16/3 - Epi 210 ... Some truths emerge

16th Mar Fri

A really sweet ArHi scene, which I will watch again and again after the misunderstandings start, to remind myself how beautiful these two can be together. Still not completely in their senses ... or rather, still with their guards down, letting themselves live in the moment, and feel their love ... holding each other, the first time Khushi comes into Arnav's arms, and he holds her there tenderly ... a moment of tenderness, softness ... enclosed within their little bubble and happy to stay there forever ...

And then reality intervenes ... KMH as usual in wrong place at wrong time x( ... RRR takes full advantage of the situation ... x( x( ... and Khushi lets out two secrets ... that she and Arnav are united, but also the real truth of their marriage.

The video showing ... when did Anjali tape so much? Arnav and Khushi slowly coming back to earth, both equally embarrassed ... doesn't seem like they've forgotten anything though, but will they acknowledge it when sober?

Payal Mami face pack drama ...
Shyam accosts Khushi again ... this guy has selective hearing and memory ... he only registers that Khushi said she was forced into the marriage, not that she has no problems with Arnav. Or is he going to make sure that she does have problems? Snakewa, burn in hell!!!!

*edit later* And I hate it when they end the week on Snakewa's sneering face ... *puke* ... need to rewatch the first ArHi scene so that I don't get nightmares! :-&

*edited*
They repeated the last part of ArHi by the pool ... did I mind? Not one bit :"> ... as Arnav was explaining to a befuddled, innocent Khushi that what she felt for him was love ... what they both felt was love ... the meeting of their heartbeats ...
And magically (I always said this poolside has magical powers! ;) ) they're suddenly sitting on the pool edge, still staring at each other with exactly the same expressions, with him holding her hand to his heart the same way (blooper alert - if I catch bloopers, means they're big! :)) - why shift? why this kolaveri di? ) ...
Khushi moves unsteadily away ... Arnav catches her hand tighter and refuses to let her move, shaking his head ... nope, you're not going anywhere, stay right here ... she looks at him wonderingly, the smallest half-smile on her face as she takes in this new loving Arnav, loving him more and more ... and slowly lays her head against his shoulder, her other hand coming to hold his even tighter, holding on to him and this new feeling as closely as she can ...
And the soft relief in his face as he feels her surrender, loving her all over again ... his arm in turn coming around her shoulders to hold her closer in his turn ... smilingly, ... peace, contentment written on his face ... she raises her head at the touch, to look at him again, he looks down at her still smiling ... yes, this is where he wants to be, where they both want to be ... a little slice of heaven ... in each others' arms ...  

And the KMH arrives ... Arnav, word of advice, find yourself a desert island for you and your wife ... you'll get no respite from that "Chotey' otherwise!
Khushi startles at the call, and moves away again ... Arnav is still having none of that ... Chotey or no Chotey ... you're not going anywhere ... his possessiveness acting as balm to her troubled heart ...

Till KMH calls again ... "Chotey, you and Khushi come and eat achar to get out of the nasha ..."
Who wants them to get out of the nasha anyway?! They're perfectly happy where they are!
Khushi gives a soft laugh ... 'nimbu ka achara ...' loved the look she gave him here, soft, adoring, back in the semi-intoxicated state ... Arnav shrugs ... whatever, he doesn't care about achar, nimbu or any other ... but they get up unsteadily to go ... arm in arm (loved the way he helps her up, and she holds on to his arm for support, holding on to him tightly, and Arnav loving it ...). Her dupatta falls off ... neither notice as they stumble out of the room ... she stops at the door and goes to get it back ... he waits for her ...

Loved that little interaction ... you go ahead, I'll come ... I'll get whatever and come ...
No, I'm waiting ... folding his arms like a sulky child ... I'm not going without you ...
The soft teasing smile ... ahhhh, how long have I waited for some gentle, lighthearted loving teasing ... what for? For my dhadkan?
His lazy smile ... I'm waiting ... that was sexyyyy ... even if he was drunk!!!
Her answering happy smile ... hayyyeeeee

Scene went downhill after that ... entry of the Snake grrrr... x(
Thoughts - isn't RS getting bolder and bolder, entering the poolside when Arnav and Khushi are both there, confronting Khushi with Arnav just outside? Or did he not realize that Arnav was anywhere around? Probably not - he'd last seen Khushi alone, after that she disappeared ... he was hunting single-mindedly for her, determined to get that secret out of her ... Arnav was probably the last person on his mind. The last he saw Arnav was dancing with his family, drunk ... did he feel safe because he knew Arnav was also talli? And felt Arnav was unlikely to be anywhere around? Didn't he know that Arnav had gone hunting for Khushi almost immediately ... no, he did know that Arnav was hunting for Khushi ... he saw him ...
Really trying to figure how RRR got so bold ... it didn't make sense! Or is he just getting desperate?

Shyam-Khushi - am not giving details ... yuckkkk ... can Shyam stop touching Khushi please??? Good thing she told him not to touch her ... he had to listen, if he wanted her to tell him anything in her drunk state, because sober, he knew he'd get nothing out of her ...  was happy to see his frustration when she said that there was no tension between her and Arnav ... but that was shortlived.
And oh dear God, she told him the Payal condition :( :( :(  ... and she doesn't know why he did it, doesn't know that he knows about Shyam ... :( :( :( ... shit, shit, shit ...

I quite liked the family scenes with mama-mami ... Anjali goes to fetch Chotey again ... finds him waiting for Khushi ...
Arnav's line ... dupatte mein :)) ... damn cute!

Anjali exchanges places with Shyam pretty darn quick ... that tree also has magical powers, that it can hide the beefy Shyam from his wife's eyes ... though given her natural blindness to all things Creepwa, not really surprising. Khushi already realizing she did something wrong, confused, was she hallucinating, was that Anjali or Shyam ... wants her Arnavji immediately ...awww ...

I am such a sucker for cute ArHi scenes ... I go awwww at every single one :"> :) So I loved the way he's waiting for her, tells her to come along, and they go off, Khushi again clinging to his arm, and wondering what just happened ... his immediate concern, even through his nasha ... the way he cups her face tenderly ... what happened, Khushi? She mumbles something about achar, and he smiles and leads her ahead ...

Family watching video ... complete filler, but I didn't mind it ... few random thoughts - as the scene was silly and full of illogical stuff ...
When did Anjali film all those scenes? And why is NK missing? Anjali seems to be intoxicated even without bhaang, with her silly giggles - why is she so delighted and surprised to see the ArHi interactions? They've just had a runaway love marriage, for cripes' sakes! Why the excitement to put it on display?! And the scenes of Arnav drinking bhaang and twirling Khushi, and the ones of him chasing Khushi were in the wrong order - the latter came first.
Mami put her finger on it as usual ... Arnav's bitwa's life has gone from b/w era to multicolored, with surround sound thrown in for good measure! :))
Liked Mamaji's line - Arnav has wrecked the family tradition of running away from wives! =))
Does nimbu ka achar really have such instant magic restorative powers? If so, why isn't it used more often for detox programs? =))

Anjali was really, really silly in her announcements of Arnav's changed personality after marriage and the dil ki baatein ... don't blame Arnav for getting irritated.

Why were Arnav and Khushi sitting at opposite ends of the room? They came in together, didn't they?

And Arnav and Khushi were pretty much sober during the first few scenes, why are they so shocked to see them? Or are they shocked seeing their emotions so blatantly on display ... are they actually seeing each others' emotions clearly for the first time?

My take on the initial ArHi eyelocks as they eat the magical achar and instantly come back to their senses ... they both remember ... and pretty clearly ... what happened between them ... As is usual, and quite normal under such circumstances, both are instantly embarrassed and aware ... each remembers what he/ she said, and is like ... does she/he remember it too? He knows he discloses his feelings, she knows she disclosed hers ... what both have been fighting to hide so desperately ... the fact that the other reciprocated is forgotten for the moment ... 
Including the part when Mama remarks that they disapeared, and Anjali asks, yes, where were you both ... they both remember where they were and what happened ...
Anjali, again silly ... why are you asking where they disappeared? They're married now, what they do together is really none of your business.

