30/6 - Epi 132 ... Sunshine and Shadows

Monday 30th June

Rudra investigates the acid attack ... arre waah! For once, he's actually doing some investigation!
Maithili doesn't know anything ...
Aman says Tejawat is quiet and has gone across the border.
Rudra fires up at the thought that this could be the work of local insignificant goons ... for his Paro, only the most dangerous villains are acceptable!

Mohini taunts Mala that her lover is responsible for more tamasha ... Mala declares her priorities ... lover out of the window, she's on Rudra's side now.
Mohini surprised that Rudra has become 'her son' now ... Mala replies, yep, my son, nothing can change that fact. So has Mala realised that Mohini had a hand in poisoning Rudra against his mother?

BSD office ... local goons are ruled out. So who can it be?

Back home ... Mala thinks maybe Tejawat meant to attack her, Paro got hurt by mistake. Paro reassures her, nope, he's after me too. I'm a state witness against him. (Good thing she hasn't forgotten that!)
And changes her tone when Rudra enters ... please leave now.
Mala apologises to Rudra too ... maybe Tejawat meant to hurt me, Paro got hurt instead. Rudra tells her gruffly, it wasn't Tejawat behind the attack.
Paro can't keep up the pretense for too long ... offers Mala her room again ... besides, that's what Rudra had said, so she was safe in doing so. Rudra chooses wife's comfort over his mother's, but he does what he should have done ages ago ... make arrangements for Mala to stay with Sunehri. Almost calling Mala 'maasa' in the bargain. Paro smiles.

I could swear that Laila stayed in a 'guest room' ... what happened to that? Or did Sumer return and take it over?

At night, Paro finishes her milk (what happened to her allergy?) and wants to keep the glass ... Rudra runs to help. Then she wants to get up, he tells her that he will get her what she wants. She says, he can't ... Rudra is indignant at the thought that it's even possible he can't get anything his beloved biwi wants.
Paro is shy enough now to whisper to him what she wants ... uh oh, yes, that's one thing he can't get for her ... but he can take her to it.
One tiny burn on the dorsal surface of her foot ... Paro is having a field day with Major saab at her beck and call!
Rudra waiting outside the loo ... a very familiar sight for all married women! Usually the men have handbags as well :)

Paro comes out and holds out her arms for him to carry her ... he asks if she's six years old.
Paro was six when she lost her parents ... since that day, she had no one of her own. No one she could beg, cajole, scold, cry, throw tantrums in front of, and get away with it. She was adopted ... she had to be the good, well behaved child ... because she never belonged, she had no right. It was only kindness that kept her from being homeless, and she had to be grateful and be a good girl all the time, to repay that kindness.
Now she belongs. She has someone of her own, someone who loves her, someone she belongs to, someone who panders to her whims, who coaxes her out of her tantrums as though she has a right to throw them ... Rudra can be a child with her ... and she is finally confident enough of her position and her importance in his life, that she can be a child with him too.
And tell him that however childish she is, she behaves older than him most of the time!
Back to the room ... she wants water ... he gets it. The imp in Paro awakens ... this is a good situation, make the most of it.
So she wants a pillow for her foot ... put into position most carefully and gently.
One more for her head ... not this one, a bigger one please ... arranged equally carefully.
Can I have my doll? 
Produced and handed over ... accepted with a mischievous smile. Arranged carefully on the bedside table.

Anything more, memsaab? He knows what she's up to ... he'll pander to her demands today ... for now ...

Paro winks at the doll. Since he's asking ...why not?
Maybe you should sing me a song too ... that one ...
She's teasing him, time to tease her back ...
And Paro in the middle of her tease, gets a shock to find her husband very close .. too close ... drat the man, when he knows what that does to her. It dries up her tongue ... as he knew it would.
'Which song ...?' in a husky voice, which says he can do more than sing ...
She smiles, blushes, moves slightly ... and jerks her injured foot ... immediately teasing forgotten in concern.
She's in pain, but says it's okay ... and he feels bad again, how little she complains ... he's sorry, he should have gone with her, maybe this wouldn't have happened ... he feels bad because it's her ...
Why? Wouldn't he have felt equally bad if it had happened to say, maasa?

He clams up immediately ... she knew he would but her words strike where they were meant to.
Sleep.
She settles down, so does he ... then he speaks again .... but it's not in anger for reminding him of maasa. Instead, it's more teasing ...
'I'm waiting, memsaab ... any more orders? Pillow, doll, water ... rain, snow ..?'
No, he's not angry this time at the mention of maasa ... the edge of the fifteen year old anger is already fading.
A small giggle ...

Overheard by Mohini ... much to her fury, as she shuts the big main door ... poison, Laila, mirchi, acid ... nothing seems to be able to separate these two. They're actually laughing together ...

Shutting the door seems to be like bolting it after the horse has bolted ... as a strange hand snuffs out the diya Paro had lit.

In the morning, Rudra wakes to find Paro's doll missing ... and he goes out to search for it ... he and Maithili see the missing doll at the same time ... with a torn arm. A letter with it ... and an anonymous phone call ... the acid fell on Paro's foot not by accident but by design. If the attacker wanted, it would have fallen on her face.
Next shock ... the extinguished diya ... Paro had lit it for her fast. Her first Teej.
Maithili shows Mala the letter.
Rudra finds his co-conspirators in Maithili ... and Mala. They will not tell Paro any of this ...
And he lights the diya again quickly before Paro can see it.

Seems like Rudra will come closer to Mala through his need to protect Paro ... their joint need.

How come Rudra, the brave, brilliant BSD officer, wakes up the moment Paro stirs, but sleeps through Laila stomping through their room to meet Mala, and through a stranger entering their room, picking up the doll and leaving?

precap is scary.

27/6 - Epi 131 ... Plans Afoot

Friday 27th June

So it was all Paro's plan ... and it worked ... or started working. Much to Rudra's discomfort ... he really doesn't like Paro not catering to his Maasa's every comfort. And she cannot ... absolutely cannot ... think of throwing his maasa out of the room! After all, he doesn't want to fall in Paro's eyes.
Yeah right!

Paro apologises to maasa ... and they're happy over Rudra's progress in emerging from his childhood.

In the meantime, more plans are afoot ...

Mohini's plan to send Maithili to her maayka, and get Samrat re-married.
Sumer doesn't think much of that one!

And some mysterious stranger's plan to hurt Paro. So we see Rudra doing his taandav again ... who dares hurt his Paro?!
And he actually manages to ask Paro some pertinent questions ... the first time I've seen Rudra doing his job.
And then informs his family and the world in general, that he's going to catch the culprit, whoever he is.

Diya's note - hold on, was he going slow on the Tejawat search because of his mother?! Who the heck gave this guy a job in the BSD?
And Ashish should NOT try to look shattered ... he looks funny!

Okay, regardless of disclaimers ... I DO NOT approve of showing acid attacks on girls on screen. It is a disgusting, pathetic, obnoxious, repulsive thing to do! At the very least, they should show the guy getting caught and beaten up by Rudra and the entire BSD. 

26/6 - Epi 130 ... Reverse Psychology

Thursday 26th June

Reverse psychology ... works every time!

Update :

We said this just yesterday ... maybe the cv's heard us! Stop pushing, Paro! She did.

So Rudra says, he doesn't want to remember his childhood. He can never reconcile with the mother who loved him, and then left him. He doesn't want any reminders of childhood, because they remind him of what he lost.

And finally, Paro, who has been trying to convince him that he does want to reconcile, with both his childhood and his mother, he's just fighting his feelings, decides to give in ... back off ... and give him what he wants.

Or rather, what he says he wants.

Wrap up the cupboard of childhood momentos. Not let Mala cook for Rudra ... because after all, Mala doesn't know what Rudra likes and doesn't like any more. Not make Mala feel at home ... because this isn't Mala's home any more ... she left it and ran away ... she can't just waltz right back in and expect things to be the same as before. She needn't bother to help anyone ... she should stay in her room and rest. She's a guest, not a member of the family. That's what Rudra says, that's what he wants. And being his wife, Paro doesn't want to go against him ... doesn't want to hurt him. Maybe she's been too pushy ... she's hurt Rudra. She's very sorry, she won't do it any more.

And of course Rudra realises that he doesn't really want it at all. Doesn't want his mother to be called a guest  in her own home ... doesn't want her to be insulted ... of course, it all right if he's the one doing the insulting, but how can anyone else insult his mom? Even Paro? Didn't Paro love her like a mother?

