31/7 - Epi 309 ... More Mind Games

Tuesday 31st July

Cv's seem to have found a formula ... first five minutes have to be ArHi, to get the TRP meter ticking? So another very cute scene to start with ... Arnav comes back to keep his troublesome biwi quiet, she promptly falls asleep in signature Khushi style, holding on to his collar, so of course Bitwa goes to sleep in what has become signature Arnav style ... holding her hand. :"> And they even wake up in the morning together ... becoming a little used to this sleeping together business ... as his first thought when he wakes up is ... she doesn't sleep like this at home ... and he even asks her why, as soon as she wakes up! Curiously, as though he really wants to know :)

Anjali knows Arnav has spent the night at Khushi's house ... well, she did give him 'permission' ...

Shuklaji arrives, Khushi visits the builder and finds out Arnav has taken over ... does that mean that horrendous suit was only for half an episode? And Khushi loses her temper in rather spectacular fashion ... after mentioning the few days left ... then turning down Arnav's offer to move in with him ... and Arnav keeps his cool ... very easily ... the man has been attending those anger management classes finally! Only one slap for the man who called his wife an item? And does he have a new office?

Anjali Nani NK ... Anjali making raakhees, she doesn't want anything from Arnav except that he stay with her ... hmm. And more blank calls ... hmm. NK is back ...

BG tell Khushi she has to go back to her sasural ... the power and water are cut off ... and from the precap, Khushi is locked out. So Arnav will force her back home? What about the contract? What exactly is he waiting for ... does he want her to bring it up? And what will Anjali ask for on Raakhee?

*edited*

Thoughts on the episode as a whole ... I will do an update on the ArHi scene later today, am out most of the day :)

First ArHi scene ... Loved it ... what's not to love? An exasperated yet caring hubby, pushed his stubborn wifey a bit too far, she got back at him, he caved and took back his last command in the interest of peace ... and sleep! Loved the little touches that showed how comfortable and completely at home Arnav is at GH, tidying up the plates, switching off the TV, and of course, carrying his wife to bed, tucking her in ... and staying the night with her ... the signature Khushi holding on to his collar and the new signature, Arnav holding her hand ...
Also loved the waking up ... so completely at ease sleeping together now, that Arnav's first thought was not about that ... it was wondering why she is so different in RM ... here she sleeps sprawled all over him, and there she stays firmly on her side of the bed. The start of a thought process ... that Khushi doesn't feel that their relationship is accepted at RM, while in GH, everyone accepts them completely as husband and wife.

And loved his acceptance ... holding her hand while he sleeps is a habit now.



I don't understand WHY Khushi has to organise the rent all by herself ... surely Buaji has been paying the rent for so many months on her own ... why this sudden need for Khushi to do it all? One of the glaring lacunae in the script ... wait, there are more coming

But Khushi's happiness and pride at earning her money was very sweet, and her reluctant smiling admission, with a touch of pride, in her hubby ... he's not that bad after all ... he respected her need to keep her dignity intact and not just take the money from him.



The office scene ... more lacunae in the script ... I understand that the writers had to get Khushi fuming mad, and make her claim her marital status in front of the new builder ... but Arnav sending a secretary down with the message that she needs to move in with him?! And Khushi says she wouldn't move in just because she's married? So if she wasn't, she might consider it? And after sending the message through a secretary, Arnav then gets annoyed when someone badmouths  Khushi?! Wasn't he asking for it by making such an offer? Besides putting himself a bad light as well ... basically proclaiming to the world that he's in the middle of a spat with his wife. Poor writing ... very poor!!! This PH just does not get the office scenes at all!!!



The office scene itself ... where I needed Sari's decoding ... from the SG Hangout today 

SG Hangout 31/7/12

Arnav knows Khushi confides in him when she is angry, she seeks him out when she feels helpless and she loves a challenge.

So he's trying a mixture of all three ... but to do what? To force her to come back to him? To accept that their marriage is for keeps? Or to make her spill the truth about why she's staying away from him ... is it only because of the contract, or is it also because of Di's feelings for her? And Arnav knows the first reason, but has he also guessed about the second? If not, what stops him from simply telling her - you are my wife for all time, not only until the contract expires. I asked this question a coule of days back too, and answered it. Adding to that answer - is this more insecurity on Arnav's part as well? That if it's about the contract, he can nullify that, but Di and her feelings might not be so easy to overcome?

I guess we will have to wait and watch ... is Arnav on the right track or not. I said a couple of days ago that he is not doing things the right way ... and at the end of the contract he will discover the error of his ways ... I still hold to that thought


Apart from that, the office scene was to show the ASRization of Khushi ... me, I like the old Khushi, I'd rather she not get too ASR-like ... one ASR is more than enough! Though I noted that Khushi vented her feelings only on inanimate objects, she wasn't angry enough yet to tackle Arnav physically ... or maybe, she felt it wasn't the right place ;) But on second watch, that last bit of the scene was quite superfluous - they could have stopped it when she got mad at Arnav's obstinacy - the tantrum was not required at all.

But the softening of ASR to Arnav is more than welcome ... the man has been attending anger management classes ... and Sari's point that he's goading Khushi into losing her temper was very apparent there.

Also liked the fact that Khushi now is confident enough to call Arnav's bluff ... she does know that he won't throw her family out on to the road ... or at least, she's confident enough to take a call on that one.



And I have a strong feeling that he realised that ... hence Garima and Buaji ... or maybe only Garima, are in on the next stage of his plan ... the pressure starting from her maika to return to her sasuraal ... while they conveniently disappear for the day to let him get on with the next step ...

Also, today Khushi realised that she might just have a tough time explaining to her maika when she is actually back for good ... but being Khushi, she sweeps her own problems under the carpet for now ... Khushi, don't you need to think about that at all? CV's, some light on her thoughts here please?



More crib to the cv's ... if you don't want Arnav to come across as bullying and threatening, rather than a man with a grand plan ... do, please do give him some monologues, or a few mysterious phone calls or something ... the bulk of the audience might not bother to spend so much time and energy decoding the man, and would be happy to brand him as being insensitive and cruel, forcing his wife to come back to him without bothering about her feelings at all.



A quick note on Anjali ... the change in her started ever since that first blank phone call. Before that, she was distancing herself from her brother, blaming him for changing ... since that first call, she has bridged the gap with her brother, and made absolutely no call on Khushi ... except for politely inviting her to eat before she left the house ... she has not acknowledged that Khushi even exists ... despite the fact that Arnav has told her directly that he loves Khushi. Arnav needed to stay at Buaji's house, because Buaji was unwell ... no mention of Khushi in that equation at all.

Shyam has nothing to gain by distancing Arnav-Anjali ... his gain is by distancing Arnav-Khushi, and keeping Arnav-Anjali firmly together ... with Arnav still firmly under Anjali's thumb ...



And my favorite Nani ... For Raakhee, Anjali wants Chotey around her ... Nani wisely points out that Chotey does have other calls on his time now ... his duties, not his wishes ... Nani too is treading on eggshells w.r.t to Anjali's feelings about Khushi, she was the one who told Khushi to stay away from Anjali, she now brings Khushi into the conversation, but not as a desire or need of Arnav, but as a duty.

NK ... no comment for now ... he is a breath of fresh air all right, and it's good to see him back :) ... but what his role will be in the further drama ... front front see bhat bhat happens ...

Link for entire episode ... as my download is missing a part of the office scene. Since that was my least favorite part, am not too concerned :) 
Episode link 

30/7 - Epi 308 ... Playing Games

Monday 30th July

It was Buaji this time :)) The KMH, I mean ... Tut tut Buaji, aapse yeh ummeed nahin thi :))

But liked the ArHi scene ... cute and sweet and romantic ...

Bitwa has some serious problems in life though ... he's left alone at home with beautiful biwi, and he makes her wrap gifts for his staff?! Such a complete waste of time and opportunity ... now I have no hopes from his 'shatir dimaag' at all!

To add to which, he goes home so that Darling Di can feed him kheer ... hey bhagwan, iss bande ko buddhi dena!!! Failing buddhi, let him grow up!

And fnally Khushi gets her own back =)) hurrah for her!!! Totally loved the frequent phone calls ... idiot man, told your wife to stay awake the whole night, ab bhugto! You do remember why you fell for her in the first place, right? Because she never took any nonsense from you lying down ... ever!!!

Wonder what he'll do when he gets back to GH ... going by precedent, probably nothing!

Precap ... so the new builder is in action ... and the mantra is, wait and watch ...

*edited*

Thoughts:

Liked the episode better on second watch ... but there are a few lacunae which make me, as a viewer a little disconnected from the story they are trying to tell, so I would be happier if those were filled up.
One - what exactly is Arnav up to? Is he trying to get back the old ever-fighting, ever-smiling Khushi? Or is he trying to show her that she is his wife and will always remain so even after the contract is over? From his tubelight moment about the six month contract, I would have thought the latter, but from the last couple of episodes, it seems to be the former. So some monologues from Arnav about his ultimate goal would be helpful.
Also, a line or two here and there would make all the difference. I loved the office scene, because there he emphasized - 'you are my wife, that's why I was trying to pay the rent.' Another line during the gift-wrapping, to the effect -'now write on all the cards - from Mr and Mrs Arnav Singh Raizada' would have transformed the job into his wife's duty ... and made it clear that while she's doing it as a job to earn her money, he is making her do it as her duty as his wife. The point that Arnav is trying to make is getting lost somewhere in the execution.


Two - Cv's obviously have backed off from showing Anjali as grey ... which in my mind, would have been a far more natural thing for her to be. No woman can accept easily another woman in her husband's life, and if that woman is the significant other in her beloved brother's life, even less so. Although I railed at Anjali's stupidity in interrupting her brother's time with his wife, that was much more understandable than this back to saccharine sweetness. And again, the way the cv's are showing it is all wrong ... Anjali is not shown missing Shyam very much at all, but is back to mooning over Arnav as her sole support, when she has a houseful of very loving mother-figures in support. When I was pregnant and alone for a couple of months, in my husband's absence, my mother was my biggest support, not my father, definitely not my brother. It would be far more understandable if Anjali was shown to be missing her husband ... and then looking for her brother as an alternate support, even in the presence of Nani and Mami. Her worry that she is alone and helpless, doesn't come across as realistic at all.

