mami her progress, or lack of it, Mami has had no better luck, so both are worried ... what to do next? Should they check all the addresses again? Khushi is so worried she's prepared to go to each and every pharmacy in town if need be ... Mami checks with her where she is, and since Khushi is close to her maayka, she encourages her to pay them a visit ... and stay overnight.
So Khushi won't be missed at night ... check.

And Khushi, ready to leave for her maayka, distracted by small commotion behind her, as a man makes a fuss about paying for his paan ... and Khushi sees his scorpion tattoo (it was not a dragon!). And remembers that one of the kidnappers also had the same tattoo ... so Khushi, impetuous as ever, follows the guy.

What happened after the last episode and before this one - Apparently Mr 'Napper went out to attend his phone call, forgetting all about untying his prisoner to eat his medicine, and decided to grab a paan while he was out. Arnav bitwa freed himself from the rope, checked around and found he couldn't get out, so he settled down to wait for Mr Kidnapper to return ... he could take down a single man easily and get out. So he sits and waits patiently ... if he could spend a week to fray his ropes, he can wait an hour for the KN to come back.

Khushi, in the meantime follows the kidnapper, and as she is a very bad detective, kidnapper figures out pretty soon, and bops her one on the head, knocking her out.
He had a choice to leave her there and simply disappear, but she was too close to the hideout and might bring others (police) there, so he brought her there and locked her up as well. And Arnav heard some noise as the KN brought her in, but he kept quiet as he didn't want KN to know he was free.
Mr KN then goes off to get his new and very pretty captive some food ... still forgetting that old captive hasn't had his food. But old captive isn't a pretty young girl ... old captive can wait.

In the middle, we get Payal stood up for lunch date by her hubby, and she makes a new friend ... as Akash is busy doing an ASR. (Only ASR might not be ASR when he returns, he will be more Arnav. Should be fun.) And Payal's new friend is not bad ... a better KMH than Bubbly for sure.

Back to the main story ... and now it picks up pace ...
So when Khushi returns to consciousness, she finds herself alone ... wonders where she is, and what the hell happened, how did she comes here? And remembers from the pain in her head ... and she's scared ... where is she?

And then old friend Rabba ve is back ... as they both sense, almost simultaneously ... the old awareness, that unexplained ever-present tug that's been there almost since the start ... the first time with the red saree, the fall in the rangoli, the tying of the payal ... and they both touch the wall between them, as though they can sense those vibes coming from there ... from the other side ...

'Why do I get the feeling that he's here?' she asks herself ... and Arnav's eyes mirror the same thought as he touches the wall as though seeking her ... she is close by, as close as they were in Nainital when he cared for her, as close as when she ran into his arms in the hospital ... she is very near, he can feel it ... as close as they were when they almost kissed ... she looks around frantically ... she can feel him so near ... but where ...? and they both move around their cells restlessly, searching for the source of that feeling ...

And then she stops, closes her eyes and whispers his name ... 'Arnavji ...'
And he stops ... she's here ... she really is ... 'Khushi?'

And finally guided to the right place ... he goes to the wall again ... the ventilator above his head ... a softly breathed out 'Khushi? Khushi?' ... is she there or is it someone more dangerous ...
And she hears him and runs to the wall from where his voice came ... is it really him? 'Arnavji?'
'Khushi? Khushi!!'

And she breaks down, clinging to the wall as though its her lifeline ... it's him, he's here ... closing her eyes tightly in sheer blind overwhelming relief ... after so many days of tortured worry, fearing the worst, agonizing over his last words, knowing deep down that he's in trouble ... he's here ... unhurt ... alive ... saying her name ...

And Arnav goes crazy pacing the other side, trying to find a way to see her ... 'Khushi ... Khushi ...' his frustration peaks even as she still clings to the wall, crying helplessly ...

Both were good here, but Sanaya was fantastic!!! Khushi had been holding it all together ever since she heard those last words from him  ... they kept her strong, kept her going, never faltering, thinking, trying everything, doing everything she could, giving it her all, putting her worry about him firmly to the back of her mind and only concentrating on her search, consumed only with the thought of finding him ... and now that he's there, she just lets go in sheer mind-numbing relief ... and breaks down ... he's here, her strength ... she doesn't have to be strong any longer ... because he's there ...

But he needs to see her ... 'Khushi, look above you ... the ventilator ...'
She sees it, knows what to do, knows what he wants ... she looks around frantically and drags a box to the wall, he finds a chair and does the same ... standing on the chair just in time to see her drag the heavy box ... an automatic 'Khushi, dhyan se ... Khushi, careful!' comes immediately as he watches her anxiously ... she gets the box in place and climbs up quickly ...

And finally they're face to face ... separated only by a thin grill ... and they stare at each other, drinking in the sight as though it's their oxygen, their lifeline ... her hands steal to the grill, clutching it desperately, and his hand goes to touch hers, then lace his fingers with hers, daring to believe it finally ... she's really there, not a mirage ... and they both smile through their tears in sheer relief, joy ... the wait has ended ....

'I can't believe it ... it's really you ...' she can barely get the words out.
A small smile ... tears ... 'Khushi ... main ...'
She smiles through her tears ... 'I managed to find you ...'
He nods gently, his smile equally gentle ... yes, she found him ... she found her prince, her Arnav ... she dug her way through the layers of ASR and found her rajkumar ...
'You did ... you found me ...'
They clutch each others hands again, as though holding on to that touch is keeping them alive ... she drops her head onto the ledge as though it was his shoulder ... and then looks at him more searchingly, a touch of anger entering her gaze ...

And he knows exactly what she's going to say, even before she can say the words ...
'Khushi, I'm fine ...'
She cuts him off angrily ... scolding him, with full haq ... 'You're not all right! I knew it ... I knew you were in some trouble ... You lied to me on the phone ... why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you call me and tell me ... who are these people ... what ...'
'Khushi, stop ...' 
But she's in full flow now ... she was so worried, how could he do this to her ... 'No ... I won't stop! Why did you lie to me that you're all right? I know you're lying ... you were then, and you are now ... it's so obvious that you're not all right!'
And she stops, choked by her tears even as he shushes her gently ... seeing the worry behind her scolding ... the worry, the anguish, the pain ... the love ... what she went through when he was missing ... for him ... only for him ... did he secretly revel in that worry, that concern ... that love ...? The love he always wanted from her, the love he always searched for ...  
'Khushi ... shhh ...' softly, lovingly, gently ... she's crying bitterly, the way she was when he spoke to her on the phone ... and he's all protective loving husband to his child-woman wife ...he needs to get to her as fast as he can, and hold her in his arms and comfort her ...
'We'll talk about all that later ... let me break this grill first ...'

She looks at the grill as though seeing it for the first time ... but that's connecting her to him ... she tightens her grip on it as though if the grill disappears, so will he ... and looks at him desperately ...
(Sanaya was bloody brilliant here!)
And he consoles her calmly, as though calming a tearful child ...explaining to her gently, lovingly ...
'you want me to come to you, don't you?' ... at her frantic nod ... 'then I need to break this grill'  ...

She clutches his hand tighter, not willing to let go even for an instant ... and he covers their linked hands with his other one ... speaking softly gently, reassuring her unspoken fear, her terror of losing him again ... 'Khushi, I'm here ... with you ... but to come across, I need to break the grill ... okay?'

She nods finally and very reluctantly lets go his hand ... he starts to pull at the grill, and she tries immediately to help him, adding her small efforts ... and he stops her instantly ...

'Khushi, no ... I'll do it ... you'll get hurt ... you get down ...'
He doesn't want even a scratch on her ... not a pinprick ... not another moment of pain ... he will take it all ...

She leaves his hands reluctantly but doesn't want to get down, doesn't want to let him out of her sight again ... 'No ... I'll be here ...'
'Khushi, get down ...' and as she still hesitates ... more strongly ... 'Khushi, go now ...' and even as she starts to go, automatically, 'be careful ...'
And as she drops down out of sight, he checks immediately 'you okay?'
'Yes, I'm down ... I'm fine ...' both holding on to each other with words ...

She curls up into a little ball on the floor ... then gets scared again ... is he still there? He hasn't disappeared like a figment of her imagination? 'Arnavji?'
Immediately the reassuring answer ... 'I'm here, right with you ... I'm going to break the grill and come to you ... relax ...'
And she relaxes slightly, waiting tensely ... as he tests the grill ... how to reach her as quickly as he can ...

And then she feels a hand on her shoulder ... looks back with relief ... which changes to terror again ... the KN with food ...
And Arnav hears her gasp and looks back, alert instantly ...
 KN leers at Khushi, but for the moment is content with threatening her ... 'eat and don't make a fuss, or I'll give you one! Don't remember I did it before?! Eat!'
And he stomps out ... (Mr KN is a busy man ... he doesn't have time to spend babysitting his captives ... good for him ... and for our lovebirds ;) )

Arnav is angry again ... as Khushi fiercely pushes away the food, and then clambers back on her box to get another sight of her Arnavji ... who's getting back his senses after the first relief to suddenly realise what pickle his beautiful biwi has gotten herself into ... and he wasn't there to protect her ...
'Did he hit you?' ... did he dare to raise a finger on you? I'll kill him ...

She smiles tearfully ... 'good thing in a way ... otherwise how would I have reached you?'
He's not amused ... such a change from a few moments ago ... in fact he's hopping mad ...furious ... but now she can read him accurately ...
'Khushi what was the need for you to come here?! you ... how did you reach here?! He ... he hit ... what if something had happened to you ...? Why did you take such a big risk?!

And she laughs tearfully ... and he's madder still ..
'What's so funny? Why are you smiling?!' even more angrily ...
She pouts as she answers complainingly ... 'because it's been so many days since I heard you scold me ...'
And smiles through her tears again ... and he can't help smiling ruefully himself ... she knows him so well ... the girl who can absorb his anger and  soothe it with her love ...as she always did ... They clutch hands again through the grill in perfect understanding, never wanting to let go ...

A quiet reminder that they need to get to work ... "I need to break this ...'
She nods ... he passes the rope around the loops of the grill, she helps, then stares at the rope, as though wondering why he has it ... and he stares at her, a question in his mind ... and on his lips ...
'Khushi, you said that you knew I was in trouble ... how?'