She did ... but he's right, Maasa isn't her mother ... she's Rudra's ... the mother who hurt him. Paro should stop trying to see her as her loving mother, and only see her as her saas, moreover a saas that her own son, Paro's husband, doesn't even love, a saas who hurt Paro's husband. So Paro should be on her husband's side ... and stay away from her saas. That's what she's doing. That's what he wanted, isn't it?

Is it?

Reverse psychology ... works every time. Especially on children. The little ones ... and the big ones.

Precap ... what on earth is this all about? Why this attack on Paro? :(((

25/6 - Epi 129 ... Betrayed

Wednesday 25th June

It was bound to happen ... Rudra's instant reaction. From hating his mother, to hating his father ... one extreme to the other. She left ... Rudra hated her for that. Dilsher lied about why she left, allowed him to hate her ... Rudra hated Dilsher for that. Between the two and their troubles, no one seemed to remember the child who got battered and bashed in the middle. Did anybody ever love him at all?

Including Paro ... who seems to be only worried about his parents ... but what about him?! He doesn't want anything to do with his parents ... they both betrayed him ... he only wants Paro. His world begins and ends with her ... but it seems her world isn't the same.

Paro encourages him to ask ... ask his father ... why did he lie? Ask the questions which have been bothering him, eating away at him ... for so long? Ask ... get the answers ... put an end to this uncertainty, this fear of the unknown ... and move on. What hurt him the most was thinking that his loving mother found it so easy to leave him ... well, now he knows ... she didn't find it easy at all. It might not help that shattered child ... but it gives him some peace ... some solace now ... she didn't leave because she didn't love him ... she left despite loving him. She stayed for thirteen years in a private hell because she loved him.
Now he wants to know why his father lied about it ... why he spoiled his life with lies.

Poor Rudra ... he still has so much growing up to do! It's still all about him, his misfortune, his shattered childhood. A child's world is self-centred ... he believes that his parents' world should revolve around him and only him ... it comes as a shock sometimes to realise that they are also individuals in their own right ... that they were husband and wife before they became mother and father, and remain husband and wife, even after they become parents ... he ignores their feelings, if they don't involve him. Rudra is still at that stage emotionally. And today just brought that hurt child back in full force. They had their problems ... but what about him?! Shouldn't they have thought about him at all?! They brought him into the world ... wasn't it their duty to take care of him?

Poor Rudra is shattered all over again. Betrayed by not one, but both parents ... he feels all alone. Except for Paro, of course ... even in this darkness, he knows that she, at least, is with him. Maybe she can make sense out of all this mess.

And so she tries ... sits with him in the dark ... he finds solace in her as always ... one person he now counts on, trusts absolutely ...
She senses his broken state ... looks at the shared doll and laughs ... what if she didn't have the doll that day? What if she had a stone?
No ... she could never hurt him ... even in jest.
What if she had imli?
No ... the imli would have spoiled and rotted by now ... or worse, he would have eaten it, polished it off ... then how would he have remembered her?
Good thing she had that doll. It was fated that she had that doll ... that she would throw it to him ... that it would comfort him when he needed it ...
Some things are just meant to be.

He smiles too, as she meant him to ... at her silly nonsense .. finds comfort in it, in the solace of her smile.

What was that Paro said? There are two ways to face troubles ... either sit and cry over them ... or laugh at them so that they are forced to cry and flee.

And the next step for Paro now, is to reassure that hurt child that his parents' problems were independent of their love for him ... both co-existed in the same space, jostled for space ... and finally the first pushed the second out. Yes, it was unfair on him, very unfair ... sadly, life isn't always fair. But the love was there ... hidden, buried under their other troubles maybe ... but never buried too deep. And if he scratches the surface, pushes away the troubled thoughts, he will find the love.

A good many lessons today for people in troubled marriages ... what NOT to do with your children. If a marriage is in trouble, the first priority for husband and wife should be to ensure that their children are protected from the effects. It's not always easy ... but then, they are the adults, the parents ... it's their responsibility.

Precap ... what on earth???!!! Paro!!!! :((( 

24/6 - Epi 128 ... The Truth is Out

Tuesday 24th June

So the truth is finally out ... about time too!!! Dilsher married a beautiful, intelligent, sensitive woman ... he couldn't deal with his own failures and frustrations in life, and took it out on her. And when he had his accident, things worsened ... Mala took over the business, progressed it, and that hurt his male ego even more. Physically handicapped, now he was not even as smart as his wife ... she was better than him in that respect too. So of course, so much easier to attribute her success to her good looks, point fingers at her character ... because that was easier and more soothing to his male ego than to admit Mala was more capable than him. And when she left, that was the final blow ... he lied to his son, laid all the blame on Mala, and continued to let out his frustration and bitterness on his son for the next fifteen years.
And Mala found a soothing companion in Tejawat, someone who gave her respect and affection, who respected her wishes and her desires ... who seemed to have noble and poetic a soul as she did ... poor Mala, how badly she was mistaken on that last one! But compared to the rough, abusive Dilsher, the suave, smooth-talking loving Tejawat must have been like Prince Charming.

Still doesn't explain why Mala left Rudra for so many years ... agreed, Dilsher didn't let her take him with her ... but did she make any attempts to find him later? Guess that part will come out tomorrow.

The contrast between Paro and Mala was shown up ... Mala was weak, she put up with the abuse for fifteen years ... Paro is strong, she is stubborn, she answered Rudra back from day one ... and she doesn't take crap from him! Now the social worker, Damyanti's words make more sense, given the unpredictable temper that is Rudra's heritage from his dad. Even more glad that Paro has started anger management classes for Rudra, and that he is crazy enough about her to want to control his temper for her sake.
Though I did not understand how Dilsher's change of heart came about with Paro ... as I said earlier, that is a gap the cv's left ... they should have shown him slowly changing after his return. The abrupt change at virtually the first sight of Paro, was a bit difficult to fathom. They did show Dilsher seeing Paro tackle Rudra head on, take him on in battle ... and then shower him with love, despite his bitter tongue ... I feel the bitter angry Rudra, and his lashing out at Paro, reminded Dilsher of himself and Mala, and from a distance, he could see more clearly the mistakes he made with her, his faults mirrored in Rudra's roughness with Paro.

Loved Paro's arguments to Rudra about how he spoke to his mother ... it's all in the perception of events, isn't it? To an outsider, she was a widow, who went off with a strange man, her husband's killer, and then lived in his room ... what does that make her look like? Rudra was quick to negate that ... that's not true, he won't allow anyone to say anything malicious about Paro ... not even Paro herself. But that's what the world would say. And Rudra knows what the truth is, so he can be indignant on Paro's behalf. But he doesn't know the truth in his mother's case, which is why he's saying what he does about her. Dilsher does ... that's why Dilsher fired up in Mala's defense. Interesting parallels drawn there ... well done by Paro ... only Rudra was still not ready to hear it.

But after eavesdropping on Mala's story, I think he finally will. And then his world will shatter all over again ... deserted by his mother, then fed lies by his father ... did either of his parents ever want him or love him at all?

Interesting twist brought out by the cvs today ... while I was expecting Mala's story to justify her leaving, it was brave of the cvs to show a woman not putting up with abuse, and daring to leave her husband ... even more, daring to start a new life with another man. It would have been even better if they showed her happy with the second man, if he hadn't been a scoundrel like Tejawat, of course ... and returning to take her son back.

Still not clear how Mohini interfered between Mala and Dilsher ... or if she did at all. Or was her role limited to prodding Mala to leave, escape an abusive marriage ... and then prodding Dilsher to leave with Rudra before she came back? Dilsher lied to Mohini too, so Mohini did not know that he threw Mala out. 

23/6 - Epi 127 ... Parental Guidance

Monday 23rd June

Rudra and Paro cuddle each other to sleep ... awww!!!
And now he wants Paro to himself ... no pesky momma interference please! Especially since his mommy has become worse than a MIL ... Paro seems more absorbed in her than in him ... which doesn't suit Rudra at all.

Paro handles her MIL and FIL ... Why is she bothered about getting them back together? Concentrate on your husband and sort out his mommy issues, that's fine ... leave the in-laws to sort out their lives on their own. They're adults, they can handle the mess they created ... or they should.

The reason for Mala leaving came out today ... she was an abused wife. Mohini's role in the drama is yet to be disclosed, but Dilsher's role is slowly emerging. No wonder the guilt in his eyes when he looks at Mala. Not only does he know the real reason she left, he also knows that he lied to his son for fifteen years about it. And is still lying ... Rudra's words to Mala were harsh, but Dilsher's slap was uncalled for ... if he is guilty.

