6/7 - Epi 291 ... Thappadwa Ve contd and Weekend Discussions

Weekend Discussion Post

Brief Summary of Friday - TF's all out attack on Khushi's morals, Payal reveals the big truth about Shyam staying as PG and getting engaged to Khushi ... Anjali almost faints ... more accusations by TF about how Khushi tried to get close to Shyam (DDR) and her actual aim was to bring down Arnav ... negated by NK, and clarified that she was doing it to trap Shyam and find Arnav ... but Khushi finally breaks at that last one and tries to convince Arnav that she was doing it all only to find him ...

Arnav delivers his verdict ... two slaps - one for Di and one for Khushi, the two most important people in his life ... so Shyam has failed to create a rift between ArHi despite all his attempts ... and also failed to acquire Arnav's property ...

VLR is finally kicked out of RM ..."Get Out" ... but not before vowing vengeance on Khushi and Arnav ... his love changed to hate ...

My main criticism ... the trust factor was established, but after three episodes of a dramatic confrontation, the final climax fell a bit flat because a) nothing was actually proved beyond doubt (except in Arnav's mind) and b) the slaps felt like 'too little, too late' ... in terms of climax of the story.

I can understand that it was to preserve a loophole for Shyam to worm his way back into the house via Anjali at a later date, and also to set up the Anjai-Arnav rift ... but that latter could be done quite easily by just Anjali's anger that these huge secrets were kept from her all along. As for the former, Shyam is such a silver-tongued deceiver that for him to wriggle his way back into Anjali's heart would not be difficult at any time.

So there had better be a very good reason why Arnav kept quiet all through, and let TF insult his wife and his sister-in-law in the worst possible way, and did not intervene even when TF's true colors were completely out in the open. However picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost ... let us see what Monday brings.


The best thing is of course, that Arhi's relationship has taken a huge step forward ... and they will battle it out with the rest of the family together.

Next thing to see - how the RMvaasis are going to take all these revelations that came tumbling out of the closet in the last three days.  There is bound to be major tension now between ArHi and the rest, and that makes for at least three good solid parallel tracks ... Arhi and Anjali, Arhi and the RMvaasis, and Payash, who now have a good reason to drift apart and have tension. Not to forget the most important track of course, ArHi together :) :">

Added notes -
Since I didn't do a detailed episode update yesterday, just adding the parts where Shyam betrayed himself during his tirade ... 

1- When he speaks about Khushi setting herself at him - Arnav is the biggest witness that this is a lie - because of what Shyam said on the terrace, which Arnav actually saw, as well as Shyam's own words to Arnav about his love and junoon for Khushi, plus the road confrontation, where Shyam accused Arnav of forcing Khushi to marry him ...

2- When Shyam speaks about Payal wanting to marry into a rich family - both Akash and Arnav know this is false, as Payal turned down Akash for this very reason, and Akash had to stage a suicide drama with Arnav Khushi's help to get Payal to say yes.

3- Payal confirms Khushi's story about the engagement, and also Khushi's reason that they never wanted to hurt Anjali with the truth, that's why they all kept quiet. Also confirmed to Arnav that the day Khushi learned that Shyam was married, he was thrown out of their house.

4 - Shyam says he first met Buaji at Akash-Payal's roka ... when she approached him to sort out her late husband's pension matter, and it was after that Khushi started throwing herself at him. Payal interrupts, and barely a few seconds later, he says Khushi got a job at AR, then started coming to the house, and then tried to trap him ... when she didn't succeed, then both girls decided to trap both the men of the house. So when did Khushi start trying to trap him? After Payal's roka? Or before? BIG slip.

5- Of course at the very beginning of the whole confrontation, Shyam first claimed he would never dream of saying yes to divorce Anjali, why would he ever agree to sign such papers ... the moment Mami told him that she had also heard his agreement, he backtracked completely, and gave 1001 reasons why he said yes to signing the divorce papers. Including the reason that he signed the divorce papers to get Khushi off his back ... though he never wanted to divorce Anjali ever. Make any sense at all?!

Seeing all these points, I ask again ... why did Arnav keep quiet for so long? Shyam betrayed himself at least four times over ... there were eyewitnesses for Khushi's version of events, including NK, Payal, Mamiji and Arnav himself ... there were none for Shyam's version ... the things he accused Khushi of doing, like kheer, coming close to him, she admitted to those, and gave the reason for it ... while the accusations of wanting to trap him, get close to him prior to marriage, he had no witnesses or proof at all. And if required, the entire Laxmi Nagar could bear witness to the fact that he stayed at Guptas' as a PG. Anjali, the person for whom he ostensibly kept silent all these days, was subjected to seeing a particularly ugly courtroom drama played out at length ... if Arnav was keeping quiet to protect her, why did he not shut up Shyam as soon as he made his first slip? Since he kicked him out at the end ... which was going to be painful to Di at whatever stage he did it ... And he did not need any proof to counter Shyam's accusation that Khushi wanted to destroy him ... the fact that she risked her life three times should be more than good enough ... for him, as well as for the family.

CV's slipped up here big time ... don't know what they were trying to show, but they goofed up majorly by keeping Arnav quiet for three entire episodes, and then not having a dhamaka climax at the end of it to make up for his silence. The slaps were simply not enough. I think that is what was the most disappointing factor. Plus we now have the entire weekend to wait to find out if there was indeed a master plan of ASR in action at all.

Article from TOI regarding wimps in the Indian telly industry - sadly, Arnav Singh Raizada heads the list after Friday.
Article in TOI
TOI has always liked IPKKND - the first time they wrote a critical article was when the OTT comedy was taking place, and this is the second time. CV's need to take note of this. 

My husband's comment - they did this to get back at Barun for taking 45 days off ... they've reduced him to standard SP husband who stands mute while all the action is done by the heroine. ;)
My rejoinder - but they also reduced Khushi to standard SP heroine, who has to go through repeated trials of fire to prove her innocence, and stand mutely while all the accusations are being leveled at her. Though to be slightly fair, Khushi and Payal didn't back down, neither did NK ... these are the three heroes of Friday for me. And between them, the entire truth is out ... no thanks to Arnav who is still quiet about his share in the drama.

6/7 - Epi 291 ... Thappadwa Ve :)))

Friday 6th July

Quick update - first the precap ... who the *&^* wants to see Di going all hysterical, for Gods' sakes?!!! Show us the guy who just came back home after fifteen days in captivity, show us the girl who risked her life to save him ... who the heck is interested in Di and her hysterics??!!! Yeah, right her world just got blown apart, yadda yadda ... if she'd been the slightest bit observant, she would have remembered a lot of slips that Shyam had made all through, and connected them ... including finding her husband in her brother's room on more than one occasion ... she had it coming!!!

Second rant ... what the heck ... why did Arnav wait so long to give that thappad??!!! Why did Khushi have to plead with him to trust her? After NK said what she did was to get Shyam's trust, Arnav should not have needed any further proof ... not after hearing Shyam go on about how Khushi was the one leading a married man on ... when that was the one thing he knew was blatantly false! Why did he let Shyam insult Khushi for so long?!

Arnav's RTR did not get any miles subtracted today ... what he gained for giving the slaps, he lost for Khushi having to plead her case ...