And she remembers his words on the phone ... 'Khushi, I love you ...'
That was how she knew ...
But what will she say?

30/5 - pi 264 ... The Search Hots Up

Wednesday 30th May

So Khushi follows Shyam, gets caught, brazens her way out of trouble ... and comes home wondering whether Shyam is actually telling the truth ... *head desk* Khushi, why would he be using gun-toting goons to threaten a contractor, and that too at night? But in the middle of that, she does start wondering if there is somebody else involved ... business rival, jealousy, something else ...
So cv's, IS there somebody else involved? And is that why Shyam has been sitting tight on the papers? Shyam's conversation with whoever he was threatening was a lot of gobbledygook ... need to rewatch that part ...

And MR Bond and PS Bond still in action ... now checking out all shops for the special diabetes medicines ... of course Arnav would be ordering the latest drugs on the market, so he needs special delivery :)

Bitwa in the meantime manages to fray his rope ... did it take him five days to fray it through? Will give him the benefit of the doubt ...it looked pretty unfrayed when he started ... but what the heck ... Rabba ve time is approaching, so I am in more forgiving mood :))

*edited*

Khushi follows Shyam ... liked the little touch of her taking off her bangles and payal because they would jingle ...
He reaches deserted warehouse and hands over the money, then goes inside with goons, he's asked them to bring someone there ...
Khushi eavesdrops ... he is yelling at someone sitting in a chair for not following his orders ...
Klutzy Khushi falls over, and runs as Shyam tells his goons to follow her ... gets caught of course ... why would you crawl out so quickly ... and without checking whether the guys had left or not, Khushi?!

And Shyam and Khushi have another verbal battle, both trying to hide things, so both on attack-counter-attack ... she doesn't want to tell him about her suspicions regarding Arnav, so she fires questions about the goons and his threatening them, and gives Shyam red herring about documents, he replies with red herring about contractor and new house ... she shakes him off, he attacks about her worry, she refuses to reply and goes back to talking about papers, pretending that all is well with Arnavji as far as she knows ... 'wait till he comes back, then I will tell him everything' ... and leaves very confidently ... of course Shyam can't stop her if he wants to keep up his pretense of being good guy ...

And she wonders if Shyam was telling the truth and he really isn't involved, could it be someone else ... some jealousies, business rivalry ...
And I'm going yippee ... is this the first clue that Shyam is really not the mastermind ... or is this another red herring?
Although really Khushi ... you still believe Shyam in anything he says? And a meeting with a building contractor needs gun-toting goons as escorts?

However the cv's are smart ... they've planted the suspicion about Shyam with circumstantial evidence like Shyam's suspicious phone calls and their convenient timings,as well as his disappearing from sight just before Arnav's call,but they haven't actually given any solid indication whether Shyam is behind the kidnapping yet or not ...even the goons guarding Arnav and the ones with Shyam today are different.
Shyam made a statement today ... he's doing his job ... which is to keep an eye on Khushi. And Shyam usually tells the truth ... but in such a way that no one believes it ...
So is his main job really to keep an eye on Khushi? Apart from his role with the papers? Or was that his own personal axe to grind in the whole kidnapping stunt? I am sticking to my stand that someone else is the mastermind for now.

So how will Khushi find Arnav eventually? Will she go back to the same warehouse tomorrow night? Then that should prove that Shyam is definitely involved for sure. Or will he get away, and Arnav and Khushi's joint venture will be to prove that he was involved ... and how ... and thus discover the true mastermind?
I like detective stories too ... and detective stories with a solid healthy dose of romance, even more :)

The rest of the episode was fairly straightforward ...
Khushi back home wonders whether Shyam is telling the truth, and is really not involved ... so could it be a business rival, someone jealous of Arnav and his success ... now we have some progress on that front ... me have been saying this kab se ... koi sune meri baat tab na!!!

Mami questions where she went, she evades ... they both go over the whole scenario again ... Arnav is probably in Delhi ... ab Dilli door nahin ... but how to find him ...
Next morning they find a new way to pursue inbheshtigations ... Mami scared to see the courier - was she scared it would contain a body part or something? :))

Anjali confirms that the box has Arnav's medicines, because they order his supply every three months. The Bond duo is relieved.
 But this opens up a new line of investigation ... check the medicine stores ... Mami the dimaag half of the duo, as Khushi is worried instantly about Arnav's medicines running out, Mami assures her the kidnappers will not let anything happen to Arnav, he is their golden goose and they will look after him till they get what they want from him ... more and more Mami sees Khushi's worry and love for Arnav. So more and more certain that she will be Khushi's ally in the future.
So they decide to check all the medical stores ... prescription medicines have to be recorded with patients names and contact details. 

Mami Bond and Khushi Bond at work ... Mami uses the pretense of survey ... Khushi uses emotional talk, quick thinking and cajolery ... both get their work done ...

Arnav in the meantime, has gotten some josh from his dream about Khushi ... and works on fraying his bonds ... The goons are getting over-confident and leave him with only one guard ... who gives him his medicine and moves to untie him, but gets a call and moves away to answer ... And our hero manages to get untied ...

Aage dekhiye agle episode mein ... including our old friend, gust of wind? or sensing each others' presence?

Links - HD ones
Part 1
Part 2

29/5 - 263 ... And the Tubelight flickers brightly

Tuesday 29th May

 

Should I start with the bloopers of the day? ;)

- Didn’t the guard see that the lock was open? Or did he get in from another door? Or did MR and PS Bond manage to lock the door behind them?

- Why didn’t the guard just switch on the light, rather than use a flashlight?

- MR and PS Bond left all the videos lying around next to the player? So won’t anyone suspect the next morning that there was a break in? or don’t they care?

- Which generation vcd player was that? Or rather, which century? I should have mentioned this yesterday itself …

- Why didn’t they use the gate to leave? And how DID they leave?

Finally Mami and Khushi start thinking about the ransom demand … or lack thereof. And Mami’s detective novel reading comes in handy … to raise Khushi’s suspicions finally about Shyam. And she checks his phone. And finds that he made a Rs 5 lakh withdrawal recently ... what for?

That was one conphuuused dhobi! :))

Gotta check what Mami and Khushi have been eating recently, which got their brains moving so swiftly. Not the same diet as the rest of the family for sure. :))

One mandatory Arnav scene, where he hallucinates about Khushi … and has major regret-laden fb’s. So his RTRW started? And did that last dress of Khushi’s even have pompoms on the sleeves? Vaise, his tubelight has started flickering too ... literally as well! :))

Mami had a few one-liners again … coming in the update. 

Laxmi to the rescue … she lost weight! 

And Khushi finally goes against the grain of all serials, and actually overhears something useful … so she will follow Shyam to the hideout … and get caught … and rescue Arnav … and get rescued herself … we have a busy night ahead … 

Oh there was a Payash scene in there somewhere, where they actually looked animated for once :)

*edited*
Have pointed out the bloopers already, so no more blooper talks from me :))
 

Episode continues from yesterday as Mami and Khushi watch 4 MIB trail Arnav, one taps him on the shoulder, and they leave with him through the Exit … with few stops and starts … why is he leaving the airport?

Would like to know what the men said for Arnav to leave so peacefully … and why they didn’t arouse any curiosity at all in the airport … they looked very suspicious indeed! Where was airport security in all this? 

Guard finally wakes up, so Khushi ejects the tape quickly, both women escape, Khushi runs back to get the tape, another near miss with the guard … this part was a bit stretched … and Mami and Khushi finally make their escape.

Back home, the next one-liner from Mami  …‘pairwa dard kar gaya … action scenes karte karte …’

And the next piece of the puzzle clicks into place … Khushi realizes Arnav has been kidnapped … but where is the ransom demand?

Sweet!!! Mami rushes to get her bank account details and jewelry, ready to pay for ransom …

But Khushi reminds her that there has been no ransom demand yet … so the men wanted Arnav, not money, they didn’t let him board the flight and took him out of the airport, which means he’s still in India, and probably in Delhi itself … more and more pieces joining together … and Mami puts her finger on the crucial question … what is the motive? If it’s not money?

Khushi determines to get to the bottom of this … and find out more about the kidnapping …

And finally Arnav makes an appearance … haggard, disheveled, tied up to a most uncomfortable looking chair … poor man, has he been in that chair for the last week? And in that sorry state, he reaches out to the best thing in his life … his wife … caring, concerned, tears in her eyes, so worried for him … a small smile touches his face, he reaches out, but can’t touch her, even though she’s within touching distance … he’s held back by the ropes binding him, the ropes of deceit, lies, ego, anger … 

‘Khushi? Are you really there? I thought it’s a dream …’

And she reaches out to caress his face lovingly, she can’t break those ties, but she’s there for him always with her love, her care … he turns his face into her hand gratefully, his smile peaceful … because she’s there. 

But she’s incurably truthful even in his dreams … ‘it is only a dream …’ and she disappears … 

And he’s shocked, left looking around for her … where did she go? He needs her … but she was only a dream …

And he looks at his hand, holding a little pink pompom … and remembers taking it off her sleeve when he took his ticket out of her hand … she begged him ‘don’t go …’ but he didn’t listen to her … his eyes close in anguish … why didn’t he listen to her?!

And he remembers the way she took care of him when his sugar levels dipped and he fainted … staying up the whole night … for him … holding his hands when he would have fallen …

And what did he do? Smashed their picture …. Shattered their chances of a perfect life together … hurt her at every opportunity … never listened to her … why did he do that? To her … to himself … and to them …

Regret, guilt, recrimination … the first shaky steps on the RTRW … memories of what she did for him … and what he did to her … 

Payash were bland as always … slightly better than usual, but ArHi don’t give anyone else much of a chance to grab any eyeballs … Payal much more animated than ever before, Akash trying to do an ASR … not quite there, mate!

Mami and dhobi … poor dhobi subjected to Mami’s interrogation … man was petrified! Khushi tries to interrupt …

‘Do not interruption in inbheshtigations …’ and dhoabi is allowed to ‘takliya …’ 

And Mami gives Khushi an important lesson in kidnapping and detectivegiri … ‘no ransom demand yet, so the kidnappers don’t want money. So what do they want? There has to be a motive. So keep eyes and ears open … and anyone could be a suspect … the most important thing is to find a motive, find a ‘why’, a motive, a reason, someone to benefit … then the ‘who’ will fall into place … it could be anyone … ay bhi, o bhi, dho bi …’

And Khushi’s eyes falls serendipitously on Shyam climbing the stairs … would he have a motive for making Arnav disappear? Arnav knows his truth about Anjali, Shyam also knows that Khushi has told Arnav her side of the Shyam engagement story … he would be scared of the truth coming out ...

