Week 33 - And the heat continues

Dev is a businessman by profession. A very passionate lover of Sonakshi. He understands her more than he understands himself..just as he wanted it to be. He worships his mother and is emotionally bound by her love. He let her control him for the last 28 years. And he still continues to, for most part. Probably because of his childhood, he was living a very mechanical life for all these years and he never experienced the many emotions that men of his age would have experienced. So every phase of his life is a discovery for himself - especially his love for Sonakshi. Whether it was expressing it or breaking it or later mending it, he always lived in that moment and reacted for that moment.  This phase of being a husband is also a discovery.. Even though the role of son is a very well known role to him, he is having a tough time in keeping up his new role as a husband while still maintaining his old balance as a son.

Sonakshi is a Nutritionist by profession. A strong, independent woman, by nature. A caring loving wife who loves her husband Dev and looks out for his every need and mood. A good person by heart who thinks logically and puts forth her opinions assertively.  She has a lot of respect for Ishwari as a woman and a lot of regard for her as her mother in law. She was never attracted to Dev because of his wealth and is not such a person who will ever fall prey to material temptations. Sonakshi's weakness, if we must find one, is her assertiveness, which can be very easily misinterpreted for ego and arrogance. She married Dev with many dreams, just like any woman. But she is facing lot of problems in living her dreams in the Dixit home.

Ishwari is a very strong woman by nature. She independently brought up her 4 kids after the demise of her husband. She smartly invested all her energy on her first son Dev with a hope that when he grows up, he will make their life better. Dev did not disappoint her at all and grew up the way she wanted him to be. Dev's new found love, Sonakshi has been disturbing her peace ever since she knew about it. She was temporarily able to get Sona away from her son, but had to give in, as his son's happiness depended on Sonakshi. She has given Sonakshi, a place in her house, not in her heart and is still trying to keep her away from Dev and all the family matters.

I am revisiting these characters, because this week was all about these colors of the three central characters. And we reached the pivotal point of the plot, which was Dev being stuck between the love for his mother and the love for his wife.

When Dev knew about the Navarathri vrth, he was so agitated that he did not wait to even hear what Sonakshi had to say. He assumed that his mother would have forced it on Sona. Although, I still feel Ishwari did have role in it, I don't mind giving the benefit of doubt to her this time. Yes, she did not deliberately force Sonakshi. And therefore, she was offended by Dev's enquiry. Her tone was so weird that Dev was taken aback. I loved his clueless face! Well played as usual Shah! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Sonakshi is pretty much walking on a tight rope. And the sudden storm shook her a bit..Whatever little goodwill she earned in the last 3 days with Ishwari seemed to have suddenly been destroyed.

I really liked how Dev clarified that he was not upset that they have to stay away for 9 more days..but rather he was upset that Sonakshi took the decision all by herself without involving him. But see.. Sonakshi really did not expect this herself until Ishwari mentioned it at the end. It would be a little embarrassing for her to take back her word, just because Ishwari asked the couple to stay away..It was probably a lesson for Sonakshi to not let herself get carried away by the pooja, vrth, etc.

I have started analyzing every move of Ishwari that I thought probably she sending Sona to her mom's house had some motive... but it didnt seem so...probably a genuine gesture..

And I don't want to talk about the harshness that the Bose house Ishwari shows towards Dev. Come on, Bijoy. You must have known him the day he defended Sona in the matter about prenup. Why do you still have that long face! Well.. time has to show you, I guess.

In my home, when we have a misunderstanding, and its my husband's fault (as it ALWAYS is!!), he just comes around doing unusually sweet things until I give in and smile. When Dev said "what do I do.. to make you accept my sorry", I could see me and my husband right there! This show is realistic and there is absolutely no 2 opinions about that 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Who is Neha?  Neha is a girl who had lost her childhood, just like Dev. But because of the opportunities that Dev got, he became a successful businessman. Because of the opportunities she lost, Neha grew up to be that woman who lacked self confidence and who was completely dependent on her brother for everything. Dev made Neha's life beautiful by giving her all the comforts of life.. the comforts that she lost as a child. Ranveer, with his love, brought that confidence back in Neha and made her a happier person. Although Neha agreed to marry him, she did not accept him with all her heart and made a big deal in her mind, of the compromises she was making. Although she said that she was trying hard to accept him the way he was, in reality she always looked at his lack of motivation to become rich as his weakness. Ranveer on the other hand, even though he knew that Neha came from a rich background, failed to understand that her weakness was her need for material comforts and compelled her to be a wife that she can never be. Because their marriage was based on expectations, we all knew their marriage was going to be over sooner or later. And there it was - this week Neha came back to her brother's nest in her pursuit of comfortable living.

When Neha came home, Dev was furious and Ishwari was devastated. Sonakshi, being the person that is not a blood relation, was able to think with a cool head. It doesn't mean she didnt care for Neha.. I did not find anything wrong in her request to let the matter cool down a bit.. Ishwari said only "our own" people can feel the pain of Neha. But thats the beauty of a woman when she becomes someone's wife, right? Even though she doesn't have any blood relation, she still cares for the family members as if they are her own...Ishwari is a woman and a wife as well.. I really wonder why she is unable to see the woman inside Sonakshi who is just like her? Well, time will have to tell us. But until then, we have no other choice but to go through Saas Bahu drama.😉😉

Who is Vicky? Vicky is a rowdy. He is a thief. He disrespects women, especially Dev's wife Mrs.Sonakshi Dixit. He has not studied anything worth while. He spends or rather wastes his day by stalking girls on social media, hiding his identity and following them. He drinks and parties with wrong company. He is someone, who is incorrectly led by a money-minded and selfish mother. And he is also Dev's mama's son. He is Ishwari's dear and respected brother's son. And none of this is hidden from anybody. Dev knows about it. As well as Ishwari, well..atleast that he is a rowdy..

When the discussion about Vicky's job in "Ishwari communications" came up, Dev had to agree, because he knew that he was indebted to his mama.

Sonakshi, the person with "non-manipulative" brain, gave a right suggestion that Vicky should join as a trainee, just like Ria and grow from there. And Dev who rightly respects his good wife, agrees to that suggestion to start him off as a trainee.

Inspite of knowing Vicky's shortcomings, I fail to understand why Ishwari compelled Dev to give a management role to him. I fail even more, to understand why Dev has to give in for that. If payback for the good hearted mama is the intention, Dev should really payback by building a nice comfortable luxury villas for maama and family and send them there..and even make arrangements for a monthly income..Dont you agree? 😉😉😁

But on a serious note, payback for maama will really happen when Vicky is reformed into a good human being. I really hope that Dev (with the help of Sona) one day achieves that. But right now, it seems as if Dev put a chameleon going on the side walk in his own pocket on purpose! 😲 😡

Once upon a time, when Dr.Bose was Ishwari's good nutritionist, Maami used to daunt her by saying she is an outsider and should not do this and do that. But every time, Ishwari used to tell maami that she is not an outsider and that she is a part of the Dixit family. Ishwari even was willing to take Sona's opinion on Dev-Natasha marriage! Now Sonakshi is really a part of the family..yet Ishwari considers her an outsider? And does not want to discuss Neha's issue with her? Why? What kind of love for her son made Sonakshi an outsider for her?