Liked Payal and NK today ... Payal gave out the news of the engagement very succinctly and effectively ... NK gave out the explanation of why Khushi tried to gain Shyam's trust ... and without getting the pen-drive, they would not have had the motive for the kidnapping ... or known that Shyam was indeed behind it ...

Shyam got too much screen space today ... oh well, his last chance of being in the spotlight ... after this, he's out till he gets back in new improved, more villainous mode ... I'm actually waiting for it ... the alternative is watching weepy, hysterical Di being the centre of attraction ... boring!!!

I won my bet ... thappad happened today :)))

Episode was good on the whole, except for the last bit ... and it was never actually explained why Arnav made his decision. So Arnav has not come out with the whole truth yet ... now he's the one hiding secrets ... as to why he married Khushi, and that he actually knew of Shyam's treachery for almost as long as Khushi did, and did absolutely nothing about it. Yep, Arnav is in the dock now ...

Short update - mostly thoughts, will update more as they strike me ... and after reading the takes here, some changes in initial thoughts too ;) Thanks, Sandy, UJ, Opti, Su, for giving me different perspectives.

On first watch, I was completely :-o … WT* ??? That’s all? Slap and Get Out?! But nobody proved anything, it was just Creep’s word against Khushi’s and pffft, the big man delivered his verdict … what the heck did he have to wait for so long for?! Fell totally flat for me … I was hoping for Shyam to firmly put his foot in his mouth and get caught out … 

On re-watch though … has Shyam does exactly that? Expressions of the family seemed to indicate that they were not completely swayed by his blustering and bad-mouthing … and some of them know that what Shyam was saying was false … 

Akash knows that Payal was not trying to trap him, she was in fact backing off because of the social difference ... he had to in fact plead and beg her to marry him … and so does Arnav …

NK heard the paying guest truth for the first time, but he could put it together very well with what he had already seen, and he knows now the entire picture …and it confirmed for him what he had already seen ... Creepwa lusting after Khushi ... he now had the time perspective of how long it had been going on ...

Mami and Nani have seen Khushi worry for Arnav when he went missing, Anjali saw her love for Arnav, she was the first to point it out to Khushi … did they entirely believe Shyam when he claimed Khushi was running after him? Even if they weren’t sure, it’s a start … there is room for doubt in their minds ... and the first thought of questioning whether Shyam is indeed telling the truth and nothing but the truth ... if he could lie about this, he can lie about other things.

When Khushi told Anjali that she didn’t want to tell her about the engagement, I felt at that point that Anjali did not entirely disbelieve her … and neither did Arnav … besides, Arnav got the confirmation from Payal about Khushi’s engagement story … I felt that was when the scales tipped for him, he’d heard enough, and he knew that whatever Khushi was saying was the truth ... what she had been saying, and whatever she was now going to say ... 

But he also saw that was a huge blow for Anjali, which made a telling impact ... he was looking out for his sister at that point, that was why he started to take her away … 

And so did Shyam, which was why he forced Anjali to stay back … and went into fifth gear with his accusation … Shyam could not let Anjali leave, the other RM members were silent now, even Mami had stopped accusing Khushi and they were all silently listening to her, he had to have someone to shield him. Arnav was protective of Anjali seeing her condition ... Shyam, her husband, the one supposed to be most concerned about her health, who had always stepped in to stop other people from talking when the truth looked like coming out ... now was least concerned about his wife's condition ... and insistent on hearing the entire "truth" and having his say.

I was okay with the family keeping quiet - they did need to give them both a hearing … neither had proof to back up their claims, it was one’s word against the other, and for the Raizada family, it was obviously more difficult to believe Khushi over a man who’d been a well-loved and respected part of the family for the last three years and had never put a foot wrong … 

Also, like Opti and I said yesterday ... for Arnav it was like looking in a mirror, these were all accusations he had leveled at Khushi himself, and hearing them from Shyam would have been a shocker, bringing home to him how badly he had misjudged her and how badly he had treated her, knowing them now to be false.

Creepwa's long spiel was dragged ... but it was needed ... not just for him to spew all his venom, but also for the family to see the ugliness of the man behind the mask emerging ... how he could stoop to level such disgusting charges against two women of the family ... without a shred of proof ... and when each member of the house knew some facts which were completely contrary to what VLR was saying. When VLR levelled the charge against Payal about her wanting to marry into a rich family hence her quiet, Mami, who had always accused her of doing exactly that, was silent, and Akash looked incredulous because he knew that accusation was false, and so did Arnav. When VLR accused Khushi of wanting to bring Arnav down, Khushi admitted it up front and NK was quick to clarify that Khushi had done it only to win his trust ... also confirming that NK knew of this and it was part of Khushi's plan ...

I will add here ... whatever Khushi said, this time she had someone or the other to back her up in different parts of her story ... Payal confirmed her story about Shyam being the PG and her fiance, NK confirmed that she had tried to win Shyam's trust, and the reason for it ... Arnav himself knew that Shyam was lying about not being in love with Khusi, and Khushi being the one chasing him ... Mami knew that Khushi had been hunting frantically for Arnav, even putting herself in danger ... and again, Nani and Anjali have seen Khushi's love and worry for her husband ...
But then again, they have all also seen Shyam's worry and care for his wife ... so which one of these is a lie? However, the big difference ... the holes Shyam tried to poke in Khushi's story can be proved to be false, but Shyam's own story will not stand up to any probing at all ... he claims that Khushi was pursuing him, but no one in the RM has seen any evidence of that, except for those two instances of Anjali seeing Shyam and Khushi together ... and those too were during the time period that Khushi admitted to trying to win Shyam's trust, and NK confirmed that part.

Payal was good ... her testimony was needed and she did it very well ... but the family's reactions were muted ... they should have been much more dramatic ...

Khushi started her accusations by prefacing them with an apology to Anjali, that what she was going to say would hurt her ... when Payal told about the engagement, Khushi again apologised for her quiet ... and repeated Creepwa's words back to Anjali ... it was she, Khushi who had kept quiet ... hum sab jaante hue anjaan bane rahe ...

Whatever Shyam was saying he did ... kept quiet while Khushi was throwing herself at him, was actually applicable the other way around ... Khushi kept quiet while Shyam made advances, kept ignoring him, hoping he would get the hint and back off ... making the whole situation worse ... 

And finally … when Khushi made that plea to Arnav ... please look into my eyes, and then make your decision … at first watch, I didn’t like it … what happened to all that trust, that atoot vishwas and all that jazz? :( :-o

But on reflection … after reading Sandy's post ... this was déjà vu of the airport scene … when she begged Arnav to believe her, he asked her for proof, and she was trying desperately to supply proof, to produce a witness … and she couldn’t. Now she laid out all the facts on the table, including the damaging ones that yes, she told Shyam she wanted to bring down Arnav, but only to win Shyam’s trust … she even got close to a man she hated, because she needed to find Arnav (loved NK for backing her up there and saying that Khushi lied to Shyam to deceive him) … she does not have a shred of proof, she only has her word … and he can see the truth in her eyes … again déjà vu to the Sethi brothers time, when she said a person can always be caught out in lies when they don’t meet the eyes … 

And she said her piece ... gave him all the facts, her side of the story ... and then left it up to him ... I have no proof this time, all I have is the truth ... I have told you everything I know ... the rest is your call. 

