I am trying to figure out a gifset showing this but a thought that keeps circling in my head is that when Nani initially manipulates Anjali into bringing Khushi to Shantivan to train Lavanya, her hope was that Arnav will be impressed by Khushi’s sanskaars and choose her. This is a variation of the “gopi bahu” plot that is so common in Bollywood/dramas (in just about every arranged/unexpected marriage storyline) and in western media, it’s a variation of the Madonna/whore trope. And I really thought that’s where they were going when the training storyline stared. Except, that’s not what happens here.
Arnav isn’t impressed by Khushi’s habits of serving others at the dining table before sitting down or her religiosity or that she knows every ritual or that she wears traditional clothes (lbr he likes Khushi in any clothes) or that she’s a virgin waiting for marriage true love (although he learns to respect all these parts of her).
What impresses Arnav, in spite of himself, is when Khushi knows the right words to console Anjali during her wedding anniversary, when she covers for Lavanya during the missing Lakshmi fiasco and her explanation for why (which emphasizes both her work ethic and her genuine desire to help his family), her fixing Anjali’s brace without hesitation, her refusal to take money for training Lavanya after Diwali. Also just generally her antics and genuine happy go lucky exuberant nature.
It’s such a great subversion of this trope and so subtly done.
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interrupting the doomed-with-college-work broadcast with THIS PIECE OF INFORMATION
do yall see the LEVEL OF META this is??? like this is SO SYMBOLIC AT so many levels (i can't count). like obviously the "dori" doesnt need any introduction because it is the "butterfly wing flap" that started this entire butterfly effect.
now now we see Arnav again here with the iconic dori. i personally notice:
this time the "dori+arnav" scene is not hidden from the audience.
nowwww you may ask "moon wtf do you mean by this??". GLADLY!
so the first morally grey moment of arnav is the "dori" scene where Arnav breaks it, is primarily with Khushi facing Arnav and at the broad level, we can't see it happen, unless the camera focuses on it. unlike THIS SCENE, which is boldly put on camera, to show the viewers. ALMOST COMPELLING US to look at it.👁️👁️ which atleast for me, is in direct correlation to the way Arnav and Khushi express their love now. out there in the open with nothing hidden from each other🖤
SECOND OBSERVATION🔍 and i might be reading a BIT TOO much between the lines here, however,......this is for my sanity and will to live🙏🏽 BUT OKAY we know turmeric is a medical herb, it has healing properties with the ability to soothe wounds....WHAT IF ?!!! STAY WITH ME NOW!! HEAR ME OUT!!! this is Arnav's indirect, subconscious way, and even the writer's way of symbolically helping Arnav soothe Khushi's bad experience with the"dori"??? HUH HUH HUHHHH DO YOU GET WHAT I MEAN-💔💔
LAST but not the least, since "dori" and Khushi's back (oh i have so many things to say about this) in genral hold such deep meaning for Arnav, turmeric is a way of him marking Khushi (i know he was ithching to make some other marks *cough cough*) but this is the most he can do in a family friendly way..... 😉😉😉😉 THIS ALSO TBT to the time during the Theej puja where Khushi marks him with sindoor✨✨✨
and i think this scene for me specifically, solidifies the fact that NOTHING i mean, even if a climactic catastrophe takes place, can break the eternal bond that Arshi now possesses. Like this is the arc of Arnav becoming domestic, highly empathetic, and even gains the very needed reletavistic thinking which he so badly lacked🖤 (sorry Arnav but this is the reality check)
and that is it folks, the regular broadcast of my-college-is-sucking-out-my-soul continues 🖤🖤
-moon
Khushi Kumari Gupta is neurodivergent. Yep, I said it. Specifically undiagnosed ADHD. I’m no psychologist but there’s so much evidence in the show to imply her neurodivergence (ND).
(I also have adhd-nd and she’s very relatable).
I’ll attempt to skim the show and find specific instances in a later post if anyone is interested but from the top of my head, the one example that I can recall that showcases her ND, is when she accidentally slaps Arnav. This scene highlights her impulsivity and her being out of touch with social norms. Her general personality is much like this, she’s very offbeat, I think it goes deeper than general ‘quirkiness’ or ‘manic pixie dream girl’ syndrome. Just generally will go over some of her traits that indicate her ND/ADHD; excessive daydreaming, impulsivity, inclination for drama, poor understanding of social norms (not in the same way a person with autism struggles, people with ADHD can read the room but their reactions may be inappropriate at times - suicide track ), fixations, self soothing behaviours (fidgeting, making jalebi when upset), her childlike behaviour/immaturity for her age (expanding on this below).
