Thipkyanchi Rangoli – Episode 179 – Written Update and Episode Review

I stubbornly remind myself that I don’t like her presence,
But her absence gets me unbearably restless.
What is happening to me, I don’t know,
But all that this stupid heart wants is to follow her like a shadow. – IAdoreYouCreates

W H A T   H A P P E N E D   I N   T H E   E P I S O D E ?

The episode begins with Apurva abruptly waking up from her sleep after hearing the infamous thak-thak that Shashank had warned her about. She reaches for him beside her, asking if he can hear the voice but looks beside when she receives no response from him. She gets scared when she doesn’t find him beside her. She gets down from the bed, in search of him.

She starts descending stairs, calling for Shashank, Kukki and Amey but none of them respond. Just as she walks a little more, she catches someone wrapped in white clothes passing in front of her eyes. The presumed ghost’s sight terrifies her like never before. She screams and runs from there. On her way, she bumps into someone and starts hitting the person, chanting that she has studied, she has studied until she looks up after hearing his voice and realizes that it’s Shashank. 

He asks her what has happened. In her voice trembling with terror, she tells him that he is back and launches herself in his arms again who smiles, pretending not to know whom she is talking about. 

Kukki and Aparna come down and turn on the lights. Looking at Apurva clinging to Shashank, Kukki says – Shashank, you have any sense of time and place or not?

Kukki’s words make Shashank pull himself a little away from Apurva. Apurva tells everyone that he is back. Kukki asks who has returned to which she replies the ghost. She reaches for Shashank’s hand, adding – I have studied the whole day but still I saw it. Why did I? 

Shashank tries to calm her down. Vitthu Baba and Suva Aai come down as well, inquiring about what’s going on. Kukki tells them that Apurva saw the ghost again. Suva Aai darts a glare at Shashank while Vitthu Baba stands clueless asking – where is the ghost?

Apurva points to the turning at the front. Suva Aai chuckles and asks Vitthu Baba to go and see which ghost this is. When Vitthu Baba walks to the place pointed by Apurva, Shashank sees his plan getting exposed. Vitthu Baba asks whoever is there to come out and the same figure wrapped in white clothes that Apurva had seen comes out, making her turn around in fear and hug Shashank who asks her to calm down for yet another time. 

Later when the figure reveals itself, pushing away the white clothes – everyone starts shaking their heads looking at Amey in the ghost’s costume. When everyone calls him out, he reveals that it was Shashank who had asked him to do what he had just done. 

Apurva almost instantly moves away from Shashank after listening to it before she smacks his hand. Suva Aai, verbally agreeing that she is going to give him one too, also smacks Shashank. Suva Aai reprimands Shashank saying that the jokes and pranks have a limit. 

Shashank – Tell me, why should I not do this? She studied one day and she is already too tired to study tomorrow. She does not want to clear the mess that she creates. She does not want to eat. That is why I decided to intensify the ghost’s terror in her. 

Babi Aatya – Like this? What if she had fallen sick?

Apurva – You don’t stress about it, Babi Aatya. This Khadoos and this ghost do not know whom they have dared to mess with. What did you call me yesterday? A witch, no? He has dared to mess with this Shishta Chetkin ( witch ) – I will take good care of him later. 

Looking at everyone laughing, Shashank shushes them – Why are you guys laughing? This is not something that should be taken as a joke. He moves closer to Apurva in an attempt to scare her – especially you should not take this as a joke. There could actually be a ghost of the mathematician. 

Apurva shrugs him off, firmly telling him that she is not scared, sarcastically using his words that he had so convincingly comforted her with – why should I be scared? You are with me no? You are a scientist. He is a mathematician. Scientists are not scared of ghosts. Ghosts are not scared of scientists. Right? I am not scared of anyone either. 

Prachi – What about your studies then?

Apurva – I WON’T STUDY. I AM NOT GOING TO STUDY. Listen, Babi Aatya’s wedding is in a couple of days. I am going to dance at her wedding and enjoy. I am not going to study. 

Shashank – See. Now that the ghost fear is gone, she has left the topic of studies. 

Apurva to Shashank – Why don’t you study on my behalf? 

Apurva to Maai – Maai, we wives keep fasts and stuff like that for our husbands for their well-being, right? Then tell me something. A ghost is troubling a wife and the wife needs to study – then why can’t the husband study on his wife’s behalf? The ghost will be content and delighted. 

Shashank – Her mind works in everything but studies

Apurva – Khadoos, you stay quiet. Do not shout at me. I am not going to study and I am not afraid of that ghost. Neither I am afraid of that ghost nor I am afraid of the one who has brought that ghost to me. 

She walks toward Shashank with the stick in her hand, making him hide behind Suva Aai. Kanitkars wholeheartedly laugh, calling it a day. 