And Big Boss delivers his verdict … in not one, but two tight slaps … one for his sister, one for his wife … placing Khushi at the same level as Anjali … the two most important people in his life ... loved Khushi's tearful, almost disbelieving look and the beginning of the smallest smile when he said that ... :">

And finally doing what he should have done much earlier ... throwing Shyam out of the house.

But picture baaki hai mere dost … there are still more revelations to come … the biggest one … Arnav has known about Shyam’s kameena ways almost as long as Khushi has, and also kept quiet in front of the family and Di. Why did he not say a word about that, when it would have been the clincher?  Would it have been too much of a shock for Anjali to realize that her brother knew her husband was a kameena, and did absolutely nothing about it? Except to marry the girl concerned? Now I can see the rift between Anjali and Arhi develop … and with due reason … Anjali is the wronged wife – she had the right to know, she has the right to decide Shyam’s punishment. 

5/7 - Epi 290 ...Trapped in His Own Web

Thursday 5th July

Happy Rabba Ve anniversary :)

Yesterday was Khushi's turn, today was NK's. And Shyam deflected NK's moves as swiftly and cunningly as he had done Khushi's ... thus pushing himself deeper and deeper into his own chakravyuh of lies ... and with his own questioning, slowly getting NK to divulge more and more details of  the entire planning.

One heart-stopping moment - when NK let out the password ... changed the game completely ... changed Shyam's game completely ... but he's not the sharp silver-tongued lawyer for nothing ... he deflected the attack by doing a swift counter-attack ... before the stunned family could recover from the shock of hearing the password ...

The next game changing moment ... Mami asking Khushi why she asked Shyam to sign the divorce papers ... something neither Khushi nor Shyam was prepared for ... but Khushi clarified ... and Shyam immediately pounced on her again ... you don't have those property papers, that was just another excuse ... and made his first big mistake ... "Rani Sahiba, I would never dream of doing such a thing ... you know that ..."

Too soon ... Mami is not Manorama Bond for nothing ... she caught him lying and pounced immediately ... "Hang on a minute, Buster ... I didn't complete my story ... I heard Khushi ask you to divorce Anjali ... and I heard your answer too ... you said yes ..." I pumped the air at the CU when Mami said that :))

And Shyam sweats a little more ... and pulls out the most predictable story in the book ... poor misunderstood man, the wicked girl was chasing him ... he said yes just to get rid of her ... yeah right! She'd leave her own rich, handsome husband to chase a poor slimy leech, that too a married one ... But Shyam is down to his last arrows ... finally Arnav is on to something he knows is a pack of lies ...

And Payal adds her bit ... she did a little earlier, but not enough ... Shyam deflected her the first time round ... this time, I think it will be Payal's day tomorrow ... with the engagement story ... and then will be ThappadGate :)

And I have a little bet with myself ... I think Lakshmi will finally atone for her first mistake by trotting into the room with the Will papers ... the final nail in Shyam's coffin has to be those papers!

*edited*
Today Abhaas showed that Shyam was really a lawyer ... and a good one at that! Made total mincemeat of all NK's and Khushi's claims, and of course they didn't have a shred of evidence left with them to back themselves up ... honestly, knowing how cunning the guy is, couldn't you both have kept those papers somewhere as carefully as Khushi kept the first will?! :(

Barun's expressions were better today, although again apparently a BD was used ... but the feedback about yesterday's expressions apparently got back to the cv's, and they did a better editing job ... although he still needs to buck up more - I know he was supposed to be hiding his emotions from Shyam, but he was a bit TOO subtle. In comparison, Mami was fabulous ... even when out of focus, you could see exactly when she was getting suspicious, angry, accusing ... the works.

 Shyam gets shock after shock ... and recovers swiftly every time ... but each shock knocks him off balance a little more ... NK didn't just listen to Khushi's words, he was actively involved in the fact-finding himself ... so more and more lies are needed to cover up ... the Scotland immigration stamp needed for a client ... buster, any immigration stamp you try to get fraudulently is a fraud, regardless of who you're getting it done for ... hence shows Shyam is not above committing fraud. And he virtually cross-examines NK about hearing Arnav's name ...do you have any proof? 
Any other witnesses? Arey bhai, there are two witnesses already, how many do you need?!

NK doesn't back off that easily though ... almost begs everyone to believe him and Khushi ...
And Arnav just listens ...
And now Shyam is getting desperate ... so time to start defaming Khushi ... she brainwashed you. You haven't seen anything ... even Arnav hasn't seen me ever there during his kidnapping ... you didn't see me, he didn't see me, she's telling lies ...
How does Shyam know that Arnav didn't ever see his kidnapper? 
Shyam is starting to sound desperate now ... everyone is wrong but me ...
Khushi is distraught ... she has no proof at all, and Shyam's slippery tongue is doing its usual magic ...

Payal finds her voice ... 'she's not lying ... don't forget it's not only Khushi but I also who knows your true face ...'
Arnav's first confirmation of Khushi's story about Shyam staying with them as PG ... Payal has never let on that she knows Shyam at all in front of him ... this is a first ... for him, and for the rest ...

But Payal doesn't manage to say anything much ... first Akash interrupts, and then Shyam recovers his voice ... 'she's another one who's lying ... of course, she would cover her sister, wouldn't she? In a family, that's what they do, the older ones cover the younger's mistakes ...'
Letting out that he knows more about the Gupta family than he claimed to?
Mami shuts her up now ... and NK is frustrated as heck ... he remembers the locket ... 'it's a pen drive with the fake will which gives Shyam all of Arnav's property ...'
Arnav shoots Khushi another look ...
But Shyam has a googly up his sleeve here too ... he took the fake pendant from Khushi's room, so he produces it now ... and Khushi knows that if he's showing it so confidently, it means he's changed it already ...
And of course he has ... and NK in frustration makes the first big dhamaka ... he fixed a webcam and recorded everything ... the password needs voice authentication, Khushi recorded Shyam's voice ... this is more bad news for Shyam, ... Khushi getting very worried, she knows what NK will say and things are going to explode .... And they do - in the heat of the moment, NK discloses the password ... I love you Khushi ...

Arnav is furious ... if looks could kill, Shyam would be dead meat ... and everyone else is shocked ... and Shyam fumbles for the first time ... but Anjali, shell-shocked, comes to his rescue ... it's the last straw ... she won't listen to any more ... and she shuts up both Khushi and NK ...

Arnav Khushi exchange looks again ... but Anjali is holding strong, so let the games continue, it's still not time to intervene ...
And Shyam emboldened by Anjali's support, carries on ... he's hurt and saddened by Khushi's behaviour ... please stop this joke ... NK and Khushi plead for understanding, but the phone is also missing, so that too can't substantiate their claims ...

And Mami gets into the act ... while we're clearing up everything, let's go the whole way ... 'if you're so bothered about the family, why did you ask Shyam to divorce Anjali?'

Arnav is shocked - Khushi asked Shyam to divorce Anjali? Even as Khushi is shocked - Mami heard this? And Shyam is also shocked ... Mami heard Khushi? But he thinks he's safe ... Mami is only accusing Khushi ... same way that Arnav accused Khushi ... he can wriggle out of this one ... 