(Pic from Pinterest)
People with ND take slightly longer to mature, it’s a bit of paradox as when they’re children they’re seen ‘mature’ for their age but that becomes the opposite at early adulthood (this is a generalisation and not every person with ND fits the same narrative, but myself and my friends experienced this dynamic and a lot of people with ND relate to this phenomenon). Khushi seemingly also fits into this narrative, when we first meet her, she first comes across as ‘mature’ (on surface level), she’s also heavily masking but we see her childlike nature as the show progresses, this also quickly becomes dark in hindsight, ( TW) Shyam essentially grooms Khushi, yes she’s an adult but she’s a young adult (be it 18 or 22), an on top of that a young adult woman with ND. I don’t mean to infantilise women with ND but there is a marked difference in development and understanding; young adult women with ND are also known to be more likely at risk of s***** abuse and grooming as predators are drawn to their lack of boundaries, experience and understanding.
But I digress, I know this is a controversial take and I hope I didn’t offend anyone making this post; especially women with ND who might read this, I honestly went of my own experience, my friends (I have many friends with diagnosed ND who had the same experience of feeling mentally younger and being infantilised) and basically what I did at uni, I worked with people learning disabilities - for the life of me, I wish I could reference the last claim, I vividly remember reading it somewhere (online article/book) but I couldn’t find it 😭💖 - but please remember that this was a generalisation and it doesn’t mean every individual with ND has the same experience xx
Hi JWB! I had a question about the track when Khushi leaves Shantivan at the end of the contract period. I understand that she leaves because she thinks her presence there is hurting more than helping and she is unsure about her place in Arnav's life and the status of their marriage. But, I don't understand the emphasis she keeps placing on "just XYZ number of days...and then everything will be fine". Why does Khushi keep saying to herself "I won't return TILL the contract is over" and he keeps saying "I'll get you back before the contract"....like why does it matter so much about these remaining 10 days? I mean, the issue is not about the 10 days but the fact that Khushi has left him (without so much as a hello hi bye bye) and Arnav wants her back. What does Khushi expect will happen at the end of those 10 days if she manages to stay at Buaji's house? And why is Arnav hell-bent on getting her back specifically before the contract expires? Related, like, what are the logistics of that 6 month contract? Once 6 months are done, the "contract" is done, but the legal marriage remains till they divorce? Or once 6 months are done, no marriage. They will essentially be in a live-in if they stay together? I mean the entire concept of contract marriages is nonsensical tv-land logic but I am just confused about the urgency that both Arnav and Khushi feel about the upcoming end of the contract especially because they never show us any resolution to that. They never explain what happened to that damn contract and the actual legal/official status of the marriage post that 6 month mark. Lol anyway sorry I know this ask is too convoluted and lengthy I just get so worked up every time i watch this track because I don't understand what is going on with their relationship and that stupid contract! Please shed some light if you can. Thank you :)
Hello lovely!
Time for all of us to be educated about marriages in India and just in case anyone who reads this knows the law - please feel free to make any corrections or give your own two cents.
THE '6 MONTHS MARRIAGE' MYTH
I am going with the fact that Arnav and Khushi are married under the Hindu Marriage Act. Thus Arnav and Khushi are legally married to each other until a dissolution of the marriage is filed by one or both of them.
Unfortunately I believe with the 'contract' Arnav (unintentionally) takes advantage of Khushi's lack of education - and the show (intentionally) takes advantage of the lack of legal knowledge the audience has.
There is no concept of contract marriage in India. You cannot legally draft a paper that goes "after six months this marriage will cease to exist". However, after six months you can file for annulment under certain circumstances because the law states that under one year a divorce cannot be filed in India.
Divorce and annulment are separate. Divorce can’t happen under a year, annulment can be filed after six months under certain circumstances in Indian law.
That night I believe Arnav and Khushi signed been two things:
(1) court papers to register their marriage under he Hindu Marriage Act (religiously the way Arnav married Khuhi is not recognized because he forced her - and even legally Arnav will fall in trouble if Khushi claimed she was blackmail but ofc she has no proof of such, she really believed his words) So yeah, smearing sindoor is literally to instill in Khushi - and the audience - that they're husband and wife because Khushi - and the audience - believe that those markings of a married woman makes a woman married where in reality (and for Arnav) it is the court papers that makes her his wife. In short the temple moment is neither religiously nor legally valid.