Once upon a time, when Sonakshi was Dev's good friend, she had asked him to stay away from sleeping pills. And he promptly listened to her. However, at one point of time, he felt very stressed and couldn't sleep. He called Dr.Bose to ask whether it was ok to have it just for that night. He called her to ask her opinion about such a trivial thing.. He has taken Sona's advice on very many situations..even Neha's wedding with Ranveer, And now, he doesn't feel he might get help from Sonakshi? He feels Sonakshi's silence is a better help? But why? What kind of love for his mother or for his mama has made him feel that Sona's help is not needed at all?

The Friday's episode was very disheartening and I felt numb for a long time after the show was over. It was as if I had a terrible fight with my husband. It was very realistic and that day, I read a lot of fans on social media saying the same thing! So this is for the whole team 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

One of the main goals this week for Ishwari was to regain her title - that she thought she lost?? Who will tell her that she never lost anything and she is not competing with Sonakshi! Somehow, when Dev agreed to give a managerial role to Vicky, Ishwari seemed happy to have regained what she lost??

Week 32 - Its all a mess!

Imagine you were playing a nice board game and your team was right there..winning.. and just suddenly someone came and messed the game up and you were so clueless as to what just happened! It was almost like that for Dev and Sona that wedding night. So much discomfort over fish, veg/non-veg, saree, lehenga, mehendi and what not! Inspite of such a big event that just happened in their life, such an event for which they were longing for..such an event for which they had to die and be reborn..it seemed so....unfulfilling.

Amidst the storm, fresh air came in the form of a caring Dev. I had been admiring Dev's temperament since last week and it was heartwarming to see him chill and get Sonakshi back in mood. Ms.Bose is now Mrs.Dixit - Mrs.Sonakshi Dixit! And what can be more fulfilling than this. In a moment, Dev was able to get Sonakshi and us forget all the discomfort we had been experiencing over the last week :)

If only that was the end of confusions, it would have been nice... The confusions continued in the form of Dadi bhua's uncompromising need for home food & Ishwari's resolve to cook in addition to the hunger strike that the Dixit elders had been doing the whole time during the wedding. Although it sounds ridiculous that the newly weds will actually spend arguing about these things.. its only reality!  I felt sad for them, especially Dev who was genuinely only trying to make Sona and her family feel good about everything..

Thus ended the most awaited Day 1 - together yet apart!

Day 2 started off with one of the cutest notes ever! Remember the time when Sona was all over Dev and Dev hardly had any idea about it? And one morning, Sona dreamt of Dev next to her.. It was exactly that dream come true on Day 2. However angry a wife is, she is sure to melt and forgive, when a husband so sweetly wakes her up..I am sure, all married women across the world will agree with me :)

As they both got lost in their world, this time, Ria had to knock the door.

All members of the Dixit house have a very bad habit of disturbing the couple when they are busy doing something important! Anyway.. the moment was gone :( Sona had to get ready to go down to "show her face" (LITERALLY!) to everyone in the family. Thats the ritual. Dadi and Maami sharpened their tongue enough to bring those tears from Sona's eyes! But, Sona is now Mrs.Dev Dixit. The proud husband promptly protected his dear wife. Actually, I must say both Sona and Dev were on a mission that day to keep their chin up and stay happy! Gareeb ki beti got nicely from Mrs.Sonakshi Dixit. I felt great about it..How about you all?

However, the return of the car by Saurabh Bose messed it up for the couple. Well, Saurabh was right, Sonakshi was right, and Dev was also not wrong. But the situation became stressful.. Sometimes, when there is a misunderstanding walking away for a while is better than arguing.. sometimes, arguing is much better.. Either ways, these misunderstandings are not that bad, because after a while, we get to see the cute make ups.. The make up was so very real.. I am absolutely sure that all married people, would have sometime or the other made those day time and night time make-up rules :)

But as Dev and Sona were making these rules for themselves, I think Ishwari's brain was working day and night in moving her coins forward... Ufff... What can I say, its even easier to manage a mother-in-law who fights it on your face.. Its so hard to predict Ishwari! But the fact is, such Ishwaris do exist.  After watching all the episodes for the week, I have started to believe that she has been really manipulating every single move of hers as she quietly retires to her room to her bed. I have started to see her as a witch now :( Sorry, Dev - I know you love your mom, but she can be better than this.

The Tulsi pooja and her asking Sonakshi to sleep in Nikki's room, was, I must say, very very creepy.

I really miss Kichu bhaiya.. If he was there, he would have definitely protected Sona and stopped her from wearing that chappal near Tulsi plant...This Bhola bhaiya doesn't know anything..:(

Thus ended Day 2 alone...

Day 3 again started off on a romantic note of "How you doing, baby girl!" and a passionate and romantic breakfast together! I cant understand why a mother in law should be upset over a son who wants to be romantic to his wife. Why does she feel insecure about it? Why does she have to feel possessive about it? I am not in Ishwari's generation and luckily did not have to go through any of this in my life, so I  fail to understand. But I have friends who have told me stories about their possessive mother in laws, so I know they exist. It was extremely frustrating to see her behave like that with Sonakshi...

Yes, Sonakshi is also now called "Mrs.Dixit"..but that doesn't mean that Ishwari is not "Mrs.Dixit" anymore. Ishwari must be tired to have taken care of her family all these years..Why is she not happy to have someone come and support her with the title Mrs.Dixit?

But all this headache is only for us now. Dev is in his dream world of his special night with Sonakshi. Sona was in her peak of happiness as she was enjoying the love she got to experience from Dev. And, we got to see some nice phone conversation and dreamy sequences..

Dev and Sona's special night dream was short lived, because Ishwari's master plan was in place and Dadi Bhua was on her way to Rishikesh with Dev that night.  We were all waiting for dadi bhua to leave and I am happy she left.. but I thought she will take a train... Why car??!!  Why Dev?

Thus Day 3 ended with Dev and Sona spending their night talking on a phone (and promoting the new Sony show!).

I think Ishwari was quite tired of making plans for every single night... that she made a bulk plan to keep Sonakshi away from her son for 9 straight nights in the name of Navarathri.

Ishwari has gauged Sonakshi really well. I think the first kitchen, tulsi pooja were all tests for her to see how far was Sona willing to go, to adapt herself to the Dixit home. She knew that as soon as she gives her the idea of Navarathri fasting, Sona was going to take up the challenge!

Even though Sonakshi knew that its going to be hard to face Dev with this decision of hers, she believed that she will be able to convince him..For her, it was very important to become the 'perfect bahu". One was her need to impress and get into the good books of Ishwari - because Ishwari was very important for Dev. The second reason, which is pretty much a trait with Indian women (and men also) is that whatever we do, we strive to be the best..probably because of our upbringing.. It didnt surprise me that Sona took up that challenge.

This week, was all about subtleness. I haven't spoken yet about the actors' performance.. The longing that Dev showed time and again every single night was bang on. We could feel it, as he said "Miss me.." before he left that night to drop dadi. We have seen many romantic sequences between Dev and Sona and by now, their chemistry is well known. But the way they both showed their togetherness amidst all the misunderstandings and issues was quite appealing to me - The characterization as well as the acting was very real. The realistic zone in which the show is kept is quite impressive. Although Ishwari gets on my nerves, Supriya, the actor behind Ishwari, has portrayed her part really well and has managed to get everyone's hatred (I mean it in a good way, the more hatred means she is doing very well!)

