Episode 132 Discussion - 26th Nov 2012

Get Set Go for Madhu's "Main Karva Chouth Manaoongi"

Episode 132 Discussion - 26th Nov 2012

Events of the episode.

Nothing substantial except build-up towards Karva Chouth track, with Madhu wanting to keep her for first KC vrat for her hubby, her MIL (Rads) forbidding her to keep any fast, Dips taunting her, RK comforting her and explaining nothing to worry as in reality KC is a farce, nothing but a dishonest act. RK takes her to the studio along with him. There Madhu schemes with Bittuji on how to get set go for "Main KC Manaoongi"

My take over the episode

Rating-wise I don't want to give the episode an A, but then there was nothing, that was pulling down the grade. So I have to give my A. 

Soundarya, has done the scenic review. So I will not add my thoughts there.  Then I just saw that Priya has posted her episode take. So no need for me to do my scenic write-up. I have read only Athena's and Soundarya's posts so far. And towards Athena's review and discussions, I have analysed the KC track as the required sub-plot theme and also discussed Trishna as the character with some potential, if only writers paid attention to her. [See below]

I would like to add my analysis of growing Rishbala relationship.

"Uncomfortable" word is the current theme describing them.

Until Madhu got to know why RK left Shamsher, until RK told Madhu why he spared Shamsher, both had been quite comfortable with each other. Now there is a knowing growing discomfort between them. Doesn't this feeling always prevail between every couple in love. We try to manuver ourselves out of the sticky situation... 

However inspite of that knowing discomfort, I was greatly happy to see a RESTORED RK. The guy was comfortably able to tease his wife at her smile in the morning and in the same token, noticed her tears, and very comfortably chatted with her on what he thought of the KC FARCE. He caringly took her away from the home sensing all kinds of wrong vibes his wife is going to get from the Bhatias, if she stays behind. After all he has been enjoying a smiling wife who actually restored his harmonious state. Back in the studio, he comfortably works with her being around  and very naturally notices AMISS behavior from his aide Bittuji and his wife. That was such a cute scene between all the three of them. 

And I shall not miss this. And especially for SIRI.

Super liked RK in his shirt with that earthen hue. Can't decide if I liked the shirt more or VD with that shirt on. Let me applaud the costume wallah today.

Re KC track.

Initially, I had felt that it would be a tormenting week ahead with the karva chouth being the theme. Those were my thoughts as until last thursday. Then as I watched Friday episode with those two imaginations from Madhu around her new found love for RK, I understood why the karva chouth track is important for both of them.

In her first imagination, she was in the state of being in love, oblivious to RK reality.

In her second imagination, she was in the evolved and conscious state of being in love with RK. Here she knew, how RK would not reciprocate her feelings and hence she pleads him not to refuse her love. She is awakened.

At real, she is hiding her feelings from him, but he has been noticing the subtle changes in her. He feels it quite wierd of her with that perpetual smile and being lost in oblivion, but he actually likes that expression of her. It is pleasing to him.  

This is where I realized that Madhu the resilient will start doing something action-wise to get close to RK in gradual manner. Then it dawned on me, why they are having the Karva Chouth track. It will be Madhu's fight for her rights, the rights that RK denied to her. In his marriage to her, he had not given her the right to be a wife to him, though he can be the husband and call her Biwi all the time. Today's softer RK for his Biwi may have forgotten, how he denied his Biwi all the rights, but Biwi remembers it from her side all too well that she too had never cared to oblige the marriage. I was knowing that Madhu feels this changing shift of her stance on her marriage with RK. And what is better than to throw in a ritual to make her mind comfortable around her own acceptance ? 

I was saying all along that, Madhu ignored how RK gave her a societal wifey status on the day of Mata ki Chowki pooja...which she realized later in tubelight fashion when she heard her hubby telling Dipali that he considers her as his wife.  Hence, after that revelation, her new found zest for trying to be his wife in all customary sense. However, if Madhu was acting rational like RK, she would just have been a "Sherni" and challenged RK, that if he treats her as his wife, she was also follow the karva chouth fast.

