Hi Jalebi,
It was me who asked the question, on what exact point Arnav realised Khushi is innocent and trusted her.
I’m so elated that you liked my question. Very eagerly waiting for your answer. And one more thing to add, (regardless of what your answer is) would Arnav sought out Khushi after the kidnap scenario even if he hadn’t trusted her?
Hope you have a good day!
I hope that softens the fact that I have not answered your question in... ages.
The reason why I truly loved your question was because it is something that's never really stated in the show, so it's very very open to interpretation.
For everyone else, the question was
[But at what exact point, do you think Arnav completely nullifies or forgets or accepts or maybe comes around the fact that indeed khushi is innocent, because he was very much believing in the concept of hers and Shyam’s affair]
There are two things here.
When did Arnav believe Khushi & when did Arnav realize the whole truth because I think the show frames it as two different points.
When Did Arnav Believe Khushi
This phase, I believe, happens over the course of a few months. In general I like to think that Arnav was irked and disturbed by Khushi's contradictory behavior. Cause the way she was, at times, genuinely did not fit the kind of woman Arnav believes her to be. Also, at some points I do think Arnav knows that he's meting out unfair punishment.
At one point he isn't even punishing Khushi for hurting his sister. He's punishing Khushi for hurting him. (A part he doesn't quite easily accept cause that means he loved her and he'd rather accept anything except the fact that he was vulnerable, in love, and in love with the wrong person).
And then when he unleashes his rage and hears her story and refuses to believe it, a part of him has registered her story. At least there's a different point of view to everything - which is why he also waited for a proof.
The fact that she wants him to believe her, soothes and hurts him at the same time. Maybe it's an extension of her act, maybe somewhere there's the woman he loved.
It's too optimistic to hope that what she's saying is the truth.
And then when he's kidnapped, isolated, and almost forced to a brink of impending death - then other things and matter disappear. To hear that somehow, miraculously, Khushi was worried, crying for him - undoes him in many many ways.
He believes Khushi's innocence. Her love. Their love. Or whatever it is.
The likelihood of Khushi's innocence is far greater, and when she comes across all odds to just save him and not have a word about anything else - he believes her.
When did Arnav realize the whole truth
This, interestingly, happens during Shyam's whole panicked yet intelligent speech at Shantivan.
Shyam knows Arnav loves Khushi - assumes Khushi must have told Arnav everything at this point and he would believe the woman he loves - so Shyam no longer cares about what story he spun to Arnav.
What was important was to discredit Khushi and anyone who believes/supports Khushi.
But with Shyam's set of lies and Payal standing up to Khushi's defense - Arnav sees 2 things very clearly.
That Khushi was right, and how easily Shyam could spin a story into another.
I truly think that's when he got the grasp of what went between Shyam and the Guptas.
Hope this answers your question!
Lots of love,
Jalebi
P.S: Really wished though this was a full track.