Rest of episode was Mami-Payal and facepacks ... is that what will precipitate Payal's banishment?
And one last Shyam-Khushi scene :( ... he tells her she said her dil ki baat ... leaving her wondering what exactly she said to him ...

Final thoughts -

So Shyam knows how Arnav forced Khushi into marriage. He knows Arnav did it for Anjali's happiness.
He knows the Payal blackmail part. So does he think that if Payash break up, Arnav will have no hold left on Khushi, to keep her in the marriage?
He doesn't know Arnav did it for Khushi as much as for Anjali, if not even more. He knows Arnav has feelings for Khushi ... does he know the depth? Or does he feel it's all a sham, and Arnav's main concern is only  Anjali? In which case, no amount of HMC scenes between ArHi will convince him otherwise - he will feel Arnav is doing it to keep Khushi convinced. Which could work in ArHi's favour.
He also doesn't know this marriage is a 6 month contract. 

Arnav knows that Shyam is obsessed with Khushi. He knows by now that Shyam is not giving up on Khushi that easily - Shyam's attempt to put color on Khushi. So he knows, or can guess, that Shyam-Anjali marriage is a lost cause. So now, are all his actions mainly for his love for Khushi? And Anjali's well-being till she can stand the news, of course.
He also has a good idea about Khushi's feelings for him ... if he will remember. He also has acknowledged his feelings for Khushi ... if he is now ready to face them.
Should he then confront Khushi? Tell her he knows about Shyam, without telling her the part about Shyam saying she loves Shyam, and trying to find out her feelings? 

Khushi has just about acknowledged her feelings for Arnav. She also has a good idea about his for her ... again same caveat - if she remembers. She should realize and accept that Shyam is not going to abandon his pursuit of her ... though, he has been shown more as being concerned for her and her happiness, whether she has been forced into marriage and is she happy about it, and ready to take action against Arnav if she isn't ... the car scene. However, she has to read between the lines and figure out that it's all because of his obsessive love for her ... even after she has told him to lay off, that there is no tension between her and Arnav, he's not giving up.
Logically, she should take the next step. She should tell Arnav something ... even if it's just her doubt that she said something inadvertantly to Shyam while under the bhaang influence.

If Khushi or Arnav talk to each other about Shyam, that would be the most logical. However, it would clear up misunderstandings to a large extent ... the sole reason why I think it's unlikely to happen ;) If it did, I would do balle balle ...
They would have to face the next problem - how, when and what to tell Anjali. And how to expose Shyam to Anjali ... because she would be unlikely to believe them if they just said it straight off. However I would love it ... it would pit them both together against Shyam ...
What could also happen ... both not tell each other ... but be far more aware of Shyam and his antics than they have been uptil now. Khushi especially ...but also now Arnav has even less excuse, especially after that blatant attempt by Shyam to color Khushi. 

Am trying to find some logic here ... any help will be appreciated =))

15/3 - Epi 209 ... Hamari Dhadkanein ... Ek Ho Jaati Hain

15th Mar Thurs

There was something sublime, almost spiritual about the ArHi confession ... all defences, all barriers stripped away ... naked love and longing ... all in the eyes ... in the soft halting words ...

The words of Khushi ... I tried to forget, I couldn't ... I tried to understand, I couldn't ... you tell me ...

The way she pushed down his hand from her eyes, the way he turned away as though accepting it as rejection ... the way she held his hand as he turned to leave ... the way he looked down at it, at his hand held in hers, the first time she had ever made the first move ... the slow hope dawning ... the way she held his face between her hands and asked her question ... the way his eyes melted and filled ... the way he cupped her face in his hands in turn ... the way he lifted her in his arms, like he always does ... the way he wiped her face so gently with the towel ... the way her eyes opened again and she asked her question again ... her eyes pleading ... locked to his ... the first time she never looked away, not for an instant ... the way he held her hand against her heart and answered her ... his other hand cupping her face ... and the last ...
Hamari dhadkanein ...?
Ek ho jaati hain ...

An episode filled with emotion, overflowing with their love, so palpable you could feel it, you felt you could reach out and touch it ...

Not a single kiss, not even a hug ... but two people connected like they could never part again ...

*edit later * other things also happened, chiefly RS finding out the sleeping arrangements, which means they will change pretty darn soon ...

*edited*
Episode starts with Arnav still searching for Khushi, worried even in his intoxicated state, or maybe because of his intoxication, unable completely to hide his worry when she disappears from his sight even for a minute ...
Where did she go?! She was here just a minute ago ...

Dragged out by an anxious Shyam, who demands to know the reason for her hasty marriage, sure that he's right, from what she let slip to Nani, she was forced, she never wanted to marry Arnav, she hates him, of that RRR is sure ... and in her inebriated state, he can finally find out the truth ...
But she's not so drunk that she's going to tell anything ... least of all to RRR ... frustration again for him ... and he loses his patience and tries to cajole her, then force her to tell ...

She manages to free herself but color goes in her eye, and as she cries out in pain, RRR sees Arnav searching desperately for Khushi ... as he hides, Khushi half-blinded, runs away to safety ... and Shyam has a narrow escape from Arnav ... frustration again, thwarted again, he goes back home, and discovers the truth of the sleeping arrangements - a scrap of torn cloth from the quilt cover lying near the poolside, and an extra set of blankets and pillows ... triumph again ...

ARHI :">
the gazebo again ... this time in the daylight, billowing white curtains ... open, yet private, their own world ...
Khushi washes her face, cleansing herself of the color in her eyes, and the Creepwa's touch ... and as she slowly wipes her face, she remembers another man's touch ... so many times ... the Diwali lights, the circle of diyas, the payal, the almost-kiss ... the kiss ... the dance ... the way he put color on her face just a short while ago ...

I wondered why the encounter with Shyam was shown before this ... I realized it was for Khushi to realize the difference ... the touch she never fought, never sought to escape, always got lost in ... welcomed in the depth of her heart ... why? One man professing to love her, and she recoiled from his touch ... one man declaring he hated her, and her heart welcomed his closeness, his touch ... always ... why?!

And he's there ... the man himself ... worry, concern written on his face ... and she turns to him, her confusion showing on hers, in her eyes ... why is this happening?
She turns away, still not sure of the answers, he slowly walks towards her as she rubs her eye again ... holds her gently and turns her to him ... holds her hand and blows the dirt from her eye ... gently ... oh so gently ... and she stares at him again ... why?! So much hurt he has given her, yet when she's in pain, in trouble, somehow he's always there for her ... always ... to comfort, to soothe, to help, to protect ... always ...
And they stare at each other as his hand stills ... searching, searching desperately ... do you feel what I do? Tell me ... I need to know ...

She pushes his hand down almost abruptly and turns away again ... heartbreak, only heartbreak, so many times, every time she tried to find the answers to her questions ... can she bear another heartbreak?
And he looks at her averted face ... she's not his, she doesn't want to be, she loves another man ... why did he forget that? And turns to go ... for the very first time, giving up, accepting her rejection ... he tried so hard to hold on to her, but she doesn't want him ... for the first time, she pushed away from his touch ...

And he stops ... frozen in time ... frozen by one touch ... the touch of her hand ... in his ... holding him back, bringing life slowly back, restarting his heart which had all but stopped ... the very first time ever ... Khushi reaching out to him, frightened, terrified of another heartbreak, not even daring to look at him, but she can't let him go ...

Always it was he who couldn't let her go ... today it's her ...

He looks slowly at his hand in hers ... back at her face ... as though he can't believe it ... and this time he's the one searching, searching her eyes ... as her hands come up slowly to cup his face ... so gently ... tremblingly ... another first ... the first time she's touched him of her own volition ... so intimately, as though knowing he is hers ...

I want to ask you something, Arnavji ...

Her hands come to hold his hand, hold it close to her, tightly in hers, as though scared to let go ... and his eyes never leave her face ... not daring to hope yet ... but wanting so desperately to ...