And the members of the Bose family weren't any less..They portrayed the emptyness of Sona's absense perfectly! Bijoy is the Ishwari of the Bose family..but atleast he talks openly. Sona was the strength of the Bose family..especially dada. Iam worried about him.

Although, it seems like a Saas bahu show for now, I am sure that the uniqueness of this show is its realistic portrayal of characters and the makers will definitely keep up that promise.

I get very sad seeing Dev and Sona struggling to have a normal life.. and to cheer myself up, I started watching the old episodes.. The ones in which Dev was already in Sona's heart.. During those days, Ishwari was so loving towards Sona. She herself praised Sona generously and always protected her from mami's ill words. Sona is the same girl.. why has Ishwari changed from the moment she knew that she has to share her son's love with Sona?

During this Durgashtami and Dushera, I just want to pause and talk about how every woman is a form of Durga. We are all individually strong and are capable of taking charge of literally anything in life. Our strengths are beyond words can describe and beyond human brains can even comprehend. Why does a woman become another woman's enemy? Shouldn't we support each other and protect the men, the family, that is so much dependent on us? I hope Ishwari will realize this soon..I hope Sonakshi remains the neutral person that she is and help Ishwari as well as maami understand that they are all part of the same team..the same family.

Happy Dushera everyone :)

Week 31: The Wedding

The week was full of Festivity 🌟💐🎈🎉 So much that even though we saw it through a small television screen, it was as though happening in our homes.. And rightly so, because Dev and Sonakshi have become a very important part of our everyday life over the last 150+ days! I personally had to reschedule a few appointments on friday, so that I don't miss the wedding 😁😄

The zone of reality that the makers are trying to set their story in, has once again proved very successful this week 👍🏻👍🏻

Before we go on to the Festive mode... there is one last thing to talk about. one last emotional battle that they have to fight..well, this time, its just Dev - alone without Sona's support.

I always wonder - if there is nothing that can be done about it, why do the doctors even tell us about it...😏😏 Ignorance is bliss, don't you agree? But then it is the duty of the doctors to tell what they found. For us, when we hear a medical diagnosis for the first time, its very tough - we never thought we will ever have it! And the difficulty doubles, if its actually a diagnosis for our loved one - reason, we cant even do anything about it!

For Dev, the difficulty is many folds. Sonakshi's "in-hospitable uterus" is not just a diagnosis, its a shattered dream about their tiny Sonakshi and tiny Abhodro. And its even more than that. Its a fear of losing Sonakshi once again.. Its such a touchy subject that its hard to predict how each of them will react if they come to know. I empathize with him.

I am really in awe of the sudden temperament change in Dev 😊 Whether its his interaction with Sona's parents or his interaction with even Sona..there is an honest calmness and a sincere tolerance of all thats new to him. In spite of all the storm in his head, he managed a very sweet conversation over phone with Sona, when he promised her for many beautiful memories in their life together.

With the confusion about the diagnosis in mind, Dev and us got ready for the Sangeet!

But Sonakshi is unaware of any of these. So, sky is the limit for her happiness..She was just unable to stop her smile and Dev was just having a hard time keeping his mind stress free and happy.. He cannot hide the language his eyes speak to Sona, can he?! He was not saying any lies when he told her that it was the fear of losing her...Well acted, Dev 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Eyes are your asset, Shaheer! Always protect those expressive eyes 😍😍 One more well executed scene by the team, especially Shaheer 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 At the end of the song, I really liked our show's version of the song, so much more than the actual movie version ❤️ The meaning of the song, suited so well for our Dev and his expressions were fantastic! The song that played during the night of DevkiDeewangi as well as this one suits our show perfectly!

I think Sonakshi described the event very aptly..as if they are in a border fighting with their troops! When two families from different cultures get into a relationship, its not easy at all! Especially in the matters pertaining to customs.. But what makes Dev and Sona one unique couple, is the way they understand each other.  Sona's strength is her mind that is able to understand and adapt to the different situations and Dev's strength is his heart which has the immense power of Love that can conquer everything ❤️

I was particularly reminded of the time during Neha's wedding, when Neha's wedding scarf was put on Sona's head by Nikki and how maami and Ishwari got wild. Acknowledging the fact that she was hurt and it wasn't even her mistake, Dev immediately went behind to pacify her..and spoke to her with so much of respect and love.. and similarly Sonakshi had always been very matured in handling these things. In any other TV show, one maami character will create so much of drama over every opportunity..and the heroine and hero will probably go through a turmoil of emotions every single time! Every house, sure has a power packed maami character, but she is powerless, if love is the language we speak! This show is all about love and thats what makes it special :)

Whatever happens around us, lets divert all our focus on Dev and Sonakshi and the love that got them this far!

What a beautiful road side romantic dance! They truly complete each other. It was a dance celebrating an important milestone....it was the last night in which they are just a boyfriend, girlfriend... Soon they are going to be husband and wife. Soon they will have to accept the love and craziness of both their families equally. When I look back and see the path they took to come here at this night..the one thing that stands out for me is the respect they have for each other without any ego. Although they both are individually quite strong headed, they have surely put all their ego aside and made Love as their language. And I sincerely hope that this be the case throughout their life.

In India, every state has unique customs and every caste has its own beliefs and inspite of so many differences, we are one and that makes our country unique! No other country in this world can have so much of unity inspite of the diversity we have. We can be proud of that. This is the larger picture.

However, zooming in to the families that have to embrace the differences - its not easy. A custom that is considered auspicious in a community may be considered inauspicious in another! For example, the "ulu-dhwani" sound that bengalis make, is an auspicious sound for them. However, in some parts of India, its a sound made in funerals! The fish is a very auspicious part of Bengali culture. However, for brahmins, fish or egg or for that matter even onion and garlic are considered non-sathwik food and is completely prohibited, and is even considered a sin to have such a food nearby the holy fire.

When a man and a woman from different communities fall in love and expect their parents to accept them and the partner they have chosen, they must also be prepared to go through these hardships. The worst thing is, when in Love, everything else dims out and therefore we may not even have analysed all these things.. Dev and Sona, am sure love each other to moon and back. Its important to keep that love in tact forever, because thats what is going to bind them together even when everything else goes against them.

It was DevAkshikiShaadi finally! And the social media was full of laughter, beautiful photo edits, videos, poems and what not. It almost felt like a wedding in our own homes. The makers made it such a grand affair! The set was huge, the actors were looking beautiful. It was truly awesome. I really loved the way the bride looked at the groom for the first time! It was such a sweet entry 😄❤️😍 And the garland exchange was very sweet and cute.. Just like the couple 😊 Other than that and a couple of other scenes, Dev and Sona were not even shown as much and I was extremely impressed with the makers for showing the reality.

In marriages like this or in any proper traditional marriage, its always the customs and rituals of the 2 families that are more important than even the bride and the groom. The focus was rightly kept on the specific Bengali traditions that differed from the traditions of the Dixit family...