Felt for Rudra today ... pleading to Paro to go away with him and give him a respite for a few days. She should say yes ... he needs the breathing space. This problem has been there for fifteen years, it won't go away in fifteen days. In the meantime, their relationship is new and fresh, it needs to be nurtured and strengthened.

But on the other hand, Rudra is doing it again, isn't he? Running away.

For Rudra, now Paro is all-important, his biggest strength, his biggest support. All he needs is Paro, all he wants is her ... the mother he has cried over for fifteen years, seems to be forgotten. Or is she? He was happy hating her ... he got used to living in that hatred ... now she's back, and he's having to re-evaluate his hatred, deal with the confusion between the picture of the runaway, unfeeling villainess mother, and this new loving, affectionate woman his wife loves. And worse, the woman his father claimed to hate all his life, yet today he is sitting and laughing over old memories with her. The two people he loves most in the world, are the two people who seem to be firmly on the side of the mother he hates.
And the KCM he hates seems to be the only one who shares his feelings towards his mother.

Rudra, if nothing else, that one fact should alert you to who is right and who is wrong.

So Rudra's outburst was justified ... Why are they all playing happy families here? And can 'that woman' please tell him when she plans to leave? Because leave she will, and he will be left to pick up the pieces. What will happen then? He can handle Paro, he will comfort her when Mala breaks her heart the way she broke his ... but who will comfort Dilsher? Can 'that woman' make up her mind what she wants? Does she want to be a Ranawat or a Tejawat ... or something else?
That's when Dilsher slapped him.
Yes, Dilsher couldn't stand to hear Rudra insulting Mala ... but it would be a bigger help if he told Rudra the truth about him and Mala. Mala is refusing to do so ... she doesn't want to shatter the trust Rudra has in the only parent he has known for fifteen years.

How long will Mala keep her silence? And how long will the truth be hidden from Rudra?

EDITED ... more or less the same points as above, elaborated.

The episode - good parts ... 

PaRud cuddling in the beginning ... any doubts?  Major sa is beginning to get over his anger more quickly ... he gets angry, but if Paro is there to calm him down, his anger dissipates ... especially if she shows him again and again that her priority is him and only him. He should be no. 1 on her list ... preferable no. 1-10. Everyone else comes at 11 and below. 

The moment he falls below no. 1-10 on her list, he doesn't like it   

Rudra drags Paro to their room and asks her what she has to say ... instead of talking about Mala, she asks him about his letter. Again related to above ... as long as Paro's world revolves around him, he's okay.  That calmed him down visibly ... but then his frustration took over again. 

I liked both Rudra and Paro in that scene ... I could understand Rudra's frustration and upset completely ... his desire to get away, get a breathing space ... empathised with him completely, and was mentally willing Paro to say 'Yes, let's go" ... 

But I also understood Paro's POV ... he's running away again ... the understanding that flashed into her eyes when he spoke about getting away from it all ... till that point she was all excited and blushing about the honeymoon talk ... but at that point she realised it wasn't about him and her ... that elephant in the room was very much there. And so her refusal to go, while it hurt, made sense. 

The so-so parts 

The Mala-Dilsher-Paro first scene ... am not quite sure what Paro wants to achieve by getting Mala and Dilsher comfortable with each other. If she wants to get them back together, I'm not happy ... that's a matter between them, and she should leave it to them. 

If she wants them to get comfortable enough to break their silence and talk to Rudra jointly, as HIS PARENTS ... NOT as a couple ... then I can understand. CVs need to give more clarity on this issue, and NOT make it all about Paro playing happy families, and Mala and Dilsher getting back together. Also if the marriage going sour was because of Mohini playing games, then that part needs to emerge faster ... although I believe a marriage breaks up because of the two people in it, blaming a third party is a cop out. 

Mala and Dilsher are confusing the hell out of Rudra ... especially Dilsher ... the woman he spent the last fifteen years hating, he fed poison to Rudra about how untrustworthy she was ... why has he accepted her back so calmly ... why did he invite her back to the haveli at all? 

I can understand Mala keeping quiet ... after realising what Dilsher has fed Rudra with, she probably doesn't want to spoil his image of the only parent he has known for the last fifteen years ... but in that case, how can she expect Rudra to accept her back, without knowing the full truth? 

So both Mala and Dilsher are coming across as completely confused and clueless ... and poor Rudra is getting more and more confused in the bargain. That's why I feel that if Paro is doing this to get them to talk to Rudra, then I'm okay with her actions. 

Mohini-Rudra ... while it's always good to see Rudra win the battle of words against Mohini, isn't Rudra going to wonder some day why the people he loves, vis Dilsher, Danveer and Paro, are all on Mala's side, and the one person he detests, and knows detests him, are against her? I would really like to see him ponder that one! 

The not good parts 

Dilsher slapping Rudra ... like really??!!!  He spends fifteen years feeding his son lies that his mother walked out for another man, that she was characterless ... now when Rudra repeats his own words back to him, Rudra gets a slap? 

Besides, no parent should slap their grown up child ... under any circumstances! And especially not in front of their spouse. 

20/6 - Epi 126 ... Kissa Kisses Ka

Friday 20th June

Update will come later. Suffice it to say, Rudra finally proved that his 'aath saal har raat' was not just a tall claim ... and Paro showed him that she might be innocent, but she was a quick learner. :)))

Hats off to Sanaya and Ashish, for being thorough professionals. That was probably the hottest scene I've seen on TV ... ever! Amazing work ... amazing acting, expressions, voice modulation ... everything.

And I don't wonder that Rudra wants to leave the madhouse Ranawat haveli and take off with his bride for a honeymoon! If that was a teaser of what lies ahead  

Edited ... 

The episode took off from where it stopped on Thursday, Paro annoyed with Rudra for his constant, quick anger, and refusing to talk to Rudra. So Rudra got the first lesson in his anger management classes ... stop taking it out on biwi, or biwi will get very, very upset. 

He starts the 'biwi manao abhiyan' by setting up a  romantic setting, candles et al ... Paro is confused. And he describes all the times she thought he was angry, but he really wasn't ... when she persuaded him to eat, when she came downstairs in that red saree ... he just talks that way. He wasn't angry when she got drunk and talked non-stop ...
But when she got the mirchi in her eyes, and was hurt ... he was angry ...
Oh yes ... he wasn't angry this morning when she ... she ...
The experienced Rudra falters and fumbles ... he can't get the words out, so he gestures to his cheek ... and the not-so-innocent Paro smiles ... he's talking about her kiss, of course ...
And Rudra glares at her knowing smile ... and she frowns instantly and pouts ... see, you're getting angry again ...
Putting Rudra on the back foot instantly ... 'no, no, I'm not getting angry ... okay, sit down and listen ...'

And he tries again ... 'I know, I get angry ... often ... but it's not with you ... it's anger with myself ...'
'And you take it out on me ...' 
'Yep ... maybe that's wrong on my part ...'
An incredulous, annoyed 'maybe?!' has Rudra fumbling and defensive again ... 'yes, no, I mean, yes, it is wrong ... 
Okay, things are not going the way he thought or wanted ... he's only succeeding in annoying her again every time he speaks ... maybe actions will work better. So he fumbles with the mangalsutra which he's still carrying around in his pocket ... 'shut your eyes.'
Paro is in no mood to be docile and obedient.
'Why?'
'Because I told you to!' 
Nope, wrong answer. And wrong tone. She gets up in a huff.
'I won't. What will you do? Get angry again?'

Oops, this is not working either! Manaoing angry biwi is not easy ... does she have such a tough time every time he gets angry?
'No, no ... I'm not getting angry ... at least, I'll try not to ...' 
Baravo, Rudra ... step one in anger management passed. 

Now for step two ... move on to pleasant things.
Like the mangalsutra he fishes out from his pocket.
Paro peeks curiously to see what he's holding ... and her face changes instantly as she sees the black beads. The necklace which means so much to her ... the necklace she knew he had brought for her ... but still hadn't given ... the necklace she was waiting patiently for, knowing that giving it to her was a big step for him to take ... waiting for him to reach that place, when he was ready ...
'This ...' She's confused, wondering ... hoping ...
'You said to bhabhisa ...' 
She's shocked.
'You were listening to us?!'
Shh ... that's not the point he's making! The point it ... 'you said something about the right time. So ... this ... is it.'  Awkwardly ... hesitantly ... can she please understand?
She looks around. Nope, she's not going to make it easy for him. She wants the words.
'How is this the right time?'