Why does it happen? Every time you come close to me, my heart starts beating faster?  I tried so much to understand ... but I couldn't ... I tried to forget ... but I couldn't ...
Tell me please, because I need to to know ... I tried so hard to forget ... every time you broke my heart, I tried to forget what this heartbeat meant, but I can't ... 
(Sanaya's voice and eyes in this part ... almost begging, pleading, choking with emotion ... how does she do it?! And Barun's eyes ... showing his regret, his slow dawning of understanding, what he did to her ... how much he hurt her)
Why does this happen?

And he reaches up to cup her face in his hands in his turn ... gently, tenderly, as though she is the most precious thing in the world ... too choked even to speak at her innocent admission ... so many times he has hurt her so much, pushed her away to protect himself, hide his own vulnerability, yet she doesn't hate him, doesn't turn away from him ... still trusts him ... still seems to want him ...

And his gentleness gives her strength, courage ... for once he's not turning away from her questions, refusing to answer them, or worse, belittling or insulting her with cruel words ... she asks again ...
Tell me ... why ... why my heart beats faster than my very breath ... 
And she faints in his arms ... her head on his shoulder ... overcome by the emotions and the drug ...
His eyes are as moist as hers, his heart too full to speak ... he lifts her and carries her home ... his love, his life ... his wife ...

(Small scene of TF and TQ, TQ getting achar for nasha, TF searching for Khushi still ... where has she disappeared? Oye Mr Rattlesnake, she's with her hubby, you keep your big fat nose to yourself.)

Back to ARHI :">
By the poolside - the bewitched Bermuda triangle one which no one but them can see ... (Arnav needs to fence this one off, with electric fences and gates, and preferably a few armed guards) ...
Like homing pigeons, they're back to their private turf ... Khushi still unconscious, Arnav gently wiping the color off her cheeks, so gently as though she's a porcelain doll, the most precious thing in the world to him ... (Barun brought out his still drunk state effectively here) ... caressing her cheeks, her hair,as though unable to stop touching her, reassure himself she's still there, with him ... or maybe just because she's his and he can ...

And she opens her eyes and looks straight at him ... unafraid, unsurprised ... eyes still heavy with the drug ... and the flashbacks of their oldest moments ... the dargah and the mannat ki chaabi - his chaabi, which she held for so long ... their first meeting in Delhi, the accident which led to her jobhunt ... the day she wore the red sari and he was spellbound for the first time ... the first hug - the save in the rain ... the first time he saved her from the consequences of his actions ...

She's nothing if not tenacious, even in her drugged state ... her eyes never leaving his for an instant ...
You haven't answered me yet ...
He shakes his head comfortingly, wipes the tears at the corner of her eye ... for once, he has the answers and he's going to give them ...
"I'll tell you why it happens this way ... 
He takes her hand to his heart ...
When you're with me, my heartbeats speed up to match yours ... and our heartbeats become one ... what you feel ... what I feel too ...

The smallest of barely there smiles on her face, the peace in her eyes, the confusion and fear gone ...
Hamari dhadkanein ...
He nods reassuringly ... ek ho jaati hain ...
And their eyes never leave each other ... if eyes are the windows to the souls, then this was a meeting of souls ... of two lovers destined to be ...

Thoughts - some very scattered ones:
Acting - superlative ... take a bow, Barun and Sanaya ... in fact, take several! =D> =D> =D> Such few dialogues today, it was all through the eyes, through gestures, subtle, delicate ... and the scenes overflowed with emotions. Fantastic acting by the duo!

Fantastic direction too ... the director must have given some sort of brief ... but these two just lifted it to some extraordinary level today!

Loved the gazebo setting ... at night, it held magic, in daylight it held a different charm ...

The poolside was shot with such close closeups ... the actors rocked ... yet again! The last little gesture - Arnav strokes her cheek gently with his thumb, and she turns her face slightly into his hand, a gesture of his possessiveness and her belonging, yet never losing eye contact ...

Felt like the entire world just dropped away and it was only these two left ... in their own private world, in their little bubble ... wanting or needing no one else ...

A truly beautiful confession ... now who will remember how much tomorrow? And will KMH interrupt yet again?!

Edited ArHi scenes from the episode

ArHi acceptance

14/3 - Epi 208 ... Khushi Manao ... Holi Hai - edited

14th Mar Wed

Just watched the episode ... haayyyeeeeee :"> :"> :"> :"> :">

THUD THUD THUD :)) :)) :))
Arshilicious ... Khushilicious ... Arnilicious episode ... LOVED the SADDA HAQ ... drunk or sober .. 

Where has Khushi gone???

*edited - this is going to be long!*
Khushi lives up to her name ... bringing happiness and joy into the lives of everyone around her ... with the help of some intoxicants! And Holi, the festival to welcome Spring, the start of a new year, new beginnings, does exactly that in the lives of the Raizadas and the Guptas.

Starts with Khushi distributing her bhaang laced thandayi to very willing recipients ... Buaji and Garima having a blast, Nani claims Nanji used to down five glasses, and happily accepts Khushi's challenge of two, Mamaji joins in, Mamiji is tricked into taking a glass, and the merriment starts.

For Anjali, only non-laced thandayi, Anjali accepts on the condition that Khushi will call her Di ...
SHIDDAT ALERT (there are going to be quite a few today :) ) ... and both girls hug tearfully ... the final acceptance of Khushi by Anjali, which means so much to Khushi, because she knows how important Anjali is for Arnav ...
RRR arrives to claim his thandayi, Khushi asks HP to give Jijaji a glass ... SHIDDAT ALERT =))
And she doesn't even give it to him herself ... a servant is good enough ...
RRR is angry ... he has to get her drunk and get out some secrets ... he offers his glass to Anjali unthinkingly, she declines, and he sweet-talks her ... how about some for Khushi? Anjali goes off to do the needful ...

Anjali cajoles, persuades and then finally tricks Khushi into downing a glass ... Anjali looked high enough on her happiness, she didn't need any stimulants :)
So one down, one to go ... Khushi is drunk, Arnav's turn ...

And the nautanki starts ... for once I didn't forward the Mami scenes - they were actually funny ... Payash lost in their 70'sji -ji style cootchie-cooing, completely unconcerned with villainous Mami hovering over their shoulder ... Khushi steps in ...
Hilarious dialogue ... I'm phati saree ... saree ... why are you calling me kameez? complaining petulantly ...
And Mami looks bewildered ... yes, why am I doing that? Did I make her better or worse?
And Khushi starts off with her 'dil ki baatein' ... Mami listening expectantly ... enjoying even in her drunken state, the praise she hears coming on her looks ... changing to indignation ... a rainbow?! That's what I look like?!
Found it very cute that even in drunken state, Khushi can't say anything really mean or nasty ...
These two are DAMN good actresses ... to pull off slapstick comedy with such ease =D> =D> =D>

Next on the list of Khushi's 'dil ki baatein' ... disclosing secrets about Jiji's lovelife ... Payal giggling all through was cute, Akash was struggling to maintain that silly smile ;)

Next on list of 'dil ki baaten' are Naniji and Anjali ... Nani of sterner stock than the youngsters, can handle her bhaang pretty well, just a few girlish giggles and silly smiles here and there show that  she's drunk ...
Khushi tells Naniji she loves her even more than her own Nani ... because she can dance and play Holi ... Mama Mami arrive, both very happy ... Khushi says she has to say more ... EPIC ... she walks off, Nani and Anjali go 'huh? didn't she want to say something?' .. turns out Khushi was taking the long way round to come across to Anjali ... =)) ... and Anjali can't help laughing at the cutely drunk adorable girl ...
And then Khushi suddenly loses her smile ... 'I'm sorry, Di ... I never ever wanted to hurt you ... whatever happened, it wasn't my doing ...'
And RRR's ears perk up ... he goes all watchful and alert, this is what he wanted to hear ... the real reason (Opti, bang on!!!) ... Anjali is sober, listening, surprised at the sudden tears ... even Nani, Mama and Mami are listening in their inebriated state, startled by Khushi's sudden change of mood ...
'Arnavji ... he said that if I didn't marry him ...'