Like the bride not wearing the Lehenga that the mother-in-law got for her. Asha's careful and honest reply to that was heartwarming. Truly, every community is different and beautiful :) 

Mehendi made from a plant is considered auspicious for a woman, especially during marriage in the Dixit family who follow the brahmin customs. That is replaced by Alta. I know that Mehendi is natural and I believe Alta is somewhat man made and considered artificial because although its made from an insect its later refined by adding some chemicals. Bengalis use Alta because its more bright red in color than Mehendi and resembles blood which is a symbol of fertility and prosperity. I don't mean to say that one is better than the other - I am just pointing out the difference so that we can respect both traditions.

Well..from the groom's side.. the disappointment is that this is the marriage of their only son and they are just an audience, unable to have any say on the rituals. From the bride's side, its a disappointment that even though they got to do things as per their own traditions, the family where their daughter is going to live forever is not happy and content and the environment seems so dull and unfulfilling.

But I must say, it was good to breeze through all these in just 1 day..Any other show would have dwelled on the Lehenga issue for 2 or 3 days and the Mehendi issue for 4 or 5 days.

For that matter, I would also like to give credits to the makers for keeping Neha's issues aside. Whenever I see Neha with that long sad face, I am very worried for her. Who doesn't need money in this world! Even a Tata and an Ambani need it to increase the number of cars they own from 500 to 501! And Neha is only asking for an air conditioner in her home or a refrigerator and whats wrong in that:( However, a contented heart perceives every little blessing as a mighty treasure - isn't it?  Well.. lets keep that part aside. From this wedding angle, Neha has a big role in her brother's wedding as per the brahmin tradition. She is the one that has to drape the bride's saree and she is the one that has to even tie the knot of the holy union of her brother and his wife. Its the "right" of the groom's sister. By missing this in her brother's wedding, she and Ishwari know fully well that she will never get an opportunity in her life to do this. But, I was very glad that they let it go with a smiling face :) Thats how it should be, when Love is more important than anything else.

I have already spoken a lot about Non vegetarian/Vegetarian food last week and I am not going to bore you all again with that! Its a big deal for the older generation, especially, to have the non vegetarian food around. When my parents come to visit me in this foreign land, I am staying in, I know how hard it is for me to search for a pure vegetarian restaurant!

Thank God for maama and Asha. Even though Mami and Dadi bhua sprinkled their color of grey...the color that popped out in the end was the color of love, red ❤️❤️❤️ The wedding was over without any big issue. The Goodbye was short and extremely emotional and did not fail to bring those tears from our eyes. When a daughter is wedded and given away, there surely is an emptiness in her family.. an emptiness that may never ever be filled and who knows this better than our own Dev! A warm caring touch is all she really needed and Dev was right there for her ❤️😊

Even though a big happy DevAkshi union happened this week, somehow there is an unexplainable sadness inspite of the swelling happiness... isn't it? And its not really because of maami or dadi or Bejoy..And its not really because of any intentionally planned/schemed drama... The last scene of the week, with the fish and the heartfelt apologies depicted exactly this emotion.. Nothing was intentional..Please let any of this not affect the love between our dear Dev and Sona.. In reality thats how it will be, especially when 2 completely different communities come together. Life is not a bollywood movie that shows what we want to see. 

Whatever happened, let it be. We wish the young couple a happy married life. Now, go make lots of good memories for you and us to cherish for years to come.

ps. The doctors have given 7% chance for Sonakshi to become a mother. 7% is PLENTY for a miracle to happen. When its time for God's precious child to come to earth, no-one can stop that from happening! So enjoy life, be happy and thankful for today 😄❤️😍

Week 30 - Love will find a way :)

They say an apology is really a changed behavior.  The week started off with a completely changed Ishwari. The change was so profound that the insecure Ishwari completely went out of our minds! Her apology had a sincere "sorry", a heartfelt ownership of the mistake she did and a desperate desire to find a solution for the mistake that happened...She literally "begged" Sonakshi to come back in Dev's life.

Sonakshi is not a person who needed that apology from Ishwari.. She had accepted Ishwari long ago as her own mother..but the Bose family needed to see this, in order to heal the wound caused by the Dixit family. It was a very important move by Ishwari in Dev-Sonakshi's life. 

I especially liked how Ishwari spoke about having the right companion for the long and tiring trip of Life. She was absolutely right..Its very crucial to have that right companion if we seek happiness.

Asha was admirable this week, as she very carefully convinced Bijoy and Sonakshi.  When we analyze things based on "why it happened"... its important to consider "what if it hadn't happened". Thats exactly how she convinced Sona.. She very carefully explained to her about Dev's situation at the time of breakup.. "What if Dev didn't breakup with you..Would you have preferred to elope with Dev knowing Ishwari did not agree? Ofcourse not, because both of you respect your families.". 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 "Don't you want to go back to your Dev?" How many mothers have a heart like Asha's? I just loved her 😄❤️

A mother can fix anything! Not all super heroes necessarily wear a cape :) Ishwari ma and Asha ma (UP ma and Bengali ma 😂) thus took the driver seat of their families at this point and drove them in the path of "Love". 

I am sure, we all remember - "when Mr.Dev Dixit proposes, it'll be the world's best proposal!" No doubt. In a very emotional patch up, with very few words and eyes full of tears and emotions, Dev and Sonakshi became one, that night. They say, if someone is meant to be yours, eventually, they will be! What do I say about the proposal? Was it the simplicity in it that stood out? or the profoundness? Was it the tear filled eyes of the actors that showed it all? or was it their child like smile on their lips? Was it the little kids that added beauty to the scene? was it the music? I am unable to point at just one single thing that stood out that night,  it was the wholistic experience which made it magical 💕💞💖❤️ 
And now, we can let go off that breath we have been holding for the last few weeks... Its DevAkshi again 😄❤️😍 I hope there will be no more Ms.Bose and Mr.Dixit. Its going to be Mr. and Mrs. Abhodro 😄

However, its not yet "they lived happily ever after".. picture abhi baakhi hain...

When 2 different communities get into the bond of marriage, its never easy. In our case, its a different language, different culture, different food, in addition to the already created uneasiness...Dev was trying his best to get that uneasiness out of the equation. But as much as Bijoy wishes his daughter's happiness, he is also as much angry with the man who once took that smile away from his daughter.. As Dev rightly said, whatever Bijoy says or does against Dev, is definitely less. Everything needs time to ripe... and this coldness between son-in-law and father-in-law will soon vanish, am sure. After all, who else but Dev knows the value of a "father"..

It was a treat for all the fans this week with extra Dev-Sona moments. I personally had a rough week and every night was a big relaxation for me to see this lovely couple....For Sona, Dev was cute and for Dev, Sona was cute. But for us ---> "cute tho thum both ho" 😘😘

When marriage talks happen between 2 families, from different culture and community, its not bound to be smooth. There was a lot of bitterness that cropped up during the discussion, when Bijoy brought up the past and kept daunting Ishwari. Maami added fuel to Bijoy's anger with her trademark sarcasm! I was only hoping for "no casualties" at the end of discussion 😏. But with a man like Maama around, positivity has to spread. Dev gauged it right..he had a lot of trust on maama ji.. After all, maama was the one person, who Dev opened his heart during the break up period.  Finally, all ended well on a note that soon we will get to see Sona and Dev as bride and groom.