So Khushi disappears to start some more investigations … and finds Shyam’s phone lying unattended … which has a mysterious message from a bank that he withdrew 5 lakhs recently … for what?

My question … first, where did Shyam get that money? He was struggling to pay 75,000 for a watch, and 40,000 for his card bill … did he receive an advance payment for services rendered?

More and more I suspect that Shyam is not the mastermind, only a pawn, or go-between. Which would explain why he has done nothing about the will yet, except to keep it safe. He only needs it once the actual mastermind has done what he wants to do with Arnav, either make him disappear permanently, or kill him. 

Klutzy Khushi as usual can’t leave a room without knocking something over, Shyam is suspicious … and Laxmi redeems herself somewhat by allaying his suspicions … helped of course by an alert Khushi … 

Khushi stops to thank Laxmi, instead of fleeing for her life … and overhears a conversation that Shyam did not want overheard … an angry Shyam ... 'I’ve told you not to call here at this time! And how can you be so careless? Don’t let that man out of our clutches …'

And Shyam tells his caller to bring the unknown person at 8 pm to their ‘place’ …What for? 

And Khushi wonders . who is he going to meet? Who’s he talking about ‘pakad ke rakhna’ … and what place?

Is Shyam planning to hand over Arnav finally to the mastermind in return for some promised money? 

Precap – Khushi runnin’, runnin’ …

28/5 - 262 ... Tense Hilarity ... or Hilarious Tension?

Monday 28th May

When you have  a scriptwriter and director who manage to make the most tension-filled situations full of mirth ...  coupled with two brilliant actresses on screen, who can translate that script with their acting and make the most tense moments lighten up into hilarity, I think you have a winner! Not once did the tension let up, and not once did the smile leave my face during the episode ... except for those few minutes with Shyam and the papers ... how I hope Laxmi gets into the room and eats them! Fair compensation for her having led the Evilwa to them in the first place!

Mami and Khushi - what a team!!! Bravo!!! =D> Suspend all logic today and the episode was great! Don't ask why such high security tapes have only one sleeping security guard, no security alarm systems, and only one CCTV camera ... and one old-fashioned lock on the door, whose keys are with said security guard ... Okay, I won't find any more bloopers, will leave that for our BBE. I just enjoyed the episode with Mami the rockstar!

Loved that little moment when Khushi sees Arnav on screen and goes all teary, and Mami sees her and almost gets emotional herself ... and then pretends that All Izz Well.

Mami had a zillion one-liners today ... all coming in the update :) 

SN - I really wonder how Sanaya and Utkarshaji performed their scenes today without cracking up ... I would love to see a behind the scenes segment on this shoot!

*edited*
The episode was more about Mami's one-liners, and it was a two-woman show today! Both these women are superb actresses ... I always say this, good comedy is so difficult, both to write and execute ... today both clicked!

Khushi fails to get any help from airport security, but does manage to get the name and address of the security company - outsourced?

Appearance of Creepwa - getting suspicious about Mami and Khushi ... is Khushi getting suspicious about his role in the disappearance of the papers? Has she found them? So he checks - nope, still safely taped to the underside of the cot. Now what exactly is he waiting for? I am zapped ... he's obviously not doing anything useful with them like validating the will ... nor is he doing anything useful with Arnav, like bumping him off ...
Is he waiting for instructions from higher authorities? I am NOT giving up on the wicked chachaji yet ... ;)

Mamiji using her brains - well, we did say she was the sharpest among the Raizada clan ... checking all the 5 Star hotels in Scotland for ASR ... and getting seriously worried for Arnav ...
And another bright thought strikes her ... this was really good, actually ... how come the service provider is speaking in Hindi ... 'Isscotland mein announcement toh Isscotiya mei hoye ki padi' ...
which means Arnav bitwa is very much in India ... golmaal hai bhai sab golmaal hai ...

Khushi trying to speak to the security company, trying all fair legit means to access information ... Mami appears in her room, and brings her up-to-date with her inveshtigations ... Arnav bitwa not in any 5 Star hotel in Scotland, unreachable on phone, and brightest of all, the service announcement is in Hindi ..
'Do not interruptions, puleej' ... and she tells Khushi her deduction ... Arnav bitwa is in India. And Khushi even more worried, he is in some danger for sure.
Mami sees the Security company card in Khushi's hand ... and Khushi tells her where the CCTV tapes are kept ... so Mami takes over the invheshtigationz ...
'I talk ... you doez ... okayz?'  Dday is tonight at midnight ...

HP is stunned to see Mami talking to lovingly to Khushi :))

And Mami leaves with a last message to a flummoxed Khushi ... 'Aaj raat barah baje ... forget not ...'

So midnight comes and Khushi is waiting in the dark ... literally and figuratively ... :))
Woman In Black i.e Mami Bond appears, having done all her homework ... and dressed for the occasion ... Detective MR and Detective PS ... ready to raid the basement and find the tapes, watch them, get the information and return them ...

and the clothes are because 'chori kare ki khatir kya Banarsi saree pehen ke jayee?'
She has a point! :))

She also has a pouch filled with necessary tools ... result of her research of watching all the latest English detective movies all afternoon followed by a shopping trip.
Khushi reminds her this is real life and not a movie ... Mami not pleased ...
'Do not interruptions puleej ... frront front see bhat bhat happenzz ...'

Khushi flummoxed again so Mami translates .. 'aage aage dekho hota hai kya' ... and almost trips over her own shoelaces ...

Security company warehouse ... I would be very wary of engaging this security company for my own use ... one single sleeping security guard, a gate that can easily be scaled, no high-tech alarm system, a door with a single lock, a single security camera ...
Okay, suspend all logic here and just enjoy the fun ...

Mami refusing to take off her goggles ... Khushi keeps telling her this is not a joke ... WIB MR in action ... scaling walls, blithely ready to chloroform the guard, dissuaded by a panicky Khushi ... and the guard, like Kumbhkaran slept peacefully through the entire ruckus the two women made ...

What made the scenes genuinely funny was that MR was well and truly in character, Khushi provided the saner, serious counterpoint (much like the Arnav Khushi scenes) and neither of them so much as cracked a smile ... and even through all the nonsense, they kept the tension alive ...  
Though I really wonder how Sanaya manged to keep a straight face through all this ... :))

Khushi opens the door, next hurdle - a CCTV camera ... Mami wants to spray paint it ... Khushi has a better idea, she asks Mami, do you have anything sharp?

Mami answers - 'my tongue ... nothing sharper than that in the world' ... =))

But she manages to find a wire cutter, also a toy gun and magnifying glass, the latter two ignored by Khushi ...
Khushi sidles up to camera, cuts the wire ... and no alarm goes off.
Nope, not my choice for security company at all =)) ... I hope these tapes have already been seen by whomsoever is in charge and discarded ... otherwise I fear for airport security, I really do =))

Mami stumbles in, still wanting to spray paint the camera, and Khushi has her first emotional break point ... 'Stop it, Mamiji, this isn't a joke ...we're here to find Arnav ... and you're going on about your toys ...' 
And Mamiji sees the fear and dread hidden inside Khushi, that she's close to breaking down with worry, and snaps her back to reality ... 'I've come to find him too, he may be your husband, but he's my nephew as well ... our ways are different, but mine are effective too, so stop the emotional breakdown and get to work ...'

So they hunt frantically for the required tapes ... wouldn't the tapes for one day and time be kept all together? And not scattered over multiple shelves?
Repeat after me ... no logic, remember ... NO logic!!!

And start watching them one by one ... till Mamiji spots him ... 'Uhi hai Arnav bitwa ... Eye Spies the boy ...'
And Khushi tears up seeing him after so many days ... reaches out to the screen as though wanting to touch him throught he screen, make sure he's all right ... and Mami is touched, and actually reaches out to comfort her ... before she realises what she's doing,  and pretends to brush off some lint from her shoulder instead ... but Khushi understands ...
Methinks Khushi, in this phase of Arnav's absence, has learned a lot ... about her own feelings, Shyam's true colors ... and now about Mami too ...
And Mami about Khushi ... so Khushi has gotten one more staunch ally.

And the camera follows Arnav bitwa lovingly :)) all through his walk through the airport ... I thought CCTV's were fixed cameras?
No logic, Dia ... NO logic!!!

And some four commando type MIB guys follow Bitwa, one moves forward and taps him on the shoulder ... I thought Bitwa was already turning to go back to Khushi when the tap happened? And nobody found those four MIB the slightest bit suspicious?
CCP - No logic, Dia ... NO logic!!! Bitwa mil gaya na ... what more you wants? 

Precap - Arnav, all haggard and disoriented, hallucinating about Khushi ... so Tuesday will be Bitwa's dream sequence?

Shiddats, Scenes Wanted, SBS for the week

No Spoilers puleej, we are allergic to spoilers and interviews of the male members of the cast and crew - they all have foot in mouth disease :)

*SHIDDAT ALERT *

BDJ, come backkkkkkk ... Sandyyy, where are you?????!!!!!
Aaja re, ab humara dil pukare,
ro ro ke gham bhi haare,
badnaam na ho pyaar hamara
Aaja reeee ...

More shiddats for the week/ next two weeks - we are a patient lot :)
Romance first, then more drama ... Khushi is going to find Bitwa of course, will she get kidnapped/captured with him? And will she get hurt in the rescue attempt - she has to, for his RTRW to start.
Please keep the investigation as close to logic as you have till now ...

Shwetha's pineapple scenes ... pineapple tumhe jeene nahin dega aur Bitwa tumhein marne nahin dega =))


Note: I was re-watching the broken bangle scenes this weekend, there was too much of Payash and family Manodrama in between, so I edited the Arhi scenes.
ArHi scenes - Farak Padta Hai and Broken Bangle

SBS 28th May
Arnav and Khushi meet 

25/5 - Epi 261 ... Collaboration

Friday 25th May

Have to say this first before I give my episode take - the precap cracked me up =)) Manorama Bond and KKGSR Bond, Partners Inc. - waah, kya jodi hai!

