FLUKES GALORE

If it's a coincidence, it must be Astitva-Ek Prem Kahani (Zee). The way Dr. Simran's (Niki Aneja Walia) biological daughter Sia suddenly spots someone on the street carrying her dead friend's handbag or the way she meets her 'foster' mother's ex husband are twists of fate ...

that look pretty contrived. She also meets her biological parents (mum Simran in Mumbai and papa Abhi-Anand in Goa) without too much trouble. But the latest fluke is stretching things a bit. Aastha (Yuvika Chaudhari whose overcute antics are now getting unbearable) goes on a picnic and the car breaks down on the way. She walks over to the nearest house for help and behold, who does it turn out to belong to but her trouble-making grandmother (Himani Shivpuri). How convenient, not to mention far-fetched. And what's with the funny wigs and hairdos? First it was Simran who used to sport a weird short hairstyle, and now we see Sia and her London 'nani' (Seema Bhargava) doing the same.

Still, it must be said that director Ajai Sinha has managed to keep Astitva viewer-friendly even after the 18 year leap. He is, however, stepping into treacherous waters with the Sia-Abhi relationship and shrugging off Astitva as a mature serial with adult issues is not justification enough. The point is that there are still some relationships left that are sacrosanct, and tainting them any which way leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Sia might not know about her real relationship with Abhi but Ajai Sinha certainly does.