The initial bond that the brother-sister shared was far sweeter and more realistic ... when he teased her about being Nirupa Roy, and she teased him that her emotional blackmail worked on him every time. Or maybe I found that more realistic because that's the kind of bond my brother and I share - we take verbal swipes at each other all the time even now, we wouldn't be caught dead feeding each other kheer :)) yet I make it a point to make his favorite dishes when I know he's dropping in for a casual meal.

The episode:

The best was the first this time ... and this was beautifully done. Not 'hot' as the precap suggested, but far more romantic and sweet ... and this scene showed exactly what Arnav was trying to do ... and that he was succeeding. He was succeeding in breaking down the barriers between them, in getting Khushi to accept their relationship, their physical closeness as a matter-of-fact thing between a couple, thereby emphasizing that they are a couple. No embarrassment about being so close together this time, even welcoming it ... embarrassed only slightly at the interruption, but far more accepting of it, far more comfortable with it ...

But before that ... the fall, the moment of awareness again, after the initial softening with all the 'payal' and 'they're beautiful' talk ... Khushi was already melting again, her anger at the biwi TV thing already dissolved, when he picked her up and carried her ...
AB rushing to the spot in shocked concern ... Buaji offering to do 'maalish', refused promptly by Arnav, horrified at the thought of Buaji's 'jadoo bhari' fingers ... Khushi picking up the cue immediately as a chance to tease him back, and Garima rescuing Arnav, and giving him a great chance to get his own back on the teasing Khushi ... 'if you insist, Khushi can do the maalish ...' =))
Loved the way Khushi's smile vanished in a flash :)) ... her tease backfired and how!!! And Arnav's gloatwa ve :))

Loved the ArHi maalish scene ... Arnav's 'what the ...' made a comeback, Khushi corrected him ... 'not what the, sarson ka tel ... best for maalish ...' Arnav wrinkling his nose at the smell :)) and then ever so casually starting to remove his shirt, Khushi's shock when she sees him stripping, Khushi's mind firmly in gutter apparently :))

But apna Bitwa is very shareef ... he only has maalish on his mind ... and 'shirt mein problem nahin hai, back mein hai ...' effectively shutting her up and assuring her he only wants maalish ... :)) so 'Come on, help me ...' a demand from crabby hubby to wife, again so naturally commanded that Khushi must be left feeling foolish at where her wayward thoughts are running, when hubby obviously has no such thoughts ... so chupchap she helps hubby remove his shirt ... one more point to Arnav :)

And then he demands 'where's your smile?' and Khushi retorts back, totally in wifey mode now ... more worried about his back so deal is forgotten for her ... 'rassi jal gayi, par bal nahin gaye ... you're hurt and still you're worried about the deal?'
"leave me to worry about the deal ... you keep up your end of the bargain ... smile.' So she does, a smile which reaches nowhere near her eyes ... she's annoyed again ...
'Should I ...?' lie down? sit? what should I do for the maalish? But she's annoyed again so she's not making it any easier for him ... 'your twenty four hours ... you decide what you want ...' I was worried about your back, but you're still playing games ...

And he does ... pulls her to sit close on the bed and leans forward ... and Khushi leans forward involuntarily ... not as unaffected by HH as she was trying desperately to be ... but then she is never unaffected by his closeness, and in her current confused, softened state even less so ...
He could have kissed her this time ... she wasn't resisting at all this time, was even ready for it ... but he doesn't want to, not till she's accepted she's his wife ... so a teasing flick of the nose and she backs off, embarrassed at what she was doing ... and this time he doesn't rub it in ... he lets the mood stay ... softened, intimate, a more natural closeness, a comfort ... as he lies down on his stomach, she helps him much more naturally, and starts with only a little hesitation to rub the oil ...
Softened mood, soft conversation ... gentle teasing ... non-threatening, not passionate ... just intimate ... 'buaji was right ... your hands ...'
She pauses nervously ... but he's still only teasing ... 'are trembling ...' he's not making any moves she's not ready for ... she continues the massage ...
More of that gentle intimate teasing ... 'you must be happy that I fell, isn't it? You would have said, he devi maiyya, good thing Arnavji got his just desserts ...'
No of course she wasn't happy ... can he really think that? She's a bit hurt that he can think she would be happy if he got hurt ...
And Arnav has been observing his wife as closely as she observes him ... now he can imitate her talks with her Devi maiyya ... the way she imitates his 'what the's ...' :">
'Di says if someone says something bad about us, then we fall ... did you say anything bad about me?'
More hurt, mixed with a bit of guilt ... she said all that about shares and news ... but she didn't really mean him ill ... 'what do you think?'

And he turns and neatly flips her over onto her back under him ... much to her shock ... 'what are you doing ...?'
'When you stay quiet, your eyes do all the talking ... Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada ... now let's see what they say ...'
And all he's doing is looking into her eyes, and trying to read them ... again intimate, close ... not threatening, not overpowering, not forcing ... passion leashed tightly, as they try to embrace this new closeness, hold the moment ... neither wanting to break it, as he holds her there just with his eyes ... reading hers, as she tries to read his ...
'So what did you see ...?'
'Accha hua hum gire ... it was good that we fell ...'
Fell ... in love? Fell on the floor together? that it led to this moment? fell ... as in every time she fell in his arms ...? All the falls that led to this moment in time ...
Her confused 'what?' only makes him smile and flick her nose again ... and they still lie there together ... a moment of acceptance ... of complete comfort in each others' closeness ...
And even when Buaji calls and breaks the moment, it doesn't shatter ... it loosens slowly ... a couple caught together in perfectly natural circumstances ... a slight embarrassment, no more ... what will people think ...? not 'what were we doing ...?' as Arnav responds casually to Buaji's concern ... 'you were right, Buaji ... Khushi's hands are magic ...' yep, my wife made me feel better ... and Khushi leaves quickly, still embarrassed ... 

After this, the gift scene was jarring in the swift change of emotions ... back to 'do your job, you wanted to earn money ... so wrap these gifts for my staff ...' Only on second watch, I got what Arnav was trying to do ... give her a job because she wanted to earn her money, and a change from the first time when he wanted only to challenge and humiliate her, and also bring back the fiery fighting Khushi ... this time it was a job within the comfort of home, something which she, as his wife, would do anyway ... but it didn't come across very well ... a line or two of dialogue would have changed the tone ...I want you to do this because you're my wife, you want to do this because you wanted a job ...

And again, I found the Arnav-Anjali scene a bit misplaced ... the guy is home alone with his wife, and he goes off to feed Di kheer, because he knows she wouldn't have eaten it without him? Have stopped relating to this brother-sister bond ... the saccharine sweetness is just odd and not realistic for me ... maybe because my own relationship with my brother is so different!

And Arnav proves that his 'shatir dimaag' is a myth ... tells Khushi to stay awake the whole night in case he needs her ... and then goes off to sleep ...

Liked the first bit ... 'what can I do on the phone?' ... and Arnav's smirk at that one :)) and his grin when she gets mad and clicks the phone shut was damn cute! :"> :) She's back to fighting with me again ... life is okay :)
And Khushi is back with her dimaag, which is a darn sight smarter than Arnav's on many occasions, especially when it comes to troubling her LG ... err, Khushi, did you forget you asked for this job ... now why are you grumbling that he made you work? Is it because somewhere deep inside, you also know you want to be his wife, and not his employee? And no employee can dare to keep their boss awake at night ... that's solely reserved for a wife :)) Or did she make this plan because she was rather enjoying the attention, and was annoyed he went back home before his 24 hours was up?

So first phone call ... misfires slightly because he asks immediately ...'are you missing me?' and she stumbles ... she was, but she's not going to admit that for anything in the world ...
And the phone calls continue the whole night ... to his extreme annoyance ... and grumpiness ... 'let me sleep ...'
Not if she's not allowed to ... after all, she's his wife, his equal ...
Mobile switched off ... no problem, landline is there .... landline disconnected, no problem, send his staff to wake him up ... and he does tell her, 'sleep and let me sleep too ...' but it's too late, biwi is well and truly on the warpath ... and she's enjoying herself thoroughly ... Arnav bitwa, just give up and go back to GH if you want to sleep ...
Which is exactly what he does :)

Weekly Shiddats ...

Shiddats for the Week ... may the force be with us :)

More Arhi romance ... that's number one on all Shiddat lists as always :)

Khushi holding strong and Arnav starting to realise it's not a game, she's holding out because she's hurt and scared ... and starting to realise the reason why she's so scared ...him. 

Wardrobe ... Sanaya's wardrobe is getting worse and worse, not better ... are they leading up to a complete change after ArHi remarriage? Make her look really bad, so the contrast is even more? It's tough to make her look bad, she looks good even in rags, but they're really doing their best ... umm, worst ...
Or am I just being optimistic?

Barun's haircut and shave ... less gel.

Payal's growing spine and her sweet scenes with Nani ...

Anjali ... some idea of where she's going ... grey or cuckoo?

Some blast from the past from Akash's trip to Mumbai.

Adding - as the cv's seem to have forgotten all about it X( - TEEJ Celebration - last year with both Payal and Khushi unmarried, we got a beautiful Teej celebration, this year with both the girls celebrating their first married Teej, so far zilch? nada? nothing? X( X( X(
So either Teej - the first Teej has gone, the second is just after Raksha Bandhan and the third is in Sptember ...or Karva Chauth ... SHIDDAT!!!

Shiddats realised last week - 

Poor hit rate this week ... but what we got, we got chhappar phaad ke ... so are we complaining? ;) Not really ...

Arhi romance ... Arnav manaoing Khushi ... and going all out to bring his wife back home. Check. :) With more to come this week. Double Check.
Arnav looking after Khushi ... Check. 