When the man and the woman tells the family who they want to marry, the ball comes to the  court of the parents . The way the parents play the game for the short period of time of "marriage preparations" has a lasting impact on the wedded life of the couple. I can very well understand Ishwari's desire to have a peaceful marriage. After all the rough tides that happened in the families, its time for them to see some happy moments. They all deserve this because the foundation of this marriage is purely love. Not just love between Dev and Sona. Its also a celebration of love of a father for his daughter and a mother for her son.  But in this celebration, a lot of compromises have to be made by either side. Small things which add up to be huge! And huge things that might end the show in a second..like the Prenuptial agreement!

A Prenuptial agreement is a legal agreement done between the bride and groom prior to marriage that clearly lists how the property will be divided among the husband and wife, in case of a divorce later on! To me, it looks like a process of fixing your cremation ground, prior to your death...😏! Sona very rightly said..Marriage is not a house rental agreement, where if you have to leave, you give notice, cut the maintenance and go..If its not forever, then its not Love. The marriage ceremony by itself is a "promise to never give up on each other".  I am very glad that Dev threw the agreement in the trash bin. If he didn't I would have been so upset with him. 

Just as we were all feeling safe for our Dev and Sona, Ishwari's insecurities surfaced again! And this time, its for her daughters and I feel, it cannot be completely ruled out this time.. but she could have asked Dev to safeguard his sisters' future before getting into a marriage with Sona (may be write some properties in their name) - its as simple as that. Both Dev and Sona would be happy to do that, because Sona knows how dear are his sisters to him. But Ishwari chose to get Dev's signature without his knowledge - a decision which is going to haunt her later on, am sure.

In a minute of desperation, Ishwari was going to spoil the peace that just started to prevail in Dev and Sona's life. I was very happy to see Dev stand up for Sona and talk to his mom..and to see him talk to Sona's father and explain how confident he is, about his Sona's love for him.. I was even more happy to see him run to his love and express his fear of losing her. Otherwise, we would have missed the "tho..no.2 little Sonakshi hogi" dialogue 😄❤️😍 Its really endearing to watch Dev and Sona talk happily with each other. Promises were renewed again. "Please don't leave me, ever - I will not, if you promise to be with me, forever." I sincerely hope that this time, promises are kept and the Prenuptial agreement becomes void 🙏🏼

Shaheer, playing Dev, has a lot to be proud of, especially this week. His forte is his expression of different emotions. This week was a mixture of happiness, anger, romance, love, sadness and every time it was just bang on! I probably say this every week, but what can I do? He just proves it every week! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Any marriage preparation will be incomplete without talk about food! And a bengali marriage starts and ends with food. The Bengalis have a great love for food. There was a girl in my school, who was from Calcutta (as we called those days). I used to love her food and will exchange it for mine all the time. Until one day, when she brought fish. I am a vegetarian and the moment I opened and saw it, I just felt like throwing up. I know, its not a very pleasant thing to say or do, especially on someone's food.. but I really felt like throwing up. Its not as easy for a vegetarian to accept fish or chicken or meat or for that matter, even egg. Its really an impossible task to accept non vegetarian food in the same table as vegetarian, that too, in a sacred event like a wedding. Dev's family's reactions are completely understandable. And this feeling of aversion that the family expressed can probably only be comprehended by a pure vegetarian. Well, marriage is all about compromises.. I kept calming my heartbeat that was racing and told myself  "All is well..All is well".

In between the heated marriage discussions and prenuptial agreement, many times this week, we got to divert our mind and attention to the happy times of Dev and Sona. Dev is just like a friend I know...taking out the veggies from Pizza :) We know our good old Dev is back in form - Internet research has started again this week on "Jokes like Rithwick", "Bengali traditions"..😄😄😄 The "show me your kharghosh wala teeth" probably made the entire fandom show their khargosh wala teeth 😄😁 

With some ups and downs, and the extra 30 minute time we got with the KRPKAB team, we were pulling off this week happily until Dev and Sona returned home after seeing the wedding hall.  Sona's tiredness was already noticed by Dev. Why not? Its only natural 😊 Mr.Cool Dixit - It was a nice attempt, to pre-order your permission to occasionally forget the birthdays and anniversaries in future.  But Sona was right, the "Cool dude" doesn't suit him...And he will actually be the person that remembers all these dates more than her!! 

When Sona said bye to him that day, I did not know that it was a good bye for their dreams about "tiny Abhodro and tiny Sonakshi"..

Of all the rights and blessings of a woman, the greatest is, to be a mother.  And, a man is not complete until a little hand holds him to call him Dad! It truly breaks my heart to see Dev and Sonakshi's future as a couple struggling to have a child of their own..I couldn't wait to see the tiny Abhodro and tiny Sonakshi...

Man proposes, God disposes. Who knows what tomorrow will bring us? The good thing amidst the bad news is that there is 7% chance, Its planty of room for a miracle to happen. Ishwari was right, after all... The journey of life is long and if you don't get the right partner, it will be so difficult to complete the journey...Now that we know this medical problem, we cant agree more that Sona and Dev were meant to be with each other. Love finally found its way and got Dev and Sona together :)

Shaheer, the last scene was just excellent! When a medical diagnosis is given to us for the first time, there is an unexplainable grief and a million questions that occupy our heart and mind. This is more when its for a loved one! Perfect portrayal of this emotion 😘😘😘  Only you can act like this. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

Week 29 - Come on, lets marry now!

The Maha-episode was "maha" in terms of everything. The only thing that was not Maha was the happiness quotient in the supposed-to-be engagement :)

When Dev met Sona for the first time in his life, he probably did not know that she was going to become this important to him. So important, that one day, he will have to go out of his mom's leash. Sorry for using the word "leash"... As much as we loved the mom-son bonding initially, we have started to feel the suffocation and this week started off with a rather urgent need to open those windows out to look away from her and to breathe freely - especially the way she refused permission for Dev to go to the engagement.  Well, I am glad Dev took the right step without pondering much on whether to go or not for the engagement.

Shaheer is just tailor made for Dev. I cannot think of another actor who is more suitable for Dev or another show that is more suitable for Shaheer! Amidst those TV serials that show meaningless conspiracies and unwanted drama, here is one that is real and one that we can put ourself in as a Dev or a Sona or an Ishwari or even a Ritwick.

"Naadaniyon mein kho gaye saare rishte".. we lost all relationships out of ignorance.. What profound lines these are, so apt just like all other songs of this show! Apart from he looking damn good in that off-white shirt, he also has the best handwriting I have ever seen! And then, I told myself.."pay attention to the show" :)

As he wrote that letter, I could not stop my tears. "pleeeease..forget all the pain I gave you" how desperate he was to send that apology to her.. if only she ever gets to read that letter, am sure she will forgive him in a second....and I ended up wiping my tears with a sigh, along with Dev.

Dev's love for Sonakshi is very pure and not even in his dream, will he mean any harm to her. His going to the engagement was a genuine attempt to wish her well and let go of her. Sonakshi's love for Dev is also very pure and never ever will she want him to suffer emotionally like the way he was, right now. She will never wish that for him. That night was a very genuine attempt of her as well in her pursuit of a new life with someone else.

