"Ab mujhe thoda waqt chahiye sochne ke liye. Aur ek samajhdaar insaan ki advice bhi! Mere business associate thodi der mein aate honge - woh ek bahut samajhdaar insaan hai!"
"Anyways, agar woh yahan aa rahe hai, aur tum keh rahe ho ki woh samajhdaar hai, toh Shogata bhi unse baat karna chahegi! I'm sure unhe Shogata ki baat hi sahi lagegi!"
Time. He wants time to think. She doesn't have time. If Shogata hopes to turn her family's expectations into reality, if she hopes to finally attain the classy, comfortable, financially-secure lifestyle that appears to matter so much to her, then time is the one thing she doesn't have. But Vikram needs time. And that's not all, apparently. He also needs advice. Not from anyone in the house - even he has figured out that the Kants are not the ones to be relied upon for important advice in such a situation. Advice from a samajhdaar insaan. Because Vikram is confused. He doesn't know what to do. Shogata frowns, tries to process what she's hearing, and ultimately brushes it off with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders. Her confidence contrasts so sharply with his confusion. While he is so unsure of the proper way to deal with the unexpected obstacles that have come up, she is so sure that she will be able to handle the situation on her own.
Shogata has her reasons for wanting to marry Vikram, and she is ambitious...but from the way Vikram falters and essentially implies that he needs to consult with someone else for advice about this...it makes me wonder just how invested he is in their relationship. What is the basis of this relationship, anyway? There doesn't seem to be any true emotional attachment from either side. Shogata is beautiful and charming, Vikram is rich and influential. But he is evidently not strong enough to solve his own problems. If his business associate tells him that he shouldn't marry Shogata, then would Vikram just leave? If so, then what kind of a relationship was it to begin with? One with a foundation based on superficiality, resting on very shaky ground. Does Shogata realize that her future now essentially depends on another man's word? Perhaps she does. Perhaps that's why she decides to take matters into her own hands.
"Agar tumhare boss keh denge ki Riya aur Shaan ki shaadi ho jaani chahiye, toh tum bhi haan keh doge?" Shogata walks through the hall, a protective hand around the flame of the diya on her aarti thaali. She casts an occasional glance at Vikram, but her eyes always return to the flame. Until Vikram doesn't answer her question, that is. He stammers, "Uh...Sha-shay--" She stops walking, raises her eyebrows at him. He was going to say, "Shayad." Maybe. She catches onto his hesitation, and under her gaze, he doesn't have the courage to say it. What he does say is a meek, unconvincing, "Of course." Shogata doesn't care that Vikram's expression is telling her the exact opposite of what he has just said out loud. She has a verbal answer, the one that she wants to hear. That's all she cares about. "Good." It fascinates me that Shogata is the one with more control in this relationship - but she isn't the one with complete control over its future. That power rests with one Mr. D Bang.
"Mr. D Bang ko toh Shogata yoon hi manaa legi! Shogata ke charm se koi nahi bach sakta!"
So much confidence. As she shifts her focus to winning over Mr. D Bang, a smile steals over her face. It's like a game of seduction, almost...This is a challenge that she knows she will win - and she looks so incredibly self-satisfied already! Nobody can escape Shogata's charm...All I want to ask is, "Oh, really? Are you sure, Shogata?" It's also worth mentioning that the background music here, which begins as soon as Shogata's focus shifts to the stranger who is about to arrive, is the same music that was used in a few significant scenes highlighting the complicated push-pull between Dev and Shogata. The first time that musical theme came up was in the scene where Dev and Shogata crossed paths for the first time after Shogata had returned home from overseas. She had literally walked into him outside the very same doors that she stands in front of now. The past and the present, juxtaposed using a fascinating parallel. On that day, during that chance encounter, sparks had flown between them as they bantered with each other. That was also the first time Dev brought up his concerns regarding Shogata's marriage to a man he deemed was incompatible with her. Shogata had responded by accusing Dev of wanting to break off the marriage because he was interested in her...which Dev indignantly denied. Shogata didn't believe him. She was persistent in her belief that Dev was attracted to her and she relentlessly accused him of wanting her. Now, years later, Shogata is in a similar situation, separated from Dev yet still linked to him. And I love the way that same musical theme is used again, linking Shogata's thoughts about Mr. D Bang to the arrival of the man himself.