Major deja vu for Arnav ... on the terrace he heard Khushi tell Shyam to leave Anjali ... and that was what twisted his guts out ... now he hears the other side ... as Khushi explains, she did it to get Shyam's signature on the papers signing his renouncing all claims to Arnav's property ... she didn't want the divorce or for him to leave Anjali, she wanted Shyam's signature ...

Unfortunately those papers are lost as well :( and Shyam can safely attack Khushi again ... she doesn't have the papers, this is the easiest case for him to fight ... 

And Mami follows up with Shyam, Arnav hears the follow up to his own story ... as Shyam promptly claims he wouldn't dream of divorcing Anjali, he would never have signed those papers knowing they were divorce papers ... he can't think of doing such a thing ...

But Shyam is falling deeper and deeper into his own trap ... as Mami hears Shyam's bare-faced lie for the first time, and sees it immediately ... and Mami pinpoints him down with stunning accuracy ... 'ah, but you did ... don't think that I didn't hear your reply .... you said you would divorce her ... now why did you say that?'

Deja vu of the terrace again ... then Shyam claimed he loved Khushi and she loved him too ... the only person keeping them apart was Rani Sahiba ... then too Khushi told Shyam to leave Anjali, and he said he would ...


And Shyam's consternation shows in his face for the first time in the open ... as he now scrambles for a cover story ...
Anjali almost faints .. but that's okay ... she keeps doing it ... no worries, let's get on ...
Shyam says, 'I signed the papers to keep Khushi quiet, because she's been chasing me for ever ...'

And Arnav's face is grim ...'now we've got you ... yeah, right, she's been chasing you ... forgotten what you told me that day?'
Arnav finally gets complete confirmation of Shyam's lies ... 

Arnav's silence led Shyam to forget that Arnav was even there and to keep track of his many lies ... he forgot that he had told Arnav that it was he who loved Khushi with a passion, and she was his junoon ... now he paints himself as the pure as snow husband with a man-eating woman after him ... his love for Khushi fades into nothing as his sense of self-preservation takes over, no matter that he destroys the reputation of the girl he claims to 'love' ... well, if he could plan to kill her, her reputation is a small matter ...

And now Payal will speak up ... finally!!! And the truth of the engagement will come out ... as to how long Shyam has been lusting after Khushi, his deceit with the Guptas ... just wondering how Shyam will deal himself the final blow ... because it will be Shyam who shoots himself in the foot ... Arnav has merely confirmed that Shyam is lying ... so has Mami now ... it's for Nani, Akash and Anjali to be convinced ...

And Arnav has also understood first hand what he put Khushi through by not believing her ... put her and himself through ... if he had believed her, he would not have been kidnapped, because she would not have gotten his signatures, and Shyam could not have proceeded with his plans ...
His family is slightly better than him ... they at least gave Khushi a hearing ... he didn't even do that ... they gave her the chance to have her say and tell her side of the story ... he condemned her unheard, and without even telling her what she was being punished for ...

Methinks Arnav's RTRW is about to start very soon ... unless DI waylays it, of course! :(

Abhaas, take a bow! Today you were fabulous ... a smart, thinking on your feet, silver tongued conniving lawyer all the way!

Sanaya and Karan ... too good! I felt so bad for the both of you, Khushi and NK ... trying desperately to convince the family ... armed with nothing but the truth ...

Mami ... another brilliant performance! Her emotions reflected in her eyes, every little change of expression showing ... best was the way she confronted Shyam at the end ... 'don't think you've got away scot-free, Buster!'

Barun, you really need to pull up your socks ... expressions were better today, but still not great ... when you have no dialogues and only your eyes, you have to really work hard to make them convey everything! 

Anjali was in character ... swaying dramatically, as wilfully blind as ever ... she doesn't want to hear anything about her perfect world and her perfect husband, bas!!!

Payal was adequate, hopefully we'll see more of her tomorrow ... and more revelations. Yes, Shyam had forgotten she's also in the house ... not surprising ... but now five people know he's lying through his teeth - NK, Khushi, Payal, Mami, and Arnav ... three more to convince ... Nani, Akash (for what he's worth) and the biggest of them all ... Anjali.

4/7 - Epi 289 - The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth

4th July Wednesday

Happy 4th of July for those in the US of A :)

Wednesdays are usually not great ... but the story has been going good recently, so let's hope for the best.
One small shiddat here ... ArHi have a bath! Tired of the banyan!!!

Quick update - okay, my shiddat wasn't heard ... but the episode was good ... taut and tense ... and the whole truth comes tumbling out ... today first Mami and then Khushi ... mostly Khushi ... were on a roll! And NK right at the end of course!
And the episode went pretty much as predicted ... especially the family reactions ...

ASR was silent all through ... was Barun even there during this shoot? His expressions were pretty fixed at some points ... but it looked like Arnav was listening very intently to all the proofs Khushi was tumbling out, and putting things together ... and also realising that Shyam's shatir dimaag is not going to let go so easily.

Khushi will sleep easy tonight ... everything finally out in the open ... and if she lets out the engagement truth, then all the more so ... nothing hidden from her end any more.

And today also showed why she kept quiet all through ... no one would have believed her at all. And she knew it ... and so did Shyam ...

Shouldn't Arnav wonder why Shyam keeps asking if Khushi or NK have any proof? As a lawyer Shyam would know how easy it is to manufacture proofs and twist them around. 

Anjali in the first scene irritated me today ... cracking up and going hysterical once Arnav is back safe and sound ... but later she was listening to Khushi all along ...

NK is a darling ... if Arnav mistrusts Khushi on this one, she should pack up and leave for Australia with NK ... and it was good to show how difficult even NK found it to utter the truth about Shyam. Again Mami also kept quiet and listened to NK ... she was ready to mistrust Khushi because of Khushi's insistence on keeping quiet but Khushi explained that one, and Mami knows it's the truth - she almost got hit by the plank attack ... so Mami might waver for a few days more and then cross over.

And precap ... Payal finally speaks up!!! And I really hope we get back that fierce Payal from post guesthouse, the one who could face even the mighty Arnav Singh Raizada and fight for her baby sister Khushi.

*edited*
Watched it again ... a well put together episode ... it kept the tension taut and tight right through. And also explained why ArHi came back straight away ... it would have been crazy if they had stopped to romance and not talked things through about the entire kidnapping, together with everything Khushi and NK did, before starting to cootchie-coo ... this way, Arnav got to see and hear Khushi's, Mami's and NK's contributions from the sources themselves ... and also observe Shyam's reactions very carefully.
Though Barun's expressions left a lot to be desired ... he needs to look far more intense and watchful, not surprised and shocked as though he's hearing about his own kidnapping and all the events therein for the first time! :(

To start - Mami gets the introductory act ... breaking news to the family that yes, Arnav was kidnapped ... Anjali needs confirmation ... she gets it from Arnav's nod, and Khushi's words.
The exchanged looks spoke more today than the dialogues ... 
I don't think Arnav Khushi planned to say anything to the family yet ... Mami pre-empted them by insisting on telling the family ... there was an exchange of glances between Arhi when Mami disclosed the truth ... as though to say, ok, we're in for it now, and both looked towards Anjali, as though checking her reactions first, to see if she could handle it. Or rather, Arnav looked at Anjali, and Khushi looked horrified ... nope, they didn't plan on telling anyone till they had talked between themselves first. And Khushi looks for Arnav's reaction when Di asks him ... is he going to tell everyone right now? Only when he nods, that yes, he was indeed kidnapped, does she say anything ...