(2) Pre-Nuptial Agreement. Before signing their wedding papers I think Arnav and Khushi sign papers defining their assets. Assets mean properties, personal stocks, salaries, money, fixed deposits, jewellery , cars, anything of significant monetary value. During separation Khushi would be eligible for alimony based on annulment/divorce laws in India until a prenuptial agreement has been signed which enlists how much one person will financially get from the other in such a case. In this way Arnav protects all his assets and finance from Khushi because I believe in the prenup Arnav would’ve written that Khushi cannot claim a single cent from Arnav and that their finances are separate. FYI, it’s very normal and encouraged for couples to have separate finances in general. But in this case Arnav was making sure that apart from incidental cost of keeping her in his house (food, monthly essential expenses and clothes/jewelry that his family might spend on her) Khushi can’t gain a single rupee from him.
Side note: striping emotions aside, remember the way Arnav looked at the expensive clothes and jewelry Khushi received during Grah Pravesh and how he had noticed Khushi getting an expensive set from Nani post Heer Ranjha? (Post Heer Ranjha he accused Khushi of getting expensive jewelry from his family by manipulating them because she knows that she won’t be able to get anything expensive from him) Also Khushi doesn’t ever wear any jewelry apart from coloured bangles and earrings post marriage - a sharp contrast from Anjali and Payal who are ALWAYS wearing gold/diamond/gem sets. On a few occasions she’s also wearing her old clothes and it’s interesting to note that only her public outfits have changed - probably something Arnav spent for appearances or the Raizadas gifted her as such - otherwise her pajamas are the same as before, unlike Payal’s who wears silky gowns or Anjali who has sheer sarees designed.
So this was the plan, once the marriage hits six months Arnav and Khushi would file for annulment (you have to actually be married for a year to divorce a marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act but I think Arnav, with his influence, could push it to six months) and because they have a prenup signed they can quickly separate without the separation costing Arnav any of his assets.
But this is not what the show nor Arnav tells Khushi. He (unintentionally) takes advantage of her lack of education and tells her that they're contractually married for six months and once six months are over she'll not be his wife.
So poor Khushi, and the audience, literally think that the day six months are over - she'll cease to be his wife. So that's why Arnav is so chill when he's gone above his misunderstanding and isn't even keeping a six months check like Khushi - he loves her, he knows she feels for him, so he's not going to be filing for divorce! Thus there's really nothing invalidating their relationship.
Which is why he's like "oh Khushi I'll woo you before six months are done". It's not because in six months their marriage won't exist - it's so that she doesn't file for a divorce after six months! And at this point if Khushi doesn't believe in the marriage after six months - then it's literally the end of the marriage for them.
Because in a beautiful way marriage is important to Arnav because it is important for Khushi. And if it ceases from her end, it ceases for him as well. It's the one and only way he's bound to her.
And as I said above, one cannot file for a divorce under a year but considering Khushi was forced to marry and there has been no conjugal (sexual) relationship between Arnav and Khushi - Khushi can get an annulment at the end of six months and the court would likely rule in her favor.
But Khushi doesn't know that their marriage would've ended with them filing for annulment/divorce. She thinks that from 14th August (i.e, 6 months after 14th Feb) she won't be Mrs. Raizada. Hence she can't live in Arnav's house and he won't be her husband.
Which is why Khushi counts days and Arnav tries to get her within those days because it's important for him that Khushi is home within the timeframe she thinks the marriage ceases to exist. Her faith in this relationship needs to exist.
And because they patch up and there's no mention of a separation, Arnav doesn't understand that Khushi really believes that their marriage will end in about a week.
Arnav was actually an ass to tell her she’s contractually bound hence she cannot leave him when she tries to leave the house and the fact that Khushi’s retorts goes to that she doesn’t mind being sent to jail breaks my heart cause poor girl thinks marital contract is like an employment contract. She probably had no idea of what she was signing. Even now, she really believes Arnav’s words.
The simple fact that Khushi has NO idea that her marriage is neither ending, nor is she bound to stay at home nor the fact that filing an annulment will end the marriage - not six months time (that’s just the earliest an annulment can be filed) breaks my heart. And then Arnav is stuck in his own words - he put an expiry date of their marriage to her (also remember that he uses Akash and Payal’s marriage as opposed to any legalities to threaten her with the contract cause legally he cannot, he targets her sentiments because he knows he can bend her to his will with that).
Yeah I know it sounds very toxic. It was. I nearly stopped watching the show when he pulled the contract and then became her boss for 24 hours and took away her own place of refuge from him - and she doesn’t even know the property is in her name.
Then I take a deep breath and remember the fact that this is fiction! And there are fantastic actors to look on screen.
Also these things appear worse in analysis as opposed to watching on screen. We hear Arnav’s apology (a mental one that Khushi doesn’t hear when she needs to) and that kinda makes the audience root for him? I would’ve too - if they followed up with the track Arnav promises in his head.