And he finally finds the right words ... no practiced speech, no elaborate confession ... just straight from the heart ... he hurt her, that red thread around her neck reminds him of how much and how often ... and he can't bear to see it now ...
As he reaches around her neck to untie it ... and she closes her eyes at his nearness ... his touch ...

'The forced wedding, the hate filled vows ... everything I did to you ...' 
She looks straight at him, her eyes clear, shining ... with forgiveness and love ...
'Those vows ... of which you did not fulfill a single one.' 
She knows ... she always knew ... that he could never hurt her. Maybe with words .... but with nothing else. Those hate filled vows were empty promises ... he didn't carry out a single one.

'I couldn't. I didn't want to.' 

And he finds it so easy to say it, admit it now ... in the face of her generous abundant forgiveness ... the words flow more easily now ... their path eased by the warmth of her love radiating in her eyes, bathing him with its glow ...
'I don't know about love, about marriage and its seven vows ... and I don't care either. But today I can make you a single promise.' 

And he takes the mangal sutra and puts it around her neck ...
Mangalam bhagwan Vishnu, mangalam Garudadwja
Mangalam kundarikaksha mangalaya dhanohari 

A simple vow ... which says it all really.
'You ... me ... hamesha.'

(Thank you, BG music man, for playing these shlokas for this scene!!!)
Whenever I've seen a hate marriage on tv, I've wanted a private re-marriage between the couple ... this was exactly what I wanted. Rudra has never shied away from accepting Paro as his wife in front of the world, ever since the hate marriage, and despite his hate vows. And now that he has acknowledged his feelings, it was appropriate and beautiful, that he told her so in private, just between the two of them.

And her closed eyes, the emotion in her face, the single tear that escapes her eye ... shows just how much this means to her. She could ignore his vows, his harsh words ... she saw that he didn't mean them. But this ... this re-affirmation of his love ... this single vow ... this simple act of putting a chain of black beads around her neck gently and lovingly ... this meant the world to her.

He's baffled to see her face ... why are you crying?! Don't ...

She smiles through her tears ... and what will you do? Get angry again?
Because she knows now, his anger is his only way of reacting ... a deep rooted defense mechanism ... against further hurt.

But no more. Because he doesn't need defense from these feelings ... he doesn't need to hide them ... he can express them without fear of hurt or rebuff.
So, no ... he won't get angry ... Instead he comes closer, cradles her face ... bends his head ...
Only to be stymied as she pushes him away gently ... a rebuff? But she loves him, he loves her ... besides she was the one who kissed him in the morning, so why can't he ...?!

Because Paro, beautifully secure now, in her love, in her position as his wife ... is in the mood for some teasing. Not too often that Major Rudra is ready to do anything she demands! So she makes the most of the opportunity ... before he gets his kiss, she wants him to prove how much he loves her by doing something dramatic. In Jaipur he taught her a foreign dance, in Mumbai he showed her the sea ... what can he do now?

Rudra not too sure how to react to this one. 'So what does she want?!'
She smiles naughtily ... to his deep impatience and chagrin ... he doesn't dare to lose his temper again either ... because biwi has shown an alarming tendency to fly off the handle and sulk if he does. So Rudra tries desperately to control his anger again ... 'no, no, I'm not getting angry ... this is me, the normal me ... okay, what do you want? I'm giving you some time ... think about it ..'

And he waits, with unconcealed impatience ... five seconds later ... 'are you done thinking yet?' 

She's not really ... but okay ... she wants snow. Like she saw in the movies once.

'Is your tau sitting in the heavens that he can produce snow here at a moment's notice?!'

But she doesn't need the real thing. She's happy with cotton from a pillow ... it looks enough like the movies for her ...
And seeing her unfettered, childlike joy ... her ability to find happiness in the smallest things ... reminds him anew of why he loves this mad, adorable woman so much ... and he can't wait any more ... he pulls her to him ... and her smile, her childlike joy with the snow fades away, to be replaced by the warmth of a woman in love ... a woman who wants her man ...
Rudra gets his kiss. 

And he wants another ... but she pushes away with a soft smile ... and runs ... secure in the knowledge that he will follow ... which he does ... because this was not a rebuff ... this is foreplay ...
He catches her against a pillar, laughing, breathless ...
'Why are you laughing?' No anger at all ... if she can tease, so can he ...
'Because I know what's in your heart ...' 
'What ...?'
A stray tendril of hair caresses her lip ... and he very gently lifts a hand to stroke it away ... and Paro loses her train of thought instantly ... all laughter dying away. His knowing smile as he looks at her flushed face shows that he knows exactly why she's lost her voice ... so he makes sure she doesn't find it in a hurry ... by dropping his hand to caress her waist ... all the while nodding at her encouragingly ... 'tell me ... you were saying?'

How can she speak if he touches her like that?! All coherent thought gone ... while he wickedly teases her more ... 'lost your voice?!'
She shuts her eyes and pushes him away with supreme effort ... 'you care for me. You love me too ...' 

Bravo, Paro ... first woman to confess her love to her man, and first one to confess his love to her too! Saved Rudra the effort!

So he concentrates on showing her that she's absolutely right about his feelings ... by closing the distance she created ...
She tries to tell him she can't speak if he gets too close ... her voice goes kuchar muchar ...
He knows.
'That's why you need to learn to stay quiet sometimes ...' 
He looks at her eyes, closed again ... ready for his kiss, but nervous ... and he gently kisses her eyes instead ... giving her the space she needs to get used to this new feeling ...
She's ready ...she wants this as much as he does ... and she goes up on her toes to kiss his forehead, to bathe him with her love ... this time her teasing 'daadhi chubhti hai' draws only a knowing smile from him ... and he bends to kiss her again ...

Only to be interrupted by a clatter ...
Paro startled, runs to check ... Maasa and her water jug ...
Maasa wonders why Paro's hair has fluff on it ... Paro prevaricates and leaves quickly ...

Rudra is waiting for his wife ... Paro has no objections, but his mother is awake ...
And the mention enough to spoil his mood instantly ...   much to Paro's upset.

No wonder Rudra wants to take his wife away on honeymoon ... 

19/6 - Epi 125 ... Kissa Kheer Ka

Thursday 19th June

Rudra mulls over the mangalsutra ... and mulls over it some more.

Rudy, it's just a necklace ... put in on her neck, and be done with it!  

Laila calls, he gives her another cut ... Laila is going to lose her patience soon ... and love, when it turns into hatred, can be dangerous. Especially in the hands of a fiery woman. 

Mala finally breaks her silence ... to tell Dilsher that she has come back only for her son.
Unspoken ... not for him.
He seems to accept that. Does't like it, but accepts it.
Yet he has kept her mangalsutra all these years.
And Mala asks him to help her reach out to her son ... because a child should not hate the mother who gave birth to him. But she doesn't seem in any hurry to re-kindle their own relationship.

Mala wants to reach out to Rudra ... but the grown up man is someone she doesn't recognise any more. Has he really changed so much? 

Sumer seems to be losing patience with Mohini ... and losing respect for her too.

Mala's kheer - and Mohini's added poison. Rudra gave it back to Mohini satisfactorily ... everyone else seems to be unable to counter her poisonous tongue ... maybe out of guilt, for Dilsher, Danveer and Mala ... and simple respect for elders, for the younger lot. Rudra alone isn't silent ... as he hasn't been taught to respect his elders, and hasn't had much reason to respect the ones in his life.
(I never understand how people can recognise who made a dish by its taste alone ... what are recipe books for?!)

Sumer banna was hilarious ... gobbling down his share of kheer, before his mom stepped in to take away his simple pleasures in life!

Paro is happy Rudra defended Mala ... he spoils her happiness by telling her he only did it to annoy KCM.

Paro seems to be reaching the end of her inexhaustible patience ... I am glad. Rudra seems to use her as a punching bag for his own frustrations, how long can a girl take it? And whether he acknowledges it or not, whether he likes it or not ... reaching out to his mother, is for him ... not for her.

Though I feel Paro could back off a bit ... she really didn't need to say anything after he defended his mother. She could leave him to think over what he did on his own ... the more she tells him that he cares for Mala, the more he will deny his own feelings. Rudra is a bit perverse that way. Getting him to acknowledge his feelings for Paro in itself took an age, when the hatred was only a few months old, and was baseless. Getting him to acknowledge his feelings for his mother will take him a few years. A few dozen years. Maybe a few hundred.
On second thoughts, I do understand why Paro is pushing this !

The benefit of Paro throwing a fit of the sulks, is that Rudy boy really can't take it ... he can't stand Paro backing away from him ... not for a moment. So he will belatedly put that mangalsutra on her after all. And we will get a good Parud scene to end the week.