And Shyam looks at Khushi when she confirms ... and starts getting worried ... what is she going to say?
Akash gets some dialogues ... his mother didn't tell anyone?
Mami is annoyed that Khushi stopped her from telling anyone ... and she thinks she knows the real reason ...
Khushi looks at Mami in shock - why is Mami angry, what does she know? then at Arnav, Arnav looks back at her ... Khushi looks at Anjali ... how much should she say?

Akash asks, how come only Khushi knew, and no one else?
Duhhh ... because the rest of you are blind, deaf and dumb ... ok, I forgive you, cv's wrote you that way, not your fault :p
Arnav does have an answer to that ... because his kidnappers didn't want anyone to know he was kidnapped.

Mami asks why Arnav was kidnapped, they never asked for ransom ...
Arnav looks at Shyam ...
Khushi says the kidnappers didn't want money, they wanted something else ... that Arnav knows, they wanted to kill him. And she couldn't tell anyone because it would have endangered Arnav's life.
This too Arnav knows ...

Anjali irritating as always ... locking stable door when horse has bolted ... having hysterics about Arnav being in danger when he is back safe and sound ... I warned you, Daljeet, I am going to be mean to you!

Khushi tells the final shocking truth ... they wanted to kill him ...
Mami is listening very intently now ... Anjali hugs Arnav tearfully, Arnav looks bored ...

Mami asks Khushi ... you know so much, then tell us ... who were these people? And why did they want to kill him?
Khushi Arnav exchange looks again ... so Arnav did give her the go-ahead here ... otherwise he would have stopped her at this point ... and Khushi moves towards Anjali ... preparing her for the final reveal ... as Arnav watches Shyam, and Shyam looks at Khushi shocked, is she going to say it?
And Arnav doesn't take his eyes off Shyam ... as Khushi says, she has to tell the truth now, even if it hurts Anjali ...
Mami asks again ... Khushi says the man is right here ... Arnav watching Shyam all along, Shyam sweating in earnest now ...because it looks like he can't keep Khushi quiet any more.
'Hai na, Shyamji?'
Shyam was already looking at Khushi as though knowing she will say his name ... and preparing the correct expressions accordingly ... but Arnav was looking at him all through ... while everyone else was looking at Khushi ...

The usual shocked expressions on everyone's face ... except for Mami, who is thoughtful, as she starts to review her earlier thoughts about what she saw ... 'Damaadji?' 
She already knew he was not the angel he's painted himself to be ... and so far Khushi has spoken the exact truth from what she knows of it ...

Anjali gets ready to defend Shyam to her last breath ... Shyam lets her get on with the job ... Arnav watches him ...
Mami asks Khushi 'what are you saying?' Not 'you're talking nonsense.' She does not ask Shyam ... Shyam decides it's time to intervene ... Anjali can be relied on to blindly  defend him, but Mami is too sharp for comfort, besides she was with Khushi at the start ...which he had completely forgotten about.

'What are you saying? How can you accuse me ...?'
'I'm not accusing you ... I'm telling the truth ...'
Anjali begs Khushi, 'you've been mistaken ...' ... now I started liking Anjali a bit ... pleading with Khushi to tell her she's wrong, but actually listening to her ... Khushi is really sorry to do this, but she has to ...
Nani also can't believe it ...

And Arnav still watching Shyam carefully ... Barun's expressions need some work here! Same shots, or same expressions? :(

And now Shyam is in trouble ... and Arnav starts to hear the entire story of what all Khushi went through to find him ... first from Mami, she and Khushi got the airport CCTV footage ... yes but Shyam wasn't there in those tapes ...

Khushi discloses Shyam's motive now ... something that was puzzling Mami too ... Shyam wanted the entire money and property ...
Arnav remembers Khushi got some papers signed from him before he left ... again more truths from Khushi ...
Mami thoughtful again ... but Khushi lost the papers ...
Shyam has to ask Anjali to keep Khushi quiet ... Anjali obliges but Khushi is not going to stop ...

'Shyam made Arnav call the family just when they were going to call the police' ... Arnav remembers ... and he must know what he was told when he made the call ... he knows he was made to call in a hurry ... more dots connecting ...
Khushi goes on ... when she and Mami found Arnav, they moved him to the next place ... the gifts that were sent ...
Mami knows about those too ...

Shyam asks for more proof ... he really wants to know how did Khushi get on his trail?
The shoes and the blood stains ... now Anjali is a witness to this, Khushi asked her Arnav's blood group ... yes, Anjali remembers ...
Yes, ok, blood group doesn't prove anything, we do know that ...
Will Anjali remember how many times she caught Shyam snooping in Arnav's room when neither Arnav Khushi were there?
Mami still thinking deeply ...
Shyam is losing it now ... but he still manages to slide out of it ... with a counter-accusation ... how dare she go snooping in his room?

Arnav is getting restless ... she doesn't have any proof, how are they going to do this?
Shyam asks for more proof ... she had the phone with the will ... but she lost it when she went hunting for Arnav ... that is a big blow ... 
Her final proof ... conclusive one, actually ... that Shyam had Arnav's passport ... Shyam deflects that, not by denying that he had it, but by his usual telling the truth in the guise of a lie ... yes, you'll say I wanted it to get a fake Scotland immigration stamp put on it ...
Khushi says, yes, that's exactly what you were going to do ... (NK is going to confirm this one too ;) )

Shyam blusters again ... you're making false accusations, and how did you dare to go into my room?!

Anjali falters ... Arnav holds her hand briefly ... just a brief look at Khushi ... and he lets her continue ... 
"I dared the same way that you dared to threaten Arnav's life ..."

Shyam deneis it all ... 'you have no proof and everyone knows that now ...'
Arnav's eyes flicker at that one ... so Shyam is confident that Khushi has no actual proof ...
And as everyone looks at Khushi with varying mixture of disbelief and tension, a welcome voice ...
"Nannav!"
NK is back :) :) :)

Aww cutie-pie ... so happy to see Khushi, he was worried about her, even happier to see Nannav ... "Nannav, mere bhai ..." and NK tells Khushi he's proud of her, she managed to get Arnav back safely ... something which the rest of the family doesn't even know ... 

Anjali hears that, so does Arnav ... and Shyam ... but Shyam still doesn't know how closely NK was involved ... he just saw the end bit when Khushi dragged NK with her to Vasant Vihar ... maybe he can get out of this one too, NK only knows what Khushi has told him ...

Khushi begs NK to talk, Anjali will believe NK if she doesn't believe her ...
Anjali may or may not ... but Mami is definitely having a re-think ... Arnav watches NK, as he confirms it, then immediately switches to watching Shyam ... and Shyam's consternation ...

NK says, 'don't make me open my mouth, I know what Khushi has gone through because of you ... and you and I both know she's telling the truth ...'

