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.