Okay, girl, 'fess up ... who among you is part of the cv's? As far as I remember, there has been NO discussion on IF about Mami and Khushi teaming up ... and we have definitely discussed it here ... way before yesterday. This is really a masterstroke ... am looking forward to Monday now!

Liked the episode - fast-paced, crisp, kept to the point ... the mandatory filler scene was Payash today, and they were actually okay ...
I was worried about Mami questioning Khushi at the dining table in front of Shyam, very glad that Khushi managed to retrieve the situation, because I was really worried Mami would spill about Khushi going to a detective agency ... as it was, Shyam just got more frustrated that Khushi can't forget Arnav ...

Mami is ishmart ... calling all the Scotland hotels to check whether Arnav is there ... now why couldn't Akash think of doing that?

And Khushi is ishmarter ... thinks of CCTV footage ... am really impressed. I actually thought of it a few days ago, then thought they won't think of that - too techie ...  

*edited ... finally! :)) * 

Episode - starts with Khushi watering Arnav's plants ... awww :"> ... and wondering what to do ... PDA - she doesn't have the money (Bitwa still didn't set up any account for her? Bad Bitwa!!! =)) ) Police - word will get out ...
Tell Payal - no point really, Payal never has any ideas ... besides Payal too doesn't know the truth of her marriage, so how to tell her that she suspects something is wrong because her hubby said ILU ...
But she has to think of something ...

Nani playing Cupid for Payash, but Akash has things in hand, thanks very much, Nani :) Chalo, one Raizada hubby toh line pe aaya! Candlelit dinner in office ... oh well, looks like both R hubbies need some lessons in romance =)) Good thing Payal is easy to please ;)

Breakfast table and Manorama Baand in action ... and Khushi horrified that MB knows she went to Chandni Chowk ... so confirmed what we said yesterday, it was Mami who followed her :)
And Khushi manages to slide out of that one in front of Shyam ... who is already suspicious as to where she went ...
SN - Mami and Khushi are really similar ... Mami even has her little notepad like Khushi's notebook =))
And Shyam getting more and more frustrated that Khushi's mind is still only full of Arnav ... and Mami knows Khushi is lying ... but everyone believes her ...

Mami Bond-Khushi ... Utkarsha Naik is a damn good actress! Her dialogues, delivery, expressions - everything bang on! And Khushi finally confesses her suspicions to someone in the family ... she chose the right person ... the only thing I'm worried about is MB's big mouth. And finally that message on Khusi's phone comes in useful to persuade Mami (SN - thank god, Shyam didn't delete that message).
Oye, cv's, get your act together - most flights to Scotland would go via London, very few direct flights, I would think. The more telling point is that he wasn't on any London flight either ... and that they do know already. Anyway, she re-emphasizes that Arnav was not on his scheduled London flight either, and there was no direct Scotland flight that day, so okay ... this one is not really a blooper. So Khushi asks, now don't you think there is a problem somewhere?
Mami half-convinced ... Khushi asks for 24 hours, but begs her not to tell anyone ... because Di fortunately had hysterics recently ... Mami knows that, she saw it.

Mami is ishmart ... tries Arnav's phone, not reachable, checks with Akash, Arnav told him connectivity problem so not to worry ...

Khushi still trying to reach Arnav ... throws her phone on the bed in exasperation ... learning lots of habits from hubby dear :))

Mami starts her inbheshtigations ... with seluph-service =)) as MM is useless ...

Khushi remembers that the last she saw Arnav was at the airport ... so start the investigations from there ... ishmart Khushi ...

Mami starts calling all the five star hotels in Scotland ... ishmart Mami, Arnav would be likely to stay only at 5 star hotels ... and there are not too many in Scotland.

Khushi enquires about seeing the CCTV footage at the airport ... not allowed, of course. But he does let her know where the footage would be kept (lifted from Kahaani ;) chalo, theek hai, they're lifting from among the best) ...

And precap - Maami Baand and KKGSR Baand in action ... =))

Thoughts:)

Thursday episode - one point I think I missed, that Shyam is getting more and more frustrated with Khushi's feelings towards Arnav. He thought he had nipped that whole love story in the bud, by poisoning Arnav's mind against Khushi, and he was frustrated as heck that Khushi still seems to be as much in love with Arnav as ever. So far, fortunately, he doesn't know of Arnav's feelings towards Khushi ...

But today, in the dining table scene, while I was worrying about MB revealing where Khushi had really gone, I forgot to notice Shyam's frustration when Khushi said she'd gone to get Arnav a gift ... showing that again Arnav is the only person on her mind. So again his frustration building ... like we discussed, Shyam's frustration will cause him to make slips that will connect him to the kidnapping in Khushi's mind. As we pointed out, a married man falling for another woman doesn't automatically make him a murderer or kidnapper. There has to be more for Khushi to think that - also bearing in mind that she has no idea that Arnav was supporting Shyam financially, and has now stopped doing so.

Now how will that play out when the three-way showdown takes place? Or will he find out in the interim that Arnav loves Khushi too? 

Three more dots need to be connected ... 1)Khushi remembering the PDA's words that there has been no ransom letter, 2) that Arnav did not give the alarm when he was on the phone, so was he being threatened, did he make the phone call under some pressure (he would confess his feelings only under extreme pressure, and she knows that - that's one dot connected :)) ) ... and 3) looking at the photograph of the will on the phone and realizing that VLR has the most to benefit by Arnav's disappearance/death. That should light her batti :)

And one more dot - 4) will Akash or someone mention Scotland Yard as being one of the famous names associated with Scotland? Although Scotland Yard is in London ;) 

24/5 - Epi 260 ... Confusion

Thursday 24th May

Am a bit confused as to what exactly happened in today's episode ... and why ... so the title echoes my confusion as much as Khushi's ;)
The other title could have been Suspicion - maybe for tomorrow if suspicions crystalise further.

Police help nixed, Khushi goes to detective agency by the curious name of PDA ... =))
PDA also nixed ... we are a family show :) and they are obviously out to make a quick buck ...quite a waste of screen space ... and has the PH got additional funds to do some outdoor shoots? First the police station, then the agency ... Th first half of the episode seemed total time-pass, and I was prepared to write it off for the day ... then the second half revived it a little.

Mami is one ishmart person in RM ... would be wise if Khushi enlisted her help ... she has sharp eyes and ears ...
Don't like Khushi lying to Nani about going out ... the sooner Nani finds out her real reasons the better it will be ...
Will Mami find out the real reason for Khushi's worry first or Nani? It was obviously Mami who followed Khushi to PDA, why didn't she pursue her interrogation of Khushi? Why just that one question to Khushi and no further?

The only concrete progress came from the second Khushi-Shyam scene - Khushi's suspicions instantly raised when Shyam says so surely and gloatingly that Arnav is not going to call her in a hurry ... yes, he is the only one who knows the truth about their strained relationship, so he would be the only one who would say that ... but Arnav just called last night and spoke to everyone, including her - so why would Shyam say that so confidently? Unless he knows for sure what she just has a gut instinct about at the moment ... that Arnav is in some trouble ...
And she verifies it instantly by asking why he's not bothered about the papers any more, when before Arnav left, he was hounding her for them constantly ... and that actually gets Shyam worked up enough to leave her room ...more so, enough to realise he put his foot in it, and even enough to snap at Anjali ... the cracks beginning to emerge? Should happen soon ... they need to step up into second gear now ... and zoom to top gear next week - IPL is over by Sunday.

So one big link put into place ... yesterday I said that Khushi still has no reason to suspect any link of Shyam with Arnav's disappearance ... and I was wondering how that part would happen ... because that was an important chain of events to kick-start ... today her suspicion started ...

*edited*
Not much to add - just random thoughts.
Am pretty sure it was Mami who followed Khushi to the PDA, although the scene with Shyam and the newspaper was put in to raise suspicion as to whether it was he who followed Khushi.

Actually felt sorry for Shyam as a husband today ... the moment he shouts at Anjali even slightly, she goes into sulks and has to be coaxed out - exhausting to live with a wife like that, where you can't be yourself and show your true emotions even for a second. Husband-wife is the closest relationship, and one's spouse is the one person in front of whom one doesn't - or shouldn't - need to put on a facade. Shyam has to literally babysit Anjali and her delicate feelings all the time ... much like Arnav and the rest of the family do too. No wonder Shyam much prefers Khushi - even in enmity, he can be completely himself with her, more so now that the facade has been completely dropped. There was actually genuine frustration in his face and voice when he asked her why she was still in love with Arnav rather than with him, when Arnav has been far worse with her than he has.

And no wonder Arnav is in love with Khushi, she's the one person he can actually be himself with, and let loose all his frustrations and anger ... too much at times, of course! :)  With everybody else, he keeps his stiff upper lip, and has to be the strong one. And same with Khushi in a way, although she still has to learn to let her guard down more with him, let him see her pain and hurt ... rather than the smiling mask ... ever since she learnt the truth of their marriage, that's finally what she started doing. 

The name of the agency - PDA ... don't know whether to laugh or cry at the cv's idea of humour ... So private investigators are nixed ... who will Khushi approach next? Paving the way for NK? Recruited by Mami?
On rethinking, Mami would be a better person for Khushi to confide in than even Nani - Nani went into panic mode when Khushi first told her that Arnav was missing. Mami (if that was her at the agency) has not ... she started questioning Khushi in her turn ... it would be quite interesting if Mami and Khushi joined forces, as they do seem to be the only people in RM with any brains at the moment. Apart from VLR, of course ...
Have given up on Akash also, as he accepted Arnav's word so easily, and apparently didn't try to trace Arnav for three days when Arnav was ostensibly in London on a conference. Shouldn't he have been checking in with him on day to day office matters?

*edited* one more thought ... will Khushi start wondering about the PI's question that have you received a ransom note or a call from the kidnappers? And realise it's not an ordinary kidnapping for money? 

23/5 -Epi 259 ... Kidnapped!

Wednesday 23rd May

Praise be to the Lord ... another good episode, though not in the same league as yesterday ... but the story continues to move.

