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What a way to start off the New Year! Suspense, surprises, superb writing, and superlative performances. I really couldn't have asked for more today!
Aarti doesn't say a word as Raghu approaches her. He reaches out to brush his fingers lightly against her hair, her shoulders, her arms...He takes her hands into his own and looks up at her again - and there are tears glistening in his eyes. There's the slightest shadow of a smile on his face even as the woman in front of him slips her hands out of his grasp. Aarti can do nothing more than watch him in silence as he comes to terms with the reality standing before him.
I find it extremely fascinating how the writers are going about developing this odd triangle with two actors. The writers can plan out the twists and turns and write out the interactions between the three characters, but it is up to the director and actors to transcend the pages of the script and bring that story to life.
Shraddha's double act has consistently been leaving me impressed ever since I started watching the show, and today she outdid herself yet again! Sudeep has the challenging task of acting alongside Shraddha as she embodies two very different personalities...So far, they have essentially had to deal with only one pair at a time - either Raghu-Ayesha or Raghu-Aarti - and they've successfully portrayed both relationships in very different ways. But today, Raghu came face to face with both women...and I have to give Sudeep-Shraddha and the Dream Girl team a standing ovation for the way this revelation played out and was filmed! 👏 👏 👏
Raghu spends the rest of the day in Ayesha's room, vigilant and determined to keep her out of harm's way, while she nervously waits for any sign of the mysterious caller. When the phone actually rings, their reactions are hilarious - Raghu immediately makes an annoyed face, and Ayesha follows suit a few moments later before throwing the phone down in irritation.
"Raghu...Aap please yahin baithe rahiye. Mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai."
Ayesha wraps her hands around Raghu's arm and leans against his shoulder, clinging to him. When he gets up to go to the window, she follows and panics when he tries to leave and investigate what's going on outside. She reaches out and grabs his arm more than once, trying desperately to keep him near her. I fleetingly thought, "It's like he's her lifeline, in a strange way..." And maybe he is...After all, Ayesha did refer to Raghu as being her "magic lamp." But is he nothing more than a means to an end for her? A genie in a lamp whose only purpose is to fulfill her wishes of financial security and continuing superstar status? Does he really mean nothing more to her?
"Kya zaroorat hai?! Aapki jaan ko khatra ho sakta hai!" "Toh tumhari jaan ko bhi toh khatra hai na?!" "Mere liye aap apni jaan ko khatre mein kyun daal rahe -" "Kyunki I love you!"
Stunned silence as Ayesha takes in Raghu's words. If he didn't want to articulate his feelings in such a way, it's too late now. "Because I love you," he repeats, more softly this time. Slowly, both of them smile at each other...It almost feels surreal, like a dream. But Raghu does not truly love the woman he holds in an embrace in the dark...he loves the woman named "Ayesha" who led him out of the darkness that day...
A scream pierces through the darkness, reaching Raghu and Ayesha. With the returning light, Ayesha's worst nightmare is about to unfold...Aarti has finally come face to face with Raghu again.
Aarti doesn't say a word as Raghu approaches her. He reaches out to brush his fingers lightly against her hair, her shoulders, her arms...He takes her hands into his own and looks up at her again - and there are tears glistening in his eyes. There's the slightest shadow of a smile on his face even as the woman in front of him slips her hands out of his grasp. Aarti can do nothing more than watch him in silence as he comes to terms with the reality standing before him.
"Oh my god...Tum thi? Tum hi thi?"
Raghu's little laugh after he confirms that, yes, this woman is made of flesh and blood, not merely a figment of his imagination...That laugh says more than words could. So does his mounting confidence that this woman is the Ayesha he knows. But if this is the woman he fell in love with...then who is the woman he professed his love to?
What I was not expecting was for Raghu to turn and ask Ayesha who she is. I was not expecting him to see red as soon as Ayesha tried to tell him that she is indeed Ayesha Sareen. But Raghu does ask her, repeatedly. His anger starts to simmer the more Ayesha tries to convince him that he's wrong. The dangerous aggression that Aarti had calmed within him comes rushing back in an instant as he corners Ayesha and confronts her about the lies she has told him. What I find interesting about Ayesha here is that she tries to counteract Raghu's rage with a calm appeal to logic instead of yelling back at him. She's backed up against a wall, in a corner, and she flinches at the receiving end of Raghu's anger but she won't surrender yet. If he wants the truth, she'll give him the truth, sure. But Raghu is nothing if not sharp. "Sach bataaogi? Ya phir se jhoot bologi?" I love that the writers put this line into the middle of this scene because I'm wondering how many more lies Ayesha's going to add to her web before she herself gets trapped. And as it turns out, Raghu asked the perfect question, because she does indeed tell him the truth...a twisted version of the truth. Along with a few more lies...
"Tumne galat kiya! Tumne isse Ayesha bana ke mere paas bheja...yeh tumhari galti thi."
"Tumne galat kiya! Tumne isse Ayesha bana ke mere paas bheja...yeh tumhari galti thi."
The most fascinating aspect of this entire scene is summed up in those lines. Raghu yells at Ayesha, pulls away from her frantic attempts to hold on to him...When Raghu interacts with Aarti, though, he is much, much more gentle. His face softens, his voice softens...But there is an undercurrent of passionate feelings beneath it all. Especially noteworthy is the part where Raghu takes Aarti's hands and presses them against his face. He's so incredibly happy that he's found her. Contrast that with Ayesha's desperation when she repeats the same gesture, taking Raghu's hand and holding it to her cheek. He pulls away immediately and shifts his focus back to Aarti. The final moment, when Raghu implores Aarti to tell him the truth - Aarti lies for Ayesha's sake, and as Raghu processes her words, it's like his entire world is shattering into a million pieces. But this is only the beginning...
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