BUT...Now this is a loving Madhu, a Madhu who is more emotional than being rational. She loves her husband and wants to do things from her heart. That's the reason, she is not yet in Sherni mode and asking upfront. She is hiding things from RK and then somehow believing that RK will come and break her fast. Isn't it like Christmas, waiting for Santa to come and bring us our gifts. Madhu is wanting to go for a KC to get the gift of love from her husband...though she does not know hows and wherefores.

And for this reason...of her tussle between the rational mode of asserting her rights of being the wife as the sherni and emotional mode of asserting her right to love the man who happens to be her husband...is what will make the KC track interesting. I am sure love will be felt on both sides. Risking her health, she is going to break her husband's rational mind and may make it emotional for him too..  That's why this track has NOW become interesting to me.

The Social Message behind Karva Chouth

• Trishna pointed out the hypocrisy, lie and sham of Padmini's marriage to Balraj.
• Likewise RK pointed out the hypocrisy, lie and sham of Dipali and Radha's marriage to Sikky and Kuku.

That's why in that META thread, I was saying that RK matches with Trishna too on some levels. I am so surprised that my thoughts over that thread have not changed a bit even now. Must say the show is actually being consistent to their objective of showing the growing love story between RK and MB since they decided to marry them off.

Against this backdrop of perceived hypocrisy and lie behind KC, it will be interesting to watch a KC track for two people who are in love, care for each other, do not impose themselves on the other for their rights and yet are married, bound in institutional sanction, and obliging the bond in a pure manner.

Others Take

By Soundarya

Rishbala - 

Too cute. they are in a comfortable status quo in their relationship, she is able to explain what she was doing on his couch, he accepts it without a fuss or rather conveniently accepts her explanation. Again he notices her smiling away. Little does he know how much has changed for his wife, this time she's all excited about her first KC.

I also liked the way RK explains to MB, the reason he does'nt believe in KC, very valid point, he sees no point in celebrating the festival with the double standards that both Dipali and Radhaji have, esp Dipali. He is used to seeing those double standards and therefore Kc has no meaning for him.

Despite all our reservations on RK's love for MB , one thing is very clear, he cares for her deeply, cannot bear to see her hurt, one look at the situation at home and he took her to the studio with him, he was not going to take any chance with her,, how sweet!! These choti choti baatein make me happy.  How can the girl not fall for him? I can still wait for those pillows to disappear.

So Madhu express chal padi. Am glad to see sherni is getting into form, this time with help from Bittuji. Getting ready to defy her MIL and hubby to do what she has to do. Did anyone notice she was 'nt worried about Sargi,she was more worried about the jewellery from her husband (not for the jewellery, but because she knows her husband is not the most enthu husband in town). But honestly, am completely on her side, he keeps saying BIWI, he's told Dipali he accepts her as his wife, so why not? If he can keep moving her fringe, she has every right to keep moving his hair off his face, right??

Madhu-Bittuji

Bittuji has changed sides. SO much so, that Madhu thought he would keep KC vrat?? (i did'nt get this part, someone pls explain). I like, in fact,  super like, both of  them against the Chief, the kadoos.

Trishna-paddy

Another dramebaaz KC, and am sooo glad Trishna gave it to padma. This is the only regressive bone I see in Paddy, why the sindoor for her husband and the KC!!! She has forgiven her husband, and RK, and is not willing to even consider talking to Malik.

Radhaji

Nothing to say except that Radha looks like she's had a lobotomy, accha, rishu ki picture ke liye??!!!

KC Track 

Am quite resigned to the fact that the family drama element is required, so now am going to root for Madhu enthusiastically to win this KC battle.  as long as we have our breather super episodes like the friday epi.

Another ...MB actually completed one day within  one episode. WOW, that's a first.

