True that everyone is missing Fayaan/Aakarika as much as the loyal audience. From my interactions with the inner circle, I understood that there was no plan to have another partner for either of them. It was Fayaan. The triangle, as usual, will be broken by either of the leads. They had plans for an elaborate cricket track, paternity track etc. A solid story for 3 years was already drafted. The makers lost the plot after the ashram track when the channel forced them to go off-air. So, the decision was taken during the ashram track. They tried their best to negotiate and was given an inferior slot. The shock hit them so hard as they had to rework all of what they had written and planned. It is so sad... But as the audience, we just wanted Fayaan... We could have been happy just seeing them and not some Neel or someone.... Instead of trying to stick to what they had, the makers could have considered the audience and shown us more of Fayaan...
Kanika would have had a proper realization of her mistakes.
Sid would have had a plumper role; there would not have been a stretched triangle. It could have been the paternity track with all the twists and turns. That was one area which was unexplored by the makers. They could have even shown a flashback with different actors. So much could have been done.
Just imagine.. If all this had been shown, we would have been at number 2... a trp of 2.4 was easily achievable.. But again, POWER RULES...
I don't wish the new show bad luck, but will never watch that or any of Sahi's work (movies , shows or anything remotely related to him)..