We have always known that the only way Arnav Singh Raizada will ever say 'I Love You' would be at gun point or if his hands were tied. And Lo and behold, he was literally at gunpoint with his hands tied when he did say the words to Khushi. Have I mentioned how much I love this PH's sense of humor??? 😆
Let's face it. This was not the true confession. Of course not!! Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost. There will be a true blue no-holds-barred confession from both sides with saansein, dhadkan, farq, cupping of face, holding of hands, head on shoulders and sighs galore. More likely than not, it will start with a 'I love you/farq padta hai, dammit!!' from Arnie. Of course, there will be. Or should I say, there had better be.
Having said that, let's not take away from the sheer beauty of the moment today. This is why we need Barun to keep on chugging the ASR train however many movies he signs. The gulp when he realizes it is Khushi on the other side, the swallowing motion of the throat, the husky 'Khushi', the pleading and then ordering her to stop crying, the two false starts before he finally manages to say it out loud - the 'I love You, Khushi'. The emotion, the love, the pain, the almost haunted feeling that he inserts in just uttering, "Khushi" , Can anyone else give us all that? Nah'
The absolutely most beautiful thing about the whole scene was the fact that Khushi was absolutely silent. Not a word. And he knew every single thing she felt.
Every single RM member wanted something from him. They were all worried about him, each one of them made sure their worry was conveyed and their expectations from him were demanded.
Anjali: How dare you worry me? Expectation: Sorry and I'm fine, Di. She got it as expected. She was OK.
Nani: I forgive you your negligence. Make sure it doesn't happen again. Expectation: Okay. She got it too and she was Ok.Mami: You are fine and in Scotland. Get me something and get MM a kilt. A slight smile from Arnie.
Akash: What contract?? Why Scotland? Why no Aman?? Akash bitwa knew something was amiss and Arnie did slip in a hint. Di aur'. Khushi ka khayal rakhna... He is handing over the protection of his most coveted people to Akash.
And no one picked up on the fact that he patiently heard them all. When was the last time he did that?? Shouldn't that have been the biggest tip off for the family, Chotte showing so much patience with their worry when he usually just brusquely brushes it off??
This does not mean there isn't love for him, of course. It is just their kind of love. There is love but no understanding of the man. And then there is the Khushi kind of love.
Khushi is the only one with no expectations, she wanted nothing else but to hear his voice and know he was OK. Her clutching the phone with both hands, sheer inability to say a word, and the tears just overflowing on hearing him say her name. Aww'..
The gust of wind blows again and his knowing she is crying, inspite of her not saying a word, and he knows they are for him. Every single tear is for him and he can't take it that she is crying. For him and because of him. He tries to convince her he is OK. He pleads with her to stop and then demands she stop, and then finally, just says the three words. It was heartfelt and yet there was sadness because it was not said selflessly, it was not said without expectation. It was not no holds barred, it was under extenuating circumstances. And yet, in it is the truth which he had acknowledged at the airport, that had had him turning back to go to her before he was stopped by the unseen person. The truth that none of what had happened between them mattered to him, jo bura kiya, jo bura kaha, iska koi matlab nahi. The only thing that matters is that he loves her, ki mein hamesha hamesha'.. He loves her inspite of everything.
Khushi's reaction to that, she had not expected that at all. And Arnie's expression, an expectant pause as if he wanted to hear something back from her. What a way to end the episode. 👏
Their conversation is not over yet, of course. Will he give her a clue to figure out where he is?? He just asked her for a lifeline. She will throw him the one that is obvious for her, that he is in trouble; will she read the need for the underlying one, the one he is really asking for? Not yet. She doesn't believe the need exists.
And for a guy who is being held down by two guys with guns, tied to a chair, and even worse, no supply of gel, or his ever present coat and vest, he didn't look like a guy who had no control of the situation, did he?? Arnie boy's attitude still comes through.
Now Aman!! So it was Aman who called Khushi when she was on her way to the airport?? And did not call Akash?? Et tu, Aman???
Notes:
1) Symbolisms/metaphors galore: 4 dewaarien aur ek chhat. 4 taango waala jaanvar aur senior citizen. Have at it.
2) HP ki shaadi. "Hum bhi naahi gaye saadi maa" 😆
3) Anjali, the cry baby is back full force. Sigh' Khushi was the stongest one there. She was left consoling Anji and even Nani initially. Essentially, she has slipped seamlessly into Arnie's role in the family whereas Akash has slipped into Bhai's role at work.
4) Akash was efficient in managing the aftermath. Payal, meh'.
5) Barun peeked out a little in the final scene today. 'faltu', anyone?? Even the tone of the dialogue delivery was off with Anji. Needs to be managed while he is sailing in two ships.
But at the end of the day, Arnie without Barun is just not going to work. Nah-ah. CVs, you absolutely need him around.
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