By Gurtiluv  - RK's views on Karva Chouth

Today's episode revealed that RK doesn't specifically disagree with Madhu keeping a vrath but he disagrees with it in general. It goes back to his past and is lost faith in relationships. Everyone who he has seen keep the vrath thus far has done it in a really fake way. He saw his mother keep it for his father but she didnt think twice before remarrying right after his death. He saw dipali keep it for Sikky but she doesnt think twice before hitting on other men. Radhaji also keeps it for Kukkuji who really doesnt deserve it. But Radhaji told Madhu that she shouldnt keep one because her relationship with RK isnt genuine there was some huge irony in it. But hopefully Madhu will be able to convince RK there some meaning to this ritual as some ppl do do it with honest intentions and from heart. I have always been against since I believe it is unfair to have only women fast. But I have heard of husbands who fast for their wives on Karva Chauth too.

By PreetD - KC track towards Rishbala story

 I've been waiting weeks for this KC storyline to begin and I thought today was a great start to this upcoming track.  

The Mittu stuff was simply amazing today!  For a while now I've been excited about these two teaming up and finally, they've offically done it!  Their expressions during the scene when RK caught them were hilarious.  It was one of my most favourite scenes of the episode, so cute and just simply fun.

I was wondering how they were going to rationalize RK not liking this particular festivity and they did it beautifully today.  All he's known has been deception and lies from the women around him and this particular day just brings out the best liars in them all in his eyes.  I completely get his reasoning, I know people that really don't care for Valentines Day, why should there be one day singled out in the year when you are told you should appreciate your significant other, buy them a gift, flowers, a card?  Isn't this something you should practice in your everyday life?  What's the point then of having a fast one day, to show the world that your significant other is important to you?  It's all for show isn't it when it's not done from the heart.  I absolutely loved how that scene played out.  

RK knows Madhu enough, I believe, to realize that she is doing this from the heart, what she does she wholeheartedly believes in, and I think it's going to scare him and that's why he's initially going to lash out in regards to her fasting for his long life.  The man has been incredibly obtuse in terms to reading his Biwi and her changing feelings for him lately and I think that part of it is on purpose.  He reads her care/love for him as pity, is he initially going to read her fasting as something she must do to get back into her mother in law's good graces (much like the tap points out in that one SBB/SBS segment) - I thought of his dream here, Madhu saying she was there to help him because of his mother.  This is partially because he himself doesn't want to admit that there is something much deeper than respect and a begrudging friendship and care developoing between the two.  Shri had pointed out a few threads back how during their wedding he had gone ahead and taken the 4 marriage vows because he knew he could keep them and denied Madhu her rights as a wife but refusing the last 3.  He is allowed to care for her but she can't for him, I think that even now, knowing Madhu, he's hesitant because he knows that once those floodgates of love have been opened that pain and betrayal aren't too far behind.  Things are good as they are now, unamed, less chances of pain (of course we know he's kidding himself here).  

By Zoya - towards when RK would feel comfortable to give Madhu all the rights.

Regarding RK not taking 7 pheras, we all know that for Madhu this marriage was a majboori and RK is a person of commitment and word... When he commits himself to sth he does it dil se... So when he knows that its a majboori for Madhu, he does not let her take her vows as he knows she will not be in a state to take the vows whole-heartedly(honoring the marriage is a diff issue)... But when he comes to know that she wants to become his wife poore dil-se and with pure intentions, i don't think he will ever deny her the right if she demands for a 7-phera remarriage( much later on in the show)... And it will not just be for her happiness but for his own as well..

By Hima - Madhu's dressing up exclusively for her husband

I am loving the way the story is moving forward...Madhu reveling in her new found feelings and RK playing ignorant of what causing it...I agree with Preet here.RK is very well aware of his feelings and also Madhu's but,just doesn't want to name it as 'Love' and so is desperately trying to reason it otherwise...makes me wonder how scarred he is to fear admitting and to give the Love that he so overwhelmingly feels in his heart despite craving so much for a honest,genuine relationship in his life...This KC track could push him to open his heart and let his feelings out freely...Agree with SD here on the importance of KC track...Also this would be the first time Madhu would be dressing up exclusively for her husband with all her heart...this would sure make his heart skip a beat and would be hard for him to ignore her genuine feelings and pretend otherwise...