Shyam can't do much except bluster ... 'you're as crazy as Khushi ... whatever she said, you're just repeating ...'

Wrong ... NK has been an equal partner ... he heard and saw Shyam talking to the travel agent about getting a Scotland stamp ... exactly what Shyam just said himself two minutes ago ...
And Shyam is flummoxed at this one ...

Precap ... Shyam is digging his own grave ... how would he know that Arnav has never seen his kidnapper?
And Payal finds her voice finally ... am looking forward to tonight! All the truths are slowly tumbling out ... 

3/7 - Epi 288 ... ArHi Together !!! :)

Tuesday 3rd July

First half heart wrenching ... and beautiful ... and ArHi are back together!!! :) :) :)
Second half ... OMG ... yippee!!!

Am going to ignore all bloopers today (especially the CPR ones) .. and just say I loved the episode!

First half ... Arnav going crazy with worry, finding Khushi ... all the fb's come crowding in ...
Her hand falling limp and he remembers the times she clutched him even when unconscious ... guesthouse, Nainital ...
He thinks she's gone ... Heer Ranjha ... tries desperately to revive her ...
The man of few words never stopped talking, pleading, begging her to come back, scolding her ... she told him she missed his scolding ... anything, everything ... just to get her talking again ... she can't leave him ...
Holi fb ... hamari dhadkanein ek ho jaati hain ... and he puts her hand to his heart, as though trying to revive her with his own heartbeat ...
And then she clutches his banyan and he knows she's back ... holding her close, knowing he will never let her go again ...
Carrying her to the jeep, because she had no strength to lift herself up, much less walk ... but he was there for her ... well, he never needed much of an excuse to carry her, now even less so ... ;)
And the looks between them ... no wonder their producer feels they can run entire episodes on the Arhi eyelocks ... :">

Second half ...
OMG, I don't believe this ... Khushi told him straight off who the kidnapper was ... first thing ... I said she should but doubted she would because it was the most logical thing to do ... logicwa actually came back! =D>
And so did Arnav's shatir dimaag, finally back from its long holiday ... first thing he does is ask if she has proof .. he might believe her, but the rest of the family will need some convincing ... will we get our long-awaited shiddat of Arhi working together to unmask Shyamu?

We all knew what Anjali's response to the Shyam-Khushi linkup would be... and she didn't disappoint ;) she believes in her Pati completely and the world had better listen to her and believe him as well.

LOVED Mami ... she is already annoyed with Shyam and is in no mood to hide her animosity ...

Khushi enters ... faces the firing squad ... Payal by her side ... but she keeps her silence ...
Just as things are hotting up for her, and looking suspicious with Shyam also looking as though he's been in an accident, as is she ... Arnav enters ... equally quietly ...
And I actually felt like clapping and seeti maroing when I saw him come in ...  =D>

And Mami lets out the truth to the horrified family ... Shyam didn't bargain for Mami knowing the truth about his kidnapping at all!!!And of course Anjali goes hysterical again ... she held herself together much better for Shyam than for Arnav ...
Did I mention I loved Mami? Especially when Shyam tried to talo the topic of where Arnav had been and Mami insisted the truth be told ... Mami is not going to be kind to Shyam at all ... neither to Khushi, but Khushi might get away with less flak ... 

Precap ... OMG, Khushi accuses Shyam in front of the family?!

*edited*
Writing from ArHi dreamland ... for the first half of the episode :)
Arnav goes crazy looking for Khushi, spots the flash of blue through the trees and runs to find her unconscious and clinging to a tree ... explained why she didn't fall further. Tells her everything is fine, and drags her up ...

While Shyam's goons inform him that Arnav-Khushi escaped ... and Shyam is a trifle annoyed ... (his car scene was very meh ... the prime witness and the victim of his kidnapping and attempted murder stunt just escaped, and all he can do is look annoyed?! He should have been far more frantic and panicked ... should have fired his goons and ordered them to find ArHi dead or alive ...

Back to much better things :) :">
Arnav trying desperately to revive an unconscious Khushi ... he sees her hand lying limply by her side and remembers ... she always clung to him even in her unconsciousness ... after the guesthouse rescue, after the Nainital illness ... she held on to him even when angry, when hating him ... she never let go ... and now, she lies limp, her hand by her side ... he can't let her let go now ... 
First reassuring her ... we're fine, I'm fine, we're safe now ...
Worry, panic creeping in ... why aren't you saying anything ... I told you we're fine ... say something, talk to me ...
She sags against him, and he sees the blood from her head on his hand ... and starts to lose it, go frantic ... no, he can't lose her ... he just can't ... this can't be happening ... 
Talk to me, this is not funny ... don't playact now, this is killing me ... say something ...
Rubbing her hands, holding her face ... begging her now ... say something, dammit ...
He hand falls limp again ...
No ... it can't be ...
Say something, dammit ... say something ... wake up ... holding her close ...
Trying again ... checks her breath ... breathe, dammit ... he will breathe for her if he can ...
Tries frantically to revive her ...

Heer Ranjha ... "your best moment, and Ranjha's worst ... I will die ..."
Not only Ranjha's ... his worst moment too ... his worst fear ... an agonised "Khushi, wake up, dammit!" ...as he tries to revive her ... 

"Maybe I'll become a star ... the brightest star on your horizon ..."
No, she can't do this to him ... she can't leave him ... even when she mentioned her own death earlier, it scared the wits out of him ... and now when it seems too close for comfort, it drives him crazy ...
he tries to breathe for her ... giving her his own breaths ... but she still doesn't revive ... and he's almost in despair now ... kissing her forehead ... "Khushi, please say something ... please say something ..." begging her now, crying unashamedly ... "you can't do this to me ... I can't ... you can't ..."

Holi ... "when you're close to me, your heartbeats increase with mine ... our heartbeats become one ..."
His heartbeat is one with hers, his heartbeat will revive her, bring her back ...
And he holds her hand to his heart ... trying to give her his own heartbeats now as she still lies lifeless in his arms ... if his heart is beating, it's enough for both of them because their hearts are one ...
And they are ... her fingers move on him, her eyelids flicker ...
"Khushi ..."
An answering soft "hmm?"
And he can scarcely dare to believe it as he looks at her and she opens her eyes slowly and looks back ... first incredulous, then joy on his face as he holds her tight close to him ... and Khushi struggling back to consciousness slowly, goes willingly, still confused ... why is he so worried ...
"Ar ... nav ..."
He shushes her ... "there's no need to say anything ..." she's alive and with him, and that's all that matters for now ... as she puts up her hand and caresses his face ... he kisses her hand, her face ... and just holds her to him again ... with Devi Maiyya's temple shining white in the background ... 

Time to go ... (really? so soon? Couldn't you stay here a while longer? There's a zoo waiting for you back home, remember?) ... he finds her dupatta and drapes it gently on her ... her honour, her izzat, and he is the protector of both ...
She tries to get to her feet with his help, but still a bit dazed after that blow ... forget it, he'll just carry her ... it's not like he doesn't have enough practice ... :">
And as he moves to lift her, her hand comes to hold his vest ... and he smiles ... she's holding him again  ... all is right with their world again ... he looks at her and she gives the faintest of smiles back.