Also, Arnav has truly apologized to Khushi for much less in the show so I don’t get the critique of “Arnav wouldn’t typically apologize” - honey he malfunctioned for 24 hours because he couldn’t say sorry to her for talking to her rudely on his parents death anniversary (even tho it’s wasn’t his fault that he didn’t know she was an orphan). Men who apologize are hot, they’re sexy.
But yes this whole context also shows Khushi’s urgency to remarry Arnav during the Dadi thing.
There's no mention of 'contract expiring' when six months have passed. Because there's no contract as such in the first place. So imagine her horror - Khushi doesn't raise the matter of the contract with Arnav once he apologizes to her and buys her gifts, probably she thinks it'll be a conversation for another time and there's time before 10 days are over and then there's the whole Dadi thing going on - but I think when Khushi learns religiously her marriage had no validity as well (which was the validity Khushi was leaning on) she rushes to Arnav and asks him to remarry her.
In her eyes the six months HAVE passed and she's living with him because she's wearing his sindoor and now she learns that just smearing sindoor isn't marriage so basically she's living with him outside marriage, outside legal marriage too. So you can see the confusion in her eyes when the next day Arnav yells at Dadi and tells everyone that Khushi is his LEGALLY wedded wife. Khushi cannot understand that. Her only smile comes when he says he'll remarry her. Thus giving validity to her relationship.
Side note: see how the show sidesteps the fact that forced marriages aren’t legally or religiously recognized. No, they use another religious figure - RadhaKrishna - and state their lack of pheres as them being unmarried. Which is not the case of Arnav and Khushi because they have completed other things - sindoor, varmala, mangalsutra. If their marriage had been of love and consent then their marriage would’ve been religiously valid considering it parallels Shiv-Sati’s gandharva wedding which doesn’t include strict rituals or even presence of mantras and elders - it’s literally the wish of the two people in love. So the issue in ArShi’s marriage isn’t the lack of pheras, it’s the lack of consent, and I find it VERY fascinating that what actually invalidates the whole relationship isn’t ever discussed. It’s sidestepped to some weird rituals obsessed Khushi and Arnav now violating another consent of hers to have “suhaagraat”/sex with her 🤷♀️
(Ok it's important to remember at this point Khushi also makes multiple mistakes and Arnav isn't a complete villain here. Just to let you know. But the unarguable fact is that Arnav is and will always be more on the wrong here. Which is why I'll always be upset over how they dealt with the marriage in the first place - also I have the highest expectations of this show because they delivered such heights! I have no expectations from other shows)
I hope this made sense! I tried to consider this as much as legally and reality wise plausible but after all this is a fictional show so liberties were taken and reality wasn't being considered so we must not judge the story based on how real it was in the first place.
The only thing that ever disappointed me was that the six month contract was suddenly not relevant nor discussed in the storyline considering it was a climatic point in the show. There was a gap in writing, plot and everything when they rushed between Arnav buying Khushi's house (which we later learn was in her name) to Dadi entering the house. So I have no idea - it always felt they scrapped a week's worth of content to bring a new track.
Khushi says everything will be fine because she thinks she's the problem at the house and since after 13 days she won't be his wife, hence Arnav would not have be in the struggle to manage his family and above all the 'problem' of the family won't be there. Thus the Raizadas will be happy. Arnav will be happy.
Hiiii! i am back, the same anon who asked about Arnav's thoughts towards Khushi in initial episodes and then your non-Arshi fav scenes - thank you for your answer!!! You reminded me of so many of my favorite scenes too and I agree, Payash and Shyam's villain origins had SO MUCH WASTED POTENTIAL! I have decided to dub myself Arnavs-Thoughts-Anon :D LOL because thats what my next question too is about. This time I wanted to ask about that particular scene towards the end of the Farq Padta Hai episodes, where Arnav apologizes to Lavanya (because of Khushi) and then they are hugging/kissing and Khushi looks on all sad and hurt and Arnav's expression is one of confusion like he doesn't comprehend her reaction - its very similar to when he saw Khushi cry after he got back together with Lavanya after the 1st break up. At that time his confusion made sense, as he had no idea of Khushi's feelings and she was acting all contradictory, but now, after the almost kiss, seeing her heartbreak on Diwali and seeing how effective his recent deliberate cruelty has been, he KNOWS she has feelings for him that she refuses to voice so why should it surprise or confuse him if she is uncomfortable to see him physically close to Lavanya? I mean, I would have understood if he was angry because she refuses to admit she cares when she obviously does, or sad because of the mutual angst of the situation they find themselves trapped in. What do you think he's thinking here? And thanks again for answering asks so patiently and so much in-depth. I always always love reading your takes on this show! - Arnavs-Thoughts-Anon
(check this out for an important announcement on asks)
Hello Arnavs-Thoughts-Anon!!!