'Khushi!' In the nick of time ... Arnav ... angry, glaring at her, he knew she would keep quiet, but he hadn't bargained for her getting drunk ...  ...and she stares at him, still tearful about how she hurt his family ...
'Don't you think you've had enough bhaang?'
Shyam curses in frustration ... as Khushi loses the plot of what she was saying promptly and changes track ...
'Bhaang? Yes, of course, you also have some, and say your dil ki baat ...' stumbling up to him with her precious tray of thandai glasses ... back to smiles ... Sanaya's expressions here were superb, the quicksilver changes from tearfulness to silly smiles ... and Nani was equally good, as she maintained the 'just slightly drunk but still sober enough to figure out something was going on' look ...
Mama Mami laugh happily, Arnav is having none of it ... dil ki baat is exactly what he doesn't want to say ...
'I don't drink bhaang ...' warning glare at Khushi to shut the hell up ... but she's too drunk ...
'You don't?' And then looking at him as though seeing him for the first time ... 'Naniji, he's the one ... who ... told me ...'
He steps in hastily again ... still in anger ... 'Khushi, don't lie ...' and Nani and Anjali wonder at the real menace in his tone ...
'Lies? I'm telling the truth, what he said when we were alone ...'
'Khushi, no one needs to know what we do when we're alone ...'
Nani and Anjali try to hide their smiles at that one ... Arnav sounded exactly like a worried husband, scared his biwi would give out embarrassing bedroom secrets ...
(Echo Shwetha's comment ... bey, kuch batane ko hota to bolti, na?)

'Accha ... par bhaang?' she tries again and he puts his finger on her lips to shut her up ...
Hayyeeeeee ... Sadda Haq .. and the way she looks at him with those big innocent doe-like eyes ... utterly butterly cute ... no wonder he's so crazy about her ... he can't even stay mad at her for long ...
'I don't drink bhaang ... and now ... you will keep quiet ...'
The tiniest of obedient nods as she continues to look at him innocently, and his smile has to show, as he takes her and her precious tray firmly away before she can say anything more ... the picture of a protective, firm hubby ... the R's laugh ... if Khushi is the only one who can handle Arnav when he's sober, he apparently is the only one who can handle her when she's drunk ... as long as he isn't.
Shyam lost in thought ... missed it this time, but there is something up for sure.

And Arnav bitwa is having more trouble than he anticipated with his wife ... she's stubborn at the best of times, in her inebriated state, she's worse than a tantrum throwing two year old.
You also have some bhaang ...
Khushi, shut up ... He tries to take her tray, she doesn't let him ...
No! No, no no ... today you have to have bhaang. Yes, yes, yes. Scuttles with the tray to the table of drinks ... catch me if you can ...

He catches up with her at the table ...
 'Khushi, you've had enough, no more ... put down the glass.'
'If you want me to stop drinking ... you have to drink once.'
He takes the glass firmly away from her. 'No way.'
She promptly picks up another and he goes frantic ... 'Khushi, you're not to drink any more ... stop now.'
'Why? You want that I don't drink, you want that I don't talk ... what about what I want? Today either you drink, or I do.'
He steps forward to take the glass from her, she dodges neatly and runs to the other side ... and drinks, much to his worry and helpless fury ...
'Khushi, don't you dare!'  Shouldn't have said the word 'dare' ... that's like a red rag to a bull for her ...
(SHIDDAT ALERT - we said that he would challenge her, well, she challenged him :) ) Finally has to give in ... 'You want me to drink?'
A happy vigorous nod ... a sweet smile ...
'Okay.' He picks up a glass from the innocuous drum and drinks ...'here you are.'
Not so fast ... she's not so drunk that she didn't see that one.  'You're cheating ... do it one more time.'
As he turns away in exasperation, she neatly switches glasses ...
Sanaya's expressions again here ... fabulous ... quickly changing glasses, then leaning on the pot before he turns around, and changing her expression from that victorious smile to a silly pout ...
He's a little suspicious, but gives in ... has he any choice? =))
And Khushi watches happily ... and so does Anjali ... happily and incredulously ... Chotey playing Holi, and drinking bhaang too?! She takes a quick picture =))

And intoxicated Khushi cracks up with the success of her plan ... 'I'm smarter than you ...' ... and as he figures out what just happened and stares at her incredulously - she tricked him? ... she giggles again ... 'cat got your tongue? Okay, I'll say it for you ... what the, what the, what the, what the ...' ... and she dances away singing out what the to the power of infinity .. again, fabulously done!!! 

Can I mention how MUCH I loved the scenes with drunk Khushi and sober Arnav ... he was such a fabulous hubby, alternately scolding, worried, all his attention on his biwi and how to keep her out of trouble ... and never did that bitterness or cold anger surface ...it was just his need to take care of her, look out for her, keep her under control and out of trouble ... and Khushi was the adorable young wife, able to let her hair down and just be her crazy self, knowing he was there looking out for her ...
And of course he has to follow her ... she gives him no choice, not that he wants any.
Sanaya was so utterly fantastic in these scenes ... she really is the best drunk act ever =D>

And as the dhol valas start up, an intoxicated Khushi loses herself in the beat and dancing to her heart's content ... finally happy again, back in her family's hearts ... and all the family joins in the dancing ... honestly can't pick my favourites - Mamaji with Mami's goggles, mamiji, Payash, Buaji, Garima ...
and an intoxicated Arnav loses himself in his adorable beautiful wife ... and shares his feelings for the first time with the two most important women in his life ... about the one woman who's entered his heart ... 'she's beautiful ... crazy but cute ... her hair ... her eyes ... her smile ...'
And as Nani and Anjali listen wonderingly and happily, he smiles again, his eyes never leaving her, he blushes (yes, he did!) ... and makes his way forward purposefully to his wife ... his girl ... tossing off another glass of bhang on the way and throwing the glass aside ... watched by a gratefully happy Anjali and a giggly Nani - how happy they both are to finally see him happy, smiling ... living life again ... he moves forward to the girl who brought him back to life ... the girl who now is his life ...

And Khushi bhaang ka nasha evaporates in the far deeper nasha of his eyes as he reaches her ... holds her hand and pulls her close to him ... because he can, because she's his ...and again they're lost in each others' eyes ... but for the first time, he's not hiding his feelings ... and he spins her around to dance again ... because that's what he loves about her ... her joy for life ...

The last part ... the families dance ... all happiness and joy, the sadness and tension of the last few weeks (in IPK Narnialand) forgotten ... Arnav pulls Nani and Anjali to dance as well ... and the two family hugs were sweet ...
The Anjali Arnav hug was ultra - sweet ... the brother sister really love each other so much and they both hated the misunderstandings and distance that had crept in between them ... all wiped out in the last heartfelt hug ... beautifully done ...

But even though he's with his sister, Arnav doesn't lose sight of Khushi ... any other guy around her will not be tolerated ... not even a completely harmless one ... she is all innocence and light ... he is her protector ... always ... 'don't you dare touch my wife ...'
Meri biwi ...among all the laughing dancing family members (Mami and Garima tug of war with pickkari, Buaji's playing with her plait ... loved all the little touches) ...

And she disappears ... where has she gone?

Quick thoughts ...
Shyam overheard Anjali tell Nani, Arnav says he does everything for my happiness, but look at him now ... Will he realize what Khushi means for Arnav and make another move?
He also knows that there was a reason behind the sudden marriage ... well, duh ... Shyam is the only one who should understand the full motive now ... what doesn't he know? That Arnav forced Khushi using Payal. And that both haven't confessed their feelings to each other. And about the 6 month contract ... All facts he could use to create trouble.
Anjali and Nani both know now that Arnav is crazy about Khushi ... Anjali even has proof. And she is the only one who was sober all through ... she and Shyam.
Arnav was sober when Khushi apologised to Anjali and said she never wanted to hurt her ... but did he hear that bit?

Cutest drunk dialogues - Khushi saying "I'm saree, not kameez ..."
Tie with Khushi's 'what the what the, what the, what the ... and running away ...

Cutest expressions - Khushi leaning on the thandai pot after tricking Arnav into drinking bhang ... the pouting, the sly smile, the quick changes of expression ...