I wish Bitiya had managed to get a word out before Arnav hung up the phone ... why did he do that? Because he was afraid of her silence? Loved the way she clung to the phone and held it tight, before walking quietly out, leaving the rest of the family celebrating ... VLR rejoins the group ... and Anjali unwittingly strikes the nail on the head when she says it felt like Bitwa heard we were going to contact the police, so he called ...

Loved Khushi's fb's ... finally remembering all the 'farak padta hai's and Diwali kiss ... then the song ... I LOVE this song ... Aaoge Jab Tum o Sajna ... Angna phool khilenge ... perfect song of a girl pining for her love ...
Once I got over the distracting earrings (do they TRY to choose the most hideous ones they can find?), I liked the song picturization ... my inner phangurl surfacing ;) ... except for ASR running by the poolside ... that made me giggle :))

Oh yes, we had some shots of Arnav struggling in a chair all tied up ... so it's established ... he's kidnapped. And the goons know he has diabetes, and they have to keep him alive for now ... Umm, for diabetes, food is as important as medicines ...
Arey baba, we want some introspection and fb's ... and some thinking ...

Romance over, Khushi is all tense again ... her Arnav is in danger, so gets down to business ... check flights, call Aman ... get the facts ... the puzzling SMS ...
And her thinking starts ... why did he say ILU ... after all the hate? There is something wrong for sure ... was he trying to tell her something?
Chalo, HR fb nahin aaye, but the ILU did get her thinking on the right lines ...
First call - Police station ... nixed. Now what will she try tomorrow? 

Payash romance ... now they need Nani to be Cupid ... inka kuch nahin ho sakta! :))

*edited*
Have the falling TRP's lit a fire under the collective backside of the cv's? Because suddenly the speed of the episodes has picked up greatly ... too much, I feel ... they need to fade out certain scenes slowly to leave the full impact, especially the emotional ones.

Having said that, I liked the way yesterday's scene carried over today ...

Arnav says 'Khushi, I love you ...'
Khushi is shell-shocked ... a traumatic three days, coming to terms with her own feelings, that vague but ever-present sense of foreboding, the shock of learning that those half-formed fears are founded in some reality, because Arnav is really missing ... facing her own fears, is he in danger? ... then pushing them to the back-burner in trying to hold strong for the family as they all collectively panic like headless chickens ... and then the phone call, which seems to lay all those fears at rest ... he's alive, he's all right, he's talking normally to everyone else ... there is nothing wrong with him ... it was all her imagination, brought on by her own newly realised feelings and pain of unrequited love ...
And then he talks to her ... as though that bitter parting in the airport never happened ... he tells her to stop crying as though he can see her face to face, he knows what she's going through ... he understands and is trying to calm her and tell her not to worry ... and he loves her ... he said it ...

And she is shell shocked ... doesn't know how to react as the words sink in ... a single tear steals out ...
He waits on the other side ... only to hear silence ... he could read her tears, can he read her silence too?
And the tears start flowing again, in a stream ... he said the words she was dying to hear, the words she thought she would never hear ... she can't believe it, a dream come true ... is it a dream or is it real? Did he really say it or was she hallucinating ...?

He still waits ... can he feel her tears now as they flow unendingly? ... when she's angry or upset, she always has lots to say ... but when she's at her most emotional, she stays quiet ... he sensed her tears, he worry, her upset ... can he sense her love now? 
He said it ... he had to tell her ... in case he never saw her again ... he didn't want to leave her with his hate, but with his love ... whatever she feels for him, it doesn't really matter now, because there's not much he can do about it ... he thought he wouldn't be able to bear it if she didn't love him, but it doesn't matter if she does or doesn't ... he still loves her, and always will, for as long as he lives ... which doesn't seem to be very long now ... he loves her, and he had to tell her that before he died ...

And he clicks shut the phone ... and holds it despairingly ... he could have told her when she was there with him, he lost the chance ... and this was all he had ... he could have had so much more ... they could have had so much more ...  

And Khushi hears the buzz of the dead connection, and stares at the phone ... still taking in the words ... what they meant ... she holds the phone close to her heart as though holding the man himself ...
Kyun khwabon pe tere saaye hain ... dil kyun hai tanha mera
Kyun Khamoshi hai zubaan meri ... ashkon se keh paaun na?

He closes his eyes in despair ... too little said too late ... has he lost his chance at life ...?
Her smile breaks through her tears ... she had begged for another chance ... he's given it ... another chance at life ...
Kyun dard hai itna ... tere ishq mein ...
Rabba ve rabba ve ... rabba ve rabba ve ... 

And Mr Kidnapper takes his phone back, and holds the gun at his head ... hereby confirmed ... ASR is indeed kidnapped. And all tied up to boot.
(If this was meant to be Breaking News, it failed abysmally ... the PH really needs to be much smarter as to what news they give out. :( )

Back to the family circle ... Anjali delighted that Arnav called, Shyam tells her it's good she didn't call the police ... Anjali unwittingly hits the nail on the head ... the moment they spoke about contacting the police, Arnav called ... but of course, no one thinks anything much about it ... to VLR's relief, as Akash makes a joke out of Anjali's hysterics.

And nobody in the rejoicing, smiling family circle spares a thought for Khushi, who's been paranoid the last two days with worry ... nobody thinks to comfort her, as she steals out of the room quietly ... lost in those three magical words ... her dream come true ... her heart's longing fulfilled so suddenly and unexpectedly ... barely had she come to terms with her own love, and now she finds that it's returned ...

And her flashbacks ... all the right ones this time, connecting the right dots ... his anger always a front for his love, which he could never express ... the unfinished 'farak padta hai kyunki ...'s, the unfinished Diwali kiss ... now she can see the love behind the anger of the engagement 'farak padta hai', the love behind the angry concern of the 'farak padta hai kyunki ...' when she went missing for all of two hours ... and the first love behind the unfinished Diwali kiss ...

And she enters her room still lost in that daze ... he meant it ... he does love her ...  the wind chimes she had hung to tell her of his arrival sound melodiously ... and in that daze she gets lost in her dreams ... he's back ... he loves her ... her rajkumar ... smiling at her ... candlelight and romance ... Khushi in bridal red ...

She reaches out her hand ... she was always the one chasing him for answers ... why did you say that? why did you keep my payal? Aapko kyun farak padta hai ...
And he takes her hand ... this time she's got her answer ... he's given her the answer she wanted to hear ... she always wanted the words ...
So she puts her finger on his lips ... he doesn't need to say more ... she's got what she wanted, what she needed ...
(SN - also Sanaya telling Barun - Zip It!)

He motions to the pouch ... the pearls ... at their first meeting, he broke her pearl string ... scattered the pearls ... now they're back, strung again into a new string ...he dishonored her, now he's restored her honor ...

Aaoge jab tum o sajna ... angna phool khilenge ...
Barsega sawan ... barsega sawan jhoom jhoom ke ...
Do dil aise milenge ...
Beautiful song ... the perfect song for a girl waiting for her love ...
'when you come, my love ... the flowers of spring will bloom in my garden ...
as the rain strikes the parched earth and becomes one with it ...
our hearts too will meet and become one ...'
Hamari dhadkanein ek ho jaati hain ...

Arnav to Khushi -
Naina tere kajraare hain ... 
Nainon pe hum dil haare hain
(apt - her eyes were looking beautiful, with the darker than usual makeup - Sanaya looked breathtakingly beautiful in this entire sequence)
Anjaane yeh tere nainon ne
Vaade kiya kayi saare hain ...

Her eyes always spoke ... never her words ... her eyes promised him her love ...
Saanson ki laya madhyam chale ... tose kahe ...
barsega sawan ... barsega sawan jhoom jhoom ke ...
do dil aise milenge ... 

Khushi to Arnav -
 Chanda ko taakun raaton mein ...
Hai zindagi tere haathon mein ...
palkon pe jhilmil taare hain ...
Aana bhari barsaaton mein ...
Sapnon ka jahaan hoga khila khila
She waits for him ... her life in his hands, her dreams in her eyes ... a world of their own, away from everyone else ...
Barsega sawan ... barsega sawan jhoom jhoom ke ...
do dil aise milenge ... 

And he gives her the message in a bottle ... I Love You Khushi ... her dream come true ... and disappears ...

 And she knows he's in trouble ... even as he struggles to free himself ... and tries to reach for the phone ... and finally faints ...(okay, this was quite filmy :)) ... and I thought Mr K1 (Kidnapper no 1) had taken his phone?) ... Please, cv's get your medical facts right ... diabetics need food as well as medicine at the right time ...

 Khushi's antennae are firmly raised ... And her brain is ticking overtime ... she tries calling him again ... checks with Aman about Scotland deal ... calls airlines about flights to Scotland ... none on the right day ... the SMS was supposedly from London, and he says he never went there ... ah, that does click ...
And finally, so do the words he spoke ... how could he have said such a big thing like this? So suddenly? The way he was talking, so gently, so differently ... there was so much still unfinished between them, the MU about Shyam, his accusations about her character ... he made her cry so much, gave her so much pain, didn't give her a chance to establish her innocence ... yet he said he loves her? How could he say it like this?
Loved the way Khushi refused to say the word 'love' ... as though afraid to jinx it :">
And she's sure ... there is some problem, otherwise with the way things were between them, he could not, would not have said this ... he is in some danger ...

CV's are struggling to find a parallel track that would work in IPK ... the main story is so gripping,a and the leads so strong, that no one else really has a chance ... least of all Payash, and their very tepid love story. Jeez, they even need a Cupid after marriage to fix their dinner dates ...
And Akash sure is overworked in Arnav's absence =)) ... though I think Mami is getting more screenspace than he is ... deservedly too ...

Khushi's first call ... police station ... where her claim that something is wrong because her husband told her he loves her, is met with some mirth ... and Khushi realises that her missing persons report may get into the press, and get known to the family ... so report cancelled ... what next?

Precap ... yuck, more of VLR Creepwa ...