Thank you so much for liking the response to your previous ask! There's literally a meme post where I wrote 'THE POTENTIAL' to so many things they left unsaid in the story! I am so glad you chose that name :)
Post Diwali both Arnav and Khushi knew they had something for the other but rejection, denial, circumstances and their own commitments dissuaded them from ever reading anything more than into things
He knows she's in an unhappy engagement, he also knows he has given his word to Lavanya for a proper engagement. However, Arnav has only read staunch refusal, denial and hurt in Khushi's eyes.
What shocks him is the naked discomfort and pain of seeing him in Lavanya's arms. For all of Khushi's farak nahi padta and his manipulative ways of getting a farak from her - he gets her farak when he least expects it.
Arnav also never realises that Khushi helps out Lavanya in his and La's relationship because she truly wants Lavanya to be happy. A part of him assumed she's being like him - using Lavanya as a shield to deflect her emotions.
But that day rubbed him raw for multiple reasons. Khushi truly defends Lavanya and wants her to be happy because of her. He heard her cry of her broken dreams - the woman who believed in fairytale romances now lies in a heartless engagement with her heart in someone who won't ever return her affections. At home Khushi argues with him to not unleash his anger on Lavanya - something Arnav never suspected Khushi to say.
So when he apologizes to Lavanya for his behavior on her dress, he apologizes to Khushi as well who's stunned and doesn't know what to do with Arnav blurring lines between his words for Lavanya and feelings for Khushi.
He senses her discomfort as well as the unethical nature of him, Lavanya and Khushi.
Which is why when Lavanya hugs and kisses his cheek, he looks at Khushi - not to get a farak out of her, but that any intimacy with Lavanya feels not right. Especially in her presence.
He is (emotionally) cheating Lavanya right now.
So when Khushi's face scrunches in discomfort and pain, of her being affected so greatly that no denial, no unsung love in her eyes - he's left confused. There's just pain. A pain that speaks of a love greater than what he estimated.
It's one of those scene where no verbal justification fits well. It's poignant, angsty and many things left unsaid.
It's the one time he gets her farak, and the one time he didn't need it. Also I think this scene also shows that what truly affects Khushi isn't Arnav's confusion - it's that Lavanya loves him. And Khushi cannot allow herself to love Arnav when Lavanya does. That's where the struggle and pain comes from.
Also this is the only time when Khushi's emotions are muted. She's drained and exhausted. There's not a single tear or frown. Just empty eyes. It's one of the few times when Arnav sees her face devoid of the expressiveness she usually has.
I don't think I can explain this scene any further - but it plays a key role in Arnav stopping his mind games and choosing to distance himself from Khushi as well. By the time Arnav got his farak out of Khushi - even if it's a silent one - he did not know what to do with it.
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Hi JWB! First of all, I just want to say I love your blog, I spent hours going through all your posts and gifsets!!! Thanks for keeping IPKKND fandom alive and helping us all to continue rabba ve-ing all these years later lol. I had a question, that occured to me during my recent rewatch of the show, I'd love to hear your answer to it! My question is about what, exactly, Arnav thinks about Khushi in their initial interactions and office track, because I find his behavior a bit contradictory. He keeps insinuating she could do anything for money, is character less (giri hui), likes attention (likes to come on tv), and says all that stuff about tum jaisi ladki (girls like you) and all that. Basically he seems to think she's some corporate spy, honey trap, trying to seduce him etc (unconsciously betraying where HIS thoughts are - like when he accuses her of trapping other men, like which men has she already trapped then ASR? lmao). But at the same time, he also understands that because of her background she is actually very modest and in fact tries to exploit that as a weakness by setting her tasks like taking male models' measurements, asking her to wear that short blue dress in the photoshoot, betting on the fact that she won't be comfortable doing those things. But how does he reconcile these two contradictory opinions? Either she's an attention-seeking honey trap/gold digger or she's a conservative small town girl with (in his opinion) outdated morals, but he seems to go back and forth between these two versions as he pleases and it doesn't make sense. Sorry if my question is confusing, to put it briefly, I was just wondering if you could shed light on Arnav's practical evaluation of Khushi in those early days (keeping aside all his inner surprise Rabba Ve-ing which he's trying and failing to suppress lol). Thanks in advance if you choose to answer and have a good day :)
Hello Anon!
Thank you so much for you love <3
Wow that's quite an ask!
I hope I can answer this adequately! The following is a LONG answer and may I add, my interpretation of Arnav as of now.
Analyzing Arnav in his Early Days
- He comes across as a man who has recently tasted success. His decisions are brash, his behavior is aggressive and I think he has proved a lot of people wrong by often being right.