We asked for Khushi looking after Arnav ... got the start of that in the precap ... and how ;) Will we get more?

27/7 - Epi 307 ... Operation Woo the Wife Is On!

Friday 27th July

Well, he had a point ... he was doing his duty, he offered to pay the rent, she refused ... a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do :)

So Khushi tries a couple of places to raise the money, and has to go back to hubby pretty soon, as he has carefully cut off all her avenues of raising funds. Again, he has a point ... if she could try for loans from random Shuklaji and Happyji, then loan from hubby is surely a better bet.
But she didn't want favours from him ... that was exactly the point. Neither favours, nor a loan. She can work for him instead.
Agreed instantly ... and she's getting a good deal too ... 24 hours for 24,000 rupees.

So Arnav lands up at GH, much to the amusement of Buaji and Garima, who are tickled pink at what - or who ;) - brings him back so frequently. And very tactfully and thoughtfully, they leave the warring couple alone at home.
SN - no wonder Arnav much prefers this place to RM ... there everybody takes turns to be KMH :)) individually and together!

And he tries to trouble her ... provoke her ... hot tempered as she is, she gets angry, though not without reason ... hurts herself ... and all attempts to provoke and annoy fly out of the window ... as he takes over the right to look after her ... total Sadda Haq here ...
The exchange about the payal had a soft pathos filled sweetness to it ... the fb of the time when they first felt that overwhelming flaming hot attraction between them ... mixed with the sweetness of the memory ... her mother's payal ... and yes, he remembers ... she told him ...

And finally ... a trip catch and fall ... in that order ... what a fall it was, my countrymen ...
And what a precap ... leaving us hyperventilating all weekend??!!! :-o :x :">

Forgot ... Anjali was there too, being sweet as sugar ... but still no mention of Khushi ... 

*edited* ... not that I've recovered fully yet ;) :"> Sorry for late edit ... hectic weekend as usual!

An Arhilicious episode ... :)
Khushi having unwisely fired off her mouth at her Hotwa Hubby, now has 24 hours to come up with the money for the rent. Savings nowhere near enough ... and new prospective tenants are already at the door. She needs help ...
First try ... her erstwhile partner, Shuklaji ... whose business is down at the moment, he can't spare the money. So she wishes him well for the future ... no help here.
Next try ... friendly neighbourhood garage man, Happyji ... who was so helpful when she was trying to set up her sweet shop. She doesn't want a gift, she needs a loan ... and she will work to pay it off. But Happyji  is aghast ... How can she, the bahu of such a big house, work for him ... and besides, he doesn't have the money either ...  No help here either.
And ASR, who would bribe, threaten and coerce people into following his orders, has apparently sussed out his wife and her helpers very well. The only two people she would approach ... one, Shuklaji, was told not to interfere between husband and wife, and gently given a reminder that his job depended on Arnav ... The other Happyji, Arnav knew would not bow to threats, because he was a sincere well-wisher of Khushi ... so he was asked to not help her, so that Arnav could make up with Khushi ... for her own happiness.

So Khushi is defeated for the moment, and has no choice but to return to Arnav ... who should be concentrating on work, but actually is only waiting for her ... 3 ...2...1... here she comes.
How well this husband wife know each other ... when Khushi ran off to GH, she did the exact same count, and Arnav appeared ... inn dono ke khayalat kitne milte julte hain! :))
'Hi.' No name, no formal greeting ... she was expected :)
Khushi finds herself in the same spot as Arnav was a few days back ... trying to eat humble pie and get her words out ... 'Ha ... ha ...' 'Happy Singh is all right ...'
Another try ... 'kir ... kir ...' 'No kirana store nearby ...'

And she's mad now ... 'you're enjoying this aren't you?!'
Yes, he is ... but not for the reason she thinks. Not because he likes seeing her upset or desperate ... he doesn't ... he never wanted it ... that was why he was doing his duty, and paying the rent without even being asked ... but she didn't let him ... and that was her ego speaking, not his. Her ego ... her need to show that she doesn't depend on anyone ... that she can do everything alone ...
And if this was not all about her ego ... then she's welcome to ask him for help ... help that he's perfectly willing to give ... not as a favour, but because it's her right ... she is his wife ... she doesn't even have to tell anyone, it stays only between them, between husband and wife alone ...
How many times has Arnav said in the last few days, variations of the same words? You're my wife, I'm your husband, you have the right ...

But Khushi is not convinced yet ... the six month contract still hangs heavy between them ... she will not take it as her right, because she's not convinced it is her right.
Fortunately Arnav is on the right track now ... his goal is to get that contract and six month clause out of the way, and the first step is to show her that she has the right.
So when she offers to work for him, he accepts ... but we don't need to stretch it for a month, a day is enough. 24 hours ... do whatever I say ... Rs 1000 per hour ...
'Whatever you say ... are you mad?'
'Knowing you, I'm still making this offer, so obviously I am mad. But there it is. Deal?'
And she has to agree ... and shake on it.

And he wonders aloud, rather suggestively, what he can make her do ... and steps up close to her ... she refuses to retreat ... she holds her ground, even though she has to clutch onto a chair to steady herself.
Remembering his words? Khushi, it's high time you stopped retreating every time I come forward ... you have to walk ahead with me ...
'What can you do for me?' even more suggestive, leaning in close ... Khushi more and more nervous ... till he says ... 'your time starts now.'
She'll work in office, typing, fetching, carrying ... anything ...
But he doesn't want their bargain in office, in front of everyone ... this is private, between them alone ...and he knows she won't go home to RM ...
'Then where?'
The best place, where she is comfortable ... where he is totally at ease ... and they can actually grab some time alone ... ;)

 Garima-Buaji ... more hints that Shashi babu is improving ... and warm welcome for Arnav as favourite damaad ... though Garima teases him she knows what 'work' brings him here so often ;) and Arnav is quite pleased at the allegation ... :) to Khushi's annoyance ... :))
'Does he have to keep coming home? And is telling you everything a part of the deal?'
"Nope. I'll put it in the next deal.' Not an issue.
'There will be no next deal between you and me!'
No need to even bother with a response to that one. As long as they're together, there will be deals ... it's the way they're made. And they're going to be together for a long, long time.
'I'm going in. Bring my tea. Don't forget ... no sugar.'

Break ... Anjali wants to share her sonogram cd with her brother ... but he's missing. And opportunely, he calls, worrying about her, concerned for her ... is she all right?
Yes, she's fine ... going to make kheer ...she'll keep some for him too ... 'are you in office?'
No, at Buaji's ...
Slight face freeze at that one ... 'oh, okay.'
So he explains further ... he wanted to check that everything was okay ... and can he stay back tonight?
'Yes, it's okay ... of course ...'
And she tells herself out loud ... 'Buaji is not well, she might need something ... it's better he stay there, I won't call him ...' Yes, she understands, she gives him permission to stay there, after all, he's staying out of duty ...
No mention of Khushi, his wife, who is also there ... even though he told her barely a day or so back that he loves his wife madly ...
And the cd reminds her that she is alone ... without either of her two biggest supports.
Try as I might, I cannot feel very sorry for Anjali ... a baby bump might just help ... but she's in her
home, with a loving supportive family ... it's time she stopped thinking about herself and started thinking a little more about her child ...

Back to ArHi ... Arnav lays down the rules ... 'service with a smile, and no anger' ... guaranteed to be the fastest way to rile her up ... he wants the fiery Khushi back ... and you can call me ...
'Laad Governer?' Yep, it's working, she's already getting mad, and starting to take swipes at him ... with the ordered bright smile in place ...
'Actually, Arnav is fine ...'
More annoyance and muttering under her breath ... 'what all I would like to call you ...'
And the games start ... first order ... 'biwi nahin banna hai to TV bano ... entertain me ...'
Stock markets ... music ... news ... and he watches with a smile as his fiery Khushi gets a chance to take out all her bhadaas on him ... his AR Designs has plunged because he's a bewakoof, spending all his time troubling her ...
Would the old ASR ever have laughed to hear this? The new improved Arnav does ... delighted to see his girl back in action ...
Music ... followed up with a version of Mausam hai suhana, complete with his tanashahi ... Arnav is happy, this is his Khushi, fighting fit ...
News ... a wife killed her diabetic husband with sugared tea ... fed up with his atrocities ...
Dance ... but she's reached her limit ...
And he stops immediately ... that's not what he wanted at all ... he wants her fighting, not defeated ... he didn't want to hurt her at all this time ... the show is called off immediately as he forces her to sit ... takes care of her ...

And the mood changes from flirting, teasing, fighting ... to something different ... mellow, soft, tender ...
'Khushi, I'm sorry I hurt you ...'
And she looks at him startled ... what is he saying sorry for? For the hurt ankle? Or for everything else too?
And their eyes speak, reach out ... as he rubs the balm into her ankle gently, tenderly ... and the mood changes again ... a reminder of a night never forgotten, a night that woke emotions, passions ... a night of love and hate and pain ...
'Do you always wear this?'
'Always ...' her voice softer, husky, filled with emotions she's been trying to forget ... 'It belonged to my mother.'
'I remember.' His voice soft too ... gentle ... 'You said that once.'
She never told him ... she told Anjali and Lavanya ... but he heard ... and he remembers everything about her ... small or big ...
'They're beautiful ...'
Did he mean her feet or the payal? Or both? Or the thought ... that she wore them all the time for her dead mother?
A man whose first compliment was ... 'this color doesn't look that bad on you ...' he has come a long way ...
And Khushi is overcome with emotion ... the feelings behind his words, and the memories both ... she was supposed to keep her distance, but she's in danger of losing her heart all over again ... she tries to run away with an excuse, but he's not letting her ...
'Relax. What is it you have to do? I'll do it for you ...'
'I have to get the clothes ...'
'I'll get them for you ... you can't walk ...'
But she needs to get away from him ... so she tries ... 'I can ...'
And he's not having any of it ... he just sweeps her off her feet into his arms ... :) and she goes like a homing pigeon ...