13/3 - Epi 207 ... That First Touch of Your Hand - edited

13th Mar Tues

Might change the title when I edit ... but how many people were egging on bitwa to "Walk faster, idiot!!!!!" when Shyam was getting all set to put color on a very worried Khushi. And did Arnav even notice that Khushi was unwilling?!
More shiddats - Bitwa puts color on bitiya, bitiya puts color on bitwa, RRR is left gnashing his teeth :))

We thought Khushi would say 'Arnav is my pati, he will put color first' ... Arnav said it ... good boy! Few miles redeemed today.

Now Khushi's turn to be the tubelight - did she really not notice the killer looks being exchanged between Bitwa and RRR? Or was she too lost in the rabba ve moments? The rest of the R and G family also clueless as usual.

Liked the way the Guptas made up with Khushi - no fuss or grand dramatics, just hugs and tears all around and it was done. Sweet and realistic.
The song was very okay-okay ... would have been nicer to use NK - where has that boy disappeared to, btw? Felt forced in ... but again the making up between Nani and Khushi was nice ... and liked the way Arnav smiled to see that.

Long long rabba ve's today ... Arnav putting color on Khushi, Khushi on Arnav ... Barun has to get his expressions a bit better ... too grim all through ... 

Last bit ... liked the way Khushi was lost in her recollection of Rabba ve moments ... but *head desk* getting distracted by milk and bhaang?! Cv's dumbing down Khushi again x(
But Arnav seems to enjoy the chirpy crazy Khushi ...

We thought RRR wouldn't be fool enough to get Khushi drunk on bhaang, he wouldn't want the truth coming out ... seems RRR is a few shades dimmer than bitwa on the tubelight scale. Dude, you really think Khushi is going to spill about her undying love for you when she's drunk? Gotta be more delusional than I thought. She'll spill about her love all right, but for another person entirely ...

*edited*
I'm a little biased, I find ;) ... if Khushi is shown to be to childish, it spoils the episode for me ... on re-watch, I edited out that part in my mind ;) And the ArHi scene of putting color were just wow :">

So to start - Holi already started in huge grounds of RM - since they didn't go anywhere, am presuming this was supposed to be outside the house itself. And the PH has definitely got more funding - there were far more extras here than even at the Payash-ArHi wedding :))

Buaji and Garima arrive and some sweet-sour family scenes with Mami/Mama and Payash ... Khushi comes out, still worried, but lights up when she sees Garima, Buaji ... they freeze, her face falls, Payal puts an encouraging hand on her shoulder and Anjali steps in and so does Akash ... very sweet scenes as Khushi tremblingly puts color on Buaji and Garima, and they melt ... loved the little smile of tearful gratitude Khushi gave Anjali and the encouraging, smiling nod Anjali gave back ... for once, Anjali deserved the position of peacemaker, because she actually went out on a limb to do something ... and Akash gave her full support. Always felt Buaji did love Khushi a lot ... she knows her favorite color too ... and Khushi is back in the Gupta family fold ...

So Anjali, Buaji and Garima have been won over ... only Nani left ... and Khushi gets to work ... as tutored by Mamaji.
Only Sanaya can look so cute as very effeminate man with turban and obviously false moustache ... :))

O Meri Zoharajabeen ... evergreen song totally appropriate for Nani ... watched with varying reactions from Gupta ladies and Raizada family ... apprehension and approval ... and Arnav arrives in time to watch his wife in action manaoing his grandmother ... who is managing to keep her dignity and a straight face ... Jayshreeji is damn good here, can see that her anger is gone already, and she's just keeping up the facade ...
Arnav is lucky ... and Khushi was not quite right when she said he makes the mess and cleans it up - he makes the mess all right, and she helps him clean it up ... winning back both his family and hers to approve of the runaway marriage was all her effort ...

And he watches, just watches ... probably fully certain inside him that she will do what she set out to do ... no anger or even surprise on his face ... just an amused waiting ...
Khushi ends the song and exuberantly douses Nani with color from Nanaji's pichkari ... Nani shocked ... everybody shocked, has Khushi gone too far?! :-o
And Khushi is afraid she has ... Nani takes the pichkari and says no Holi for me ... Khushi removes her moustache and turns away dejectedly, and Arnav's face shows his upset and worry ... did she fail?
Nani stops Khushi ... and lets loose the pichkari of color on her ... now it's my Holi! And the whole ground bursts into applause, Akash, Payal, Anjali, Gupta ladies, mamaji ... and Arnav smiles ... she did it.
Loved the way Khushi ran to hug Nani ... and clung to her ... the love palpable ... again, Arnav is SO lucky to get a wife who loves his family as much as he does ... and the genuine deep affection, pride and happiness with which Nani wished Khushi ... the way Khushi knelt at Nani's feet in front of the entire crowd and begged for forgiveness for a crime she hadn't even committed ... have I mentioned how lucky Arnav is? Loved the way Nani's hand came to bless Khushi ... so Khushi finally got the blessings of the entire family ... and by extension, so did Arnav ...

Nani wants to color Khushi, even Mami chimes in (wow, I never noticed that on first watch, so it's actually the entire family won over - Snakewa doesn't count, of course) ... Arnav smiles and prepares to leave, his Khushi is finally part of his family ... and time for Snakewa to act Cupid again ... he seizes the opportunity to try to color Khushi again ... and Arnav stops in his tracks ...

RRR is now getting dangerous ... he has stopped caring completely what Khushi wants or doesn't want ... it's all about claiming her ... he starts walking purposefully towards Khushi ... and Arnav (finally!) into action, starts walking in the same direction ... (Dia's Note - walk faster, idiottt, forget the style!!! though have to say, he looked damn good in that white shirt striding ahead with that grim look :">  totally hero ishtyle)  ... Khushi tries to protest to Nani, but is overruled, and stands petrified and actually helpless for once, she can't refuse without creating a scene ... and she closes her eyes in revulsion and fear as his hand reaches out ... and opens them again as the color doesn't come ... to find Arnav standing in the way, holding Shyam's hand, physically preventing him from applying color =D> ... and she steals instinctively a little further behind Arnav for protection ... 
One minute, jeejaji ... I will put color on Khushi ... pati jo hoon ... I'm her husband, and don't you forget that. I reserve the right to touch my wife ... and not allow scum to come anywhere near her.

Gupta ladies relieved, Shyam frustrated and furious (just the way I like to see him ;) ) and Khushi stares with a mixture of disbelief and thankfulness ... again loved the way her eyes close as Arnav reaches out to touch her cheeks, accepting his touch and his right ... and then looking into his eyes as though searching for something there, something she wanted to see, hoped to see ... and Arnav looking back at her, still grim, but was he searching for that something too?

Anjali comes forward in surprised delight ... Chotey never plays Holi ... ah, but he does for his Khushi, if it's to protect her ... was he protecting Khushi or his Di's marriage there? did he even think about his Di at all, or was it all about 'that scumbag will not go near my wife' ... and will he start to think about which one it was? And what 'his wife' thinks and wants in all this? Did he even see her reluctance, her fear, her helplessness, as RRR approached her?

Mami sharp as ever, remarks, Chotey has started doing lots of things he never did before ... Nani instructs Khushi to put color back on Arnav ...Anjali remarks that not everyone has the good fortune of putting color on Arnav ... Khushi is nervous, Arnav starts to leave but Anjali stops him, and Nani orders Khushi ...

An exchange of looks ... delicious irony as Anjali takes the thaal of color which Shyam is holding and holds it for the right person ... Khushi moves towards Arnav, still nervous, unsure, wondering (here's where I felt Arnav's expressions were off - too grim ... shouldn't he have been searching her eyes too? Wondering what it was she wanted? why was she reluctant? Was she reluctant at all?) 
Anjali encourages Khushi with a small smiling nod ... Khushi takes the plunge and puts color on his cheeks, hesitant, nervous ... he looks away but at the first soft touch of her hand (Sanaya has beautiful hands), he looks at her and then can't look away again ... the public acknowledgement that they are husband and wife, they have the right to touch each other ... as the crowd applauds, and Nani, Anjali, Guptas, Payash, Mamaji all delighted ...
They look away from each other ... again hiding their feelings ... he reaches up to touch his own cheek, the color she just put ... she reaches up to do the same to her own ... and look at each other again ... both so pulsatingly aware of each other ... alone even among the crowd ... as though it's just the two of them ...