The doorbell rings. Shogata moves toward the door with graceful steps to welcome the stranger into her house. And then she sees him. One glance at his clothing indicates that he is a high-level professional. Beige pants and waistcoat, purplish-blue ombre shirt, and the fanciest of technologically-endowed watches. This man is wealthy and he wears his status well. He appears to be everything that Shogata could have ever hoped for in a man...and ironically, he is not a stranger. He is anything but that.
Time has stopped for Shogata Kant. She looks at the man standing at the threshold of her house, stunned speechless, rendered motionless, as memories flash through her mind. Memories of them, this house, their strange relationship, their unusual domestic life. Husband. Temporary damaad. Bangdu. Her Bangdu. He begins to move toward her with confident, deliberate steps. The thaali slips from her hands, crashing to the ground. The flame of the diya has gone out, the contents of the thaali lie at her feet. She doesn't notice, she doesn't care about the mess she has made. All she can see is his face. But he notices. Dev looks down at the red and gold powder on the ground between them. He exhales in surprise, makes a face. "Whoops..." He looks up and quirks his eyebrows at her, as if to say, "Whoa. What's up with you? It's just me." It's just him...But she can't move. She can't speak. "Hello." His voice is deep, clear, powerful in the silence that has marked his return to her house. One word. He says one word...and it's like he has stolen her breath away. She can't look away from him...and she can't breathe.
Dev Bangdu has rendered Shogata Kant speechless before on a quite a few occasions, and he's the only man who can do so. But Shogata has never reacted to Dev like this before. He says one word, and just from looking at her eyes and her parted lips, it is clear that the sound of his voice has sent a wave of pure shock through her. It's like the mental equivalent of doing a double-take or stumbling backwards...with far more finesse. Neha Kaul. I don't know how she does this. Every single nuance is on point! So damn expressive!
"Hello, Sir!" That jolts Shogata out of her silence. She is still reeling from one shock wave - and now she receives another. "No way..." She finally finds her voice, and those two words are all she can manage to say. She stares at him...and he smirks at her. He just stands there silently and actually has the audacity to smirk at her bewildered face as she tries to deal with the chaos he has brought into her life. "Saari musibatein iss ghar mein aaj ke hi din aani hai, kya?!" She calls him a musibat - he simply blinks and smiles at her, the corners of his mouth twitching in response to her question.
"What...? Excuse me, excuse me!" I find it hilarious that Vikram is so happy to see Dev as soon as he arrives at Kant House. Vikram greets his boss so cheerfully and Riya is very glad to see him, too...But as soon as Shogata begins speaking, the Oberoi siblings have absolutely no clue what is going on. They're both completely confused by Shogata's outburst and Dev's silence. The Oberois are in a perpetual state of "What the hell is going on?!" and it amuses me so much!
Shogata lets out a gasp, her focus momentarily diverted from the man who is looking down at her with a smile on his face. She whirls back to face Dev within seconds. "Shogata tumhe nahi bol rahi hai! Iss..iss...luchhe lafangey aadmi ko bol rahi hai!" Even though she addresses Vikram initially, Shogata is actually speaking to Dev. Like a magnet, her focus always comes back to Dev and, as expected, her instinctive defense mechanism involves throwing insults at him. This time around, surprisingly, it takes a little while for her to find derogatory terms for him - and I was reminded of the time when she flagged Dev down and asked him to give her some of his "sadak-chhaap" insults so that she could use them against Matthew. It looks like Dev's "sadak-chhaap" mannerisms rubbed off on Shogu, and I doubt she even realized it!