So they go to the jeep, with Khushi securely held in Arnav's arms, her eyes locked to his, her hand cupping his cheek ... because she can ... she has the right ...
And Devi Maiyya smiles and showers her blessings on them both ... :">

Back home ... (so soon? :( ) ... loved the protective caring Arnav already in action as he helps her so tenderly up the steps to the door ...
And LOVED the scene at the door as Khushi tells him about Shyam ... :"> =D>

I had said that logically she should not hide Shyam's truth from him at all ... she now knows Shyam is not just a philandering husband but is actually dangerous, not just for her but for Arnav, and maybe Anjali too ... This is too big a thing to hide from Arnav ... it should be the first thing she tells him.
But I didn't have much hope that she would actually tell him so soon ... so yippeeee!!! :)) Arnav and Khushi firmly together ... no more secrets between them ... for the time being ;)

So did Khushi know ... or realise ... that Arnav hadn't heard her on the phone? And he is incredulous .... "What?!!" Shyam is his kidnapper?!
"Are you sure? You could be mistaken ..."
"No, I'm not. Humein poora yakeen hain ismein sirf Shyamji ka haath hai ..."
Strange choice of words ... tell him Shyam admitted it all to her himself outside Arnav's prison, that Shyam tied her up and left her on the road, that he did it all for the money and the will ... ok, not enough time ... or is there? How long did they talk outside?
Guess we will come to know later ... like we did for the wedding ... 

And Arnav's dimaag seems to be back from vacation ... he believes her all right but he knows they will need proof for the family ... he asks if she has proof for the rest ... from her expression, she's not sure but she will probably tell him what she does have ... so probably they do also decide on a quick POA outside before she goes in ...

Meantime Shyam is back home at RM, ready with story to explain his absence and his not attending his distraught wifey's phone calls ... he was in an accident ... he actually hit his car deliberately ... and now laps up Anjali's first aid service ... while Mami (bless her) keeps looking at him suspiciously, so does Payal ... neither are very convinced by his show now ...
Mami tries to ask searching question ... Anjali is back to La-la land ... three monkeys ... she doesn't want to see evil, hear evil ... or speak evil ... she's happy with Shyam's lip service as long as her perfect world stays perfectly intact ...

Enter Khushi ... all bruised and upset ... and silent ... even as Payal, Nani and Mami question her ... and Anjali stays back for once ...
And things look very suspicious for Khushi for sure ... as she also seems to have been in an accident ... Anjali's normal caring nature towards Khushi has been firmly put on the back burner, she can forgive Shyam, but not Khushi ... for daring to disturb her perfect world.
Shyam also asks what happened to Khushi, as Mami glares at him and Anjali is not happy at all at his attention to Khushi ... Shyam trying his best to act normal in front of everyone, scared as to what Khushi will say, wondering where Arnav is ...
Shyam is in a bit of a soup here, but so far he can be pretty confident - if it's his word against Khushi's, he's safe ... because Anjali will never believe her over him ...

Enter Arnav ... and the game changes completely ...
Arnav also looks as though he's been through a mud heap ... attention shifts from Khushi to him ... Anjali, who didn't move a muscle to ask Khushi what happened to her, rushes to Arnav in worry ... Nani shocked, Mami ditto - and very relieved ... and Shyam starts sweating big time now ...
Mami hugs Arnav ... awww, I wanted that :)
And Nani clubs Arnav and Khushi together ... how come both of you are in this state?! Effectively separating Shyam-Khushi in her mind ... for now ...

Arnav and Khushi both turn to Shyam with identical accusing disgusted angry looks ... and Shyam knows things are bad ... he would have counted on Khushi keeping quiet, or Arnav not believing her - after all, he didn't believe her about their earlier relationship ... ArHi getting together is a major blow for Shyam ... Mami is shooting him dagger looks, and he has only one ace left up his sleeve ... Rani Sahiba.

And Mami lets the whole world know about the kidnapping ... about time too ... but it's a shock for Shyam ... he had obviously forgotten that there was another woman with Khushi in Rocky's house ...

ArHi exchange looks ... I don't think Arnav Khushi were really ready for Mami to spill the beans either ...not part of their plan ...

Anjali proceeds to lose it and start the hysterics ... why does she not know what's happening, what is Mami talking about ... Shyam tries to placate her, but Mami shuts him up for once ... Mami may not be happy with Khushi, but she sure as hell is not on Team Shyam either, because he agreed to divorce Anjali too - for Khushi's sake ...far too readily.
And Anjali wants to know the truth ... what's happening ...
Arnav shoots quick look at Khushi again, this time gets a tiny nod from her ... :">
SN ... digression, awwww :"> :">"> have waited so long for this ... complete understanding between ArHi ...

And Mami tells everyone ... Arnav was kidnapped ...

Precap ... is Khushi going to accuse Shyam straight out? Or is she going to say he knows the culprit? Or ... what???

Thoughts:
Team ArHi ... Arnav Khushi, NK, Payal
Team Shyam ... Anjali Shyam

Mami ... on the fence, will join ArHi eventually... after NK and maybe Khushi talk to her. She already knows about the kidnapping, she saw Khushi distraught over Arnav, once the truth of the drama of the divorce is disclosed, she will cross over. She will not be with Shyam for sure ... if Khushi asked Shyam to divorce Anjali, Shyam promptly agreed ... Shyam is not in her good books.

Akash ... will be angry with Payal, but will eventually follow her and Arnav.

Nani will be angry with Khushi for not telling about the engagement and about the kidnapping. Not obviously Team ArHi but support Anjali outwardly.

Anjali ... outright denial? Ostrich approach? Or will she conveniently go hysterical and almost lose her baby? She will hate Khushi for a while to come ... Khushi not only hid the news about Arnav's kidnapping but is also the woman her husband loves ... while Shyam gets TLC, Khushi bears the cross ... Anjali's reaction is the joker in the pack ... especially after the latest promo shows that the entire truth is out to everyone.

How can Shyam even try that "Khushi trapped me" card? Does he not remember that he told Arnav himself that Khushi was his love, his junoon? And the only thing between them was Rani Sahiba? Which was why Arnav made sure HE was also standing between Shyam and Khushi ... not just Rani Sahiba.



All snarky remarks at the end - ;)
Khushi barely fell at all, she was at the edge of the cliff ... itna rona for a two foot fall ?! :)
CPR is not done near the clavicle, for heavens sake, it's done on the chest ... if you have to show it, show it properly, or else not at all ... and what happened to her head wound? They both forgot about it after she recovered consciousness?
Shyam's talk with his goons ... boss, we lost them ... oh ok, damn, now I have to make an excuse for my absence for my stupid wife ... not worried that he has at least one, and maybe two eyewitnesses to his crime of kidnapping and attempted murder? And he heard Khushi talk to NK on the phone ... so three witnesses ... shouldn't he at least tell the goons to go find them and not stop till they did? And goons also didn't bother to mention that ArHi were down a cliff, so as to give Shyam some excuse for being so nonchalant. Poor dialogues here ...  Or did he think Khushi would continue to stay quiet about this too ... when she had told him that she was in love with her husband? Shyam goes back to being brainless villain ... for this episode, at least ... I reserve judgement for what he will do later.