22/5 - Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon contd

Tuesday 22nd May

Making second post ... just in case people are in the mood for all night party :))

Will be back tomorrow with edit and to read all the posts ... keep going, girls!
And to think there was a time I used to wait for 20 posts a day =))

Posting the edited take for the episode here as well ... finish the 200 comments on the first post before moving here, girls :)

Things MOVED today ... and how!!! 
Continuing from the last scene ... Khushi back in her room alone, trying desperately to make sense of that phone call saying that Arnav never reached London, didn't check in at his hotel, didn't even board his flight ...
Typical Khushi ... she always takes time to think ... to sift through the information she has before she makes any decision or arrives at any conclusion (even if it's a crackpot one like Arnav trying to kill her! ... or the reason he married her ... or even whether Shyam could be telling the truth about being henpecked)
So she worries ... how can that be ... she saw him off at the airport herself, his flight was called, how could he disappear from the airport? Did he take the wrong flight by mistake? When he's angry, he makes mistakes ... and he was angry ...
Then she shakes herself ... that's a stupid thought, a flight is not a bus, that one can get on to the wrong one ... then what happened?!
She's so worried, she can't think straight ... she pauses ... should she tell Nani and Anjali? Did she do the right thing by lying to them? But Di will worry ... should she tell her?

On the other hand, Anjali suddenly remembers that her precious baby bro hasn't called her even once since he left, and all along she has been so occupied in consoling and reassuring Khushi that she forgot to do her usual freakout act for Chotey ... sometimes I feel Anjali does this for attention-seeking ... she loved being the wise counsel for Khushi, and now that Khushi is keeping it together, time for Anjali to regain centre-stage by throwing a tantrum! Or else it was just poorly written - after being so calm and cheerful about Arnav's silence, Anjali suddenly cracking up into near hysteria didn't gel ... the worry should have built up slowly ... maybe after Khushi made that unexplained decision not to go to London. This hysteria should have been a reaction to that decision, rather than just out of the blue - felt a little forced.

Khushi is still worrying whether to tell Anjali or not ... she hears Anjali worrying, refusing to take her medicine before she speaks to Chotey ... should she tell Anjali or not? She will freak out even more if she hears ... and Nani reinforces it b saying Anjali shouldn't worry so much in her pregnancy, so it would be best to call Aman and check with him ...
And Khushi galvanized into action ... if Anjali calls Aman, she will find out that Arnav never reached London, Nani just said that in her current state she shouldn't worry, it's not good for her ... so Khushi acts out a pretend call from Arnav ... he's fine, he's rushing for a meeting, he'll call Di later ... complete with bright smiles ...
Anjali leaves, relieved ... and Nani catches Khushi in her lie ... and knows that something is very wrong ...

Masala Mama roaming around at night ... Arnav Bitwa, when you get back, the first thing you need to do is invest in a big foolproof lock for your bedroom ... it's worse than Mumbai Central!
MM overhears the Nani-Khushi conversation ... Khushi confesses her lie to Nani instantly, and the reason ... (Khushi confessed to her lie spoken only to protect Anjali, and Nani understood and forgave her, Nani also saw Khushi's concern for Anjali ... again I feel Nani will be the next person to know Shyam's truth, and will understand Khushi's reason for keeping quiet, and will forgive her and stand by her).
And Nani hears that Arnav is missing, as Khushi tells her the entire story about the phone call, Arnav never boarded his flight ... and Nani panics instantly ... and once again, Khushi is unable to confide her own fears, has to hide them and instead take on the mantle of protector and comforter ... again the strong one in the family, taking Arnav's place in his absence ... reassuring Nani, he could have taken a different flight, he would be busy, maybe he didn't go for the meeting, he's busy somewhere else ... I saw him off at the airport myself, the flight was called and he went in ... and he did message me when he reached ... everything will be all right ...
She's pieced together all the facts, they all make sense, enough for her to reassure Nani, but not enough for her to shake off her own feeling that something is wrong ... but that for later, first she has to hold strong for the family ... because even Nani, the strong matriarch, is cracking and holding on to her for support ...
And Khushi begs Nani not to tell Di ... because Di will be even more upset ... that's why she had lied in the first place ... and Nani understands ...

But Masala Mama and Loudmouth Mami put paid to that plan ... after some light moments with HP and his marriage that wasn't ...
HP's comment ... even I didn't attend my own wedding! 
So MM and LM announce at full volume that Arnav hasn't reached London at all ... Anjali overhears and dramatically drops a glass of milk ... and equally dramatically proceeds to get completely hysterical ... very true to Anjali's nature, the last I remember her getting so hysterical was when her mangalsutra broke and Khushi saved it ... the start of this entire 'hide things from hysterical Anjali' track.
So everyone crowds around Anjali as she gives way ... she gasps out 'Chotey didn't reach London ...'

Three shocked faces ... Khushi, Nani ... and Shyam ... and Sham's face showed more consternation than shock ... Khushi and Nani exchange glances, they were trying to hide this from Anjali because they knew she would react this way, who told her?! Shyam in deep thought almost instantly ...

Thoughts:
Why didn't Shyam organise that phone call from Arnav the moment Khushi was on her way to London? Or did he think that it would take her 8 hours to reach there, find out Arnav was missing, ask around and get worried, and true to her nature maybe hide things from the family as long as possible to protect them from worry ... Khushi would find out the truth when she reached London, but he still had a lot of time till that happened ...
But Khushi found out even before she could leave, and true to nature, she did hide it from everyone, so he still sat quietly ... probably warned the guy holding Arnav to be prepared to make that phone call ...
And when the news broke that was the time for the reassuring phone call to be made ... under threat at gun point - don't alarm your family or tell them you're in danger, or else your Di and Khushi will be killed ...

Akash gets into action, the head of the family in Arnav's absence ... look after Di first, that's priority ... leaving Shyam in deep thought ...

Di's room ... everyone crowding around her as usual, fussing, worrying, Anjali blasts Khushi, how could you hide anything about Chotey from me? Unspoken - you don't have the right, I have the right to know everything about him ... a tough call for Khushi, and no answer is right ... am glad Nani is with her on this one, and understands her reasons ...
Akash wonders why Aman didn't call him ... a shot of Shyam's face here ... so is Aman really involved? I thought that was a joke ... hmm ... but Shyam is definitely not playing a lone game here, he has to have an accomplice or a mastermind, I still don't think he could be the mastermind yet ...

But Khushi explains - Aman waited for Arnav the whole day, then called office, no one knew Arnav's whereabouts, that was when he called her ...
Anjali remembers the message from Arnav, Shyam seconds it - yes, he did message that he had reached ... but Anjali wonders belatedly, why didn't Arnav message her even once?
Shyam's face seems to indicate, oops, that was an oversight, I should have done that too ...

Khushi takes over the strong role again, trying to calm an increasingly hysterical Anjali ... Aman just said Arnav didn't attend the meeting, he wasn't on his scheduled flight ... maybe he got delayed, took another flight, reached his hotel late ...
Akash is not convinced ... but Arnav knows his Di, why didn't he let her know ...
Arey, Khushi has been saying this for the last two days, tab toh no one listened to her ...
Akash tries Arnav's phone ... no response ... Anjali weeps, he didn't call me back after my message, boo hoo, he never does that ... boo hoo ... Khushi tries to calm her down again ...
Anjali says we need to call the police, Akash agrees ... Shyam is very perturbed ... and slinks out of the room quietly ...
Khushi is worried ... police? Akash says, it's just as precaution ... and she's quiet ... yes, it's better ...

And the phone rings ... so late at night ...?
Anjali snatches it up ... Chotey?!
And a mixture of relief and scared disbelief on everyone's faces ... Payal, Nani, Akash, Mami, MM ... and Khushi ... is it really him? She needs to hear his voice for herself ...
But everyone else has to have their say first, starting with Anjali ... her usual emotional bursting out ... 'where are you, why didn't you call, don't you know how much we all are worrying ... why didn't you call, why didn't you message even once ...?

And Arnav finally makes his appearance ... disheveled, haggard looking, few words as always ... an apology to his Di for worrying her ... I'm sorry ...
She blasts again ... 'sorry?! Do you even know how worried we all have been here? We were going to call the police!'
A flicker in his eyes at the word 'police' ... did he think of saying Scotland when she said this?
'And why didn't you tell us that you didn't go to London?'
He closes his eyes briefly ... no, she's gone off track again, how he wishes they had called the police ... and he tries to give a hint ... 'I didn't go to London because I came to Scotland instead ...'
(Wonder whether this will be used by the cv's ... it was a good ploy, hope it was deliberate, and not just random ... but only Akash will be able to put this together, not Khushi ...)
He carries on ... 'I had a deal last minute, so I came here ...'
Anjali ... 'Scotland?!'
The whole family is confused ... including Akash ... Scotland?
Arnav closes his eyes and repeats it ... 'yes, I had a deal so I came here to Scotland instead of to London ...'
And finally Anjali gets around to asking ... 'are you all right?'
And he closes his eyes almost in exasperation ... she hasn't understood anything ... and he doesn't dare to say more ... 'yes, Di, I'm fine ...'
'all right ... take care of yourself ...' her last words ... and he swallows ... are those loving words the last time he will hear her voice?

Nani snatches the phone, her turn now to express her relief in scolding ... but he knows the love behind the scolding and mock-anger ... 'How are you, Chotey? This is the last time I forgive your carelessness ... in future, you have to call us regularly ... however busy you are ...'
A brusque 'Ji, nani ...' she's talking about the future, and he doesn't know how much of it he has ...

Manorama takes the phone, her very real affection showing through even through her light-hearted words ... 'what do you do? How did you reach Scotland ...?
'Yes, Mami, that ... it ...'
He knows he doesn't have to say much to her, she won't listen anyway ... she's busy on her own trip as usual ... 'get me something nice from Scotland ...'
The family smiles ... typically Mami ... even Arnav's lips lift in a small smile ... Manorama Mami will never change ...
Payal comforts Khushi ... 'now you know he's all right, at least now smile ...'
She tries, but she's aching to hear his voice once for herself ... waiting patiently for the family to have their say ...

Mami goes on 'and something for Mama also ... and how are you?'
Before he can answer, Akash takes the phone, he knows his mother can go on forever ...
'Bhai ... what's this deal about Scotland, Aman didn't tell me anything ...'
Arnav interrupts brusquely ... no one is getting any hints, and the one person he wants to talk to, whose voice he wants to hear, is probably not even there ... no one is giving her the phone, no one is mentioning her name ...
'Aman doesn't know anything about it, no one knows, I'll tell you when I get back ...'
And his phone time is running out ...
'Listen, I may not be able to stay in touch, the reception isn't good here ... don't tell Di, she'll freak out as usual ...'
Akash looks at a tearful Di and nods understandingly ... and Arnav continues with some hesitation ...
'And look after Di ... and ... K ...Khushi ... ' and his face changes even as he says her name ...