And sone pe suhaga ... it seems like the BG music guy went on holiday and we will get Mangalam Bhagwan Vishnu ... not deem tana 

18/6 - Epi 124 ... Re-establishing Relationships

Wednesday 18th June

What He Needs, What She Wants
What Rudra needs ... he needs to deal with his mother issues, which have been dragging for the last fifteen years, coloring his life, his relationships ... he needs to emerge from the hate-filled clouds which obscure his vision of the past ... he needs to make peace with his abandonment issues, his feelings of being unworthy, unloved ... he needs to move on.
What Paro wants ... she wants that mangalsutra ... as a validation of her position as his wife, to the world, to wipe out the memories of the hate-filled marriage, and replace them with a more meaningful symbol of the relationship it has now become.
For Paro ... the first is more important, so she deals with that first ... sometimes with thoughtful care, sometimes with as much panache as a bull in a china shop. He's lived with the burden for fifteen years, she wants it gone now ... as of this instant. It's essential for his happiness. So her immediate concern is to give him what he needs.
Her mangalsutra ... that can wait ... it's only for her own happiness ... he brought it for her, he already told her that. He will give it to her when he's ready.
So she pushes and pushes Rudra for the former ... but doesn't say a word about the latter.

That says it all about Paro. She puts Rudra first ... his happiness, his well-being. It's all about him.

And Rudra probably, belatedly started to realise that ... as his shame-faced guilty looks during the overheard Maithili-Paro conversation indicated.

What She Needs, What He Wants 
What Paro needs ... is constant reassurance of her place in Rudra's life, her importance for him, her feeling of belonging.
And Rudra gives it to her ... more and more often now. Telling her he can't live without her love, that he helps him breathe, that he needs her by his side to handle the most difficult moments of his life ... even that he brought Mala back only for her sake ... though that's stretching the truth a bit, but that's his conscious reason, the only one he will acknowledge for now.
What Rudra wants ... is to live with his wife in peace and happiness, the happiness and love she bathes him with ... the feeling of being worthy of love that she brings to him. He wants to move out of the shadows of his past ... but he's not quite sure how to. The only thing he knows is that with Paro in his life, happiness doesn't seem like an elusive fairy tale any more, it seems to be within his grasp. And one thing he's sure of is that his happiness lies with Paro. It lies in her smile, in her happiness. So he tries ... gruffly, roughly ... unwillingly at times ... to make her happy. Because slowly he's beginning to realise, that her happiness lies in making him happy ... even if the way she goes about it, sometimes infuriates him!


Paro giving up her room for Mala ... *head desk* but so typically Paro! Since Mohini has announced the two families will live separately, and since Mala obviously cannot go into Dilsher's room ... or rather, Paro can't take that decision, there was not much choice.
Dia's note ... what happened to the guest room where Laila stayed? Or where the two social worker ladies stayed? Did it disapparate into thin air? Or is this only because the cvs need to delay the big C? Probably the last! :)))

Paro's optimism ... another *head desk* moment ... does Paro really think that getting everybody under one roof is enough for them to become one big happy family?! While her intentions are good, she needs to confine herself to repairing the damage between Rudra and Mala. The relationship between Dilsher and Mala is none of her business ... nor is the one between Mala and Mohini. They're adults, let them sort it out themselves.

Just realised I didn't mention the kiss at all !!!
The Kiss ... a thanks from Paro ... to Rudra for giving her what she needs ... that reassurance that she is important for him ... that he did something he didn't want to (or so he says) only for her sake, to make her happy.
Why was Rudra so pole-axed by the kiss? More and more, I begin to doubt his 'eight years every night' claims!!! :)) 

17/6 - Epi 123 ... Time To Stop Running

Tuesday 17th June

Yesterday Sumer told Mohini  ... decide whether you're staying or going .. today Paro told Mala the same thing ... decide about coming back, and this time, come back only if you're not going to run away again. You hurt Rudra enough once, don't do it again and again.

Mala made some cryptic remarks about it taking two people to make a marriage work ... but Paro was unexpectedly firm today, basically told her to stop making excuses and get her act together.

Also liked the firm Paro earlier in the episode, who told Rudra he was running away again ... he needed to stop. Since cajoling and pleading hasn't worked, Paro decided to act firm nanny, lock both mother and son into a single room ... or single car ... and force them to talk it out. She's had enough ... both of them need to stop running.

The episode - of course Rudra traced Mala ... or rather, got his BSD force to trace her ... along with some rather telling flashbacks of Paro telling him to stop running ... and Mala telling young Rudra she could never be angry with him ...
So he finds Mala ... and then hunts for Paro ... takes her to the place ... and tells her to go with him ... because he can't do this alone.
That was sweet ... poignant, touching and heartwarming ... how far Rudra and Paro have come ... she is his strength, and he has no qualms saying it ... no hesitation admitting it.
And as always, he is her strength ... emboldened by his complete trust in her, Paro takes the bull by the horns, and pushes Laila aside, to talk to Mala. To ask the questions Rudra has bottled up inside him, has been aching to ask ... and not daring to. Today Paro forgot it wasn't her right or her place to ask Mala those questions ... Rudra needed those answers, and she was going to make sure he got them. Enough of being Mrs Nice Bahu ... today she was only Mrs Angry Rudra.

Laila is furious at being sidelined ... she tries again to get into Rudra's good books, by telling him how badly his mother was being treated, and how she saved her. Rudra isn't interested. All he's interested in is Paro ... he's sure his mother won't come back ... wait, she's coming back? Okay, even if she comes back, he's sure she'll only run away again.

But she doesn't. She actually tries to talk ... she cuts short Paro's cheerful, determined blabbering, to finally get to the point ... and tries to tell Rudra some part of the truth ...  yes, she ran away, but she wanted to take him with her ... she called Danveer everyday to ask about him ...

Rudra has heard enough.
No, you haven't, Rudra ... not nearly enough, I'm guessing.

Stretching the track now ... Mala running away, Paro hunting for her, Rudra finding her, PaRud going to get her again ... Mala comes back ... when is she going to talk?! 
Finally she started ... will she get the whole story out this time? 

From a raging Rudra, how did we reach a sulking Rudra and grateful Paro, don't know ... don't care. Sherni Paro ... kisses her man. Whattay precap!!!
Okay, mommy is home ... so Paro can stop being mom ... and can become wife instead. :))) 

16/6 - Epi 122 ... Lessons for Today

Monday 16th June

Lessons for today ...

How to ruin a perfectly good romantic moment by remembering your mother-in-law ... by Paro baisa. In two parts ... a) in bed ... b) in bedroom.

Tea should be made and served ... but never drunk ... by Rudra Pratap Ranawat.

How To Run Away from home Successfully ... by Mala Ranawat

How To Run Away from Home Unsuccessfully ... by Mohini Ranawat.

How To Be Angry under all Circumstances ... by Rudra Pratap Ranawat.

Ironic that the two people because of whom Mala left , the two people who expressed their hatred for her return, are her two closest blood relatives, her sister and her son.

Kostin 1 - Can someone explain to me why on earth Paro stopped Mohini from leaving the haveli? It would have been good riddance to bad rubbish, I say!

Corollary to kostin 1 ... how much does Paro know about what happened the night before? Or rather, about what happened twenty eight ... or twenty nine ... or thirty years ago? Did Danveer tell her everything? In which case ... see kostin 1 above.

Precap ... the separations in this show are never of long duration. Rudra Paro's separation lasted all of two and a half episodes ... Mala running away and being found has lasted barely one.

I loved the Parud moments ... why the heck did Paro have to spoil them by remembering Mommy Mala?! Paro, sweetheart, I love you a lot ... but your timing leaves much to be desired!

*edit - forgot to mention Sumer banna ... the guy has his priorities straight ... mom, decide whether you're running away or not, I'm not carrying these heavy bags up and down while you do your drama! 

EDITED ... with a more serious update ...

The episode was good, well balanced between family drama and romance ... finally we get some romance!!!

Paro ... trying her best to do a balancing act ... she is the complete woman ... wife, daughter, bahu of the house, struggling to hold a family together ... even the people she doesn't much care for or trust ... only because Kakisa is also family, is a wife and mother ... and she has heard her story too. 

And of course, her unrelenting efforts to heal her husband ... he can scream and shout that he hates his mother, but when he is affected enough to call out his mother's name in his sleep, Paro knows the hate is only a cover for something else. And she pushes him again ... go talk to her. Because she knows, he needs answers, and he will only get them from his mother. 