Nani - Love can move the biggest of mountains, this is just Chotey, what say, Anjali ...
A thoughtful Anjali ... yes, Nani ...
And Khushi Arnav look at each other again ... is that what this is? One unwilling to acknowledge, one afraid to ... and Arnav denies it brusquely ...

Khushi lost in her rabba ve moments of Arnav applying color to her cheeks ... till she gets distracted by bhaang making ... and gets to work herself :) Clarifies that she has made thandai but never actually had it herself ... again, only Sanaya can look so cute with that red gamcha tied around her head and that impish smile on her face as she enjoys herself thoroughly :"> ... distracting Arnav from his serious conversation all over again as he stares at his quirky wife ... with another half-smile on his face ...

And Shyam decides that she has to drink bhaang ... so that he can find out the truth of her marriage ...

Edited - new offscreen Holi pics from FB - they seem to be having a blast! SaRun are damn cute ... :)

12/3 - Epi 206 ...Holi Hai - edited :)

12th Mar Mon

Last first ... looks like our Holi shiddats are working ... RRR tries to put color on ODG, she avoids, and best thing is ... ODB overhears ... shiddat shiddat shiddat ...

Cute episode overall ... we actually got quite a few shiddats today - a TF-TQ scene , where TF is not giving up quite yet ... now that's what I wanted ... only when he gets into action, does he make mistakes ... Has Anjali forgotten that it's Payal's first Holi too? Or was that because Khushi is her Chotey's wife and her real sister-in-law and Payal a cousin? Or simply because Anjali was always closer to Khushi than to Payal?

Khushi mumbling in her sleep ... Arnav waking up ... few more RTR miles added every time I see him sleeping in bed comfortably while Khushi sleeps outside ... x( ... but anyway she wakes him up with her mumbling ... and teasing ... and he actually smiles when he hears her talking in her sleep ... Khushi slowly returning to normal ... and starting to bring Arnav out of ASR again ... he almost ran after her with that color dig of hers :)

Khushi's next mission - manao Nani. Anjali is slowly returning to normal, then Khushi pataos Mamaji to tell her old stories ... HP is back with a platoon of unnamed servants ... suddenly RM seems full! Payal and Khushi want to buy color and pichkaris, Khushi breaks her gullak for money, and goes searching under the bed for it, much to Arnav's amazement and WT* ... and a really sweet Rabba ve moment, with Arnav back to the old protective Arnav, hand over her head to protect it from any bumps ... and Khushi recovers enough to say, there's no one watching, you don't need to do this ... very much on her guard now with him ...

And she wants to take a loan from him ... unbelievable!!! :)) He can't believe it! Doesn't seem to strike her that she's his wife and within her rights to ask him for money ... fiercely independent as ever ...
Yeh ladki mujhe pagal kar degi ... she already has, bitwa ... just admit it already!

She hasn't quite admitted to DM that she needs her, though, so 'by mistake' she puts color, 'by chance' she offers sweets ... Anjali smiles indulgently ... seems like Anjali has almost forgiven her completely already ...
And TF makes his move ... he wants to be the first to put color on her ... x( ... and of course, Khushi avoids ... =D> ... smart girl ... and wonder of wonders ... what we've been wanting for ever and ever ... or at least for the last month or so ... Arnav overhears RRR swear that 'run as much as you like, Khushi, I will put the first color on you ... that I swear ...'
Arnav, if you misinterpret this one, the RTR will reach a point of no return ... so you'd better get your act together!
SHIDDAT Alert ... RRR stalking Khushi, Khushi avoiding him like the devil, and Arnav noticing!!! 


*edited*
Two tubelights lit up today - brother and sister - one at the start of the episode, one (hopefully) at the end. 
TF and TQ having a marital chat ... or rather TQ chatting, TF sulking ... Anjali wearing a very pretty sari today (looks like the cv's changed their designer, everyone got nice clothes!). Anjali's tubelight flickers - why is she still mad at Khushi - after all, she and Nani always wanted Khushi and Arnav to get married anyway!Thank heavens she finally remembered that one!

Hehe ... shidaat of sorts ... not Mami, but Anjali remarks on the fact that TF is spending so much time with her these days. TF doesn't have much choice ... have Arnav's threats really got him so scared?
Anjali was all gung ho about her Chotey getting married, did she forget that she was pregnant? So she suddenly remembers, yes, this is her baby's first Holi too - not really, Anjali, Holi is normally counted after the birth, not before *head desk* ...
So it's her baby's first Holi, and Khushi's first Holi ... did she forget about Payal?
TF twitches again =)) ... I will be the first one to put color on Khushiji.
Why does he still call her Khushiji? Not just Khushi?

Seriously cute scene ... :"> 8-} Khushi mumbling to herself in her sleep about Holi ... Arnav wakes up with her mumbling - (SN - I thought he shut her out and closed the door - now they sleep with the door open? Might as well move her in, dude!!! x( ... and do it fast, those RTR miles are increasing every day!)
And he can't help smiling at her planning in her sleep ... 'pagal!'
Bitwa, she's going to drive you even more pagal as time goes one ... wait and watch!
SN - Khushi back in her night time churidars (shiddat - check) ... dupatta to the side by her pillow - nice touch, very real ...
Arnav tries to go back to sleep ... Khushi is up and about and all excited for Holi ... so what if she's not at home ... Khushi is Khushi, and Holi is Holi ... and today is the day to start over, correct everything that's been going wrong ... starting with the family situation? (blooper - door was open, now it's closed?) ...
Shut up, Khushi ... Grumpy awakes ... how can he sleep with the racket she's making? Unbelievable!
He tries to sleep again ...
Will we play wet Holi ... or dry? And where will we play ... inside RM or outside?
Sleep given up ... finally ... not a chance with Madam Bakbak in full flow ...
Who are you talking to?! incredulous, puzzled ... still half-asleep ...
Khud se, aur kisse? ... Silly question, do you see anyone else here?
Have you gone mad?
Since childhood ... very happily, confidently, completely unapologetically ... you'd better believe that one. I am what I am ... take it or leave it.
Right ... he should have known.
Of course he should ... didn't you know that already? Meaning, you took so much time to figure it out? Not so smart, are you?
More resigned than anything else now ... Arnav moves (to sleep again?) stopped again by Khushi's bakbak ... more of it .. =))
Vaise, I had trouble deciding colors for everyone else, but not at all for you ...
He waits expectantly, ready to leap ... what's coming now?
She doesn't disappoint ... gets ready .. 'black!' ... a mischievous giggle, a teasing glint and she makes a run for it ...
And Arnav leaps out of bed ready to follow her and ... do what? wring her neck? Tickle her? Dunk her in water? Anything silly, childish ... and fun ...
Again the pattern emerges ... childish, mischievous, fun-loving Khushi bringing out the hidden child, the fun, the laughter hidden in Arnav, buried beneath the layers of ASR ... and surfacing slowly, slowly ...

Why was Anjali making gujiyas in the living room?! Kitchen being renovated?
And HP reappears - with platoon of servants! =D>
Nani not in Holi mood ... sandook will stay shut this year.
Khushi (looking wow :"> in purple/pink suit, with matching dupatta, and trademark pompoms - I liked the dupatta), getting ready for Holi ... Nani not happy with her still ...

Liked the Anjali-Khushi scene ... fluctuating emotions, not yet back to their old easy loving relationship, but the thaw has set in and is spreading rapidly ... the shadow of the elopement still hangs over them, but Anjali has reconciled to a greater extent than Nani, and is willing to go further ... Khushi still troubled, and wanting desperately to do anything she can to clear the atmosphere ... then she cheers up again ... today she will do it ...
She wants to go shopping for Holi, asks Anjali's permission, but Anjali has ordered everything here itself ... so Payal Khushi choose what they want, while Mami orders 'cool drink = thandai' =)) And Khushi tries her first attempt to make Nani smile ... marginally successful. (SN - Payal's new sari is nice as well ... cv's got more money after SPA?)