Akash understanding again ... 'of course, I will ... here, speak to Khushi ...'
God bless Akash!
And Arnav's face changes yet again ... she's there ... waiting to talk to him ... the way he was waiting to talk to her?
And Khushi gazes yearningly at the phone, scared, trembling, apprehensive ... waiting, longing ... puts it tremblingly, almost hesitantly to her ear, as though scared what she will hear ... they parted on unhappy terms ... she was begging him to stay, he went away ... he didn't believe her, he said she had lost her last chance ... he spoke to everyone in his family ... will he even talk to her?

And she slowly walks away from the family circle ... leaving them celebrating their relief ... while she waits to hear his voice ... just once ...

Does he sense her presence on the phone? Can he hear her soft breathing as she wait? Or can he just sense that she is there, holding onto the phone fearfully,
Yes, he knows she's there, he can feel her ... and it's even more difficult than he thought to keep his calm in front of her ... with everyone else he could be strong, play cool, because he had to safeguard them ... as he always had ... but when she breaks, he has no defense, no strength left ... because she is his strength ...
And he has to summon all his reserves just to say her name ...
'Khushi ...' 
She hears his voice, hears him say her name ... and the dam breaks ... tears flowing freely as she clutches onto the phone as though it's her lifeline ... her one connection to him ... she holds onto it with both hands as though she won't let it go ... she was trying to hold strong for his family, but he is her strength ... when he's not there, how can she be strong ...
And he feels her break down ... he can feel every tear, every sob that she's trying desperately to keep silent ...
'Khushi, I'm fine ... main theek hun ...'
He knows ... that's all she wants to know ...not where he is, why didn't he call, what will he bring for her ... none of that ...  just 'aap theek ho?'
But now the dam has broken, she can't stop ... the last three days of waiting, of worrying, of unexplained fears, unspoken nightmares ... the final tension of his unknown whereabouts ... now he's on the phone, she just wants to hold on to him and cry her heart out, cry out all those fears and worries ...
'Please ... mat ro ...' 
And he knows ... he knows she's crying ... she was crying when he left her ... begging him to stay and give her a chance ... how he wishes he had listened and stayed back ... because now he doesn't know whether he will get another chance ... and if she doesn't stop crying, he will break completely ...
'Khushi, bas ... stop ...'
She tries, she really does, but the tears don't listen ... unbidden, with a mind of their own, they keep coming ... he's alive, he's there, he's talking to her ...
'Khushi, rona band karo ...' how to make her stop, it's tearing him inside, listening to her silent tears, it's killing him that he left her crying ... the last words he said to her were goodbye ... will those be the last words between them? Will he leave her with his hate ... will she never know what he really felt for her?

The words don't come easily to him ... he struggles ... really struggles to say them ... she always wanted the words, and he was never able to give them to her ... but when death is staring at him down the barrel of a gun, they come ...
'Khushi ... main ... Khushi main ...tum ...'
She holds that phone as if it's her oxygen, her lifeline, her only link to life ...  

Jab jo bura kaha, uska koi matlab nahin
jab jo bura kiya, uska koi matlab nahin 
iss pyaar mein sahi aur galat ka koi matlab nahin hai ... bas iss cheez ka matlab hai ki main hamesha hamesha tumse ...

And today he completes the sentence ... gives her the words she was asking for ... because he might not have another chance ever ...

'Khushi ... I ... love you.'

And her eyes snap open in shocked disbelief ...
His face is suddenly calm ... he said it ... the words locked inside him for so long, struggling to get out, yet beaten back inside every time by memories of sights seen, words overheard ... but now all that doesn't matter any more ... he loves her ...
And he waits ... for her reply ... whatever it is ...

And Khushi's eyes move from disbelief to barely dawning hope ... as a single tear finds its way out again ...

Precap - yes, he said that staring down the barrel of a gun ... well, that was about the only way Arnav Singh Raizada would ever have said those three words ... when her answer even if it was a deathknell, would only hasten an already certain fate ...

Thoughts :
And those three words will now become Khushi's strength, her determination ... like Savitri, she will hunt her man out from the jaws of death ... she's been given a second chance at life, and she will not lose it.

22/5 - Epi 258 ... Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?

Tuesday 22nd May

First thoughts ;)
- 87 comments before I wrote a single word - this has to be a record! Will need that second post today for sure :)) ... edit - make that 98 :))
- Thought I'd title this "Khushi, I Love You" ... but I want to wait for the real confession for that one. So Sandy's title wins the day :)

-  Gloatwa Ve ... Gloatwa Ve ... (to the tune of Rabba Ve) ... played out EXACTLY the way I predicted days ago, when the promo first released :)) And the ILU was a confession as well as a message ... whether the message was intended or not, but that is what will click for Khushi ... hopefully with a Heer Ranjha fb.

Quick update - it seemed like things were moving in fast forward mode today ... Khushi worried about Arnav, trying to find a logical explanation, a grown man can't go missing all of a sudden ... should she have hidden the truth ...
Anjali suddenly wakes up after three days and remembers that she's supposed to be the paranoid one, not Khushi ... so she dutifully goes paranoid ... Khushi sees her, tries to hide the truth from her with a pretend phone call, caught by Nani, she tells Nani the truth, Nani starts panicking ... MM overhears, tells Mami, Anjali overhears  ... and of course she collapses ... and all hell breaks loose ... the whole family comes to know in one sharp jhatka ... Akash decides to call the police ... VLR is completely alarmed, slinks off ... and promptly comes the phone call from Arnav ... who listens patiently to all th hysterics and the general chit chat, never letting on that he has a gun held to his head ...

And the last ArHi scene reminded me why I love this show and this couple ... :"> :"> :">

*edited - this will be a long one*
Things MOVED today ... and how!!! 
Continuing from the last scene ... Khushi back in her room alone, trying desperately to make sense of that phone call saying that Arnav never reached London, didn't check in at his hotel, didn't even board his flight ...
Typical Khushi ... she always takes time to think ... to sift through the information she has before she makes any decision or arrives at any conclusion (even if it's a crackpot one like Arnav trying to kill her! ... or the reason he married her ... or even whether Shyam could be telling the truth about being henpecked)
So she worries ... how can that be ... she saw him off at the airport herself, his flight was called, how could he disappear from the airport? Did he take the wrong flight by mistake? When he's angry, he makes mistakes ... and he was angry ...
Then she shakes herself ... that's a stupid thought, a flight is not a bus, that one can get on to the wrong one ... then what happened?!
She's so worried, she can't think straight ... she pauses ... should she tell Nani and Anjali? Did she do the right thing by lying to them? But Di will worry ... should she tell her?

On the other hand, Anjali suddenly remembers that her precious baby bro hasn't called her even once since he left, and all along she has been so occupied in consoling and reassuring Khushi that she forgot to do her usual freakout act for Chotey ... sometimes I feel Anjali does this for attention-seeking ... she loved being the wise counsel for Khushi, and now that Khushi is keeping it together, time for Anjali to regain centre-stage by throwing a tantrum! Or else it was just poorly written - after being so calm and cheerful about Arnav's silence, Anjali suddenly cracking up into near hysteria didn't gel ... the worry should have built up slowly ... maybe after Khushi made that unexplained decision not to go to London. This hysteria should have been a reaction to that decision, rather than just out of the blue - felt a little forced.

Khushi is still worrying whether to tell Anjali or not ... she hears Anjali worrying, refusing to take her medicine before she speaks to Chotey ... should she tell Anjali or not? She will freak out even more if she hears ... and Nani reinforces it b saying Anjali shouldn't worry so much in her pregnancy, so it would be best to call Aman and check with him ...
And Khushi galvanized into action ... if Anjali calls Aman, she will find out that Arnav never reached London, Nani just said that in her current state she shouldn't worry, it's not good for her ... so Khushi acts out a pretend call from Arnav ... he's fine, he's rushing for a meeting, he'll call Di later ... complete with bright smiles ...
Anjali leaves, relieved ... and Nani catches Khushi in her lie ... and knows that something is very wrong ...

Masala Mama roaming around at night ... Arnav Bitwa, when you get back, the first thing you need to do is invest in a big foolproof lock for your bedroom ... it's worse than Mumbai Central!
MM overhears the Nani-Khushi conversation ... Khushi confesses her lie to Nani instantly, and the reason ... (Khushi confessed to her lie spoken only to protect Anjali, and Nani understood and forgave her, Nani also saw Khushi's concern for Anjali ... again I feel Nani will be the next person to know Shyam's truth, and will understand Khushi's reason for keeping quiet, and will forgive her and stand by her).
And Nani hears that Arnav is missing, as Khushi tells her the entire story about the phone call, Arnav never boarded his flight ... and Nani panics instantly ... and once again, Khushi is unable to confide her own fears, has to hide them and instead take on the mantle of protector and comforter ... again the strong one in the family, taking Arnav's place in his absence ... reassuring Nani, he could have taken a different flight, he would be busy, maybe he didn't go for the meeting, he's busy somewhere else ... I saw him off at the airport myself, the flight was called and he went in ... and he did message me when he reached ... everything will be all right ...
She's pieced together all the facts, they all make sense, enough for her to reassure Nani, but not enough for her to shake off her own feeling that something is wrong ... but that for later, first she has to hold strong for the family ... because even Nani, the strong matriarch, is cracking and holding on to her for support ...
And Khushi begs Nani not to tell Di ... because Di will be even more upset ... that's why she had lied in the first place ... and Nani understands ...

But Masala Mama and Loudmouth Mami put paid to that plan ... after some light moments with HP and his marriage that wasn't ... :))
HP's comment ... even I didn't attend my own wedding!  =))
So MM and LM announce at full volume that Arnav hasn't reached London at all ... Anjali overhears and dramatically drops a glass of milk ... and equally dramatically proceeds to get completely hysterical ... very true to Anjali's nature, the last I remember her getting so hysterical was when her mangalsutra broke and Khushi saved it ... the start of this entire 'hide things from hysterical Anjali' track.
So everyone crowds around Anjali as she gives way ... she gasps out 'Chotey didn't reach London ...'

