16/8 - Epi 321 ... The Shadows Lengthen

Thursday 16th August

The Shadows of the Past lengthen ... will they cast a gloom over the Future?

Phone call at night ... wow, shiddat granted! So soon! :)
The long awaited apology from Arnav ... starting from the first meeting, throwing her down from the first floor, the accusations about Shyam and his refusal to believe her, and the way she repaid all the hurt only with love and care, even risking her own life ...
SN - I was glad they remembered that Arnav had been kidnapped at all, the way everyone seems to have developed complete amnesia about that part! ;)

And Khushi doesn't need the words, because his love is enough ... dammit :) And one more hug ...

Okay scene ... felt there should have much more regret and angst in Arnav's eyes and his words ... it seemed the cv's wanted to get this out of the way and done with before moving on ... :(

And we move on to the new track full steam ahead ... Garima worried and scared ... no, petrified ... what will happen now? Already one daughter has been given into that family, and now the second one too? And how can she allow it to happen?
Is Garima against this marriage then? Or merely worried about the shadows from the past overshadowing the future?
Cute - the way Buaji and Garima teased Khushi about Arnav's visit :">

Dadi still in the sulks, now with a new peeve ... Khushi's family and upbringing is not good, Buaji was rude to her ... well, lady, you weren't the epitome of politeness yourself, were you? And Nani defends Khushi and her family strongly, and lets out Khushi's parents' names ... Shashi and Garima ...
Dadi stops in her tracks ... visibly disturbed, she moves out of the room ...
Dadi's eyes showed a wistfulness, a momentary softness ... before she hardened again ... did I imagine that? What was that all about?

Anjali NK tease Arnav ... Anjali seems completely back to her normal self, all excited about the wedding and her Chotey being in love, sleepy NK is quite happy to join in :)
Loved the way Arnav bitwa enters the house with a smile on his face ... quite happy after his night rendezvous with his biwi :) and continues to be amused at NK's Hinglish ... bitwa is sure in a good mood now!
Anjali is taking some mysterious medicines ... mood elevators? Or sedatives, to make sure she sleeps soundly while her KP creeps around at night?

Arnav hears more argument between Nani Dadi, this time all about Garima ... Dadi wants to meet Garima, she makes some typical Dadi-style excuse about how the ladkivalas haven't even come to pay their obeisance yet to the queen ... Arnav, fed up, says he'll take her to meet Garima there and then ... he doesn't need much persuading to visit GH any time of day or night :)) And calls Khushi to tell her he's coming.
Dadi agrees promptly. And continues with inquiries about Khushi's family ... and learns that Khushi is an orphan, adopted by Garima and Shashi, Garima is her maasi. Is Dadi relieved?

Garima goes into panic mode at the thought of Dadi's visit and wonders what she should do. Buaji wonders at her worry. Khushi decides to do something.

Garima is the link from the past all right ... is she the other woman? From the precap, Dadi did not meet Garima at night ... Did Khushi call Arnav and put off the visit? Or did Dadi decide to postpone it herself after she learned that Garima was not in fact Khushi's mother?

Random thought - Arnav tells Dadi he knows all about Khushi's family. How come Dadi or the rest of the Raizada family are not in the least bit worried about Shyam's family, or lack of it? 

The plot thickens ...

Thoughts - these days I don't have much time, so will skip episode updates for thoughts ... will update episodes when I get the time. :)

What I liked – Khushi picks up the phone and doesn’t bother with ‘hi hello’ … neither does Arnav. Such a typical husband-wife thing … straight into conversation … showing the comfort level these two now share. :">

Question ... did Arnav apparate into Khushi's room? :))

 

That compliment ... you look good in white, and with open hair ... :"> and Khushi's matter-of-fact acceptance ... did you call to tell me that? Hey bhagwan, ek toh this man takes forever to get romantic, and when he does, he gets no encouragement at all! :))

The look of apprehension in Khushi’s eyes when Arnav says he has something serious to discuss … scared as to what is going to come … scared to trust that things are finally going well …

The little gulp before Arnav talks about his MU about Shyam-Khushi affair, as though it hurts even now to remember what he thought back then, and what he felt …

The way Arnav takes Khushi’s hand in both of his … as though for a proposal … :">

Khushi cupping Arnav’s face … the ‘dammit’ after a little pause :"> … telling him she knows he loves her, but is unable to say the words, except under gunpoint or in extreme temper … telling him in other words that she understands him completely, and loves him, warts and all …:"> :)

The shy smile on Khushi’s face, the teasing by Buaji, Buaji is obviously so delighted that her niece is so much in love and so happy … 

The worried look on Garima’s face caught in a dilemma … to speak and risk cancelling the wedding when her second daughter is also head over heels in love, and her husband obviously reciprocates completely … in those few seconds, all three actors were excellent. So much conveyed in so little time, especially the contrast between Buaji and Garima. 