Even though Dev and Sonakshi were trying their best to be honest to themselves, they could not stop themselves from feeling for each other. When you see your beloved with someone else, you are bound to feel jealous..and possessive..Whether its Devdas or Dev Dixit - this feeling is the same. If there is one thing you cannot share with anyone at all in this world, its the love you feel for your beloved lover.

And so..to suppress this emotion of jealousy, our Dev resorted to scotch.

Shaheer did his role of "Dev, the deewana" to perfection - the stumbling walk, stumbling speech with a swollen tongue, body language and above all, his eyes that were drunk too were all so neat and flawless, I must say!

Dev, as a person has always been impulsive and takes decisions for that moment only. How much ever he tried to come mentally prepared for the engagement, he needed only one small trigger to nullify all his mental strength. He was always a possessive lover. As he kept seeing Ritwick and Sona together,  he needed to numb himself to it, disguise himself as someone else, so that he can accept it and regain all that mental strength in him to go talk to Sona, to wish her lots of happiness in life that he failed to give her.

Dev did not plan any of this. Impulsively, he had the urge to disguise himself as someone he is not - he did not like to see what he was seeing, but he had to stay there; he could not digest what was happening in front of him, but he had to be a witness to it; he would have preferred to die that day, but had to be alive. Everything went out of control from Dev's side and he became a prey to his emotions and alcohol that night.

And Sonakshi also, out of sheer reflex and impulse, came running to Dev who fell unconscious.. Remember the secret power that I was telling you about last week? It was time for Sonakshi to experience her secret power by which she saved her true love from dying that night. 

The sequence that followed the engagement was only a dialogue between the subconscious minds of Dev and Sona. In reality they are both trying to move on sincerely. But their subconscious mind is going through a trauma of emotions. And all those facts are kept on table for Ishwari to see, as she kept watching the two, breaking down and melting for each other.

Yet another well made scene and the best performance so far by Shaheer! The breathlessness comes so naturally to him as he was struggling to keep himself up or even say the name Sonakshi. Anyone who watched him play that night, would be awestruck! The little boy Dev who was given life by Sonakshi expressed his helpless state to her and begged her for answers, begged her to help him..The remorse he expressed as her lover was so true and heartfelt that she could not overlook it. It was a moment of realization for Ishwari to see the love birds that she had destroyed due to her own meaningless insecurities. My heart ached as I watched that scene that day and it aches now as well, as I write about it.

Oh God! We forgot all about Ritwick.. The poor guy was made waiting with a ring in his hand. He supported Sonakshi throughout her journey of "moving on" and here he was standing, completely alone and completely not cared for. It was the most unfair, unforgiving thing do to and so unendurable for him as well the families. And yet, the gentleman that he was, he waited for Sona to come and explain things to him. He was willing to forgive, if only she will realize what she did and why she did it. Of all people around Sonakshi, he was the one person, who Sonakshi finally, openly and in her complete senses, admitted that she loved Dev. No questions asked, he left the place, just like a gentleman would do. Well done creators for making such a character and well done actor Jay Soni. The follow up visit in the morning was only to express his respect for the elders of Sonakshi's family.. duniya mein do tarah ki log hain - one is Ritwick and the other Dev. We'll miss you, Ritwick.

While Sonakshi and her parents are going through the embarrassment and humiliation they experienced, because of Dev....

Dev was still unaware of what he was doing and only because he was unaware he was able to finally ask Ishwari what she gained by eating those sleeping pills.. what did she want to know that she didn't already... and why he had to let go of Sonakshi who was dearer to him than himself but not as dear as his mother. Ishwari was shocked and the viewers were finally at peace.

It was not that Ishwari did not know that Dev loved Sonakshi. She knew very well, even before that night, that they both were in love. She did not like him have that love for her and so she deprived him of it. Now she sees that he is longing for her so badly that he has become a loner, a loser. She now feels bad that she took her away from him and so she wants to give her back to him.

Dev is obviously happy that his mother accepted Sonakshi.
Ishwari is happy to see Dev happy and you would think that the way to complete this sentence will be "Sona and Dev thus lived happily ever after". Its not a game and none of them are kids to do a mistake and go on to the next part of the game as if nothing happened.. people were hurt in the process of breakup - mainly Sona and her family.

It was so illogical to me, when Dev just walked to Sonakshi's office with a bouquet to announce that his mom has agreed for their marriage. How illogical was that marriage proposal!!! Not only that, how very insensitive!!! He broke up with her, because his mother did not like it. He did not give her any peace to move on with the decision that "He" imposed on her. And when she was still trying to move on, he just spoiled her engagement - the ceremony, for which the two families had assembled a big crowd of family and friends. And the very next day, he walks to her office and announces "My mom has agreed for our marriage, because my mom could not see me sad. So, come lets marry!!".

I would say Sonakshi as well as her family had been extremely kind with the Dixit family in not making a big deal out of the unconceivable things that Ishwari was doing now. Just about a couple of days ago, she hated Sonakshi and her family and used such unpleasant words towards her. And today, she was in their house talking about the marriage of Sona with her son!

Sonakshi was right, she was not a toy that Ishwari can give to her son Dev, to make him smile :) and she and her family cannot dance for every finger movement of Dev and Ishwari. And Bijoy was right as well that Sonakshi was better off staying in their home instead of going to Dev's house. 

What if Ishwari suddenly feels more insecure when Sona, after marriage, takes the duties of the household or when Dev's sisters look to Sona for advice instead of their mother or if Dev forgets to check on his mom just one night..If Ishwari's insecurities creep up once again, what is the guarantee that Dev will not come to her one day and say "Hume alag hona chahiye, Sona dear"... There is all possibility for this to happen, because Ishwari looks at Dev as a 9yr old boy and Sonakshi as a toy that he desperately wants.. She doesn't realize that Sonakshi has emotions.

Even on the day that Ishwari came to Sonakshi's house to convince her, she was hardly apologetic for anything she said or did. Rather, she was blaming it on lack of time to understand and accept their relationship. It is very clear to me that Ishwari has not changed even a bit and the only reason she allows Sonakshi to enter Dev's life was that Dev could not survive without her.

How much of all this does Dev really comprehend? And who can even help him understand the complex thoughts going on in his mom's head...Sonakshi was the only person who could help him understand many things, but she is not in talking terms with him..

At the same time, another question arises in my mind. We all know Dev is blamed for going by his mother's decision in breaking up with Sonakshi. What will Sonakshi do, if her parents did not support this relationship?  Will she be able to go against them? Because after the last episode, it does not look like Mr.Bijoy is going to Enjoy any of this...

Week 28 - Moving on...

The dinner date! What was the name of that guy who the Bose family had shortlisted for Sonakshi initially? She went for a dinner date with him but Dev kept calling her as he needed help to cook dinner for his mom... I was only reminded of that as I watched the dinner date between Ritvik and Sonakshi. Dev did not allow it to happen then and he does not want this to happen now. The problem with Dev now is that he is struggling to find a balance to keep himself in control. Therefore, he is unable to play the game of life with grace...he embarrassed himself that night.  The game ended with Dev losing to Ritvik. But the crowd favorite is always Dev. Especially when he expressed his possessiveness for Sona. "YOU ARE MINE". Yes, the biggest truth that night was that Sonakshi loves Dev and only Dev and everything else is the balancing "act" that she is trying to do with her life.