What did Khushi Arnav talk about on the way home, that she only found time to tell him Shyam's name right at the front door? Ok, maybe she was resting on the journey, and he told her to keep quiet till they got home .. can actually imagine that ...

2/7 - Epi 287 ... The Fall He Couldn't Catch ...

Monday 2nd July

So Arnav didn't see Shyam?! :(
Khushi makes it clear that she loves Arnav ... Shyam decides if he can't have her, no one else can ... so much for undying love ...

Gripping moments ... when Arnav rounds the corner in the jeep ... and narrowly misses running over Khushi ...

Her anguish as she sees him getting beaten ... and wriggles frantically to free herself ...
His fear when he sees Lallan holding her at gunpoint ...

And the CU and the last part ... as Khushi stumbles and falls over the edge ... and Arnav for the first time, is not there to save her ...
His fb's ... of all the times he managed to save her ...
And this time ... he couldn't ...

And the precap ... OMG ... Khushi, dammit, talk to me ... this is not funny ... the blood on the back of her head and the way her hand falls limply ... :-o :(

Was holding my breath through the last half of the episode ... since I knew ArHi wouldn't meet today, didn't wait for it ... the fight scenes dragged a bit at first, but the second half once Arnav caught up with Khushi onwards were tight and very tense ...and the precap was numbing ...
Can't wait for tomorrow!

*edited*
Lots of Bollywood style dhishum dhishum and open jeep chase sequence ... very little story movement, and a few very touching emotional moments ... plus some interesting dialogues, which portend the shape of things to come?

Shyam-Khushi ... Arnav did not see/overhear the Shyam-Khushi confrontation ... which means that a terrace-style confrontation is still on the cards?
Shyam talks about 15 days grace period for Arnav ... so the entire kidnapping drama took place over 15 days ... was this the time period for the codicil to expire?
Khushi says that 'hamare jeete ji' she won't allow anything to happen to Arnav ... so Shyam decides that Khushi is expendable ... her protectiveness of Arnav has become a liability, which outweighs his 'love' for her ...
Shyam says he can go to any lengths for his 'love' ... including killing Arnav ... and she made the mistake of loving Arnav, a mistake which Arnav has to pay for ...
Shyam is seriously delusional ... asking Khushi why she chose Arnav, a handsome, rich perfectly eligible bachelor, who has always looked out for her ... over a weak, evil, conniving two-timing lying deceiving skunk, who thinks nothing of hurting her or her family ... ermm, where is the comparison?!
And how could she deceive him ... how could she
Khushi completes his sentence ...'how could I stoop so low? If necessary, I can stoop even lower ... because I did it for Arnav ... my husband ... the man I love ...'
And the words are a death knell for Shyam and his obsession ... and they might be a death knell for Khushi too ...
'Not only you ... I can cross limits too ... for my love ...'
Shyam is still delusional ... 'so we're not that different after all, are we?'
'We are as different as the earth and the sky ... but you won't even understand the difference ...'
And Shyam repeats again ...'it's you who are not understanding ... Arnav will have to pay for your mistake ... and I will make sure he does ...'
Shape of things to come? Arnav will have to go through the Agni pariksha ... or make some agonizing choices ... because of Khushi's mistake of not telling Arnav the truth about Shyam at the start ...

Meanwhile Arnav continues to fight five goons, Bollywood style ... and emerges to see Khushi held by Shyam ... did he see Shyam, recognise him? Shyam, shatir as ever, makes sure to keep his back to Arnav all through ... even as Arnav and Khushi stop everything and just look at each other, reaching out desperately ... uncaring of the goons surrounding him, the one holding her ...
but the goons are still at work and Shyam manages to drag Khushi into his car ...

And we get an open jeep chase ... very reminiscent of 80's Bollywood again ... why was Khushi wearing a seatbelt? And why was Arnav driving so slow? How did Shyam manage to shake him off? That too, for long enough for Shyam to tie up and gag Khushi and leave her and disappear ...
Logicwa, please take back seat again ... :))
And Shyam says .. if he can't get Khushi, Arnav won't get her either ... and if she can do anything for Arnav, she can give her life for him too ...

First truly breath-taking chilling moment ... Khushi struggling frantically all tied up and helpless in the middle of the road, as Arnav's jeep takes the bend sharply ... her struggles get more and more frantic as she realises he's approaching at breakneck speed ... the identical looks of shock and horror on Arnav and Khushi's faces as he rounds the curve ... the way the jeep misses Khushi's head by barely a hairs breadth ... and crashes into the side ... phewwww!!!! :-o

Why on earth did he wait so long to start untying her?! Trying to decide whether to handle the goons first to set her free ... decides on her just as the goons drag him off ... and reaches for her desperately, as she struggles even more desperately on seeing him fighting five goons ... loved the way they play off each other's strength and weakness ... he falls, she struggles even more, the sight of her struggling is enough to give him the strength and energy to get to his feet again ... she manages to free her bonds ... and he's ready to reach for her, ready to take on all the goons again ... with renewed energy ... till Rocky gets into the act ... and Lallan holds her at gunpoint ... and Arnav is helpless suddenly ... nothing should happen to Khushi ... 'leave her' ... again ready to give up the fight, as long as Khushi is safe ... 'leave her, let her be ...' 
Arnav stopped fighting only as long as Khushi was held at gunpoint by Lallan ... willing to be beaten up, but not willing to risk Lallan pull that trigger ... 
And seeing him get beaten up gives her the energy and strength to shake Lallan free ... but he pulls her back fiercely ... and Khushi staggers back off balance ... back ... falling ... falling ...

And he watches her fall with a look of shock and horror again ... all the times she fell, and he was there to catch her, to save her ... from the very first fall ... the carpark ... RM ... the bandagment ... the payal ... even their wedding, when he became her husband ...
But not this time ...

Her scream ... his "Khushi!!!" ... only echoed by silence ...
The anguish reminiscent of the last car-ride in the middle of the night ... when he thought he had lost her to another man ... and now when he finally knew she was his and only his ... he might have lost her again ... to death ...

And the final burst of strength ... he has to get to her ... and an army of goons is not going to stop him ...and now that Khushi is no longer held at gunpoint ... but is instead at even bigger danger to her life, he is galvanised into action again ... he can fight again ... he has to fight again, fight them all off, so that he can go after his Khushi ... find his Khushi ...

Arnav stopped fighting only as long as his fighting was a threat to Khusho's life, as long as she was held at gunpoint ... the moment she shook herself free, and then gave that scream as she fell backwards, his fight returned ...

Although it was funny the way all the goons just ran away ... itna paisa mein itnaich milta hai ...

Precap ... "Khushi, wake up ... dammit, it's not funny ... open your eyes ..." :( Hoping against desperate hope she's playacting again ... even when knowing she isn't ... is he going to lose her? After just about finding her?
Can't wait for tomorrow!

Thoughts:
Not a great episode ... too much of dhishum dhishum and Abhaas was not at his best today ... but pretty good, and a good start for the week ... the few ArHi connects when they looked at each other and both got the strength to fight back from the other, for the other ... makes for a great track coming up ...

Links - all HD
Part 1
Part 2

Full episode

29/6 Epi 286 - Roller Coaster - Weekend Discussions

Sorry girls, had a busy evening, didn't realise we'd crossed 200. New post for the weekend.