Rudra ... his anger was expected from the precap, but his subsequent melting was not ... and it was very welcome. He blows up at Paro as expected ... his first reaction is always anger ... Did he actually go to talk to his mother, as Paro said? But too late, she had left again ... and his first reaction is anger ... he knew it, this woman is not to be trusted, he told Paro that, she didn't listen ... and this time, it;s Paro who is hurt ... hurt the same way that he was, when his mother ran away the first time. In Paro's vulnerable, desperate eyes, he sees his own twelve year old self ... in her hurt, he sees his own ... he doesn't see Paro as another beautiful woman not to be trusted ... but instead, he sees her as another vulnerable soul, another hurt child, similar to the child he was twelve years ago. 

And this might be Rudra's turning point, I feel ... discarding the hatred, and allowing the hurt to surface ... recognising Paro's hurt, because that's what he felt too ... he wanted to find his mother and bring her back twelve years ago ... the way Paro wants to find her now. And maybe that's what prompts him to go hunt for her after all. 

Mala ... I felt for Mala today. She has made some wrong decisions in life ... maybe some were her own, some were forced upon her, and some she was manipulated into making. But she has paid for them ... the hatred of her own son is a huge cross to bear. She doesn't want to upset him further, when it seems he has found someone to heal him, someone to love him ... better for her to leave. 

And she loves her older sister too ... she is horrified at the extent of hatred that Mohini bears for her, she can't live with that, with the guilt Mohini has heaped on her shoulders. She leaves for Rudra's sake, and for Mohini's sake ... ironically, the two people with whom she shares the closest blood ties, are the two people who seem to hate her the most. 

(Of course, Rudra's hatred is only skin deep ... and Paro is peeling off the layers very quickly.)

Mohini ... we all have our problems in life ... its the way we deal with them that define us. Never had much sympathy for her, even on Friday ... today whatever little there was, evaporated. She will stop at nothing to fulfill her own ambitions ... be it the happiness and safety of her own flesh and blood ... her sons, her own sister. She is happy at having driven her sister away again ... and reclaimed her own position as chatelaine of the haveli ... what a woman!  That's all that matters to her. 

Danveer ... surprisingly, Danveer seemed least affected by Mohini's drama ... is that because he is used to it? Recognises it for what it is? Mala was afraid what Danveer had told Paro, what lies she could get away with ... When Paro said Mala left for Rudra and Mohini's sake, that was one story down the drain. Time to regroup and think of something else ... and also figure out how much exactly Paro knows. 

13/6 - Epi 121 ... Trying To Hold, Trying to Heal

Friday 13th June

The title refers to Paro ... trying desperately to hold on to relationships, to heal old wounds, mend old cracks, bridge old rifts ... and bring the broken pieces of a fragmented family together. She just needs some support, some reassurance that she's doing the right thing ... Mala's apparent acceptance of defeat and guilt doesn't give it to her, neither does Dilsher's silence ... neither does Rudra's anger ... but finally he acknowledges that even in his anger, her presence, her love, is the only thing keeping him going, keeping him alive and breathing, holding him together, and stopping him from breaking into pieces. And that's enough for Paro ... till the next storm!
Loved the song and the picturization both ...
Main tennu samjhavan ki
Na tere bin lagda ji ... 


Mohini's sob story continued ... I didn't understand how much of it was true and how much was crocodile tears ... does she really intend to leave the haveli? Or was that her modus operandi to guilt Mala into leaving? If it was, it seems to have worked.
Mohini said that Mala ran away with her lover ... Mala didn't protest. So is that true?
And her biggest grouse is that the business should be hers, but it bears Mala's name ... the haveli should be her husband's but it bears Dilsher's name ... her hard work, her blood, sweat and tears ... but the rights all belong to others.
ROFL moment ... Mohini says ... I always speak the truth!

Glad Aman reminded Rudra that he needed to question Laila about Tejawat ... although it didn't have much effect ... Rudra only ticked her off for trying to get close to him, but forgot to check whether she knew Teju's hideout. Not that it mattered, Teju is way ahead of him there ... he's gone! The only good thing is, that it pushed Rudra into going home.
It also might push Laila into  becoming truly a woman scorned  and throwing her lot in with Teju... which will make her much more dangerous.

Mala, I'm trying to feel sorry for you, even trying to justify you, but for heavens sake ... stop crying silently ... and say something! And running away again is NOT the answer! 

12/6 - Epi 120 ... Revelations ... When It All Began

Thursday 12th June

Today the major turning point wasn't Sumer's return ... it was the reveal of Mohini's extreme hatred and jealousy, and the reason for it.

So Dilsher went with a rishta for Mohini, the older sister, and chose to marry Mala instead. Mala got the older brother with the title to the haveli, and became jethani to her older sister. What was worse, she gave Mohini her younger brother-in-law as a charity handout ... or so Mohini felt. And Mohini's hatred and jealousy has been festering for the last twenty eight years (Dia's note - shouldn't it be 29 years? Rudra is 28 years old) ... much to the surprise, no, shock ... of Dilsher, Mala and Danveer, who really had no clue that Mohini felt this way.
Either Mohini was a very good actress all these years ... or Dilsher, Danveer and Mala are all really dumb!

In all this, I liked the way Paro never obeyed Mohini's instructions to leave, but waited till Dilsher told her to go ... making it very clear to Mohini that her loyalties were with Dilsher and Mala, not with Mohini at all. And she doesn't trust Mohini an inch.

In other scenes, Rudra sulked some more, prompting Paro to remark that all she has done since getting married has been to feed Rudra like the kid he is. Yes, Paro ... we all feel the same way!

And Rudra may claim he hates Mala, but he can't sit and listen to her being insulted and made a tamasha of ... so he stalks off to office. Good thing too ... he remembered he has a job ... of course, Ashish also has dance rehearsals!

And in precap - Laila is back :( But Rudra tells her clearly that she has no place in his life. Am sure Mohini will try to repeat history by playing games with Laila, Rudra and Paro ... and that might help Rudra to finally realise how she drove the wedge between his parents.

So the story begins to unfold slowly ... 

11/6 - Epi 119 ... The Prodigal Returns ...

Wednesday 11th June

The prodigal returns ... as predicted, and hoped ;) the person responsible was Dilsher.

And Rudra's world collapses around him once again ... his father brought his mother back?! After those long years of dinning into his head that his mother, and all beautiful women like her, were faithless, after dragging him around for years, running away from his wife, not allowing Rudra to lead a settled life, taking him away from the only home he had known ... Dilsher welcomes Mala back into the haveli as though it was the most natural thing to do?! Why did he bring up Rudra to hate his mother then, if he was going to welcome her back home?
A matter between husband and wife? And what about the son who was caught between the two of them? His father demanded his loyalties, Rudra gave them unflinchingly ... only to have that loyalty thrown back in his face?

Rudra's world just collapsed around him once again ... the faithlessness of his mother, which he knew ... but now, added to that, the perfidy of his father ... whom can he trust?!

And he storms off ... reduced again to the frightened, insecure twelve year old whose world shattered around him overnight.

Even by Dilsher's standards, that was rather insensitively done.  Felt really sorry for Rudra ... in a bad marriage, it's always the children who suffer the most in the middle, and that is exactly what happened here. 

Mohini is fuming silently all through this exchange ... not one word. She gets rid of Maithili and Samrat pronto ... doesn't want them getting any wrong ideas.
Methinks that was more like bolting the stable door after the horse had bolted. 

Dilsher tells Paro awkwardly to look after Mala. Mala tells Paro to go after Rudra ... Paro does ... but not much use ... Rudra is still hurting, trying to process everything that just happened ... and failing miserably. The shock is too great .. everything he was brought up with, just turned upside down. And Rudra was not the most emotionally stable of men to start with ... he cannot handle this. So he pushes Paro away ... he can't trust anyone at all ... doesn't want to trust anyone at all. He's back to being the twelve year old abandoned child ... alone again.

Danveer brings Mala to Dilsher ... Dilsher is still very awkward ... Mala is silent.

Danveer introduces Maithili, Samrat and Sunehri to Mala ... just as though this was the most normal thing in the world to be happening. And then Mala goes to Mohini ... Mohini throws her out ... the mask is finally off.

As expected ... Mohini had a lot to do with Mala running away ... and she's furious that her fifteen year old plans, so carefully laid and carried out, have just collapsed around her feet.
Rudra's world is not the only one which shattered tonight! 