The scene post dinner date in Dev's office was one of the most beautifully made scene. I could write pages about how beautiful this scene was, and still not do enough justice. That night was the night when Sonakshi expressed how deep her love for Dev is and how "moving on" is only an act that she is trying to do for the sake of her family... For a moment, Dev, Sona and all of us relived the good old happy days.. Very emotional scene and very aptly enacted. Dev was finally able to express how exactly he felt after he bluntly said "We need to breakup Sonakshi".  The guilt that was killing him alive finally found some peace..The guilt is at rest now... However the very deep sadness that Dev is experiencing is beyond healing...From the time of their breakup, I have always felt sad for Dev and he made me feel so much more miserable for him as he told Sona how much he loved her and how painful it was for him to see her with someone else.. Sonakshi's promise was the right way to deal with it. Her underplayed emotions were very apt. I cried with them when Dev asked her helplessly "Mujhe nahi bulaoge?..shaayad tumhe wayse dekh khe mein bhi move on kar sakhoon" But inspite of all the high emotions, their conversation was like water on a lotus leaf - rightly so! They had so much to tell, yet could not, so much to apologize for, yet did not, so much to cry about, yet could not... This is for all the said and unsaid things 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 

Talking about "unsaid" - Ishwari was the reason behind the new person in Sonakshi's life and this is hidden from Dev. It was time for the truth to come in front of Dev. I wonder which time period Ishwari lives in? Either she treats Dev as an 8 year old or she behaves like one! It was like an 8 year old trying to cook up a story of where the cookies from the plate went! When you say the truth, you really don't have to remember anything... But she was trying to weave a big story on why she sent the alliance to Sona. Well, lying doesn't come naturally to anyone. So, her body language, her stammering was enough proof. Dev's quiet walking away was the just enough reaction. His face expressed everything that had to be. Once again this is for the unsaid dialogues, Dev 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 

I don't know how necessary for the story was the article about Dev-Sona in the newspaper. But I felt it was necessary for 2 things - 1. To show that Dev was indeed a person with values who will not tolerate a woman being treated like this. 2. For Sona to realize that however nice Ritvik was, she does not feel good if Ritvik criticizes her Dev. And we don't feel good as well. And, why did Dev not talk back to Ritvik as he went on to accuse Dev of the many things he did not and will never do? You should have given him back, Dev and shown him his place. Seriously Ritvik.. did you call him "Ek number ki ghatiyan insaan?" I don't intend to project Ritvik as the bad guy or anything. But I just did not like him shouting at Dev like that - especially as Dev is making a sincere effort to follow all that Sona told him. Its been a whole a week since Dev met Sona, probably the longest since the time they first met.

The week moved on. But surely Dev did not move on. He was clinging on to Sonakshi's bracelet as well as her memories...

As far as Sonakshi is concerned, she surely has a fool-proof plan in place to move on, that is, to get married to Ritvik as soon as possible. However, she is not even close to moving away from Dev even an inch.  Sonakshi's mind is clouded completely with the grief of separation from her beloved. Her inability to move on came through vividly, as she was struggling with everything that day from fitting the bangles in her hand to fitting Ritvik in her mind.

It was sad and hard to see the engagement card in Dev's hands as he struggled to breathe. Blame me for being his fan! Well done for the nth time Shaheer 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻  His hesitation and compulsion to ask for permission to attend the engagement was very well done!  Its time for Ishwari to realize that her son is an adult. Its time for her to realize that there are many forms of love not just the love between a mother and son. Its time for her to realize that its  completely appropriate for her son to feel that love for someone. And Its time for her to realize that her son is losing himself in the process of living without his love. It would be best if Dev himself tells her all this. Because only he can say how he feels for Sonakshi.

One of the biggest truth of this week is that, moving on is completely impossible for Dev and Sona. 

The second biggest truth of this week is that Ishwari can never make her son happy enough. She may be successful in making sure no-one comes in-between her and Dev. But Sona's thoughts and the emptiness that she has created in Dev's life are going to linger forever.  The only person to fill that emptiness is Sona herself...

They say Life is like a bicycle..In order to keep the balance, we need to keep moving. There are 2 kinds of people in life - one who can keep this balance and one who are not able to.  The people who are weak and unable to keep this balance tend to fall down. And then at that point in time, comes the mental strength, which is the secret power that God gives for all of us. You will not know your own power until the time you have no other choice but to use it.  Dev and Sona's life is losing the balance and they are struggling to move on...Will they be able to move on in different paths? Or will they experience their secret strength and save their Love? Well, we just have to wait and watch 😄❤️😍

Week 27 - First Love never dies!

Sonakshi was deeply hurt by Ishwari and Maami last week. She could not share that pain with Eleena, because Elena will only get more angry with Sona for giving Ishwari so much of power over her emotions... Her dad and mom will be more hurt, if they come to know about it. She does not have anyone to share that pain, and when Ritvik came in front of her, she cried her heart out to him - about how special her and Dev's relationship was... And thus Ritvik became a good friend of Sona. Ritvik was empathetic and sensitive and even was able to light up her mood. Like I said, Ritvik will be a perfect fit for Sona, if Sona hadn't met Dev before. You cannot rewrite your first love. Its just impossible. 

When we are young, and when we say the wrong things, we can say Sorry and undo our mistakes. Our every mistake is pardoned. When we become adults, our every single word is for real and cannot be taken back. I wish whatever happened between Dev and Sona could be corrected by a Sorry.. or atleast by eating a kilo of green mirchi - I am sure Dev would not mind that if it will "unhurt" Sonakshi. Sonakshi, please realize that he is the person that asked you not to give him the power to hurt you. He is not the kind of guy who wanted to throw you out of his life in a moment. He was helpless at that moment, as his mother was almost in her death bed. Still, what he did was not right - every single word we say as an adult has an impact.

The scene where Dev, unable to sleep and sulking over their breakup was one of the best scenes this week. His act, when he heard his mom enter the room, his uncontrollable tears as his mom pitied him for not knowing how to keep himself happy and his seeking his mother's lap for comfort was all very realistic. This is just one of the many scenes (that I am going to narrate) in which he excelled himself. 

Well, the breakup was initiated by Dev. So, the guilt is killing him alive. Along with guilt comes a desire to justify his mistake or to look for the other person to also join his club of guilt. So, he just hopes to find something wrong in the person that Sona is looking to making her life partner... But, it turns out that Ritvik is as good as "good" can be 😏

From the time we know Dev, we have seen how he cannot live with guilt at all..  I would just like to remind you all of he breaking Sona's cellphone.. he spoiling the sugar free cake..or even when he broke his engagement with Natasha - He first had to do something to ease out his guilt..thats his first priority. That is his character. This mistake he has done now, is by far the worst ever..and can never be justified. He is very well aware of that. And therefore he was literally dying of guilt.