Although she tries to protest as he carries her into the living room ... with disastrous results ... trip and fall ... no catch ... and they end up locked together ... with him on his back under her ...

Precap ... is Arnav maroing major chance pe dance? His back looks in perfectly good shape, the way he flipped Khushi over :) :"> Shall worry about the medical aspects later ... oh heck, why worry at all? Much better things to worry about ... like will they be interrupted this time? Or will one of them back off?

Thoughts:
ArHi -
Stepping back from the initial euphoria, one thing that I have to commend the cv's for is for keeping the basic traits of Arnav and Khushi intact in this episode. Arnav is not yet the perfect husband, but he's trying his hardest to make up for a lot of mistakes he's made in the past, and probably starting very slowly to realise the extent of hurt he's given Khushi.
And for the first time, something that I pointed out on R&R ages ago, comes up ... Khushi has as much pride and ego as Arnav does ...

Arnav has pinpointed one of the two reasons for Khushi leaving ... her worry about the contract. I get the feeling that he also knows about the second reason ... or has a good idea. But first things first ... reassure Khushi that the contract is null and void ... she is his wife, and he wants her to stay his wife for this janam ... with first call on the next six as well.
Why doesn't he just tell her?
Would she believe him? Would she trust that he wouldn't bring it up the very next time he got angry or lost his temper? The next time his Di got worried or upset because of her? This isn't the first time this has happened ... they got close, she started dreaming, believing in dreams ... and then had them shattered brutally. And the last time was particularly brutal ... after risking her life, after finally daring to believe that he was with her ... then a few angry words and it all shattered again ...
So he has to do both ... tell her that the contract has no meaning ... and show her that too, show her that even if he does get angry, she is his wife ... she has the right to question him, get angry with him, shout back ... she has to believe in herself, in her place in his life, her importance ...

The problem with Di will take time to get sorted out ... and he knows that ... but it can't be solved by her running away every time Di throws a fit or a tantrum ... so first things first ... she has to accept her place as his wife and stay by his side.

I wasn't very happy with the whole Biwi Bani TV thing ... but could see both POV's ... Arnav's and Khushi's. Arnav was trying to spend time with Khushi, and to get back his fighter girl. The old Khushi was getting lost somewhere, battered again and again with the accusations, the complaints, the guilt, her own fears and insecurities ... she was losing the essence of Khushi - her smile, her never-say-die spirit. And by provoking her, he was trying to bring her back ... as long as she was fighting him, he was happy and kept it going, but the moment things got slightly out of hand, the moment she started feeling humiliated, upset, tearful, he stopped it ... and showed her the care, the love, the concern under the teasing ... he didn't want to hurt her, and he apologised immediately when he did. A man who found it so hard to say sorry, now finds the word slipping so easily off his tongue ... 

Arnav-Anjali ... when Arnav had that first talk with Anjali, he gave her an edited version of the truth, enough to keep her happy and restore her confidence in her position in his world, as the center of it. He did say that he was in love with Khushi, that his world would cease to exist without Khushi, but Anjali didn't pay so much attention to that part. For her it was more important that he had married Khushi for her sake, and that even with Khushi around, Anjali's position remained unchanged, their bond remained unchanged.
Did Arnav really believe that? Or was it said because he knew Anjali's deep-rooted sense of insecurity? Because the next day, when he tried to reassure Khushi, he skated over the conversation he had with Anjali.
And today, he kept up the facade of Khushi's lie ... why? To reassure Anjali that he was in GH only for Buaji? Did he also notice that withdrawal on Anjali's part when Khushi reached out to her the day Khushi left RM? Was the call to Anjali partly the call of a concerned, loving brother, and partly the call of a brother who knew his sister's insecurities and wanted to allay them? Asking her permission to stay at GH, rather than simply telling her where he was ... letting her think Buaji was the reason, not giving her the real reason, that he was wooing his wife.
When he had to miss the pooja for work, Anjali was perfectly understanding ... work could take precedence over attending a pooja with her, because she knows for him, work can never be more important than Anjali.
When he gives Buaji's health as the reason for staying at GH, Anjali is equally satisfied ... he doesn't care for Buaji more than he cares for Anjali, Buaji can never be more important for him than Anjali ... again, permission granted graciously.
I had wondered then too ... if he had said he wanted to stay with Khushi because he feels Khushi needs him, would Anjali have been so complaisant? And it seems Arnav does know Anjali very well ... so he makes Buaji the excuse ... rather than tell her the truth, and ask her to keep it from the rest of the RMvaasis.

Arnav-Khushi, a couple - When Arnav Khushi got married, Khushi kept Arnav's secret from both her family and his  ... never telling them the truth ... it stayed between them alone.
When Arnav found out Khushi lied to come to GH, the truth stays between him and her ... neither does he let it out to her family, nor to his. What is between them, stays between them. Because they are now a unit, a couple ... husband-wife.

Anjali's POV ... alone, pregnant (again, I would feel so much more sympathy for Anjali if she actually looked pregnant!) ... she gets the sonography cd of her baby, and wants to share it with someone. Husband is not there (as far as we know - did she meet him at the hospital? Is that why she went alone? Or is it too soon?) So the first person she thinks of is her brother ... but he's not there. Even before she can miss him, he calls, tells her where he is, asks her permission to stay ... Anjali is happy. He doesn't mention Khushi at all, neither does she ... even though she knows Khushi is at her maika. Anjali again doing what she does best ... playing ostrich ... burying her head in the sand ... if she doesn't see the problem, it doesn't exist, and she doesn't have to deal with it.

26/7 - Epi 306 ... Challenge 360

Thursday July 26th

The first challenge was to throw her out in 15 days.
The challenge today is to win her back in 13 days ... make that 12 days.
What is common to both challenges - Arnav Singh Raizada doesn't play fair.

Is Anjali cracking up? Or is she really talking to someone?
Someone who has her priorities right ... Payal. Sexy nighties when husband is around, simple saris when he isn't. 

Added - 'Take my help ...because you have the right to demand it.'
'Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, tum har kaam akele nahin kar sakti ...'
And you don't need to do everything alone either. Because I'm there.'

*edited*

ArHi ... The first almost normal conversation between husband and wife? When he expresses his anger and the reason ... 'why did you lie to me? The doctor told me the truth ...'
And she expresses her frustration back ... 'why did you pay the rent?' Here she is trying to distance herself, make herself independent again, not rely on him any more, because she can't dare to get used to his help ... why is he making it so difficult for her? So 'why did you pay the rent? I can do it myself. I don't need any favour from you.'
And his anger in turn ... 'it's not a favour! I have the right ... this house and Buaji mean something to me ...'
She stares at him in hope ... does he mean that? But then hardens her heart and looks away ... no, he doesn't mean it, she can't afford to rely on him, it's not going to last, it never does ...
'No ...'
More anger ... 'what do you mean, no? And why did you lie to me about coming here?' He wants an answer, she's his wife ... KKGSR ...
She lied because she had to ... he wouldn't have let her come otherwise ...
And she turns away and apologises ... 'I'm sorry I lied to you, but I had to come here, I needed to see Buaji, I needed a change ...'
She needed to get away from that atmosphere at RM, where everyone was treating her like a criminal, where whatever she did with the best of intentions always went wrong, where she felt guilty for just existing, for just being there ...probably the first time she did something because she needed it, something for herself ... she feels so guilty for doing something for herself, that she can't even face him when she says it ...
And his face softens instantly ... he's seen the treatment she's got from everyone, he does understand ... but why didn't she tell him?
Would he have let her come if she had told him? Even when she came on her birthday, he was angry ... just the night before he had threatened her that she had to stay at RM till the contract was over ...

And he sees the truth of her words, and is instantly apologetic ... the man who had to struggle to say 'sorry', now says it so easily, when it comes from the heart ... 'I'm sorry, Khushi ...' sorry that he didn't realise how bad she was feeling inside, how much she needed that break ...
And she says sorry immediately back in turn ... sorry that she lied ... but now the air is cleared between them, the anger gone, time to say goodbye ... 'you go home, in thirteen days everything will be all right ...'
And he's confused again ... the contract is the last thing on his mind, because it stopped having any meaning long ago ... 'why thirteen days?'
And he reaches out again, desperately trying to understand ... desperately wanting her to trust him, lean on him, share her fears with him ... 'what is it that you're still scared of telling me? You know you can tell me ... ' holding her shoulders, trying his best to reassure her, he's with her every step of the way, doesn't she know that?

But she can't ... she's too scared ... that the contract does mean something, that her time is really running out ...
Once he was scared to confront her about Shyam, scared that if he did ask her, she would confirm his worst fear, and say yes, she did love Shyam ... and that would have broken him completely.
Now she is scared to bring up the contract in words, scared that he will confirm her fears, and say, yes, the contract is over in six months ... scared because that will break her completely ... so she prefers to run away from that fear rather than face it.

"We need to go out ... Buaji will be worried ...'
And she steps away from his hands holding her, withdraws again ... before he can throw her off ...

And he gives up ... but only for the moment ... he's not going to stop trying till he finds out what exactly is bothering her so much ...

To a worried Buaji, who asks 'is everything all right?' he can only answer a doubtful 'shayad ...' he will fix things, but he needs to find out what needs fixing ... so far he hasn't ...
And Khushi looks at him ... has he accepted then? Her withdrawal, and the reason for it?
He hasn't ... at the door, he turns back for one more try ... again reaching out ... 'tell me what's wrong, I'm with you ...'
But she's too scared ... 'nothing is wrong ...' and yet everything is wrong ... he has to find out some other way, because she won't tell him ... everything is wrong because she's shut herself off from him ...

Unsaid ... He - reaching out, trying to bridge the distance, but he doesn't understand the reason for the gap. How would he? He says things he doesn't mean in anger, he brought up the contract matter in panic to stop her, but the contract itself, and especially the six month clause, stopped meaning anything to him a long time back. He doesn't dream that it still means anything to her, that she could still believe it was valid. He's tried to show her in so many ways that he has accepted her completely as his wife, and himself as her husband. But it does ... karma bites ... so many times has he said things in anger, done things in anger, meant every word and carried out his threats, that now she can't dare to believe in anything any more. But he doesn't understand that yet ... although this time he's trying desperately ... trying again and again to reach out ... but she is trying equally hard to withdraw.