"Listen, you Bangdu! Get out!" Shogata brandishes a threatening finger at him, her eyes beginning to spark with anger. Dev doesn't move. He lets out a silent chuckle and turns away from her, entirely unfazed. This is the first time she has addressed him by name after all these years, and she doesn't call him Dev. She calls him Bangdu. Just like picking up where they left off...except not quite. "Get out!" Shogata doesn't think twice before grabbing Dev's arm and pulling him with her. She doesn't let him look around and admire the decorations, even! She just reaches out, grabs his arm, and starts moving toward the door, knocking him off-balance in the process! Dev stumbles back slightly, only mildly surprised. The familiarity between them always makes me smile. Tactility is just not an issue for Shogata and Dev! It never has been, and I've always loved that natural physicality in their relationship. It's so beautiful that even after years of separation, Shogata reflexively reaches out to Dev. Like it's the most natural thing in the world. That is called haq jataana, Shogata! A special mention about the perfect height difference between them, especially now that Dev carries himself confidently and his full height can be seen! These two make such a stunning couple!
"I'm extremely sorry, Sir!" Vikram finally rushes over to stop Shogata from pushing Dev out of the house. I love the wide shot showing the triangle that the three of them form - Vikram trying to do damage control on Shogata's behalf by apologizing to Dev, Shogata standing next to Dev, still holding onto his arm, looking like she's actually married to
him...and Dev, calmly watching the chaos and staying rooted to his spot next to Shogata.
"Tum mere Sir se aise badtameezi se baat nahi kar sakti! Yeh mere business associate hai!" Another shock for Shogata. She stares at the man who still hasn't formally introduced himself. Courtesy of Vikram, now Shogata knows exactly who is standing in her house. The guest of honor doesn't feel the need to tell her anything, and it's not like she gave him a chance to say anything before, either. So he just averts his eyes and crosses his arms, casually preparing to wait for the shock waves to wear off. "What?!" "Yes! Mr. D Bang! Aaj main jo kuch bhi hoon, inhi ki wajah se hoon!" Watching from a distance, Riya nods, affirming her brother's words about D Bang's significance in their lives. I think it's so interesting that Vikram actually steps up to scold Shogu for speaking rudely to his boss, frantically proceeds to apologize because of her behavior, and then properly introduces the mysterious Mr. D Bang as the man who made Vikram Oberoi into the billionaire that he is today. Vikram respects Dev so much that he practically worships the ground that his boss walks on. A single phone call from Dev resulted in Vikram leaving Shogata alone on the dance floor, and a single word from Dev could influence whether Vikram leaves Shogata alone forever. It says a lot about just HOW much influence Dev Bangdu has in the Oberoi siblings' lives. They both look up to him and hold him in extremely high regard, and he seems like a man worth every bit of that respect.
Shogata is still stunned. She watches Dev, her brow furrowed and her lips parted in surprise, not saying a word. She takes in his appearance again, and as she does, her eyebrows loosen up just a bit and her facial features start to relax slightly. It's starting to set in, the realization that the tall, handsome, confident, and incredibly wealthy man before her is actually Dev. He is not the Bangdu she remembers...but he is here. And what a transformation he has gone through! Neel Motwani. Those expressions of his! That self-assured aura with an underlying sense of steely resolve, a dash of sarcasm and a hint of sweetness beneath it all - I don't know how he conveys all of this simultaneously, but when I look at Dev, that is what I see. Neel has always been able to portray Dev with an endearing combination of sass and seriousness, and he continues to keep that intact, adding even more maturity to Dev's demeanor.
Dev! He has so much attitude and I love it! I still can't believe that he starts mock-preening himself, fixing his hair oh-so-casually, for no discernible reason. Just because he can. And because of Shogu...? Like...she could have had this man. If only she had stayed with him, she could have had him. She could have had it all. But she lost him. And she also ironically lost out on the sort of life she always wanted...along with love. What happened between them remains unknown, but I wonder if there were unspoken words, suppressed feelings, and misplaced bitterness involved in their separation. The circumstances of their marriage were unusual, yes, but they appeared to be adjusting to their married life...So what happened?