I liked Leela's take on Padmini...until now I was clueless of her actions re leaving Mallik's house...but,now could see what's made her react the way she did...

By Leela - Radhaji and her hypocrisy behind Karva Chouth Nautanki

Alright, did anyone else feel the freeloaders convention giving out gifts seemed nauseating? And Radha is seriously deluded. I know I have a major problem with her as a mother, but this time, I'm just appalled at her idiocy. I knew she was wilfully self-deluding since she hasn't in over a decade realized that Kukku *isn't* a wonderful stepfather. But now... In earlier segments, she accused Madhu of doing karvachauth to impress her (Radha). The woman is foolish beyond words. At least she could have suspected Madhu of doing karvachauth to impress RK. Radha ko impress karne se faayda kya? 

She's a nobody in her son's house, and providing for herself and her Bhatia family with her own son's money.

And today, she was sitting so regally and buying stuff for Dipali, herself and her friends with *Madhu's* husband's money, besides herself keeping karvachauth vrat for a husband who lives in his stepson's house and at his expense, and she told Madhu that Madhu is not to keep the karvachauth vrat for her husband. And the reason is that Madhu once said that there was nothing between her and her husband? Irony much? I mean, if it's a matter of not acknowledging a relationship meaning it doesn't exist, then RK doesn't acknowledge the four Bhatias as his relatives. Even Radha is just "mujhey janam denewaali aurat" to him. So - by Radha's standards applied to Madhu - Radha and the other three Bhatias should promptly pack their bags and leave the house rather than stay as relatives in the house of someone who doesn't consider them such. It's not like her husband or her 'elder son Sikky' are either of them suffering from some ailment that prevents them from earning a living for themselves and the other three. So, hardly like they would be destitute.

But oh yeah, they wouldn't be able to prance around as millionaires off her 'bad' son's RK's charity. Sorry, not charity. It's responsibility. The sort of responsibility which involves not necessities or comforts but luxuries.

Madhu - as per segments - will face down Dipali and insist that she'll be keeping the vrat. But I wish to God she soon faces down Radha too, because otherwise Dipali is not going to stop using Radha as the ready shoulder off which to take potshots at Madhu.

Padmini - her inexplicable motive in keeping a KC Vrat for a man who tried to kill her and her daughters and not forgive Shamsher for trying to kill his daughter's supposed violater.

Originally posted by Athena90

One thing I'm very glad is to see some sense when Trishna is confronting Pads. She's absolutely right, there is no fairness and this its double standards. She can pray for the longlife and forgive a man who actively tried to ruin her kid's lives, but she can't forgive a man who was motivated to improve her kid's life? 

One incident should not cast a shadow over an entire relationship. Mallik has done so much for them, it is bizzarre to forget everything. 

Athena,

You bring up a good point. 

Agree with you. I have not forgiven Padmini for that . And I brought her character to the murky area...the grey character areas. We discussed Padmini at length intially in META discussion. I had said then that the woman has unresolved ideas about her marriage. She never knew what it means to be a wife married to that jaanwar Balraj, and she has all pent up desired to be the married woman.

Padmini still doing all those poojas for a husband from who she ran away and it is now 20 years since she abandoned him and Balraj thinks wife is dead to him, her marriage to Balraj is null and void now under legal view of the marriage. She needs to think now...considering her two daughters have already grown up and do not require her care. And she is not that old yet to stop thinking about herself.

Social Message

Regardless of it being a Soap Drama, and that we need to be the sleeping cat, I will continue to uphold Trishna's views on Padmini in this manner. Once at the beginning of the story, I heard that even Madhu protested against her mother's hypocritic traits.  

If the show producers promote Padmini's character in such a manner (I doubt them actually doing it...as so far they have managed all the characters to be a mix of positive and negatives traits, bringing in hypocrisy towards their stance when compared to their actions...I will go into pages if I start discussing this, so will stop here), Indian Television Academy (ITA) should start marking MEIEJ as   since the ITA also runs an NGO called Beti which is anti-female foeticide and is now foraying into woman all round support towards fight against atrocities.