She ... So many times has he hurt her, then melted, made her feel special, wanted, loved ... and then gone right back and broken her heart all over again. And the last time was the worst ... the straw that finally broke the camel's back. After going through hell only for him, almost losing her own life, then given a glimpse of paradise ... he wanted her, he trusted her, he loved her ... only to have it snatched back so cruelly ... 'all this happened because of you ...' and the contract still holds ... 'you have to stay here because the contract still holds ...' Unsaid ... you have to leave when the contract is over.
Is she to believe the words that he keeps repeating every time something goes wrong? Or the love that he shows her in his every action?
She doesn't know ... and she's finally had enough heartbreak. Thirteen more days ... and the vicious cycle of love and heartbreak ends.

SN - Glad to see the cv's have taken our advice ... enough screen space for the other characters ... Mami Bond sees Anjali talking to herself?/ bluetooth?/ hidden stranger? ... 'why don't you understand? you feel this way ... can I ever say anything wrong to you? I can't ...'
And Mami wonders, and then forgets in the more immediate problems of 'danger' ... so she wants Payal to babysit her ...

Nani and Payal discuss Mami and how time flies ... Arnav arrives back from GH in time for the relevant part ... which finally lights up his dim bulb ...:))
'Six months' ... the condition of their marriage ... six months ... the contract is not yet over ... thirteen days more ...
'That's why she's left home ... because the marriage contract ...'
Anger ... at himself that he didn't figure that one out yet? At her, that she could still think it was a contract? At himself again, because he was the idiot who brought it up again? And a lurking fear ... because she is the 'pagal' who is capable of walking out on the riches, the status, the position of being Mrs Arnav Singh Raizada.

While Khushi looks at the clock and then back to her best friend, Devi Maiyya ... the countdown has started ... only twelve more days now ... twelve days left during which she can still call herself his wife ... only twelve days ... hopeless despair, anguish ... love, hope, dreams slipping away slowly ... and she doesn't dare to try to hold on ... because it hurts even more when she fails ...

And Arnav ... determination creeping in, now that he has finally identified the problem ... he has twelve days left ... to win her heart ... and he will do it ... now that he's found the problem, he will fix it ... and she will be Khushi Kumari Gupta ... Singh Raizada for ever ... After all, he is Arnav Singh Raizada, and there is nothing he can't do.
Arnav bitwa ... you already have her heart ... it's her confidence, her trust in you, that you need to restore ... her trust that you won't let her down ever again ... as you have always done so far ... how are you going to do that? And no, you haven't identified the real problem yet ... only part of it.

Khushi's dream ... again sinking under the burden of Arnav's 'ehsaan' ... she will return every penny ... and he smirks ... 'I've heard that one before ...'
And Khushi wakes up with a  start .. why such a morning dream? They always come true ...:(

Amma Babuji return ... Babuji on the mend ... Buaji tells Khushi to brush her teeth before she hugs everyone :))

And ASR's plan into action ... the landlord wants his rent within 24 hours ... as ASR has stopped his cheque ... Khushi looks at her ABB and is worried all over again ...

RM ... more blank calls, Nani and Mami worried about Anjali blabbering to herself ... second time Mami has mentioned Nani's old admirer ... and Anjali bitiya has gone off to the doctor's on her own ...

Khushi comes storming into Arnav's office ... growing impatience as he deals with his calls ... he refuses to answer her, till she demands his attention ... as her right ... and he promptly gives it to her ...
'I'm listening ...'
So she blasts him ... 'why did you stop the cheque?'
'When I paid, you had a problem, now I've stopped the payment, you have a problem ...'
And she's a bit taken aback ... yes, why is she angry, he's done exactly what she wanted ... or thought she wanted ... she didn't want his help, his ehsaan ... she was going to return his money anyway ...
But now he's taken it back himself, and she has only twenty four hours ...

'Okay, so what will you do? Do you need my help?'
Her ego is back ... no, she won't take his help ... even though she came to him like a homing pigeon to share her worries ... and he's perfectly willing to help her ... if she's ready to take his help ...
But she's not ready yet ... or confident enough yet ... 'No, I don't. I'll manage.'
'Ah, yes ... I've heard that line before ... from you. Why do I feel you'll come back only to me for help?' Because I'm the only one you can demand help from as your right ... when you accept that ...
'Never ...'
And she leaves ... leaving ASR happy ... she will be back ... and that too, before the contract is over.

So will this money hunt last for the next twelve days? Or will she be back tomorrow itself, as the precap suggests? And will there be another challenge?

The last challenge - ASR wanted to break Khushi's spirit, to make her leave him ...
This challenge - he wants her spirit intact, he wants the defeated attitude gone ... He doesn't want her to run away from RM because she can't stand the atmosphere there. He wants her to accept her right to be there by his side, her right to be with him, and make sure she never leaves him ever again. 

The contract is not yet over. He could force her to come back for the next thirteen days. But he's not doing that. Because he's realised force won't work. Tried once, been there, done that.
Slowly, one step at a time ... Arnav bitwa is getting there ...

25/7 - Epi 305 ... Telling Tall Tales

Wednesday 25th July

Light hearted for the most part ... Khushi actually managed to get away with the her tall tales to the doctor ... but just for a short while, not long enough.
When Arnav rang the bell for the fourth time on the first day his wife went to her maika, I laughed ... the guy just can't stay away from her, can he? But now what is he going to do?

And Mami catches Anjali telling stories ... has Anjali already met Shyam?

First ArHi scene ... full on flirtatious Arnav ...

Second ArHi scene ... furious Arnav, furious Khushi ... waiting for the continuation of their fight tomorrow. Looks like they will end up having a huge fight and he will storm off ... and then Nani will let loose the bombshell ... six months are over. Leaving Arnav to do ... what?!

*edited*
Not too much to add today ... the episode appeared to be a light-hearted filler, and the precap indicates it was exactly that, the calm before the storm, as the next storm gathers speed.

I gave Khush's story some thought - was it about Shyam and his sister? About Shyam's mother? An unmarried girl left alone, her marriage broken ... 'shaadi nahin hui ... ab voh akeli Mumbai mein rehti hai ...' Abandoned because she was pregnant from an affair with Arnav's father? Is there any connection to Shyam at all, or is this a connection with Khushi's parents? Where does that abandoned girl whose marriage broke, and who is now living alone in Mumbai fit in?
At the moment, it does not fit clearly into any scenario, so I will gloss over it for the time being, and presume it was exactly what it was supposed to be ... a tall tale. 
Loved the sleeping Buaji, the concerned gullible doctor ... as for Khushi, I alternated between wanting to wring her neck for spinning yet another story, and laughing at the story itself and the dramatics accompanying it :)) Sanaya was completely hilarious!

I counted ... twenty four hours have not elapsed yet, and Arnav has made five trips already to his wife's maika ... :))
- first, to drop her
- second, to return her mobile phone
- third, on his way back from dropping Akash to the airport, ostensibly to visit Buaji - sent away by Khushi
- fourth, return with the doctor
- fifth, return when he discovered Khushi's lies about Buaji

No wonder Khushi says 'Arnav Singh Raizada haath dho kar peeche pad gaye hain!'  =))
Is the sixth coming up? When he realises six months are over, and Khushi has left for good?

Mami got one thing correct ... Khushi has her pagal premee pati firmly wrapped around her little finger all right ... Come pick me up ... okay ... No, don't bother, I've gone home ... okay, I'm coming there ...
And when he comes, he loses no opportunity to flirt with his wife ... and claim that kiss he's been wanting for so long ... :">
But Khushi is not Mrs. Arnav Singh Raizada for nothing ... well trained by her husband, she's good at the sharting too ... except that he hates to lose ...
And he knows and she knows, she is not unaffected by his closeness ... not in the least ...
The dhak dhak made a reappearance today ... Khushi made a brave effort ... but he left her remembering his kiss ... even though she tried her best to snap out of her 'sapnon ki duniya' ... but it took an effort ...
Loved Sanaya's and Barun's expressions in that scene ... the teasing, Arnav's confidence, his full on flirting, Khushi's awareness ... and then her soft smile and blush after he left ... Sanaya's expressiosn there ... perfect! =D>

Anjali's blank calls continue ... why did Shyam call on the house phone? Was it to check who was in the house? And to ask Anjali to come outside?
And Mami gets back from annoying saas avatar to her more interesting Manorama Bond one ... her suspicions raised immediately at Anjali's extra-long walk, her mysterious phone call ... more tall tales here ...

The last ArHiBua scene ... Barun,Sanaya and Buaji were hilarious, Arnav very seriously and sadly recounting Khushi's tall tale, Buaji's complete absorption in the sad story, and Khushi's initial anger changing to consternation at being found out so soon, and her desperate attempts to turn the topic, ignored very sweetly and sadly by Arnav, so absorbed is he in the tragic tale :)) ... Khushi sweetheart, Nani and NK said it truly, you don't know how to lie, you're pathetic at it, you get caught out immediately ...

As she did by a furious Arnav ... but after Shuklaji's phone call, she is furious as well ... and we get a role reversal ... Khushi backing Arnav against the wall ... and he tries to tell her 'in cheezon se farak nahin padta hai' ... but he's wrong, farak padta hai ... because she doesn't want any favour from him ...
And now he loses it ... favour?! she's his wife, her family is his family too ...

