Posted:
" A definition not found in the dictionary
Not Leaving - an act of trust and love, often deciphered by children".
- Markus Zusak, The Book Thief.
I had honestly felt I would not be making any posts anytime soon, especially given the current ARC of the show but little Ruhi has forced me to make this one - she literally pulled me out of my self-imposed ban. So thank you Ruhanika and the writers who could do that to me - invoke a reaction strong enough for me to want to voice my sentiments.
The above quote is from one of my all time favorite books and it is the most apt description which comes to my mind when I think of the plight and the stand, little Ruhi steadfastly and silently took against her family, her biological family. There is a reason I am not singling Raman out alone, which I will get into later.
I know most of the posts have praised Ruhanika for the wonderful, heartbreaking performance she gave last night. And she deserves all the praise & accolades she gets and more. For a little girl she is so, so expressive its amazing. And its what inspired me to write this post.
Often children are considered as nadaan, nasamaj by the elders, but little Ruhi in her silent stand last night made a statement more powerful than any temper tantrum or screaming match could have made.
I so so loved how the whole thing - the journey from the excitement of a child to her absolute heartbreak to her anger played out - the execution of so many emotions in a single episode has left me stunned. Its sorta unbelievable that a Balaji product is being so nuanced in its writing. I hope this is the beginning of something here from India' largest soap factory.
The beginning of this ordeal took root when Ruhi had jumped with excitement and joy as she found her dad wanted to take her out with her mom for dinner - there was such enthusiasm from her end for the outing because she finally had that family she always craved. Her excitement reminded me of my childhood - where my parents expressly reserved Sundays as a day where they would take me and my brother out for dinners and movies. I could relate to that joy so very very much.
And though the dread, the knowledge of something horrible coming our way was always known when Raman made the dinner plans known, I don't think anyone of us was prepared for Ruhi' reaction. There was SO much focus on IshRa & Adi - the little girl was all but forgotten in the almost-panic.
And it gives me a perverse joy, how the writers banked on our expectations and played them so well. They made Ruhi stand out when neither of us even saw it coming.
The moment when Adi has had his revenge, he excitedly calls out to Ruhi and THAT is the moment of the day.
Like I said, Ruhi stood with her Ishimaa against her entire biological family. The little girl who had never ever so much as raised her voice ever against anyone when she felt slighted and hurt - stood up for the one person who has always been there for her - her Ishimaa.
While most of the forum is evidently going ga-ga over her snubbing Raman, I loved how she ignored Adi too. I couldn't help but remember how she was excited to meet her bro on his birthday and how even when he hurt her by ridiculing her in front of his friends, she joyfully ran to him the moment Adi called her to check out the car he received as a gift. All hurt and disappointment forgotten and forgiven in a moment where she felt her brother' acknowledgement, thought he is calling her out of that love that siblings feel.
And last night, when that very brother called out to her- she didn't so much as greet him, for he did the one thing she could not forgive - humiliate her mother.
I had been delighted when Ruhi had bluntly and honestly without realizing the effect or meaning of things had called out Shagun and Ashok on their lies on Adi' birthday. She dint mince words, as a child to her things are black or white, good or bad, right or wrong and true or false- she had that very clear perception of things even today. And last night she didn't even LOOK at Shagun with that sweet smile, she always gave her mother - for her the one person who mattered the most in all of this was Ishita, the one person for whom she could overlook everyone else and did. That itself is such a masterstroke of the writer who planned this scene, BRAVO!! is all I can say at this subtle and yet impactful touch, the writers made.
While Shagun takes pride and joy in distancing a son from his father, she doesn't realize how very distant her daughter is becoming to her now. She may have gained her son and his favor in her ongoing war with Raman but she has LOST her daughter now completely. And not only because she couldn't gain her custody, but because she has lost the love, respect and adoration of her daughter to a woman who provides her daughter with the thing that a child craves utmost in the world - love and security.
The youngest person who was witness to the whole fiasco could cut to the heart of the things and make out without an explanation, what exactly had happened and didn't bother to hide her reaction or make her feelings known.
The way she silently took a seat once the trio left, and quietly said I don't want to eat here or stay any longer - the reaction, the immediate result of Raman' grave mistake could not have been any more powerful.
In his blind love for his son, Raman could coerce Ishita into apologizing to Adi and even Shagun, despite realizing the huge mistake it was. But couldn't stop himself. But it is the UNEXPECTED reaction of his daughter that I think would finally serve as the wake-up call he so needed.
It was as fascinating as it was thought provoking when Ruhi ignored her father, the very father who did the same thing to her - ignore her always and do what he never managed to do to her - break her spirit.
Raman' numerous shuns and outrageous reactions could not provoke the little girl who longed for the love of her father to abandon his side, but his grave error - his intentionally hurting and humiliating her mother - her Ishimaa, provoked the girl enough to give Raman a taste of his own medicine.
The desperation of a father who longs for his son blinded Raman to his own deeds, his judgments but the guilt of a father who just broke his little girl' heart made him courageous enough to admit he is doing wrong.
I am curious, excited and very, very eager to see how Raman patches up with Ruhi and how, in her innocent childlike way Ruhi makes her father see the magnitude of his mistake. For I am sure, once she does speak up - she wont hold back; the lighthearted banter father daughter had last week - where she sweetly called him buddhu papa, said he doesn't understand a thing would be played out once again but with more serious undertones. Especially the part where Raman had said Ishita loves Ruhi so much, she even bears his temper for her sake, Ruhi could turn the tables on her father with a simple question -
does HE love her enough to not hurt or humiliate her Ishimaa?
Can he do that for her?
It was heartbreaking as it was beautiful for me last night to watch Ruhi - to be loyal to the one person who she believes, hopes and knows wont leave her - her Ishimaa.
Cricket
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