- For example we see people think that Mool Rajani might actually hurt AR by refusing to do shoot and raising a case of harassment for being slapped, but Arnav throws money in his face to accurately bring out Rajani's colors/true intentions. For all his big talk, Rajani greedily lapped up the money.
- So this is precisely what Arnav thought Khushi is. She yells, makes drama of being pious, nice and innocent to draw attention and paint him in a bad light. Thus he challenges her in his domain - his office. She can yell here of being all virtuous and him evil but no she has absolutely no power.
- Like literally in the Dargah she stops him in the middle of public and starts arguing with him. She crashed his car in Delhi - which by the way he was driving in the right road and she was in the wrong lane - and complained how he gave her a loss when she was in the wrong! Then she traced him to his office and was in the parking lot right in front of his car! And ofc then she's in his office for a job he would've never known if she hadn't been accidentally hired as Lavanya's assistant! She would've been working under his nose and he wouldn't have known at all - that's dangerous.
- The fact Khushi created a scene when he was with his international clients made him sure that she's like those people who put their kids in front of a car and yell about rich people running over poor kids until they're paid to shut up. They extort money through drama.
- So he challenges her by making her do things a middle classed traditional girl will be scandalized by. Measuring male models and so on.
- At this point though Arnav isn't too convinced on his theory of her being a corporate spy, rather he puts her in the category of perhaps a stalker who's aware of who she crossed paths with and will utilize that access to create drama and extort money from him.
- So what surprises Arnav is when she doesn't do drama and actually completes the tasks. Lavanya overwhelms Khushi with menial jobs that two different junior assistants can complete - to aid ASR in kicking Khushi out - but both are surprised at her efficiency and her dedication in actually completing the jobs instead of yelling and crying at how they're making her overwork and demand attention.
- Arnav realises that she's very intelligent and decides to use that against her. He's trying to push her buttons for her 'revelation' moment. He'll be truly satisfied when he sees greed on her face and her admission of her lowliness because it's that assessment that he's right. You know that moment when Mool Rajani's anger quickly morphs into a malicious smile when he hears he's getting crores.
- So he overwhelms Khushi with tasks where she doesn't need to use her brains - pushing her to edge of her frustration. He assumes she is going to drop her good girl act at one point and be forthcoming with her intentions.
- But it doesn't happen. Instead Khushi genuinely gets frustrated and in turn starts to be more dedicated at work.
- The short dress was really in a fit of anger. He probably thought she was back ruining important things for her so ordered her to be in front of camera and have the attention once and for all. I do believe he wouldn't have gone ahead with the photoshoot - the red saree just left him speechless. Otherwise his point was to humiliate her the way he was humiliated by having his top model walk out mid shoot (also I bet Liza was fined because she literally broke an agency contract!).
- Arnav is in a fix when he sees her in the rain because when she comes across an important client in the parking lot he absolutely has his money on her making a scene - but a mixture of the fact that he realises he's sexually very attracted to her, she was genuinely taken aback at being in front of the camera, and is being a dedicated parking assistant and is not creating a drama in a situation that would benefit her and put him in a loss confuses him greatly.
- It's the first time he attempts softness with her - for a second, under the influence of Rabba Ve's, he gives her his jacket in the rain. And it's the only time he's not happy assigning a task - he's troubled.
- And just as he's about to change his opinion of her she comes in his home and is apparently already acquainted with his family and blurts things to his family - a very damaging secret of him and Lavanya to Nani - reaffirms all his negative opinions of her.
- In his eyes she played dirty.
- However, when Khushi gets stuck in the guesthouse then Arnav's rooted in guilt because he did not listen to her and his manager who kept on trying to get in touch. Arnav, perhaps for the first time, was inefficient in his work and allowed his biases to overlook his work.
- So of course he rushes to Khushi to save her regardless of what he thought because one thing in Khushi's soft defense had a point - there was no way she could know Nani didn't know about Lavanya. Nobody in office treats Arnav-La as a secret and if it's open in public, it must be open in private. And also Arnav was slowly coming to terms what he was doing with Khushi and the fact that she might not be who he thought she was slowly coming true - which was intimidating for Arnav.
- Not only would he be wrong, he'd be grossly wrong and be at a point of no return considering his actions.
- And when Khushi bursts in rage at the guesthouse - Arnav's face is worth watching. He already knows everything Khushi is going to yell at him for. He's trying to put up his defense before she can accuse him of anything but he remains mum at her thousand questions.
- And which is why he's mum when she yells at him and throws her resignation because he knows he's been absolutely wrong in judging her.
Note the fact Arnav doesn't refer to her status or dubious intentions until she appears at his home to cater for Anjali's anniversary. I believe he believes what Khushi told about herself. That it was coincidence.
