Originally posted by: milkcakejamun
Can't find the original post anymore, but it was about Shiny thinking the audience liked Shiva and Raavi's love story, hence she wants Dhara and Gautam's love story to be aired. I wish I could tell Shiny that no... I like Shiva and Raavi not for their love story, but for their personalities. Always have, and always will. I've always believed you, as a person, are greater than the love story you have. If you believe in yourself, you're love story will be that much sweeter.
Shiva is a man who is completely selfless. He will always put others before him regardless of the pain he will have to endure. We saw this when he accepted to marry Raavi because Dhara's smile and reputation mattered more, we saw this when he took whatever insults he did during the separation track because Raavi's happiness mattered more, we saw this when he stepped forward to protect Krish from all the beating because Krish didn't deserve that at all, we saw that when we learned how he gave up his education for his family's happiness. He's much more than just Raavi's husband or Gautam Pandya's younger brother. He is Shiva Pandya. He is an emotion, a soul, an inspiration of what we can all achieve. Yes, he is not perfect, but that's what makes him all the more relatable. His anger connects us and grounds us. His childish mischief is what enthralls us. All in all, he is the best written out character in all of Pandya Store.
Now, moving onto Raavi. She is a woman who is equally as selfless as Shiva, just, her selflessness is shown in different ways. Like Shiva, she put aside her emotions and married a man she hated because of her Mausa-Pa. She had extended love and smiles to every single being she crossed... because they deserved it. She fought just so her greatest enemy could be well fed in her childhood. She encouraged Rishita as she was getting a job, and instead of feeling jealous or tired that she will have to take over more of the chores, she smiled with happiness and pride that her family was actually achieving something! Yes, we may not get dialogues from her, but at least we can see the emotion through her eyes. The only human being who ever saw her hate is Shiva... and that is because Shiva has entered a special part of her heart that no one else has entered. He's able to bring out a side of her that she's hidden from everyone in this world... he's able to complete her while telling her that anger is not wrong.
I love Shiva and Raavi not because of the "romantic" moments they share. [Quite honestly, if I wanted romance, I would not be watching Pandya Store, as there are many American/Korean/Chinese/Thai/Turkish shows with better romance stories] Rather I like them for who they are. I root for them because of the way they complete each other. Raavi is the only one in this world who can give the same selfless love Shiva has given others, and Shiva is the only one in this world who can heal Raavi from the pain she endured. They are each other's yin and yang. I would much rather see Shiva and Raavi just sitting in a room and talking, gazing at the moon in wonder as they catch glimpses of each other with a smile, or even calling each other in the middle of the day just to hear each other's voices. I would much rather see Shiva and Raavi doing mundane things like Raavi folding Shiva's clothes and commenting how she needs to buy him a new shirt or Shiva walking back home and seeing jalebi and buying jalebi because he knows how much Raavi loves it. That's what many normal couples do. They have a silent form of respect and understanding for each other...
Gautam and Dhara, quite honestly, are not that sophisticated in terms of their characters. Because of the leap, I'm not quite sure exactly what sacrifices they made. Yes, they had the burden of raising three children; but, while raising those children, they were still able to live a life of their own. Gautam finished his education (unlike Shiva). Dhara had all of Gautam's love directed on her (unlike Raavi). Dhara had 3 understanding brothers-in-law who are willing to change themselves just so she wouldn't have to be hurt. Yes, they delayed a pregnancy... but Dhara is not old. She is just 29. Many women nowadays have children after Dhara (even I want to wait until my mid-thirties), so age cannot be a factor for her misery. And Gautam, other than being the nice, caring husband and older brother, who is he? His character is so vastly underdeveloped... which is why when I see Gautam and Dhara's romance (forget their PDA because I hate PDA), I don't feel anything. What barriers did they overcome? What struggles defined their relationship? Nothing...
So, if Shiny truly wants greater screen space, the first thing she should ask for is character development. Not romance. Have flashback scenes if you must, of the time Dhara missed out on a personal "dream" because she had to take care of 3 children. Have flashback scenes of how Dhara was "mocked" by society for being motherless, and how Gautam supported her afterwards to prevent the hatred. Romance is meaningless unless you know the emotions that led up to it. The most intoxicating of romance stories is when you personally root for a couple... where their happiness is your happiness... and that's because you feel as though you know them.