And PK have no money ... doesn't Akash give his wife an allowance?
So Khushi goes to her room to break her piggy bank ... the cv's really dumb down Khushi too much ... piggy bank? For an 18-19 year old? Give me a break!!!

And another ArHi scene :"> Break gulak, fish under bed for money ... Arnav arrives and is irresistibly drawn to the sight of his beautiful but crazy wife half under the bed ... WT* ... what on earth is she doing there? And of course, he has to investigate ... leave her alone?! Naah, cannot, boss!!! That would be impossible!
So he kneels down right next to her, where she can't help but see him when she surfaces ... and he can't help pushing her buttons ... after that crack about the Holi color for him? Still rankles? He has to get back at her? Child Arnav surfacing again ...
You're hiding from me?
Me? Why?! Genuinely puzzled at this one ... why does she need to hide from him?
Because you lost the bet yesterday ... so you're ashamed ... about coming in front of ...
Told you he wasn't very happy about her losing the bet ;) ... or rather about her accepting it so easily. Or maybe, about her recovering from her loss so easily and not grumping about it forever, like he would have done ...
She puts him straight right away.
I saw you this morning, remember? I'm not ashamed ... I was just picking up my coins ...
And she drops them again promptly :)) ... and crouches again to pick them, while he waits exactly where he is, watching her all the while ... the guy can't stay away from her at all, can he? ;)

And as she pulls out from under the bed, his hand goes instinctively to her head, to protect her from bumping it ...
Can't you be careful? What if you'd hurt your head?!
And his hand stays on her head as she sits and stares at him ... eyes wide, with a hint of sadness ... he had made an unspoken promise to protect her the last time he put his hand on her head ... then what happened? What happened to them?
Does he remember that hospital promise also? Does he feel guilty that he broke it? Is that why he looks away, unable to meet her eyes?
Unspoken promises, unspoken words, unspoken emotions, an unspoken bond ... all lie between them ... his turn to search her face, her eyes ... was he mistaken in the girl he saw in the hospital? The innocent, lonely girl who needed him and only him, like no one else? Who chose his arms to cry in, when she had her entire family there?

Loved the way they rose and turned away from each other, as though both scared their feelings showed too much on their faces, in their eyes, scared the other would read them too easily ... or maybe scared that they would see something in the others' eyes which their hearts knew was true, but their minds screamed wasn't there ...

But Khushi's trust has been eroded ... 'there's no one else here ... then why did you ...?' Was this an act?
'Because I can't risk your already damaged brain getting more damage ...' it wasn't an act, I know, but I'm still not ready to admit it ...

But truce has been declared ... as she sits comfortably on the bed, counting out her money ... and he sits on the lounge, doing whatever he does with his laptop ... till she realises she's still short ... so as he gets ready to leave, she wants ... a loan.
"what?!"
Yes, a loan. I don't want a handout ...
Oh, loan ... is she for real?!
Barun's expressions were hilarious ... watching his klutzy, incredibly independent wife make out a written agreement for 300 rupees ... it either never struck her that she could ask him for the money as her right, or that he would refuse ...

You like playing business business, don't you? And signing deals? Well, sign this one ... a loan for 300 rupees ...
Playing business, signing deals ... that lost bet does rankle, so there, Laat Governer, oops, sorry, Mr Arnav Singh Raizada ...
He still can't believe it ... or her ...
Now give me three hundred rupees ... a demand, this is a deal, no please or thank you =))
Grab paper, then grab her hand (he never misses a chance to do that :)) ) and put money into it ...

She collects all her money, counts it and leaves ... stopping only to announce ... I haven't specified the time, but I will return your money ...
A lift of an eyebrow, a very faintly sarcastic "thank you" ... and he mutters again to himself ... 'this girl is going to drive me crazy!'
Umm, that last part's already a done deal, Mr Raizada! :))

And Khushi back to her task for the day ... Mamaji was always on her side, so she uses him ... (awww, another wardrobe change for Khushi? PH getting very generous! Love the yellow-white combo - back to her old suit style though - I prefer the Anarkali suits. But I love the ponytail over one shoulder).
Getting ready for Holi ... first, although she's still annoyed with her old friend, DM, she can't start the festival without DM's ashirwad ... even if pretending it's accidental ...

And an indulgent Anjali overhears ... and smiles ... the Khushi she loves is back ... the one whose gussa always has her pyaar hidden in it ... so since you've put gulaal on DM by accident, let me put gulaal on you too ... (Again wondered if Anjali had overheard that conversation Khushi had with her DM that first night). Khushi smiles with pleasure ...the fondness between her and Anjali is mutual ...

And RRR steps in ... he wants to be the first to put gulaal on Khushi ... to her shock and dismay ... and fear ...
And she avoids it in the nick of time ... an excuse about her phone ringing ... and runs out ... Well done, Khushi!!! Thought ODB would rescue you, but you're quite capable of doing it yourself!

RRR swears ... run as far as you can, Khushi, I will be the first to put gulaal on you ... and this I promise!
And DM makes sure Arnav overhears this one =D> ... after her, her bitiya is back ...
So how much did Arnav overhear? And will his brain finally start the return journey from Alaska?


Precap - RRR stalking a very worried Khushi ...

Shiddat Se Maango ... Wishlist for Holi and after ;)

Wishlist for this week - quickly before the first episode of the week airs :))

Carry over from last week -

All the Holi shiddats - getting drunk on bhaang, drenched wet, falling into bed together ... staying there after rest of the family leaves and waking up next morning with a 'WT* happened last night?' feeling :">

This week's list ;)

Arnav getting some clue of Khushi's feelings ... Khushi getting some clue of Arnav's? 

Khushi moving to BED ..finally. Arnav can take couch or keep the bed but only with Khushi - we're very generous forgiving sorts :)

NK-Khushi share some laughing moments - bitwa burns >:)

Arnav has to put sindoor on Khushi for 'rasam' ... better still, RRR tries to put color, Khushi refuses, says her hubby has to put first. Dunno if this will happen with the Chacha Choudhary bit.
Khushi manages to avoid completely RR putting color on her at all.

Sandy's list

1. If the chat scene happens and TF offers her some, can Khushi refuse saying she does not like. Arnav can look confused after all she wanted chaat in the desi cocktail party and if Nk asks oh let her just say humaar man nahi hai

2. Khushi plans some trick on Arnav for holi - khuraafaati dimaag. She plans to drench her jijaji and drenches Arnav instead.

3. Khushi has a thaal full of colur, they bump into each other, colour flies on both and (FB of Teej sindhoor scene)

4. TQ comes up with some rasam about hubby and wife applying rang to each other first. Arnav wants a HMC moment, so when Khushi applies rang on his cheek, he in turn applies it on her by rubbing his cheek against hers. SHIDDAT SHIDDAT SHIDDAT

5. TF tries to pull a stunt ala SRK in Darr on Khushi and ODB spots him and steps in to protect Khushi

6. Khushi while running away from TF bumps into Arnav at the poolside and both fall in. When they surface for air, nihaarofying scene - is there a pool at that farmhouse cottage?

7. Khushi makes sugar free gujiya for Arnav and goes all nahii ismain shakkar hai if he picks the wrong one at the table

8. Holi song and dance by NK and Khushi - apparently we're getting Khushi and Nani - so now we can guess, Chacha Choudhary's grandson will sing for Nani. =))

9. TF spikes Khushi;s drink with bhaang and MB spikes Payal's. But then Arnav and Khushi end up drinking these and finally in a drunken stupor land up in bed all cuddled up.

10. If there is the family members tilak ki holi, khushi applies only to TQ and shies away from TF (yaar match made in heaves, even their nicks begin with the same alphabets). She sorta stomps off and Arnav sees this.

Shiddats achieved - =D> <:-P Low success rate this week - DM was busy with SPA, making sure IPKKND swept the awards :)

 - KKG becomes KKGSR :))
 - KKGSR catches ASR in HMC act and switches off after the performance, leaving him all hot and bothered.