24/7 - Epi 304 ... Running Away

Tuesday 24th July

Quick Update ... Khushi is running away. For both reasons. Her marriage is temporary ... none of Arnav's recent loving talks have banished that certainty, he has not mentioned once that he wants this marriage for keeps. And for a man used to live in arrangements, the fact that he seems to want to take their relationship, temporary though it is, to another level, is not really surprising for a person like him ... but of course, unthinkable for her. Besides, Di is unhappy with her there, she realised it when Di spoke to her ... Di will be happier with her gone, and Arnav will be happy only when Di is happy ... and she ... she can't be happy if Arnav is not happy.
And the contract is not over yet, she is more susceptible to Arnav than she realised, as she has seen time and again ... including when he returns her phone to her ... he doesn't make it easier for her, with his new 'wanting to get up close and personal' avatar ... it's better for her to leave and keep him fooled till the contract gets over and she can legitimately refuse to return.

Two more tracks opening up ... Buaji and her rent problems ...

And Payash are not quite done yet, patched up on the surface, but the cracks are very much there ... Payal, being eternal self-sacrificing Bhartiya nari, and dumb with it, refuses a trip with husband, because MIL makes a jibe ... I would have thought that was the best reason to go! And Akash thinks Payal is thinking about Khushi and Buaji ... 

Anjali is already happier with Khushi not being around ... moving out of her depressions to ask Akash to take care ...

The rest of the episode was about Khushi trying desperately to keep Buaji from knowing she has moved back here for good ... between nautanki, gol guppas, laddoos and a spot of mimicry , she manages to keep both the Raizadas and Buaji fooled. By Raizadas, read Nani, Payal and Arnav ... Anjali, Akash and Mami are not bothered.

Precap ... Arnav brings a doctor for Buaji ... when is he going to find out the truth?

*Edited*

Khushi ... running away ... from whom? All her life, from the tender age of eight, an orphan, taken into a loving family, but a family who never hesitated to remind her that she didn't actually belong ... trying all her life to belong, failing that, trying to be needed enough so that she would be indispensable, and hence would have a place ... but even all her Babuji's love and affection never quite gave her that confidence. Because his loving words on one side "khoon ke rishte se zyada dil ke rishte hote hain" ... and Buaji and Garima's taunts and hurting words on the other side ...
She was blamed for Payal's marriage break up, she did that because 'Payal was not her real sister,' .. she was forced to get engaged to Shyam because her Babuji's health seemed to depend on it, and if she didn't sublimate her own desires for her Babuji's sake, it was because she was an orphan and not really theirs ... every time she tried to do something for her family and it backfired, she was blamed because she wasn't their own, she didn't belong.

And when she thought she had found love, someone her own, she was forced into a hate marriage, which she had to agree to because her adopted sister's marriage was on the line ... again sublimating her own dreams, her own hopes and desires to save her sister's marriage ...

Then she dared to dream again ... yes, she understood why he had married her the way he did, he did it to save his sister's marriage, the same way that she agreed to it, to save her sister's ... she held no grudge against him for that once she knew his reason ... but she did feel hurt again that he didn't trust her enough to even ask her, to give her a chance ... to trust her ...
And then it seemed he did ... in front of the entire family, he trusted her word ... later that night, even after his sister was angry with him, he came back to her, held her, hugged her, stayed with her ... finally she dared to dream again ... finally she had found a place of her own, with the man she loved ...

And in less than a day, he overturned that hope again ... he shattered her dreams again ... he wished she had never come into his life, it was all her fault, his sister's unhappiness was all her fault ... and she was an orphan and homeless and alone all over again ...
So it would be better to leave ... always low, her self-esteem took another beating with this last assault ... yes, it was all her fault ... whatever she did, whatever she tried to do, with the best of intentions, it always went wrong ... even her attempt to console Di, to give her strength and courage misfired so badly that everyone blamed her all over again ... even he blamed her ... he, whom she finally had looked to for support ... all her life, she tried to be the support for others, for once she needed support, he gave it, and then snatched it away again almost instantly ...
He did feel bad very soon, he did wish he hadn't uttered the words ... but he never said he didn't mean them ... and he re-emphasized that their marriage was just a contract, and that her time was running out ...

From a home where she dreamed she would finally belong, to the knowledge that that home too was a mirage ... from a loving older sister-like nanad, to a woman who couldn't stand to see her around ... She was shunned after her marriage for no fault of her own, she worked to win back love and respect and acceptance from the entire family ... and now she stands alone again ... blamed by everyone for everything that went wrong ... except for Nani, who knows a good portion of the truth, but who is bound by ties of love and duty to stand on the side of the wronged daughter ..

She loves Arnav ... she knows he loves her too .. but for how long? For him, his sister has always been the most important person in his life ... and his sister does not want her around. If she stays, there will be an eternal conflict in his mind between sister and wife ... and if his sister is unhappy, he will never be happy.
She doesn't stop to think that if she is unhappy, he will never be happy either ... Khushi has no sense of self, she has no realisation of exactly how important she is for this man ... and he has never told her. For him, the social bond of marriage holds no importance ... she is his wife, he wants her as his wife, and if she stays with him, she will give in sooner or later, because she loves him deeply, hopelessly, irrevocably.
And the next time he gets angry, he will throw her out again ... and if Di is unhappy with her, he will get angry with her sooner or later, that's a certainty ... because she can't stop meddling, she can't stop trying to put things right when she sees them going wrong ... she will do the same again, things will go wrong again ... it's a vicious cycle which she needs to break ...
And the only way she can break it is by removing herself.

The problem is ... will Arnav let her?
Will Buaji understand her enough and let her?

If Gul Khan's vision was of a story about a brother and sister, and Khushi was supposed to be merely the love interest, then the PH did a big mistake by taking Sanaya as Khushi. Because she has made Khushi into the most complex character of them all ... more layered than even Arnav or Anjali ... instead of worrying about Arnav and Anjali's tragic past, I wonder more about Khushi's psyche, and I see the hurt, the pain, the loneliness of this orphan girl, always trying to belong, always trying to keep a smile on her face to show the world ... because she has no one to share her tears with. And she has understood very early on, the truth in the old saying ...
"Laugh and the world laughs with you ... weep and you weep alone."

Khushi doesn't want to be alone ... that is her biggest fear. And if it means that she laughs when her heart is breaking inside ... so be it.

Two posts I enjoyed reading today ...
Spice Girls Hangout  Scroll down and read joenet's post :)

Director's cut  Scroll down to the second post - redwine's analysis.
 

23/7 - Epi 303 ... Exit Khushi Stage Left

Monday 23rd July

On one side, a reassurance ... from a brother to his sister. A sister whom he has always looked after, always been closest to ... a silent man, he never really told her in words what he felt for the girl he loved, although he always told her what he felt for her, his Di, the center of his world. Today he did that ... told an insecure, crumbling sister the truth ... or some of it ... that she was the center of his world and would always be ... that he had married Khushi for her sake, but fell in love with her after that ...
Either Arnav has selective amnesia, or he is purposely telling Anjali only part of the truth, the part he thinks she wants to hear ... giving her the reassurance he knows she needs.
"I married her for your sake ... I fell in love with her later ... she is the one without whom I cannot live, without whom meri saansein ruk jayengi .... but you are still my world, our relationship remains unchanged ..." Is this truly what Arnav thinks? Or is it what he thinks Anjali needs right now?
And was Anjali happy to hear that her brother had found love in his life? Or was she happier to hear that even with his new love, her own position in his life remained unchanged? The reassurance she was seeking, with her world crumbling around her shoulders. And he was happy to give her, because he truly felt that way. His love for his wife didn't affect his love for his sister ... why should it? Two different people, two different kinds of love.

On the other side, a reassurance ... from a wise old lady to a young girl, equally insecure about her position in her new home. A sasuraal where she appears to be living on sufferance, tolerated, but not welcome, the cause of the problems besetting the house. As she tries to tell Nani the truth again, that Arnav did not lie to his family, his sister ... and Nani utters the wisest words of the evening ... 'it doesn't matter, you are married, you need to spend time with each other ...' But Khushi has already seen the cracks between brother and sister, also the cracks between her own sister and her husband ... and she can't take any more.

Some of the cracks are healing though ... as Payal and Akash make up slowly, tentatively, and promise to make a fresh start. Though Akash still thinks Khushi is at fault.

And Arnav returns to his room, satisfied with himself ... he's taken care of his sister, she's happy, now Khushi will be happy too. He's told Di he loves Khushi, but he loves Di as before ... Di is happy, no need for Khushi to skulk in corners and hide ... he can show his love to his wife openly now.
Men are such simpletons at times!!! :)) 

Time for Khushi's googly ... Buaji is unwell, so she will go to GH to take care of her. Nani agrees, Arnav perturbed, he wants to come too.
Khushi packs her DM into her bag ... she's not planning to come back.
Arnav, Khushi and chanas ... Arnav proclaims his victory again, completely sure of himself now ... she accepted him as her husband. She's his wife, she loves him as much as he loves her ... even Di is happy now ... life is a bed of roses.
Bitwa, the thorns are just about coming up to bite you :)

Khushi apologises to Payal on her way out ... she's sorry she interfered between them. Anjali actually talks to her ... much to Khushi's surprise and Arnav's quiet satisfaction again ... he's solved that problem all right!
Khushi says goodbye to Nani, to Mami, to Akash ... all in the same sombre mood ... her last farewell, but nobody should know that ... least of all Arnav, because like she told Buaji last time ... 'agar hum unko batate toh voh humein jaane dete kya?'
NK tells Arnav to drop her ... Arnav irritated, he doesn't need to be told to drop his own wife, thanks! He's going to do it anyway!

And Arnav's tubelight finally lights up when they reach home, his own complete satisfaction with the situation blinding him to Khushi's mood till they actually reach GH ... when he belatedly realises something is not quite right ... why is she so quiet?! And again Khushi makes some excuse, and manages to leave without letting him come in ... and as he leaves, she looks after him, her grief in her eyes ...
The end of a chapter ... she managed to keep her mask on for long enough to fool him and make her exit ... but now it's all over. Her six month contract has ended, the drama of playing wife to Arnav to save his sister's marriage and hers, has ended ... she couldn't save Di's marriage but at least Shyam's truth is out for all ... Di is recovering ... Di and Arnav's relationship is no longer threatened because of her, Di needs Arnav now and she will have him all to herself ... Payal's marriage is safe ... Khushi has done all she could. Time for her to leave their lives, time for her to leave Arnav's life.
Exit Khushi Stage Left.