Paro Mala ... Paro has based her entire viewpoint of the situation on her own experience of Mala ... a woman who could be so kind to a poor orphan girl, could not have left her child without a very good reason. And she knows that she was a substitute for Rudra all these years ... contrary to what Rudra firmly believed, Mala had not forgotten her son all these years.

Paro is probably right in her assessment ... judging by Mohini's soliloquy, more than probably right ... but some doubts, some questions would have been more understandable than this certainty.
Mala is still silent.
Rudra is Dilsher's son ... and Mala seems to have given her thoughtfulness to Paro ... Mala's silence held deep thought.

And tomorrow - Sumer returns. As far as Mohini is concerned, if Mala can be forgiven, why not Sumer?
Mohini never loses her capacity to think on her feet ... Carpe Diem ... Seize the opportunity! 

10/6 - Epi 118 ... Tangled Relationships

Tuesday 10th June

Tangled Relationships .. unravelling ... or getting further tangled ... re-establishing ... how fragile our human emotions can be ...

Danveer Dilsher ... a brother wronged ... a brother betrayed ... but who is the betrayer? 

Rudra Paro ... tough love is usually associated with a mother ... but when the mother is missing, the wife fills that need. 

Dilsher Paro ... Paro voices her own internal conflict, and finds a surprisingly sympathetic confidante for her point of view. 

This was the scene of the day  Beautifully played by both actors, especially Dilsher ... now I am really looking forward to the whole story. 

Paro Rudra again ... 

Pyaar tumko bhi hai, pyaar humko bhi hai 

Toh yeh kya silsile ho gaye

Bewafa tum nahin, bewafa hum nahin 

Toh kyun itne gile ho gaye

Paro Mala ... felt sorry for Paro in this scene ... she loves her foster mother, but maybe blood is thicker than water after all, for Mala is more worried about Rudra's pain. Is Paro fated to never find unconditional love at all?  

Rudra Maithili ... an unlikely alliance ... but Rudra cannot confide in Maithili this time. 

Mohini ... alone ... as she is fated to be. 

Paro enters the haveli with Mala. 

I still hope that she brought Mala back on Dilsher's request.  I think she did ... waiting to watch tomorrow. 

9/6 - Epi 117 ... Kahani Mein Twist

Monday 9th June

Kahani mein twist ... so Mala did not exactly walk out ... she did decide to leave, but with Rudra, as she said ... and Dilsher threw her out. And he didn't allow her to take Rudra.

I had written an FF years ago on Samrat Gunjan, where Samrat hates his mother for leaving him ... and the same thing had happened there ... his mom was actually thrown out, Interesting to see some similarities here!
For those interested ... http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1655794&TPN=34 

The most interesting scene today was Dilsher's flashbacks ... the start of the actual Mala story, which we were all waiting for.

I hope that Dilsher has asked Paro to bring Mala home, and Paro has not done it of her own accord.

Rudra obviously has only got a very, very skewered version of the facts ... he really needs to know the whole story ... not just from Mala, as Paro told him, but also from Dilsher. Both of them need to sit down and tell him the truth.

Dilsher is definitely as responsible as Mala for the way Rudra turned out, even more so ... not only did he prevent Mala from taking Rudra with her, but he also then proceeded to poison Rudra's mind against Mala for fifteen long years. Wonder if Danveer knows the entire truth, and that's why he stayed in touch with Mala for so long.
It also seems at first glance that Mala did not run away to be with Tejawat, but she met him after she left the Ranawat haveli ... Teju gave her shelter, and probably fell in love with her along the way ... as much as he could love anyone apart from himself, of course.

The PaRud scene was sweet ... love the way Paro got Rudra to eat a couple of mouthfuls ... she should have kept her mouth shut about asking him to listen to her, though ... the man just doesn't want to hear it yet. But it was good that she reiterated that she was on his side always ... he needs to hear it, even though like a child, he stubbornly believes that being on his side means agreeing to everything he says. It doesn't ... he will figure that out eventually. Rudra still has a lot of growing up to do ... any sight or sound or mention of his mother, and he turns into a twelve year old again, with the same IQ to boot. He did not even notice that Dilsher's only question to him was ... 'how is she?'  Well, he's sozzled, so excused for the moment ... let's see what happens tomorrow. But if he stops to think about it, he might realise there is more to the story than he knows.

Another intriguing thing ... Dilsher and Danveer both hid from Mohini that Mala was back ...

Mohini Samrat ... have a feeling Mohini will try to get Samrat married again ... Maithili is becoming far too influential in the house for Mohini's liking. Again an insight into Mohini's character ... she wants complete control. Which again begs the question ... what was her role in the Mala Dilsher breakup?

Rangrasiya ... 2nd - 6th June - Epi 112 - 116

112 - Monday 2nd June ... Making the Break
Laila-Tejawat ... Ankita seems to be settling into Laila a  little more, or maybe I'm getting used to her OTT acting. Am interested in seeing what she comes up with. The major flaw in her plan is that she feels Rudra will fall over himself in gratitude to her for getting his mother back, she doesn't know that he already knows she's with Tejawat, and is even less ready to forgive her.
Paro-Rudra ...Again beautiful scenes ... Sanaya's acting was fabulous as Paro grapples with the dread of leaving Rudra forever ... Ashish was great today as Rudra puzzles over Paro's subdued behaviour, and then goes to buy her bangles to cheer her up. Rudra's character has been drawn beautifully ... can't help loving the guy for his silent, fierce adoration of Paro.
Rudra's angst and anguish as Maithili tells him about Paro's vow and the last scene ... Paro trying to get the courage to make that final break ... Rudra stopping her ... Wow!!!

113 - Tuesday 3rd June ... Love Binds, Love Frees
Rudra - Love is a binding force, it holds people together. Love is selfish, it seeks to hold on to the person you love. So how can Paro love him and leave him?
Paro - Love sets you free ... love is unselfish, it asks for nothing except the happiness and the life of the one you love. She prayed to Bholenath for Rudra's life, even if the price was her own life and happiness. For her life, her happiness is only Rudra.

What Paro and Rudra didn't bargain for was that Rudra's life is Paro, his happiness is only with Paro. So when Paro prayed for Rudra's life, Bholenath actually granted her her own life, her own happiness. Without Paro, Rudra cannot exist. So Paro has to stay with Rudra if she wants his life.
Bholenath found a way for Paro to fulfil her vow, and yet stay with Rudra. The only thing Rudra has to do, is to accept that Paro is his life. He is hers.

Rudra's eighth and final vow broken.

114 - Wednesday 4th June ... She Gave him Up to Her God, He wrested Her Back from Her God
She gave him up to Bholenath to save his life, he argued with the same God to bring her back ... if she was his life, how could he still live if she left him? Her mannat was to save his life, his was to keep his life with him. Bholenath had no choice but to give in to Rudra!
Nicely done, cvs! Despite being filmy, the scene was well executed. Both Sanaya and Ashish were fabulous.
Paro's scream when she thought Rudra had come under the train, was really chilling ... Sanaya was simply fantastic in that scene! The hug was sweet, but too short.
Loved the entire PaRud scene ... found myself holding my breath even on second watch.

Dia's note ... just how long did that train take to come into the station?!

Aww scene ... Paro asking Rudra ... what about our luggage, did you inform Jija ... and when will you leave my hand? Paro of course, is thrilled to bits that he's holding on to her as though he will never let her go.
And Rudra's look into her eyes as he says softly, yet firmly ... never. Haayyyee!!!

So Paro knows now without a shadow of doubt that she is Rudra, and he is hers. The man just declared he can't live without, her, and more importantly, he doesn't want to. And he made her promise she would never leave him. Paro, the orphan, has found a place of her own, a husband, a home and a family she belongs to.

Other very sweet scenes - 
Danveer thanking Paro for making a stone into a human.
Rudra touching Maithili's feet as a mark of respect ... she has truly been the wise elder in the family, a far worthier matriarch than Mohini.
Dilsher-Rudra scene ... and the continuation, as Dilsher walks off chatting amicably with Paro, wanting to know all about her trip. A warm, comfortable, father-daughter relationship ...
Rudra asking Maithili about buying a mangalsutra for Paro ... about time! Paro has bridged more than one relationship for Rudra ... she has brought him into his whole family.

Maithili confronting Mohini - I know my husband is your son, but stop insulting him in front of outsiders. 
Mohini is fast losing her grip on her entire family ... as Maithili and Paro's influence increases, and the family, torn apart and fragmented for the last fifteen years, starts slowly, painfully, coming back together.

What will happen when Mala, the cause for the disintegration of the family, makes a come back into their lives?