So he's in guilt, in lust, in attraction and just a whole lot confused regarding her. He's also very soft. For a few days he hesitates but wants to have a conversation with her - Teej, his office - he wants to talk for once and for all. Maybe clear up the air? Who knows? But Khushi obviously does not want to talk to him.
However, Arnav goes back a hundred steps in what he thinks of her when she miraculously appears to cater for Anjali's anniversary after her grand declaration of leaving for Lucknow. Yet, even then, when he's about to insinuate that she found a way to be paid by him - a single glare of hers shuts him up instantly. And again, he wants to talk.
And unfortunately any good opinion he formed of her absolutely goes down the drain when she's at his home to 'train' Lavanya. The fact Anjali does not tell Arnav she arm twisted Khushi into this job unfairly puts Khushi in a really bad light. Was she playing mind games? What was she doing? How did she end up in his house, in a very intimate part of his life? And now for months!
He ended up hating Khushi again because she was now interfering in his opinions about marriage, his romantic life, and an added pressure from the family to enter into a commitment he doesn't want to in the first place.
And then Arnav finds himself in this loop of witnessing something that paints her as a manipulative/greedy woman right when he's always about to think the best of her :(
I think a lot of us find dissonance because the first few episodes - although written from both perspective - strongly favors Khushi's narrative, we're quickly drawn into Arnav's narrative, his love story and his viewpoint. In the initial episodes when Arnav yells at Khushi - we're seeing what TV favors, an innocent woman being tortured by a grumpy man who thinks the worst of her. We are not seeing Arnav's side of things at all. And because Arnav rarely monologues, we never know what's running through his mind. I would say we start seeing this story from his eyes from the red saree Rabba Ve.
And slowly and gradually the story progresses to Arnav's thoughts. He ruminates over not being able to hug Khushi. He stares at the fairy lights she got entangled with. He regrets having attempted to kiss her. He's torn when she's engaged. He's jealous when she meets NK. He's in love when they dance. And he wants to confess his love when she comes the next day having chosen the saree he recommended, her hair open the way he once flirted, and with the bangles he once gifted and ofc with Anjali's blessings and indication to not delay a confession!
After that the whole story strictly becomes Arnav. We absolutely stop seeing Khuhsi's point of view OUTSIDE affecting.
Which is why description of Arnav in the earlier episodes feels like my imagination and describing Khushi in the later episodes feels like my thoughts and a lengthy rant of bad writing!
Now coming to your next question
[...] trying to seduce him etc (unconsciously betraying where HIS thoughts are - like when he accuses her of trapping other men, like which men has she already trapped then ASR? lmao).
Lol, as you already know - she has trapped him! He is aware of the fact that he's sexually attracted to her way early into the show. Hence why he's convinced she traps men. Her innocence, wide eyed curiosity, beauty - caught his attention hook, line and sinker. Lol.
Phew, this was along answer! Hope you enjoyed it Anon :)
Dear JWB, analysis anon here❤️❤️❤️ I am so glad more and more people are asking you analysis asks and I get to enjoy your posts❤️ Keep them coming. So here’s my ask for today— how do you think the families reconciled with the sudden shock of Arnav marrying Khushi (elopement) ? While Nani and Anjali did have an idea about their attraction, the Gupta family was literally in dark—how come they were more angry than shocked? Do you think the serial showed misplaced reactions from the Guptas? TIA
Dearest Analysis Anon,
Thank you SO much for your love and attention! It's always a pleasure to see you here on the blog.
how do you think the families reconciled with the sudden shock of Arnav marrying Khushi (elopement) ?
Everyone was aware Arnav and Khushi had some sort of connection. To the Guptas it felt like every road always led to the Raizadas, to the Raizadas Khushi-Chotte as a ship was becoming obvious.
After a point, and with Khushi's continuous efforts, both the families understood that their anger is pointless. Either way, both the families wanted their children to get settled happily and both the families start melting when they see Arnav and Khushi caring for each other.
Arnav fiercely defending Khushi during the Muh Dikhai, lovingly feeding her kheer, going down on his knees to make her wear his mother's bangles, they enter their house hand in hand, etc.
Also I think one of the ways the families got over the shock is - taking the shock factor out - Arnav and Khushi getting married isn't a bad idea. Khushi is in the same house with Payal. The Guptas are aware of how much the Raizadas love Khushi. Arnav's generosity and kindness despite his rougher personality makes him likable - especially the way he's respectful and always defends the Guptas/Payal in front of Manorama paints a good image of him to the Guptas.