The next morning arrives with a visibly upset Ovi. Deepali tries to convince Ovi to go shopping but Ovi confesses that she does not want to go to that wedding. Ovi says that she is a nobody to Bhaskar then why should she go to the wedding. Deepali makes her understand that Ovi is her father’s everything. Ovi calls it a lie, saying that he has adopted her. Deepali asks her what difference it makes. She reminds Ovi that her father loves her to bits.

An insecure Ovi asks Deepali if he will still love her after marrying Babi. Deepali assures her that he will. She adds that her father is a good man and good people always behave the same way. Ovi however doesn’t stop there. She asks Deepali why she did not tell her earlier that there is no relationship between her and Bhaskar. Deepali counters her saying that she and Bhaskar share a beautiful relationship of friendship. Ovi counters her back saying that if there was just friendship, she wouldn’t have prayed for him.

Deepali asks – where is it written that you can’t pray for your friend? If that had been the case, Bhaskar wouldn’t have supported us all along to stay true to his friendship with your real father. Ovi firmly tells Deepali that once Babi Aatya is married to Bhaskar, they will not stay here and that they will go back to the US. Deepali says – we will see that later. You get ready. Let’s go shopping now. 

At Kanitkar Residence, Manasi and Sumi discuss how this is the third wedding in their home in the past couple of months. They discuss how Babi Aatya had wholeheartedly worked in every wedding. Sumi recalls how Babi Aatya had made her stubbornly sleep during her Haldi so that her face would look fresh and she had not let her eat any junk food to take care of her health. Manasi adds how truly special Babi Aatya’s wedding is for them. 

That reminds them of Apurva as Sumi says that in Apurva’s language, they all are just supposed to enjoy to the fullest. The duo talks about Apurva’s excitement who has gone to bring the turmeric from Bhaskar’s home, adding that when she got to know that Babi Aatya’s jewelry was ready – she went to bring that also. They share a hearty laugh as they wonder if she didn’t return by the Haldi – she might just ask to start the function all over again. 

As Babi Aatya’s Haldi ceremony begins, Kukki spots a quiet Shashank standing in a corner.

Kukku – Why are you standing alone here? Away from everyone? Ah, I got it, I got it. Missing Appu? She has gone to bring Babi Aatya’s jewelry with Dr. Kaushik. She will be back in a while.

Shashank – Did I ask? And what were you saying? I am not missing her. 

Kukki – I am your uncle. I have seen more life than you have. Do you think that I can’t see that you love Appu and are missing her right now but refusing the accept?

Shashank – You are talking utter nonsense. You are talking what’s in your heart. 

Manasi and Sumi come to call Shashank for the Haldi ceremony. Manasi starts teasing Shashank – ah, right, right. You want to apply Haldi to Babi Aatya with your wife? 

Nikhil – Any doubt? Isn’t that why he is standing here alone, waiting for her?

Sumi – Correct. When Appu had come to take the Haldi from Bhaskar’s home, she was also missing Shashank Dada. 

Shashank – Alright, if you guys are done… go and do your work.

Nikhil – Work is over. Now it’s dance time. 

When Sumi calls Prachi to dance, she says that Appu is not here to accompany them. Babi Aatya agrees that they should wait for Appu.

Shashank intervenes – hold on, just because she is not here… are you guys not going to dance?

Everyone – Of course. We enjoy only when she is here. She teaches us cool steps so if she is not with us… we can’t enjoy. 

Shashank – This is the limit. Did we not enjoy… before she became a part of us? Did we not dance? We used to enjoy… so much. So what if she is not here? Okay, let’s go. I will teach you the dance steps. Come on, let’s dance. 

Shashank’s words leave half of his family shocked and the other half, in splits. 

Kukki – Shashank, are you alright? Dance and you? 

Shashank – What’s in that? Two steps here. Two steps there and that’s it.

Amey – Gotta do some dance. Not an experiment, Scientist! 

Kukki – Listen, Shashank.. We should do what we are capable of. What we can, okay? You cannot beat Appu in dance so you don’t dance… please. 

Maai adds that Shashank is just getting jealous since everyone keeps chanting Appu Appu in their home. 

Suva Aai laughs saying – isn’t it natural? Before Appu came who had this special place and importance in this house? He and now who has it? Appu. He is bound to envy her. 

Shashank – Wow. Now even you two are making fun of me? Fine. I will go to the institute.

Suva Aai warns him not to. Maai asks everyone to get done with applying Haldi to Babi Aatya as there is a lot of work still remaining for them to do. 

The scene shifts to Bhaskar, Ovi and Deepali. Bhaskar asks Ovi to get ready, telling her that they would have fun outside. Deepali however tells him that he can’t join them, adding that they have to get habitual of being without him now that everything is going to change after his marriage. Visibly disturbed by her choice of words in front of Ovi, he tries to assure Ovi that nothing is going to change. Deepali still asks him to stay at home as it is considered inauspicious to step out before the wedding, adding that she was just joking with what she said earlier. 