His pursuit of healing takes him to wherever Sona goes..or bringing Sona to wherever he wants to go. Thus, he tricked and brought Sona to the restaurant that they both used to go to.. Sona is strong alright..But not emotionless. Obviously she loved him the same way or more than he loved her. The pain in her voice with which she held his collar and said "Even I loved you!", during the break-up, echoes in my ears even as I write this. Sona stopped and looked at the table the couple used to sit at, just as expected.

But she is genuinely trying to move on. What do you expect Mr.Dev Dixit? That she should sit in that table and cry? Women have been taken for granted for ages. And they are more strong emotionally because their emotions are tested time and again by the very men who say they love her. Alright, I am being a little too women-chauvanistic here. I just want to say, today's women are stronger than yesterday's. They got to be, to take on this male dominated society and Sona trying to move on does not surprise me that much. Her being a little rude with Dev bothers me..because I am a fan of both Dev and Shaheer. Dev, the lover, was every girl's dream..I have see how the girls on social media dreamt of finding their prince charming..who was just like Dev 😍. Not anymore, I guess!!

Sonakshi purposely sat in a different spot and purposely ordered a different kind of coffee. Coffee lovers know the importance of not messing with their cup of coffee..  So, Dev, please don't come to a conclusion about your relationship based on the coffee decision.. Well... having said that, Dev is all over Sonakshi's mind, for sure! Its just impossible for the two to think about anything other than themselves. Right now, they are just torn between, love, family, ego, etc. As the storm in their mind settles down, they will find a way to make this work, I am sure.

Coming back to Dev and the extent to which he can go for keeping his Sona from flying away, can be alarming for some. But, he stalking Sonakshi outside her home, on social media, etc. like an immature teenager, he overhearing Ritvik's conversation like a cheap spy, and then like an underworld Don, cancelling the bank loan and buying the property that Ritvik was going to rent for his clinic... can all be overseen..😄 - because everything is fair in Love ❤️.

But what does Dev want, after all? He broke up their relationship. He was the one who asked Sona to go away. Now why is be disturbing her? Why is he standing in the way of Ritvik's career? Sonakshi's anger in this matter was genuine. And Dev's dilemma was also genuine.

Even though a million butterflies still fly in front of Dev, everytime he sees Sonakshi, the poor guy is unable to express his love for her, which he poured on her in abundance before. Instead, he was just a statue in front of her, completely engulfed by his guilt. The scene where Sonakshi storms into his office again and challenges him that she will marry Ritvik was one of the best again! Shaheer's body language, his voice modulations to show the anger, helplessness, desperation, love- phenomenal acting, once again Mr.Sheikh 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Every time Ritvik and Sonakshi's name come together even I get irritated. So, Dev cannot be blamed for his irritation on that matter. He was trying to tell her that she is rushing getting into another relationship.. He was right. She was digging her own grave. How can a marriage built over compulsion bring happiness?? 💔💔

Trying to move on with life is ok to me. I like strong girls. However, getting into another relationship so soon is not the right thing to do.. Its almost as if Sonakshi was just looking for a place to hide herself. And another person's heart is where Dev cannot come and she just wants to get there soon.  Ishwari being the catalyst in getting Ritvik's alliance materialize has, for once worked in Sona's favor! But what Ishwari did in this case, was the lowest she can stoop down. Or may be more is in store for us...

When Bijoy came to Ishwari niwas and shouted at her, I did not feel even a bit sorry. Whatever Bijoy said was completely true. Dev's love was weak. Ishwari's love was selfish.  I felt happy when Ishwari was told by Bijoy how bad a mother she actually was. I like how Ishwari gets intimidated every time she sees a member of the Bose family! She was totally speechless when Bijoy came the second time to complain to her about Dev's calls to Sonakshi. Bijoy was fully furious, but I honestly, was enjoying it inside when Ishwari's face became sooo small  😄

Although Bijoy was right mostly, I cant agree with him when he said Sona's love is the only pure love. "Pure Love" never gives up... does it? Then why did Sona give up so soon?? Having known the relationship between Dev and Ishwari, why did she not give some time to Dev to think with some peace? Why did she take him so seriously that night.. She could have just quietly walked out that night..and given him sometime to think and call her back..Am I asking for too much? 😏

There is a thin line between being "arrogant" and "assertive".  Sonakshi crossed that fine line this week, which was keeping her so far in the "assertive" zone. The way she challenged Dev, the way she snapped at him the next evening when he came to meet her was all too arrogant. 

But then, just when I came to this conclusion.. I couldn't stop thinking of the innocent and gentle Sonakshi who understood her Dev inside out. Her little conversation with Eleena when she pointed out how Dev has no-one to share his feelings as she was his only friend was so nice to hear.. I wish Dev heard her that night. Dev and Sona lived a fairy tale together..and even had a small Sona and a tiny Mr.Abhodro in their mind. I can only imagine what the poor girl must be going through to take away all those moments from her heart and mind. How much ever she tries, she may never be able to..because "First love never dies".

The creators have very carefully weaved the flashback scenes to make the current breakup track more realistic and more impactful. The bangles scene had such sweet dialogues and was such a treat for all the fans to catch a glimpse of their favorite onscreen jodi.

Dev underwent a lot, emotionally, this week. One day, there was a pinch of happiness and hope in his heart when he found out from Saurav that Sonakshi's engagement was not over yet.. The very next day, he was hurt very deeply by Sonakshi when she challenged him that it will happen very soon.. One day, he saw that Sonakshi was thinking about their special times together, but the very next day he heard her say that he has no place in her heart anymore. And Shaheer as Dev has excelled in every frame of every scene ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One such was the scene post Sonakshi's challenge. Ishwari and Nikki were waiting for Dev to pick them up. But Dev was in shock. He was angry with Sonakshi, angry with himself, disappointed and Dev had no place in his mind for anything else. But, when finally he was reminded by mama ji, he got all guilty and ran to his mom to apologize.. The apologizing was heartfelt..but shorter than all previous times, when he had to... 😊 Along with me, I guess Ishwari also noticed that the apologizing did not linger for a long time..😲  Only difference, I was happy because I was in no mood to see the mom-son bonding that night; but she was not happy 😏😏 Post this incident, the way Dev dwelled upon Sonakshi's words as he held that glass in his hand was just too good. Dev is the kind of guy who gets more hurt than the person he hurts. Mama ji's timely intervention was soothing for Dev, I am sure. Well, I felt relieved that Dev finally had someone to talk to who gave him the good news that "First love never really dies and therefore Sonakshi's love for him is still alive ❤️"

Now that he knows this, he was on a mission to stop Sona from entering into a big commitment.. But Sona was in no mood to listen to Dev anymore. She had closed all the communication channels for Dev after his unreasonable acts towards Ritvik. I must give it to both Shaheer and Erica for their excellent performance. Every time they talk, I can feel the lump in their throat! From Sona's side, her hurry to get into this relationship was too glaring for Ritvik and he really was not comfortable with this. From Dev's side, he getting into Sonakshi's territory was too glaring for Ishwari and finally made her openly tell Dev that "he should not talk to Sona anymore".  Ishwari - he is not your 8year old son anymore! I think she herself is finally realizing how unreasonable she is..(thanks to Bijoy and Sona's pep talk) Her conversation with Dev finally brought out a little bit of the caring mother in her..its too late now, to undo many things...

Well...lets wait and watch how strong this couple's "First love" is ❤️