115 - Thursday 5th June ... Practice Makes Perfect 

Or so Major Rudra Pratap Ranawat seems to feel ... especially when it comes to the very unique ... and rather uncomfortable ... situation he finds himself in ... declaring his love for the woman he loves. So he makes sure to get the set up all right ... organise mangal sutra - check ... organise efficient supportive bhabhisa to deliver lady love to his office in the evening, where he can propose his love to her at the place where their story began ... check.
Major Saab has a romantic streak in him, it seems!

And it seems he hit pay dirt, because his beloved wife is struggling with the red thread that passes for the mangalsutra he's planning to replace it with ... talk about timing! So he ties the thread for her ... making her all flustered and breathless in the process ... she escapes his proximity, but apparently not because she is repulsed ... quite the reverse ... she's not ready for him to leave for office, she actually displays very wifely petulance at the statement that he's going to office with her Jija ... why Jija? Why office, you have a holiday? Wait, stop ... do this, do that ... do ... uh uh, I forgot ... and when you get so close, I can't think, let alone remember ... 

Yep, time to take their relationship forward ... he just declared that he can't live without her, made her promise that she will never leave him as long as they live ... he is secure in his woman's love finally, and ready to say so.

But not so easy to say so, after all ... so he practices ... while watching Paro through a one way glass, which mysteriously reversed its position .. blooper alert!!! How he was running all his life, how she chased him, ran after him, and finally made him stop running ... how sweet this defeat is ... and how much he ... loves ... her.
There ... he said it! 
Rehearsal over ... time for the real act.

So he tries again, this time for real ... problem is, the dratted girl keeps interrupting and throwing him off his practiced speech with her loving concern ... are you all right? You're sweating ... sit down ... have some water ...
Of course he's sweating ... he's never done this before!
So he tries again ... much more unpolished and stuttered ... tells her to keep quiet ... wrong move, she sulks, so he has to cajole her first, before starting off again ...
And finally gets to the point about leaving the shadows of his past behind ... and moving forward ...
And the last, darkest shadow of his past appears ... and casts its shadow between Rudra and Paro again.

Mala. His mother.

Ignoring the rest of the episode, the Mohini-Sumer scene ... and the editing bloopers, and the shoddy camera work. Don't know whose idea it was to keep that silly lamp in the picture in the BSD office ... it was most distracting. Also the Major's speech got too long ... especially as he repeated most of it ... I was waiting for him to get to the point!
Loved the first PaRud scene ... the dhaaga tying ... loved Sanaya's loose hair in that, wish they would keep it that way more often, especially in the bedroom scenes at home. She looks so young and utterly lovely with her hair flying around her face. The PaRud chemistry was spot on in that scene. And loved the way Paro shows sparks of jealousy as she tries to delay Rudra leaving ... and her candid admission that she can't think if he gets too close ... cute! 
Loved the nervous stammering Rudra as he tries to propose for real ... the mix of roughness and softness was very good. Ashish did very well in that scene. 

116 - Friday 6th June ... Shadow of the Past

Beautiful episode from start to finish ... I loved all the characters. All were very much in character ... except that Mala is looking more and more clueless ... did she really not realise what her disappearance could have done to Rudra? 
Waiting to hear Mala's back story ... from what we have now, she went off one fine day, apparently she and Dilsher had a troubled marriage, but she adored her Rudra. Were the troubles in their marriage fomented by Mohini? Possible.
So she went off one day ... returned after a month for Rudra ... so did she go off without any place to go, hence she went without Rudra? And when she came back, it was after she had met Tejawat and he gave her shelter? 
So she returned for her son ... only to find that Dilsher had disappeared with him, and Danveer didn't know their whereabouts ... she kept in touch with Danveer, but he also did not know where Dilsher and Rudra were for fifteen years. And when Rudra returned, Danveer informed Mala ... she wanted to meet Rudra immediately, but he kept telling her to wait ... the rest we have seen. 

The episode -
Rudra-Mala first meeting - Paro hugs Mala, finds Mala unresponsive as she stares at Rudra ... Paro understands what Mala is asking and confirms it ... Mala overwhelmed, reaches out ... Rudra shattered again ... storms out.

Paro runs after Rudra ... tells him he has to stop running ... he asks her to come with him ... she tells him to face up to his past and deal with it ... he tells her to choose ... she refuses to choose, and tells him again he has to face his mother, ask her all the questions he has locked in his heart ... he has to talk to her.
He drives off.
Loved the conversation ... the way Paro confronts him ... talk to me, look at me ...
The way he says ... ghutan ho rahi hai, Paro ... He bares his heart to this woman, because she is part of him part of his soul, she understands ...
But she is also tough love ... yes, she understands, but she also knows the lost child behind the tormented man, the one still yearning for his mother, still guilt racked that he did something to chase her away ... he wants answers, he deserves those answers, but he has to face Mala and get them.

He's not ready yet ... he drives away ... and she lets him ... he needs his space, time to come to terms with the shock of seeing his mother again.
So she stops Aman from calling him, and gets his help to deal with the immediate situation ... they have an injured witness whom they need to take care of.

Paro- Mala ... another scene I loved ... Paro telling Mala, he's told me about you ... pati hain voh mhaare. 
Mala's smile breaks out ... she is delighted, she always wanted Paro for her daughter-in-law ... but she is now realising the damage she did to Rudra by staying away for so long ...

Dia's note - really?! Now?! About time! In her defense though, she did try to take Rudra, she did stay in touch with Danveer for that purpose, and she did come back the moment he told her Rudra had returned. So I will wait for her full story ... it had better be good, for her to get any forgiveness. 

And Paro reassures her that Rudra will return, that things will be all right ... Mala has realised her mistake, and that's the most important thing.
While I can understand Paro being sweet and loving to Mala, hope she stays out of the exchange between Mala and Rudra and only acts as a bridge to facilitate their interaction. She has to be loyal to Rudra, she has seen first hand the damage his mother's abandonment did to him ... on the other hand, Mala was her mother figure for fifteen years, and her support when Paro, a young orphan of six, needed it the most. So Mala has never wronged Paro ... she has only supported her, and Paro has to support her when she needs it. Mala has, however, wronged Rudra, and it is Rudra she needs to seek forgiveness from. From where Paro stands, she has seen both sides of Mala, and she has to tread the fence carefully. 
In the meantime, though ... I did love the mutual delight on Paro and Mala's faces as Mala reveals her link to Rudra and through him, to Mala ... her Thakurain maasa is now her sasuma. A mutual love, respect and affection ... beautiful to see. 

Rudra drinking ... as the memories surface in flashbacks ... expected! I hate to sound insensitive, but it's really high time he got over this. He is neglecting his duties as a BSD Major with his personal issues ... he should have been sorting out Mala's security and wellbeing, as she is an important witness in the Tejawat case, and moreover can tell them Tejawat's whereabouts before Tejawat flees again ... which Teju does, very promptly. Anyway, the scene was good ... fortunately Ashish seems to have received the feedback on his OTT crying, and has cut back on it.

Paro- Laila ... loved this scene, as Paro firmly and politely puts Laila in her place ... we thank you for looking after sasuma, now we can take over from here. As for your concern for Rudra, leave him to me, I'm his wife, and I can take care of him. Besides, I know you tried to come between us ... and that disturbs Major Saab. He's already facing a crisis, please don't worsen things.

So much confidence Paro has now about her place in Rudra's life ... when a man stands in front of a moving train and makes you swear you will never leave him, the words "I love you" are pretty redundant! 

Dilsher- Rudra - Danveer - another good scene ... Dilsher ready to hand over Mala's sarees to Paro, and her jewelry ... Rudra tells him Mala is back ... Dilsher's shock.

Small details - Rudra tells Dilsher ... voh laut aayi, Ranawat ...
But when he sees Dilsher stumble, his reaction is ... sambhalke, Baapusa. 

Yes, Rudra has changed ... and the change is irreversible. The bitterness may return temporarily, but it is well on its way to receding. Only the final dregs remain.

Rudra stumbles out ... Dilsher, worried, urges Paro to go after him.

Rudra- Mala - And Rudra has taken Paro's advice to heart ... he goes to face Mala.

So will we get Mala's story next week? And will it be the full story? What role did Mohini play in all this? Not overt, because Mala seemed to have no bitterness towards Mohini ... so obviously, even if Mohini did something to foment trouble, it was well hidden. Unlike here, where Paro and Maithili discovered her antics. Just hope the cvs have laid a good story in place ... it is already very difficult for Mala to get any redemption.