Ideally, in terms of family and personalities, having Khushi and Arnav as a pair isn't one too difficult to digest. In fact it's a charming pair. The Holi episode and moment not only helps the Raizadas and Guptas to get over the shock, in fact they're besotted with this new pair and actively ship it! They see love!
While Nani and Anjali did have an idea about their attraction, the Gupta family was literally in dark—how come they were more angry than shocked? Do you think the serial showed misplaced reactions from the Guptas?
Yes and no. Khushi, despite being loved, has a very transactional relationship with her adoptive family and she needs to constantly prove her worth to be loved by her adoptive family.
Sacrifices the truth for Payal? Loved. Is becoming the breadwinner for the family? Loved. Does everything possible to float finances? Loved.
And the beauty is in the fact that this isn't made intentional. It's there in the nuances. Any love the Guptas shows to Khushi - barring Shashi - is with the hint of expected gratitude and obedience because they've allowed her to become a part of the family.
Mind you Shashi is the only one who's not upset. He's worried and confused. He's constantly asking her why she eloped but isn't judging her for it. He's the only one acting really like a family member.
They're not only upset because Khushi eloped - she eloped on the day of Payal's wedding, into Payal's family, with the most powerful person in Payal's sasuraal. Khushi's actions could jeopardize Payal's marriage given Manorama was truly finding an excuse to taunt Payal and break the wedding.
They were angry because Khushi demeaned Payal's family in front of Payal's sasuraal. They feared Payal would be judged harshly for this and Khushi had defiled their respect - given conservative standards.
Also Arnav and Khushi were very quiet and miserable about why they got married. So sudden elopement that's accompanied by silence and tears brings forth several questions. Have they been engaging in premarital sex? Is Khushi pregnant? And that is the insinuation - everyone thinks boundaries have been breached.
Which reflects poorly on the Guptas and their upbringing.
So of course they are angry on Khushi for that. And thus disowning her is their way of detaching themselves from the shame Khushi brought upon them. After a few days, when its evident Khushi isn't pregnant and everything is fine in Payal's home - the Guptas calm down.
So while their reactions are right considering their conservative standards and how they push Khushi against her will on occasion... I did find it weird that Shashi/Payal weren't given wider spaces to argue on behalf of Khushi.
I felt very robbed as a viewer that at one point Payal didn't go "You really can't be angry on her for marrying a man of her choice considering you forced her to be with a married man,"
One dialogue like that, alone, would've made things so much more acceptable. The simple fact that they don't acknowledge how they had nearly ruined Khushi's life and brought her shame hurts me.
It's a little loophole in that story - I can never find myself truly forgiving Guptas for that alone. Although it is very much like Indian elders to not hold themselves responsible for their mistakes and disown their kids at the very first mistake.
Hi, how are you? Commenting on your blog for the first time 😇. Appreciate your efforts. 👏. Wanted to know your take on Khushi’s decision to leave RM after the kidnap track. Do you think she left Arnav forever or wanted him to remarry her? Thanks for your time.
Thank you so much for your sweet words! I am doing well - thanks for asking!
Why did Khushi decide to leave RM after the kidnapping track:
Because of what she said in the show, she believed her presence was hurting all the people she and Arnav loved and she believed her going away from the Raizada Mansion would be better for Arnav, Anjali and Raizadas.
Khushi never thinks about her and Arnav's marriage. Her decision to leave RM has nothing to do with her. It's for Arnav.
She's not leaving Arnav, she isn't even upset on him. She loves him so she's trying to undo the biggest mistake of his life. She believes what Arnav says in midst of anger.
Even though the words were cruel, Khushi does believe that Anjali's life was doomed because of her. That Arnav lost his happy family because of her. She believes she's unlucky for him. Hence she decides to leave - hoping his life will get better.
She is not thinking about herself, her love, her emotions at all.
Also, Khushi would've never left him - regardless of six months contract and all - if Arnav hadn't yelled at her that she broke Anjali's happy life and he regrets the fact that he met Khushi.
So even if he was in anger, even if it's not true, for Khushi none of that matters. She belatedly realizes her meeting Anjali was a disaster move and she was afraid of how easily Arnav accepted and assured her despite the revelation in front of the family. He stood with her - something Khushi never expected.
And her fears came true - he held her responsible for everything. So she was removing herself from his life.
At this point she isn't thinking of Arnav's love - mind you she never believed his confession, she always thought it was something he blurted because he was in danger - and she is aware his love for his family, especially his sister, triumphs over everything he and Khushi ever shared.
Any fragile hope Khushi had about them and their life was shattered the minute Arnav yelled "why did you walk into my life."
It was the worst heartbreak Khushi faced.
Hence, she genuinely wanted to be away from Arnav if that gave him his family back.