Three shocked faces ... Khushi, Nani ... and Shyam ... and Sham's face showed more consternation than shock ... Khushi and Nani exchange glances, they were trying to hide this from Anjali because they knew she would react this way, who told her?! Shyam in deep thought almost instantly ...

Thoughts:
Why didn't Shyam organise that phone call from Arnav the moment Khushi was on her way to London? Or did he think that it would take her 8 hours to reach there, find out Arnav was missing, ask around and get worried, and true to her nature maybe hide things from the family as long as possible to protect them from worry ... Khushi would find out the truth when she reached London, but he still had a lot of time till that happened ...
But Khushi found out even before she could leave, and true to nature, she did hide it from everyone, so he still sat quietly ... probably warned the guy holding Arnav to be prepared to make that phone call ...
And when the news broke that was the time for the reassuring phone call to be made ... under threat at gun point - don't alarm your family or tell them you're in danger, or else your Di and Khushi will be killed ...

Akash gets into action, the head of the family in Arnav's absence ... look after Di first, that's priority ... leaving Shyam in deep thought ...

Di's room ... everyone crowding around her as usual, fussing, worrying, Anjali blasts Khushi, how could you hide anything about Chotey from me? Unspoken - you don't have the right, I have the right to know everything about him ... a tough call for Khushi, and no answer is right ... am glad Nani is with her on this one, and understands her reasons ...
Akash wonders why Aman didn't call him ... a shot of Shyam's face here ... so is Aman really involved? I thought that was a joke ... hmm ... but Shyam is definitely not playing a lone game here, he has to have an accomplice or a mastermind, I still don't think he could be the mastermind yet ...

But Khushi explains - Aman waited for Arnav the whole day, then called office, no one knew Arnav's whereabouts, that was when he called her ...
Anjali remembers the message from Arnav, Shyam seconds it - yes, he did message that he had reached ... but Anjali wonders belatedly, why didn't Arnav message her even once?
Shyam's face seems to indicate, oops, that was an oversight, I should have done that too ...

Khushi takes over the strong role again, trying to calm an increasingly hysterical Anjali ... Aman just said Arnav didn't attend the meeting, he wasn't on his scheduled flight ... maybe he got delayed, took another flight, reached his hotel late ...
Akash is not convinced ... but Arnav knows his Di, why didn't he let her know ...
Arey, Khushi has been saying this for the last two days, tab toh no one listened to her ...
Akash tries Arnav's phone ... no response ... Anjali weeps, he didn't call me back after my message, boo hoo, he never does that ... boo hoo ... Khushi tries to calm her down again ...
Anjali says we need to call the police, Akash agrees ... Shyam is very perturbed ... and slinks out of the room quietly ...
Khushi is worried ... police? Akash says, it's just as precaution ... and she's quiet ... yes, it's better ...

And the phone rings ... so late at night ...?
Anjali snatches it up ... Chotey?!
And a mixture of relief and scared disbelief on everyone's faces ... Payal, Nani, Akash, Mami, MM ... and Khushi ... is it really him? She needs to hear his voice for herself ...
But everyone else has to have their say first, starting with Anjali ... her usual emotional bursting out ... 'where are you, why didn't you call, don't you know how much we all are worrying ... why didn't you call, why didn't you message even once ...?

And Arnav finally makes his appearance ... disheveled, haggard looking, few words as always ... an apology to his Di for worrying her ... I'm sorry ...
She blasts again ... 'sorry?! Do you even know how worried we all have been here? We were going to call the police!'
A flicker in his eyes at the word 'police' ... did he think of saying Scotland when she said this?
'And why didn't you tell us that you didn't go to London?'
He closes his eyes briefly ... no, she's gone off track again, how he wishes they had called the police ... and he tries to give a hint ... 'I didn't go to London because I came to Scotland instead ...'
(Wonder whether this will be used by the cv's ... it was a good ploy, hope it was deliberate, and not just random ... but only Akash will be able to put this together, not Khushi ...)
He carries on ... 'I had a deal last minute, so I came here ...'
Anjali ... 'Scotland?!'
The whole family is confused ... including Akash ... Scotland?
Arnav closes his eyes and repeats it ... 'yes, I had a deal so I came here to Scotland instead of to London ...'
And finally Anjali gets around to asking ... 'are you all right?'
And he closes his eyes almost in exasperation ... she hasn't understood anything ... and he doesn't dare to say more ... 'yes, Di, I'm fine ...'
'all right ... take care of yourself ...' her last words ... and he swallows ... are those loving words the last time he will hear her voice?

Nani snatches the phone, her turn now to express her relief in scolding ... but he knows the love behind the scolding and mock-anger ... 'How are you, Chotey? This is the last time I forgive your carelessness ... in future, you have to call us regularly ... however busy you are ...'
A brusque 'Ji, nani ...' she's talking about the future, and he doesn't know how much of it he has ...

Manorama takes the phone, her very real affection showing through even through her light-hearted words ... 'what do you do? How did you reach Scotland ...?
'Yes, Mami, that ... it ...'
He knows he doesn't have to say much to her, she won't listen anyway ... she's busy on her own trip as usual ... 'get me something nice from Scotland ...'
The family smiles ... typically Mami ... even Arnav's lips lift in a small smile ... Manorama Mami will never change ...
Payal comforts Khushi ... 'now you know he's all right, at least now smile ...'
She tries, but she's aching to hear his voice once for herself ... waiting patiently for the family to have their say ...

Mami goes on 'and something for Mama also ... and how are you?'
Before he can answer, Akash takes the phone, he knows his mother can go on forever ...
'Bhai ... what's this deal about Scotland, Aman didn't tell me anything ...'
Arnav interrupts brusquely ... no one is getting any hints, and the one person he wants to talk to, whose voice he wants to hear, is probably not even there ... no one is giving her the phone, no one is mentioning her name ...
'Aman doesn't know anything about it, no one knows, I'll tell you when I get back ...'
And his phone time is running out ...
'Listen, I may not be able to stay in touch, the reception isn't good here ... don't tell Di, she'll freak out as usual ...'
Akash looks at a tearful Di and nods understandingly ... and Arnav continues with some hesitation ...
'And look after Di ... and ... K ...Khushi ... ' and his face changes even as he says her name ...

Akash understanding again ... 'of course, I will ... here, speak to Khushi ...'
God bless Akash!
And Arnav's face changes yet again ... she's there ... waiting to talk to him ... the way he was waiting to talk to her?
And Khushi gazes yearningly at the phone, scared, trembling, apprehensive ... waiting, longing ... puts it tremblingly, almost hesitantly to her ear, as though scared what she will hear ... they parted on unhappy terms ... she was begging him to stay, he went away ... he didn't believe her, he said she had lost her last chance ... he spoke to everyone in his family ... will he even talk to her?

And she slowly walks away from the family circle ... leaving them celebrating their relief ... while she waits to hear his voice ... just once ...

Does he sense her presence on the phone? Can he hear her soft breathing as she wait? Or can he just sense that she is there, holding onto the phone fearfully,
Yes, he knows she's there, he can feel her ... and it's even more difficult than he thought to keep his calm in front of her ... with everyone else he could be strong, play cool, because he had to safeguard them ... as he always had ... but when she breaks, he has no defense, no strength left ... because she is his strength ...
And he has to summon all his reserves just to say her name ...
'Khushi ...' 
She hears his voice, hears him say her name ... and the dam breaks ... tears flowing freely as she clutches onto the phone as though it's her lifeline ... her one connection to him ... she holds onto it with both hands as though she won't let it go ... she was trying to hold strong for his family, but he is her strength ... when he's not there, how can she be strong ...
And he feels her break down ... he can feel every tear, every sob that she's trying desperately to keep silent ...
'Khushi, I'm fine ... main theek hun ...'
He knows ... that's all she wants to know ...not where he is, why didn't he call, what will he bring for her ... none of that ...  just 'aap theek ho?'
But now the dam has broken, she can't stop ... the last three days of waiting, of worrying, of unexplained fears, unspoken nightmares ... the final tension of his unknown whereabouts ... now he's on the phone, she just wants to hold on to him and cry her heart out, cry out all those fears and worries ...
'Please ... mat ro ...' 
And he knows ... he knows she's crying ... she was crying when he left her ... begging him to stay and give her a chance ... how he wishes he had listened and stayed back ... because now he doesn't know whether he will get another chance ... and if she doesn't stop crying, he will break completely ...
'Khushi, bas ... stop ...'
She tries, she really does, but the tears don't listen ... unbidden, with a mind of their own, they keep coming ... he's alive, he's there, he's talking to her ...
'Khushi, rona band karo ...' how to make her stop, it's tearing him inside, listening to her silent tears, it's killing him that he left her crying ... the last words he said to her were goodbye ... will those be the last words between them? Will he leave her with his hate ... will she never know what he really felt for her?

The words don't come easily to him ... he struggles ... really struggles to say them ... she always wanted the words, and he was never able to give them to her ... but when death is staring at him down the barrel of a gun, they come ...
'Khushi ... main ... Khushi main ...tum ...'
She holds that phone as if it's her oxygen, her lifeline, her only link to life ...  

Jab jo bura kaha, uska koi matlab nahin
jab jo bura kiya, uska koi matlab nahin 
iss pyaar mein sahi aur galat ka koi matlab nahin hai ... bas iss cheez ka matlab hai ki main hamesha hamesha tumse ...

And today he completes the sentence ... gives her the words she was asking for ... because he might not have another chance ever ...

'Khushi ... I ... love you.'

And her eyes snap open in shocked disbelief ...
His face is suddenly calm ... he said it ... the words locked inside him for so long, struggling to get out, yet beaten back inside every time by memories of sights seen, words overheard ... but now all that doesn't matter any more ... he loves her ...
And he waits ... for her reply ... whatever it is ...

And Khushi's eyes move from disbelief to barely dawning hope ... as a single tear finds its way out again ...

Precap - yes, he said that staring down the barrel of a gun ... well, that was about the only way Arnav Singh Raizada would ever have said those three words ... when her answer even if it was a deathknell, would only hasten an already certain fate ...

Thoughts :
And those three words will now become Khushi's strength, her determination ... like Savitri, she will hunt her man out from the jaws of death ... she's been given a second chance at life, and she will not lose it.