*Edit* I've said most of what I want to below ;) but to summarize ...

Anjali-Arnav ... Arnav gives Anjali the reassurance he thinks she needs. Anjali thinks things changed since his marriage, since he didn't answer her questions then ... He answers all her questions now ... He married Khushi only for her sake, for her and her child ... because he misunderstood Khushi and Shyam ... Anjali looks away at that, she doesn't want to hear more, so he skirts that issue ...
And he fell in love with Khushi after marriage, not before, the marriage was only for Anjali ...
And he reminds Anjali of her own words ... she wanted him to find a girl without whom he would feel hi heart stop ...
And Anjali is very happy ... because 'you remembered my words?' Also because he fell in love, because it was what she wanted for him ... he loves Khushi.
But Khushi's advent won't change their relationship ...  'don't ever say that or think that.'    And Anjali gives her first big smile ...
No, Anjali won't ... she's got her reassurance ... Arnav's love for her, his Di, will never change. She will remain the most important person in his life.
To Arnav's credit, he does mean what he says. Both loves can co-exist side by side. But then, he's not had to make any choices yet.

Khushi-Nani ... on the other hand, Nani reassures a worried Khushi ... Khushi tries to explain to Nani that Arnav was telling the truth, but Di got upset with Arnav, Di still gets upset seeing Khushi, and now Di has started misunderstanding Arnav too ... Di thinks this is all Khushi's fault, and maybe she is right ... every time Khushi tries to do something good, it misfires.
Nani tries to reassure her, Anjali liked her always, she wanted Arnav Khushi together ... it's not Khushi's fault, and neither is spending time with her husband wrong ... Khushi is slightly reassured that Anjali did like her once upon a time, and wanted her to be with Arnav.

Payash - papering the cracks ... Payal apologises for losing her cool on Akash, she felt like an outsider, not part of the family ... Akash accepts he did over-react, out of his own frustration and helplessness over his Di ... let's start over ... but don't repeat Khushi's mistake again. Payal tries to explain it wasn't Khushi's mistake ... but he doesn't want to listen.
No, the cracks have just been papered over ... not repaired or filled.

ArHi ... as they have with Arhi ... Arnav at peace with himself, and satisfied ... everything will be all right, he finally told Anjali the truth, she understands now, he also told her he loves Khushi, and Di understands that too, and is happy for him ... now everything will be all right. On to more important things ... Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, you accepted me as your husband, when you came into my arms ... you are my wife now ...
And how much easier it is to tell her his dil ki baatein when she's sleeping :"> :)  to caress her, hold her hand, gaze at her face to his heart's content till he falls asleep ... he loves her, he has finally accepted it, she has too ... his heart is at peace finally. Life is perfect, their life together is just starting out and it will be perfect now.

Little does he know!

Nani overhears Khushi on the phone ... Buaji is unwell, Khushi will go there. Nani is needed by Di.
Arnav returns after his jog, and sees Khushi's worried face. 'What happened?'

ArHi ... Khushi packs her DM, and her clothes ... Arnav adds his shirts :"> ... he's coming with her.
The guy is a gone case ... he can't let her out of his sight now :)
Khushi refuses .. no, he needs to stay and look after Di ...
But Di is okay ... why did Arnav stop, and not say more? Did he realise Di would be upset if he went? Or did he see that Khushi was still upset about last night's encounter with Di too?
So first he tries to soothe her ... win a smile ... he got her channas :)
And he's finally done something right ... Khushi smiles, she's actually, genuinely happy :) And starts chomping them immediately, his crazy jhalli Khushi ... happy with the smallest things ...

And as she drops them, and drops to her knees to pick them up, he goes with her ... back to the main issue between them ... 'Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada' ... not missing a single occasion to say the full name, including the all-important Singh Raizada at the end :) ... 'you didn't need to go down on your knees to accept me as your husband ...'
Reminds me of the kiss challenge ... the only thing on Mr ASR's mind was whether she would take up that challenge or not ... and the only thing on his mind now is that she's lost the challenge and is now his legally wedded wife, and she has accepted it ...
Arnav Bitwa feeling Hot Hot Hot and wanting to do LOT, LOT LOT ... :))

But Khushi is even more upset ... yes, she loves him, she has mentally accepted him as her husband, not just now, but a long time ago ... but has he really accepted her as his wife? In the true sense of the word ... with him always for better or for worse, in good times and bad? Or will history keep repeating itself ... every time he gets angry, loses his temper, will he tell her to Get Out ... then feel sorry and woo her again ... rinse, lather, repeat?
No, she's been hurt one too many times ... Khushi has finally reached the end point of her forgive and forget road, the limit of her tolerance and her ability to bounce back ... she can't do it any more. This time she is not going to melt and give in as always ...

(SN ... Dia rubbing hands and getting ready for Arnav's RTR ... finally?! Or another false start?)

Khushi-Payal ... as Khushi confided to Nani, every time she tried to do good, she worsened matters ... no more. So 'sorry' to Payal for interfering between her and Akash ... Payal does understand and is not angry ... to Khushi's relief.
And Anjali says Khushi's name ... bravely, and Arnav looks up ... aah, his words to Di had the desired effect, she's not angry with Khushi any more, because she loves him too much, and is happy for him, she's making the attempt to mend ties with Khushi.

Khushi is overwhelmed ... Anjali is talking to her again ... she's even concerned about her enough to tell her to eat before leaving ... although she leaves when Khushi takes a step forward ...
And Arnav is very satisfied now ... he knew Khushi was very upset about Di being angry with her ... another achievement, Khushi is happy that Di took a step forward ... All sorted out now :)
And Anjali has made her point subtly ... she is still the gracious lady of the house ... her position unchanged, the Queen Bee. 'Do eat before you leave.'

Nani, gracious as ever, gives Khushi laddoos to carry, and Khushi bids her farewell - 'I will remember all of you a lot'.
Mami, ungracious as ever, tells her to take her time ... Khushi says farewell to mami and Akash ... he will still be her Jijaji, so 'hum aate hain ...'
NK, bindaas as ever, tells Arnav to drop Khushi, irritated Arnav doesn't need to be told what to do with his wife, he was going to do that anyway ... :) and he doesn't give her an option.

ArHi ... the penny dropping slowly, why is she so quiet? So worried? Is it Buaji? She'll be fine.
And Khushi continues to stare at him sadly, as though taking in his face for the last time, to hold her through for the rest of her life ...
and he's still confused, what is wrong?
A cute attempt to sing her own song back to her ... What the, what the what the ... even that doesn't work ... in fact, she 's almost on the verge of tears ... Ok, I won't sing but what is the matter?! 
And Khushi tries to hide her feelings ... 'Buaji' ... she's worried about buaji ...
And he's breaking her heart even more, by being gentle, understanding, helpful, everything she always dreamed of ... he'll carry her bag, meet Buaji ... she has to put him off, send him away ... 'no ... that will strain Buaji ...'
He understands that too ... accepts it. 'Take care ...' And as she leaves, he knows something is wrong somewhere, something is niggling at him ... she's more upset than she should be ...
'Khushi ... tum ...'
She stops and bids him farewell ... 'Chalte hain.' Not 'aate hain.' She won't be returning to his life. Their contract is over. She is not his wife any more. The reason he married her was to save his sister's marriage, that marriage broke, that reason doesn't exist any more. The reason she married him was to save her sister's marriage, that reason doesn't exist any more either, she does more harm than good now.
End of Act I, Contract Marriage. Exit Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada, stage Left.

Precap - Start of Act II ... Arnav's RTRW, Wooing Khushi Kumari Gupta. As is usual, start with a fight. 

Weekend Discussions and Weekly Shiddats

Shiddats for the Week

More ArHi romance ... some chori chori chupke chupke stuff, as Khushi goes to GH.
SN - Don't know why I'm surprised, actually ... they just agreed to accept each other as man and wife, and big C not happening yet ... so there had to be a separation! As long as it is accompanied by some serious wooing, am okay :)

Payal to retain and grow that newly developed - sorry, re-emerged spine of hers ... you go, girl!!!

Khushi stand as a brick for Arnav, help him deal with his crazy, insecure depressed sister ... some more of those 'look after yourself' scenes, some Khushi looking after Arnav scenes ...

One put down of Mami by Arnav ... please, just one! She's begging for it now. :)) Utkarshaji must be as unhappy as DB was ... she played a great role for two months, and now is back to typical nasty saas.

More Payash, and less Anjali, especially Crybaby Anjali. If she starts growing a spine, then give her some more screen space ... four minutes is about my upper limit for Cryanji.

Teej ... a really good one, complete with Arnav breaking Khushi's fast lovingly in GH ... and hopefully teaching his bratty brother to do the same.  But if you don't have time for Payash, it's ok, we don't mind, Nani will ensure the basic minimum for them anyway.

Added - Khushi to wear the red saree Arnav gifted her on her birthday, for Teej. 

Shiddats realised last week ... the force was with us, but we were pretty modest in our demands :))
We got some ArHi romance, and more wooing after the birthday party.

Didn't get star gazing yet :( ... Never mind, we are patient people ...

Better wardrobes for the leads, especially Sanaya! Why was she given that teekha lime and lemon to wear for the romantic scenes? Why not the red or the purple?

Sama, you got your shiddat!!! ... more on Anjali's thought process and Nani involved ... Omigosh, looks like cv's are really stalking this place!!!

Aaru wanted Shyamu back ... looks like the start was made with that blank call ... girls, this is getting scary :))

Gargi wanted Arnav to go on a business trip and slyly get Khushi to accompany him ... Arnav went on a business trip to Agra, which got aborted, he asked Khushi to come with him ... she refused and then wished that she'd gone :)

More shiddats? And more discussions here ladies, or should I open a separate discussion post?