Clearly, Dev's presence still affects Shogata just as strongly as it had all those years ago. She still can't quite believe that her Bangdu is standing in front of her. Raising an eyebrow, she asks him a silent question...which he answers with a pointed look, crossing his arms and settling into a confident stance, almost like he has been waiting for her to catch up to him. "D Bang...Dev Bangdu?!" And he just uncrosses his arms, gazing back at her steadily, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. That smirk of his! He's like..."Hey, baby...I'm home." I love love love Dev and Shogata's silent exchange in this moment! Neel and Neha, what are your faces?! *sigh* Brilliant, brilliant actors with incredible, inimitable chemistry!
The Oberois are silent spectators of Dev and Shogata's reunion, watching the two of them with increasingly confused reactions. Vikram and Riya are so out of the loop and it's too funny seeing them on the sidelines trying - and failing - to figure out what is happening. From what the Oberoi siblings can see, Shogata knows D Bang - and she knows his real name. How? Why is she so shocked to see him? Why is she talking to him like this? Why is he not retaliating? Too many questions, no answers. And there are many more questions and revelations to come before the end of the night.
"HIIP?!" If Vikram was confused before, this doesn't help clarify things at all. He looks from his boss to Shogata, frowning, completely lost. "Matlab?" And Riya is lost, too. Shogata translates automatically, her eyes still on Dev. "How is it possible?!" Dev remains quiet, his lips forming an amused smirk again. He doesn't need a translation. He has been exposed to Shogata's abbreviated English for so long, he can probably just read her expressions and understand what she's saying. That's far more than what the other people in this room can do at the moment. So Dev just stands there and patiently waits for all the pieces to fall into place.
"Are you sure? Yeh aadmi toh peon banne ke layak bhi nahi hai! Aur -" Riya cuts Shogata off, bewildered by the insults that are being directed at Dev. "Shogu, yeh kya keh rahi ho tum?!" Shogata has gone into denial, looking almost wild-eyed, rambling a mile a minute, desperation coloring her tone, while Dev simply looks down at her, as relaxed as can be. HER Bangdu can't be a hotshot businessman! That's just not possible! She's clinging to their shared history, like she doesn't want to let go of the Dev Bangdu she knew...which is intriguing. Time has changed Dev in many ways, but at heart, he is still the same. He has risen from the ashes and flown up to great heights, proving to everyone that he isn't someone worthless and insignificant. He is intelligent, talented, responsible, caring, and generous. And he also happens to be handsome and wealthy now. Isn't that a description of the perfect man for Shogata Kant? Strangely, when it comes to Dev, these criteria don't seem to matter to Shogata. Maybe the circumstances of their divorce hardened her so much that she is bitter about what he has become without her. His metamorphosis from Dev Bangdu into Mr. D Bang, including his physical transformation, DID affect Shogata. It left her speechless. So maybe these things DO matter to her...but for her, at heart, Dev Bangdu is still the boy she had feelings for at a very young age, the man who claimed to have no interest in her but still returned to her side again and again and again...the man who could have been her companion for not just one or seven or seventy lifetimes, but for all of eternity...if only they hadn't been driven apart.
Finally, Dev speaks. He raises a hand to stop Riya. "It's okay," he reassures her. He's not insulted. Not in the slightest. He turns to Shogata, maintaining eye contact with her and only her. "Humari puraani continuity hai." Shogata doesn't break eye contact with him as he says those four words. She glares at him and her mouth twists into a frown, but she says nothing. She looks like she's fuming, flaming, burning up inside. Suppressed rage, suppressed frustration, suppressed feelings. When it comes to Dev, if she lets herself go, Shogata is all passion. Passionate hatred on the surface which belies the passionate love beneath. Shogata is fierce in her affection and loyalty towards those she loves...and Dev is the same. But Dev has always been the more restrained and rational one between the two of them. She is spontaneity, he is stability. For balance, they need each other. Special mention about the music in this part of the scene - it's another one of Dev-Shogata's themes, the one that plays whenever they engage in banter or fights. There couldn't have been a more perfect place to use this theme. Continuity.