The slight smile on Arnav’s face when he re-enters RM … that night meeting with Khushi obviously did his mood a lot of good. :) Also liked the teasing by NK-Anjali … ignoring Anjali’s bipolar disorder and temporary amnesia for the moment … is her KP sneaking her happy pills? :))

Aap sawal karenge aur hum jawab denge .., is this an indication that Arnav is finally going to start questioning the past? 

What I didn’t like … Barun is a fantastic actor, and his biggest strength is his eyes, he talks through his eyes. Today the expressions were just not there … the scene was again far too rushed, not enough time was given for the emotions to seep in fully … again one of the most significant scenes in Arhi’s journey … a 360 of the first ‘Sorry’ … will post the link when I find it … What a difference in the eyes between that day and today!!! :(

Why are the cv’s rushing through the ArHi scenes?! Especially all the significant ones?! :( X( 

The trip fall and catch was just not needed … this couple is way beyond all these contrived clichéd clinches now. They don’t need them. That’s for hormonal teens … can the writers think beyond them to really mature romance now? 

The hug at the end … would it have killed you to show Arhi coming out of the hug and facing each other as though finally getting their first kiss? You don’t need to show any awkward angles, any trick shots … just show them come close and fade out. I remember a similar scene in MJHT where this was done … no need for any trick shots at all, just the suggestion and the expression was enough. That would also have explained Khushi’s shyness as Buaji and Garima teased her, and Arnav’s smile as he entered RM. 

The rest of the episode was all about the shadows of the past gathering force to burst open on the present … 

Interesting points from yesterday and today … Garima is petrified of facing Dadi, but not adamant on cancelling the wedding, just wondering  how she can let Khushi get married into the same family, and worried that Payal is already married into it. Also yesterday, when Arnav insisted that he would return today at 10 with the shagun, Garima seemed relieved, as though happy that the past would not repeat in this instance. So the possibility of Khushi being a sibling, or even half-sibling, seems remote.

Garima is sure Dadi will recognize her. And it seems she is right. Dadi remembers Garima from the past very clearly, and once she hears the name, is in all-fired hurry to meet her right away … the tantrum about Garima not coming to meet her was geared to achieve that. She forgot her peeves about Khushi in the more important question of meeting her family, especially Garima. Her questions to Arnav about Khushi’s family were geared to get all the information she wanted.

Arnav recounting the story of Khushi being an orphan and her parentage seems to satisfy Dadi that her suspicions about Garima being the Garima she thinks are well-founded, and she has more ammunition to cancel the wedding. Her stopping Arnav from going with them for the shagun is a clear indication that she’s ready to fire the next volley. Again indicating that Khushi can’t be Arnav’s sibling because if she was, Arnav accompanying or not, would not make a difference, in fact, it would help her case if Arnav heard that. Marriage would be out of the question then. 

So an affair between Arnav’s father and Khushi’s mother also seems less likely … Dadi knows Arnav worshipped his mother … wouldn’t hearing that Khushi’s mom was the ‘other woman’ who wrecked his family put him off Khushi? Or had Dadi not thought that far ahead, and is first bent on proving her own suspicions right?

It seems more likely that Garima herself was the ‘other woman’ … or protected her and/or Arnav’s father. But where does Khushi then come into the equation? 

Dadi's first reaction on hearing Garima's name was not the same reaction as when she mentions the 'other woman'. That was an expression of loathing. Garima's name elicited a much softer expression, almost pain ... and confusion ... humein sochna padega ... followed by that remark about her family history ... her entire focus shifted to finding out about Garima.

Humen bhi tasalli hogi unki maa se milkar ... 

What was that from Anjali about pills for 'prevention'? Was VLR's night visit to deliver his wife's happy pills? To keep her smiling and child-like? Are there any pills that can make a person revert to childhood? Why haven't I heard of such pills?

Too many kwostins ... Anjali makes my head ache :( 

Arnav tells Dadi Khushi's story ... Dadi's reaction is strange - yeh kahani pakki hai?

Meaning - are you sure of your facts?

What did Arnav say? - Khushi is an orphan - check. (like me ... aww, so true, both are orphans even though surrounded by family, real or adopted, yet neither has quite gotten over that loss of losing their own parents).

Garima is Payal's real mom ... is she? Which would mean Garima has been married to Shashi for over twenty years.

But Garima is not Payal's real mother, she married Shashi, a widower with a daughter, just ten/fourteen years ago (no. of years uncertain, cv's have forgotten). So she was single when the haadsa took place. Khushi's mom was obviously married, though.

Shashi and Garima adopted Khushi when her parents died in a car crash ... half check ... Garima adopted Khushi, and after that married Shashi.

Khushi's parents died in a car crash - check.

Garima is hiding something from Dadi ... is it information about the other woman? And a child? Arnav's father is obviously dead, so not him. Unless that is another googly. 

Did I sign up for a love story or a mystery suspense thriller? :-o :)) 

No matter ... I'm enjoying this! :)