20/7 - Epi 302 ... Chotey was Chotey till He got Himself a Wife

Friday 20th July

Awww ... the poor Raizada family ... totally shell shocked to see Arnav in love. I would have thought they would be happy that at least one marriage in the family is stable ... no??! Guess they are all too shocked to see this new, hitherto completely hidden romantic side of the man emerge. And probably wondering at their place in the new hierarchy ... I would think they should be a little more careful ... isn't Arnav still the principal bread winner of the family?

As for Di ... dear sweet Di, grow up ... yes of course the man changed after marriage ... All men do. Their wives do become the most important person in their lives - that is a law of nature. Just because the guy preferred to romance his wife rather than attend a satsang, doesn't make him a criminal now, does it? After all, your erstwhile hubby dear attended all the satsangs and prayer meetings and havans that you ordered him to ... and look where that got him ... and you.

I am feeling very nasty! :))

Liked Payal today ... she should have stuck to her guns and not started crying at the end ... she made perfect sense all through.

Hope on Monday they show more of Arnav and Khushi being there for each other, and trying to decide how to manage things ... today was far too much of Di.
And I really hope Arnav loses patience some time soon, and tells his family to snap out of it ... he and Khushi have been through hell the last four months trying to manage Shyam, while the rest were blissfully oblivious, if they want some time to themselves now, they're entitled to it!

Small Gloatwa ve ... they played the title song :)
And poor Bitwa ... he still hasn't managed to get his kiss! Aaru, mads, remember Samrat? :))

*edited*

I promise I will TRY to be fair to Anjali ... even though she's making it very difficult for me! :))

The first seven minutes were the best, of course ... no two ways about that :) Petrified Khushi, scared of the dark, of being alone, of a faceless shadow in an empty house ... gets locked out, manages to break her way back in ... and comes down the stairs clutching a flower pot as a weapon :) and muttering to Devi Maiyya for help ... who obliges in her normal way ... by sending Arnav to the rescue. ;) :">

And Khushi drops the pot and flies into his arms ... challenge lost fair and square :) Lost or won? Does it matter? And for the first time, his arms go around her instantly, even faster than hers, as though he was waiting for her ... and they're finally home, where they belong ... locked together ... in each others arms ... :">

Jo pehle hua na, ab hone laga hai
Dil humko jaga kar, kyun sone laga hai
Yeh ishq hai ya kuch aur hai
Ya bas khaali khaali shor hai ...
Ho ... isko main kya kahun tu hi bata ... tu hi bata ...
Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon
Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon

'Thanks to Devi Maiya you came back ... do you know how scared I was?'
He shushes her gently ... of course he knew, that's why her DM sent him back, to her ...

Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon, iss pyaar ko kya naam doon ...

And Khushi suddenly realises she's standing on something strange, and bends to pick it up ... rose petals ... as the lights turn on ... and she sees the carpet of petals spread for her ...
For an unromantic guy, Arnav is doing just great! :"> And he smiles expectantly, watching her face as realisation dawns ... and he pushes her hair back gently from her face ...

Tujhko dekh kar aankhen muskurane lagti hain
Tujhko milkar dhadkanein gungunane lagti hain

"What happened? Were you scared?'
And she tries to take it in ... disbelieving ...
'You did all this ...?' 
A little flash of temper ... she shakes off his hand ... but he's still smiling ...
'You did all this? To scare me?!' ... but he's still smiling ...

Aisa hota hai kyun, mujhko khabar nahin
Pehle kabhi hua, aisa asar nahin ...

'And you're smiling? Do you even know how scared I was ...' angry, but not really ... the same anger as the jaali one ... an anger born of love, of possessiveness ... 'you ... you ...'
She starts to beat him, he catches her hands easily and pulls her back to him, she tries to resist, to pretend she's still angry ... but he's not letting her go this time ... not now, not ever ... and she gives up all pretense ... and hugs him again ... he holds her closer still ... and life is perfect ...

Jo mere dil ke paas hain
Naye jadoo naye ehsaas hain
Ho ... aise mein kya karun ... kya karun ... tu hi bata ...
Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon
Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon

He can't resist a little teasing ... this is one challenge he won all right ... with her help ...
'Remember what you said? The day you come into my arms, you'll accept me as your husband ... You just did exactly that ... Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada ...'
Emphasis on her full name ... and she pulls back very slowly ... yes, she lost ... or did she actually win? :)
'I don't mind ... if you accept me as you husband ...'
Or were they both fighting for the same thing after all?
Apparently they were ... neither of them minds losing this one in the slightest ... and a kiss is just the way to seal their combined victory ... that of their love ...

Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon
Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon ... 

And satyanash ... the Raizada zoo is back!!! X( Apparently there was a traffic jam, and Anjali was acting like a dying duck, so they realise she was not in great shape to sit for so long after all ... arey, pehle soch lete ... we could have sent Khushi with Arnav to Agra.

Though can't quite blame the zoo for their shock ... here they thought Arnav was attending serious meetings in Agra to keep the home fires burning ... and here he is back home, romancing his wife in the main living room ... complete with a carpet of rose petals ...
Seriously, Arnav ... bedrooms exist for a reason ... hang on, yours anyway is like Mumbai Central ... make that, bedrooms and locks were invented for a reason!!! :))

Khushi is completely embarrassed and mortified ... and tries to kick the rose carpet out of sight ... a completely futile attempt ...
Loved the way Arnav tells her ... 'Relax!' He's not about to apologise for romancing his wife ... even in public ... they did think they had the house to themselves after all ...

Anjali is shocked ... 'You said you were going for a meeting in Agra ...'
Arnav tries to explain ... yes he was, the meeting got cancelled ... But Mami's poisonous barbs are quick to start firing ... 'is this your closed door meeting? So you've started lying to us now ...' 
And Khushi has  him wrapped around her little finger ... of course it's all her fault ...
Arnav starts to see the burden Khushi lives with every day ... Nani, who has an inkling of the truth and what Khushi might have gone through, shuts Mami up ... and the zoo leaves, leaving a shocked Anjali gazing at the red carpet ... so he lied to her about his meeting?
No, he didn't ... it got cancelled so ...
But Anjali is not ready to listen ... much to Arnav's shock ... his Di doesn't believe him?

And as Arnav stands in the middle, Anjali leaves in one direction, a mortified upset Khushi leaves in the other ... Arnav has a tough balancing act ahead ...

He chooses Di first ... but all she can think of is his call, he cancelled his meeting, but she so nobly and graciously sent him to attend it ... and he went ... of course he went, this was all pretense, he actually wanted to stay back all along with Khushi ...
So if he had said he wanted to stay back with his wife, she would not have minded? Or is she just upset that he cancelled work for her, but didn't cancel his wife for her ...
Shifting sands in relationships ...

Arnav tries to explain ... he tried to call Akash, but couldn't reach him, didn't know where they were, so he came back home ...
Bitwa, I believe you, of course I do ... you came back home and set up a carpet of red roses for your wife ... ;)
I do understand why Anjali thinks he's not telling the truth ... what she needs to ask herself is, why should he bother to lie? Does he have to defend his decision to be with his wife? To her? And why?

But Anjali is angry and upset ... she is no longer Queen Bee in her brother's life, no longer in control of his decisions or him ... and not in control of her own life either ... 
And so Anjali starts losing her facade, and accuses Arnav of lying to her face about his meeting ...so that he could spend time with his wife ... He should have told her the truth ...

Arna gives up for the moment ... does the accusation hold the slightest ring of truth? Yes, he did want to spend time with Khushi ... which man in his right mind would prefer a religious evening with family, to a quiet night alone romancing his very new bride ... especially when he's just won her back after so much struggle? But he didn't lie to do that ... Di has the wrong idea completely, and is not ready to listen ...
So have your medicine, calm down ... and shut up ...
I don't want my medicine ...
Ok, now she wounds like a petulant two year old throwing a fit ... is she really an expectant mother? No responsibility to her unborn child?
Although I don't know what medicine is so urgent that Di needs it immediately ... her vitamin pills?!

Akash tries, Payal tries to help, but Akash is another tantrum throwing child, he's angry with his wife and still not talking to her ...
Anjali sends him and Mami off as well ... she's angry because her favorite toy ... pet .. brother ... is not running through the hoops at her bidding any more ... he's more interested in his wife ... doesn't matter that the rest of the house is worried sick about her ... she doesn't care.
Yep, lost all sympathy for Anjali by now ...

Payash ... Payal tries to look after Akash ... look after yourself because you need to look after Di ...
Since Akash has also reverted to tantrum throwing two year old, he fails to see the good sense of what Payal is saying ... Di is upset, so I don't want to eat ... 
And Payal finally loses her cool, and gives him a piece of her mind ... 'what did I say that's so wrong? I can't do anything for Di, but I can look after you, so that you can take care of her, can't I?'
Exactly what Khushi told Arnav a couple of days ago ... he saw the good sense in what she said and listened quietly. Akash throws a hissy fit. 
And Payal pinpoints his real grouse ... he's angry with her and Khushi, blames them for Di's condition ... but fails to realise that it's because of Khushi that the truth about Shyam came out at all ...

Mami comes in ... just in time to stoke the flames again ... does no one respect the privacy of married couples in this house?! And Mami is very clear, the fault is Payal's and Khushi's ...
Loved seeing the old firm Payal coming back slowly ... I can see Payal getting ready to walk out soon too ...

Anjali gets a blank call ... a wan, tired, pathetic Anjali ... is she pregnant or suffering from terminal illness?
Arnav tries to placate her again ... and does an Anjali on her ... a spot of emotional blackmail always does the trick ...
And Anjali now starts her emotional blackmail in return ... 'you've changed ... you're in love now and ever since you got married, things have changed ...
Ummm, breaking news for you, Anjali ... things do change when a person gets married ...
'You stopped answering my questions ...'
That's because he had a lot more things to worry about ... including the questions from a woman who just wouldn't stop trying to ask them ... a woman who was never scared to question him ... and now he has to answer that woman's questions first ... that's her right, because that woman is his wife ...

And Arnav starts to see what he's up against ... his sister has done exactly what he did a few months ago ... tried, judged and condemned ... all without a trial. And the accused is again Khushi.