I love that Shogata and Dev speak to each other both directly and indirectly throughout the entire episode. Every word of hers is meant for him, and he replies back sparingly through a few words and expressive silences. Their focus always, always returns to each other. There's so much underlying meaning in those words and gestures. The four words that Dev says - why does he say them? Humari puraani continuity hai. A fascinating choice of words. Dev speaks for both himself and Shogata, cryptically conveying that the two of them share some sort of a relationship, that there is an old rishta between them. Why doesn't he just say "relationship," then? It is so significant that he uses the word "continuity." It implies an enduring connection, one that has its foundation in their past and continues to last in spite of all changes. He uses the present tense to refer to their relationship...which means that whatever they have between them, it is still there. It still matters to him. From the way she reacts, it still matters to her, too. His words carry emotional weight that she understands.
I cannot express how much I love the fact that even though they are not alone, Dev and Shogata still interact with each other as if they are the only two people who exist in that moment. I love that they are essentially carrying out a conversation with each other through coded words and nonverbal language...and they are the only ones who understand it. They have always been like this, challenging each other openly and communicating through expressions, actions, and words that carry meanings that only they comprehend. But there are many words that have been left unsaid...Until those words are shared between them, they will remain this way, moving forward on parallel paths that cross every so often, until they find the same path and step onto it together, side by side.
"Ab yeh Dev pehle waala Dev nahi raha. Aaj mere paas paisa hai, bungla hai, gaadi hai, daulat hai, shohrat hai, naukar-chakar hai..." As Dev lists everything that these five years have given him as a result of his own hard work, Shogata listens from afar, her lips pursed, her gaze piercing. She is not happy about this...THIS is what she lost. This is what she threw away...She could have had that life. Overcoming adversity makes accomplishments all the more valuable. If only she had realized that and stayed with Dev. If only...
"I'm sorry, D Bang Sir. Mujhe nahi pata tha Rajni aapki behen hai. In fact, main toh aapse advice lena chahta tha, taaki iss problem ka solution dhoond sakoge..." And that's Vikram, apologizing yet again. And asking for Dev to solve this problem yet again. Shogata looks like she has had enough of this. It's almost as if she's thinking, "God...He needs advice from that man, of all people?" Vikram is so very dependent on Dev. Along with being a bit of a chamcha, he is also a bit of a coward, and that becomes clearer and clearer with every word that leaves his mouth. "...aur cheezein aur complicated ho gayi." So Vikram decides to step back and take the easy way out. Call off the marriage. Problem solved. Shogata's jaw drops. That's how invested Vikram is in building relationships with the Kants. He's ready to turn away at the first sign of difficulty. In steps Dev. "No, no, no! Relax, Vikram. Problems toh aate rehte hai. Unka solution dhoondna padta hai." This man. This man just keeps proving how dependable, mature, sorted, and pragmatic he is! THIS is how to deal with complications and hardships in life! This is advice that everyone should always remember. Shogata straightens up, tossing her head back as she does so. Indirectly, Dev has saved the Kants again. Shogata, you should thank Dev for stepping in..."Dev ko thank you bolo!" Does that sound familiar?
"Yes...And ab toh Mr. D Bang...urf Dev Bangdu ne bhi ijaazat de di hai shaadi ke liye!" Shogata sounds so bitter, my god. Every word drips with sarcasm and her body language conveys just how irked she is. She doesn't look at Dev at all. She says his name twice - he looks up sharply when she calls him D Bang...and he continues to watch her as she addresses him by the name she knows him by. Is she staking her claim on him through the use of his name? There's no need for her to say his name in two different ways, but she does. Dev's return has thrown her off-balance. She thought she had her life under control. Clearly, she doesn't anymore. He does. And she is not handling it well. She scoffs and twists his words around, still not meeting his eyes.
