Niranjan Agnihotri and the Gang
Shlok's flashback and Angali's expressions yesterday were quite baffling. Since when has Anjali done what she pleases? Has she ever done her man maani? If that ever were the case then the Agnihotri Household would surely witness an outbreak from "Sahib". Anjali always consults her pati dev before taking any sort of action. It's very convenient that when Shlok overheard his parents discussing Swati it was only Anjali discussing the reputation of the house. That Niranjan was thinking about "feelings" about "emotions" and "love". Funny how it is this very same Niranjan who gave Anjali the look when Aastha asked if they could take the dying Swati to their home for recovery. Anjali on the other hand has to act like the devil that her husband is and give her heartless lectures. The look in her eyes when Swati was in that bed, the look in her eyes when Swati died, and the look when Shlok questioned her was heartbreaking. It resembled the expression she wore after telling Swati that Shlok doesn't love her. It is the same look she tries to hide when Jyoti begs to come home. This is a woman who is forced to alienate her own children; to alienate one of the happiest and blissful aspects of a woman's life, motherhood. Meanwhile Niranjan sahib dawns a veil of love and empathy. In Shlok's eyes he exemplifies fatherhood. Shlok is a man who used to despise woman. He misunderstood Swati, misunderstood Aastha, and has misunderstood his mother. In fact if you look at the characters it is mostly the men who have been manipulating the situations or taking advantage of others. Niranjan has made Anjali's life colourless. Varud doesn't give the time of day to Sohjal. Abbay mistreats and takes advantage of Jyoti. Does this make the men evil? Does this mean that the underlying themes are patriarchy and feminism vs. inflated male egos? I don't' think so. Look at Shlok right now, have a look at Kakha, think about Aastha's dad, and lastly think about the loveable Sid. This show is about pyaar (love). It's not about males vs. females. It's about getting over yourself and thinking about your loved ones. Remember in one of the earlier episodes Shlok gifted Aastha a miniature house? Just as it was about to fall, Astha caught it and put it back in its place. We have been experiencing that free-fall for the last few weeks. Aastha's dubatta is what made the house fall, and it was Aastha who put it back in its spot. Similarly it is Aastha who nearly left Shlok causing the family to fall apart. She came back. It was Aastha's love that made Aditi enter the Agnihotri house and Aastha's love that brought Shlok out of darkness. It is Aastha's love that will make Shlok fall for her even further. Just watch, it will be Aastha and Shlok's love for each other that will bring happiness into their home. Slowly but surely we will witness Niranjan's downfall. We have been seeing Aastha's love for Shlok taking over her mind, body, and soul. I'm excited to see the same happen to Shlok! For that we might need to experience that free-fall for a little bit longer.