Trishna, even on the case of Mukund Dikshit once asked Madhu to think objectively, how far it is justified of her to continue maintaining with Mukund when he did not even think twice in cutting himself off from Madhu when she hit bad days. Surprisingly the show writers are all voicing right opinions and view points from Trishna, who is supposed to be a selfish person. But whatever she speaks most of the time is right...except when she was misled by Roma to think herself as a Heroine and in the process becoming a tantrum queen at home.

Let me get you the link of the Meta thread...just in case any one is interested.

ETA:

Here is the Meta link.

META Pyromaniac Padmini v Roaring Radha!!

http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3196337

BY Leela  - Padmini

Guys, Padmini is finding it difficult to forgive even a repentant Mallick now for the same reason that she fled from her husband with her daughters. Both times, it's about being a protective mother. Balraj would have killed Madhu. Mallick would have made Madhu a widow in her first few months of marriage. Padmini has prayed for her evil husband's wellbeing. This is a woman to whom widowhood for her daughter is unthinkable. And Mallick - who she considered herself united with in their feelings for the daughters - proved that he didn't even consider how socially, ritually and emotionally devastating it would be for their sanskaari conservative daughter Madhu. 

Mallick only realized the facts after the third murder-attempt when RK pointed out to him how Madhu would react. His actions would have been wrong but nevertheless understandable - but not if the daughter is Madhu. He recognized that RK was right in what he said about Madhu's reactions.

Divorce or separation would - if Madhu had not started to develop tender feelings for RK - have saved Madhu's life from being ruined. But if her husband died so soon after marriage, then whether or not it was ever revealed that her father was the murderer, it would nevertheless have stigmatized Madhu for life. People want to believe the worst about anyone for a moment's scandal. The previous scandal would have been nothing compared to the nightmare Madhu would have to face this time if her husband died so soon after marriage.

Ironically, Shamsher's first priority being Madhu led to him trying to kill RK - and also later led to him accepting RK wholeheartedly as his daughter's husband. If he was terribly wrong in his lack of hesitation in the former instance, he was a devoted father in the second instance in choosing to let all bygones be for his daughter's happiness.

Padmini too is placing her enormous indebtedness to and concern for Mallick a distant second after what so nearly happened to Madhu not once but *twice* (that she knows of). RK is - to her - her daughter's husband. And as someone she has grown to trust with that position, he is the lynchpin she understands to be crucial to Madhu's happiness and indeed wellbeing.

It's absolutely wrong of her to discount what Mallick has done for her and her children for over two decades.

But - like Mallick - she's thinking with raw emotion and anguish. Give it time, and she'll come around, just as Mallick did. The circumstances are different, but Shamsher's and Padmini's reaction have both been rooted in their outraged anguish at hurt Madhu suffered. Only the cause of Madhu's hurt - and therefore the target of an anguished parent - has been different in each case.

By Zoya,

@Leela: ITA with your take re.Padmini...

Give the lady some time and she will come around...

 Padmini has always been rational and sensible when it comes to taking decisions...She was the one who called RK jaanwar and told Mads to leave him on the first day of her marriage but with time, when she started to see some goodness in RK,she actually advised her daughter to not prevent the feelings and emotions that she had started to harbor towards RK post his Ganpati Visarjan attack... She is a woman, whose dreams of having a happily(in love) married life was completely shattered and broken... She would not wish for such a thing to ever happen to any woman so how could she imagine it for her daughter, that too after knowing that  RK has mellowed down, is not as bad as he seems to be and most importantly he has started to show genuine care and concern for Madhu...

Malik's act:Though initially i thought she was hasty in leaving Malik's house but now i know where she is coming from... She was the same woman who ran away from Ballu when she realized her unborn daughter's life will be ruined and now after all these years, when her daughter's life was going to be almost ruined,it was expected of her to do it...She was in for a rude shock with the Malik act...She stays in the same house with him and she didn't even have an inkling that he was planning something as sinister as this ...