"So Mr. Dev..." Shogata finally looks up at him, her tone pleasant and light, her gaze sharp and hard. "Thank you very much humari problem solve karne ke liye, ab aap jaa sakte hai, namaste." The words come out in a rush, like lava from a volcano. Her not-so-gentle request for him to leave is the only part of her farewell that is emphasized through a shift in her tone and a widening of her eyes. Once Shogata makes eye contact with Dev, she doesn't even blink. In response to the anger simmering within her that he can hear in her words, he blinks and silently regards her for a moment. Shogata has been glaring at Dev the entire time, ever since the moment he stepped inside her house. She has been reacting to every single thing he has said and done, whether he has been looking in her direction or not. And Dev has been so unperturbed by Shogata the entire time. God, how I love these two!
"Tum kisse baat kar rahi ho?" Surili Kant turns to see who has been bearing her daughter's anger in silence. She catches a glimpse of a tall, handsome, well-dressed man. "Oh!" He turns to face her, and she is pleased with what she sees. Dev's once-Temporary Saasumaa turns back to Shogata, smiling at her daughter. And then Shogata's words catch up to her. "Ba-Bangdu?! Aah! No! Tum kab?! Kyun?! Kaise?! Kab?! Yeh achaanak kahan se aa gaya?!" Surili trips over her words, unable to string together a coherent thought, that's how shocked she is to see Dev Bangdu - the very same Dev Bangdu she had looked down upon for so many years - standing in their house and looking like this. He looks good, doesn't he, Surili? With every word that comes out of Dev's mouth, Surili looks more and more impressed. Yeah...He looks damn good, doesn't he? Finally, finally, Dev Bangdu has been vindicated.
Dev is all set to leave Kant House forever. He glances at Shogata again. She sends him a sardonic smile with raised eyebrows. The silent conversation continues. "Leaving now?" He maintains eye contact for a second...and then he takes his nephew by the hand and heads for the door. Dev just wants to get out of that house, to go back to his life...But that won't happen anytime soon. He is the guest of honor, after all. And he has ties to this house, ties that won't be severed, no matter how hard anyone tries.
The rest of the Kants show up, all predictably shocked by Dev's appearance, and he rolls his eyes in exasperation. The night is proving to be one of revelations, and more are in store. Thanks to Maggie, Vikram finds out that Shogata was once married...to none other than THE Dev Bangdu. After all the confusion and all the issues that have nearly driven Vikram mad with frustration, this revelation is what pushes him past the breaking point. "What? Shogata ki bhi pehle shaadi ho chuki hai?! Woh bhi D Bang Sir se?!?!" This one fact, that Shogata was Dev's wife, is the deal breaker. That's the end. Vikram does end up leaving Shogata. He starts to back away from her more and more...and he ultimately leaves her because of Dev. Dev's place in Shogata's life and memories - and in her heart - cannot be taken by anyone else.
The Bangdus' marriage is a secret that neither Dev nor Shogata told to anyone outside of their family, evidently. I am very curious about this. Why didn't Dev and Shogata mention their past to the Oberois? More importantly...why have they remained single for so many years? They both could have married rich socialites within their respective business circles - so why didn't they? Because of their shared history? The strength of that link between them is the one thing that neither of them talks about. But it is there. And it is undeniable. Their relationship, their bond, has endured for so many years. It is unbreakable.
Dev knows Shogata...he knows this woman like no other man ever could even hope to know her. He still gets under her skin. Shogata lets him in, lets him affect her...after all this time, she still reacts just as powerfully to his presence. Dev may have an extremely high tolerance level after dealing with insults and hardships for years, but when he is provoked enough - specifically, when Shogata provokes him enough - he unleashes an anger so strong that it rivals her own in intensity. They have always been like this, pragmatic yet passionate. Theirs has been a long game, a series of battles full of raging emotions and unexpressed feelings. And it isn't over. Until they unite and come full-circle to end up together as they have always been meant to, it isn't over.
Their relationship is truly like a fire. They collide - and sparks fly. They separate - and embers burn, never truly extinguished, dangerously hot and easily rekindled. They reunite - and flames blaze, warm and comforting, bright and powerful.
Dev Bangdu and Shogata Kant. Together, they are fire.
Edited by MelodiousDreams - 7 years ago
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