9/3 - Epi 205 ... Poolside Revisited

9th Mar Fri

I was distracted by the live update of SPA so didn't watch the episode carefully ... anyway, it was full of mami-bahu saga with comic touch ...

So Arnav does identical countdown for Khushi's arrival ... Khushi stops Payal from signing papers Arnav had no intention of making her sign, Akash clarifies that they were random business papers ... and Arnav gets more miles on that RTR ...

Khushi admits defeat ... I felt Arnav felt bad when she capitulated completely, he doesn't like her to lose or to give up the fight ... and she didn't ... she fought to get back the papers ... and he enjoyed the fight again ... including the part at the poolside ...

Why couldn't they fall on the bed???!!! x(
Okay, leave that for later when they're more ready to do something about it ... ;)

The pool scene was cute ... and finally we get a rabba ve moment which isn't a HMC drama ...

Hopefully with SPA over, story will get on track from next week ...

*edited*
Edited the title - had just come back from a Rahat Ali Khan concert where he sang Teri Meri Prem Kahan, and of course the only people I could see in my mind during that song were SaRun :"> :"> :"> 

Am going to ignore the Mami-Payal scenes, they were very obviously filler scenes - except for the fact that Mami says she will tell TF to make chaat ... hope that happens and Khushi refuses to eat it ...

So episodes starts with Arnav reaching home, first thing he asks is if Khushi is back ... the guy can't get his mind off his wife! I think he expected to see her waiting at the door :) But he's sure she'll be back in time - a quick look at his watch and he tells Payal he wants to talk to her ... taking his time, slowly ... no rush, she has a minute to go ...
He starts his countdown, but so confident that he doesn't have a cover story in place for Payal ... fumbles slightly 
Khushi rushing back, reaching in the nick of time, so flustered that she almost rings the bell before she realizes the door is wide open ... and rushes in ...
Arnav hears the sound he was waiting for ... her payal ... and starts the act ... Payal, I need you to sign some papers ...
What are these ...? Good for Payal, she doesn't want to sign blindly, she actually asks ...
Nothing, they're nothing ... Khushi in the nick of time, panting, puffing ... office papers, that's all, isn't it, Arnavji?
A victorious smirk, an I-told-you-so look ... yep, just office papers ...
Payal still confused ... then why ... me ... sign ...

Khushi, you should have stayed quiet and let Arnav answer that question ... would have been nice to see him fumble, because he obviously had no answer ready - he'd thought she'd be back home before he even needed to act this much ...
But she saves his skin by telling a confused Payal to make halva for Akash, and Arnav concurs with another smirk and goes off , leaving a very tense, worried Khushi ... she can't believe he would do this, but she can't take the slightest chance ...
Poor girl, the way she clutched onto a bewildered Payal ... I won't let anything happen to you ...

Nani tells Khushi sternly but calmly, and without the earlier anger, that she needs to tell them the reason next time she goes out anywhere ... Anjali steps in as peacemaker again, to sort out Holi arrangements, including Khushi again as she used to in the old days ... but Khushi needs to sort out Arnav and the papers first.

Akash check with Arnav about papers, Arnav has no clue what he's talking about, the only papers on his mind are very different ones, and the Nainital deal is far less important than the deal he has to do with Khushi ... tomorrow's fine, no hurry ... 
Akash and Payal are a good team, both are quiet yet pick up on puzzlers very quickly ... why were you in the restaurant suddenly, Bhai? Oh, did you come to meet Khushi?
Arnav gladly seizes the answer Akash gives him ... yes, I came to meet Khushi ...
Akash still puzzled ... but how did you know she was going to be there?
Since he (or Khushi) are not ready with an answer to that one, Arnav falls back on his stock 'I don't have to answer anything I don't want to' stance ...

Am so glad Khushi and Arnav are married now, they don't have to arrange secret accidental, hope-the-other-is-there rendezvous at the poolside any more - they have their room :) :"> where they can shut the world out with complete confidence and legitimacy ...

So Khushi reaches their room, where Arnav is waiting for her ... confident she'll be back ...
I told you, didn't I ... you'll come back to me ...
Not back to RM, back home ... but "back to me ..." The most important thing for him, whether he's ready to admit it or not - she's back with him ...

She admits defeat ... yes, you won, I lost ... and there's a flicker of something over his face ... regret? that he had to do things this way? that she lost, and he really doesn't like seeing her lose?
But Khushi hasn't lost her spirit yet ... now please give me the papers, and never do this again ...
Oh no, I won't, I'll keep them safely, so that you never try this stunt again ...
Mission accomplished ... for the next six months, she can't leave him ...
She's not giving up that easily ... she snatches the papers and runs from him ... like a child ... Arnav annoyed, give them back ...
I won't! I can't believe you would do this to my sister, your own brother ... you always do this ... first you ruin things, then you make them all right ... 
Never were truer words spoken ... and the next part of the conversation takes place over tumbling bedclothes and jumping on bed (pity, not in bed *MIG alert :)) )
I do what I think is right ...
Because you want to dictate over everyone else, ride roughshod over their feelings ...
 Everything is in my control, and there it will stay ... always ... 

And she makes a run for it out into the poolside area ... Arnav follows her, furious ... Khushi, give me back the papers ... 
No, I won't ... you'll have to swim here to get them ...
He looks incredulously at the shallow poolside and the poolside ...
Khushi, I can walk around, you know ...sounding like an exasperated parent admonishing a child who'd just said something exceptionally silly ...
Oops, she didn't realize that it was so easy for him ... a pillow thrown at him ... stay away from me ...
He doesn't even react to that one ... how many times do I have to tell you to put these things away? Sounded like an exasperated parent again ;)
Darling Arnav, she's giving you a message, don't you know ... I don't like sleeping outside but I'm darned if I'll come in till you beg me to ...
Another empty threat - I'll jump into the pool ...
An incredulous look at the pool ... that's supposed to scare him?!
Khushi, the pool is three feet deep, you can't drown  ... even if you try =))

But when she loses her footing and almost falls in, he doesn't wait to put that one to the test ... he grabs her instinctively, instantly ... and pulls her close ... forgetting all about the papers ... :">
Rabba ve ... a real rabba ve ... a long eyelock, filled with flashbacks of their poolside moments (we just gave them a list ;) ) ... the first kiss, the walk in the circle of diyas, the untangling of lights, the letting down her hair after Teri Meri ... and she steps back slowly, very slowly ... all confused and aware again ... as he continues to look hard at her ... trying to see if she's acting or does he feel something which is actually there ...

She sees the ruined papers and smiles again ... a small victory ... your documents are ruined ... in that three feet of water ...
A short lived victory ... I can get them made again ... and signed again ... and you know that. Everything was in my control, is and will remain there ... so for the next six months, you do exactly what I say ... and don't try such stunts again ...


Thoughts
So Arnav accomplished what he set out to do ... Khushi can't leave RM again, the fear of what he can do to Payash is established.
Now can he start concentrating on the following things please ... one, find out Khushi's real feelings ...
and two, find out RRR's true colors ...

And in the process, three, can he please fall in love with Khushi all over again and four, woo her back ... and five, feel like all sorts of a heel and a jerk when he does two ... and six, Khushi reciprocate for a while ( we are desperately starved of Rabba ve and we need more proof of why ArHi are best jodi ;) ) and seven, then be hurt and heartbroken and take her own sweet time to get over her hurt so that he has to crawl on bended knees to win her back ...

One to seven added onto wishlist ... *Shiddat alert*

DN - I edited the episode to include only ArHi scenes - what a nice episode it was!
ArHi scenes on 9th March

Picture of ArHi from the SPA awards - loved this pic - they look so elegant and classy together!

I love Sanaya's outfit - the first time she has worn anything so heavy and elaborate (for her!) to an awards function. Usually she's very simple and elegant in a dress or skirt and blouse - today she went Indian but not "Khushi" style - this is totally Sanaya's natural style!
And I love Barun's style - smart casual to the T - suit with open necked shirt, no tie - very dashing! Dia approves! Waiting for our resident fashion expert's comments!