The scene shifts back to Shashank and the Kukki gang who asks Shashank if he has invited Netra to the wedding. Shashank nods, adding that he has invited all of his colleagues like always. He has not given her any special invitation. It’s her decision if she wants to come or not.

Nikhil – It doesn’t matter. She is going to draw the meaning that she wants from this invitation. She is going to consider it as your special invitation to her and she is definitely going to come. 

Sumi – Absolutely. She would have come even if Shashank Dada had not invited her. She is so clingy. I just don’t like her. 

Mansi – She leaves no chance to insult Appu. 

Nikhil – That is right. I am telling you, Shashank – if she says anything to Appu this time… I will not stay quiet. 

Amey – So won’t I. We are not going to tolerate her unacceptable behavior. We will firmly stand by Appu. 

Kukki – Done. 

Shashank – Should I tell you something? If Apurva turns a blind eye to Netra’s words, there is no scope for any argument. 

Kukki – Oh hello? Appu stays quiet, looking at you, alright? Otherwise, she can retort to Netra as well. 

Everyone goes for the Haldi ceremony and Shashank stands alone with his thoughts – no matter how much I deny, there is strange loneliness when Apurva is not here. Everyone feels her absence. They don’t feel good when she is not around. Wait… what am I even thinking about? I don’t want her in front of my eyes otherwise but when my eyes actually can’t see her… why does that bother me so much? Why does her absence make me restless? Should I… ask her if she is done with her shopping? Why is it taking her long to get the jewelry and return? 

He dials Apurva’s number but cuts the call upon realizing that she will think that he is missing her and she will sit on his head after that if he calls her but by then, the call had already got connected. 

Apurva spots his missed call and thinks that he must have called her to shout at her for taking so long. For a fleeting moment, she wonders if it is not the case and he called her because he was missing her but she is quick to tell herself – no way. It is impossible. Khadoos can never miss me. He is a Khadoos and he will stay the same. He must have called to shout at me. 

On the other hand, Shashank wonders why she hasn’t called him back after seeing his missed call – I don’t call her Shishta for no reason. She must have thought that I am missing her and that is why I gave her a missed call. Even this mere imagination will take her attitude to another level. No, no, no. I have to clear her misunderstanding. I must tell her that I called by mistake otherwise once she is home – their gang will drive me crazy because of this small thing. 

He calls her again. 

Apurva receives the call and yells at him – what is it? I just came out for a little work for some time. Why do you have to call?

Shashank – I have called to tell you the same. 

Apurva – What? That you are missing me? Do you want to tell me something of this sort?

Shashank – Absolutely not. I called you by mistake. That is it. 

Apurva – The call got connected by mistake? Okay fine. Bye. 

She disconnects the call, leaving Shashank infuriated.

Shashank – Did she just hang up on me? She was asking if I am missing her. Why on the earth will I miss her? Don’t I have any work to do? Why will I miss her? 

He calls her again to sternly tell her that he is not missing her and she doesn’t have to give herself so much importance but she does not receive his call.

While Shashank gets annoyed when she doesn’t respond, Apurva is all smiles, looking at his call as she concludes that he really is missing her. 

M Y   T A K E 

I have never quite doubted Mr. Scientist Kanitkar’s intelligence in general things but the childish, lame pranks – I am sure I never saw his mind capable of that. But that’s the thing. There seem to be quite a bunch of strangely interesting things that Mr. Scientist Kanitkar cannot do but Mr. Husband Kanitkar can. 

He legit asked Amey to wrap himself in that white clothing, take a stick ( his sharp mind didn’t miss that thak-thak story that he had told his wife about ) and asked him to actually appear in front of Apurva despite knowing how genuinely terrified she already was?

Evil, Mr. Kanitkar, I was going to say but the next few moments in the scene made me discard that choice of word. Mr. Kanitkar is not evil but rather smart and conveniently cunning in rather a sweet way.

He planned to scare his wife but ensured that she would bump into him when she caught the ghost’s sight.

I am telling you, Mr. Kanitkar was just making excuses. Getting her to study may be one of his reasons but the predominant one was that Mr. Kanitkar has grown fond of his wife clinging to him. Her hugs have become his favorite gifts to receive. She has become his favorite person to hold.

It was good to finally see Ovi. Having heard quite a lot about her, I was looking forward to seeing what exact mindset she is in regarding Bhaskar’s wedding and as expected, she is not happy with an outsider’s entry into their small, happy castle. Ovi also seems to know that her mother has an inclination toward Bhaskar. That is how she mentioned the Puja bit. 

I still can’t seem to decipher what Deepali is exactly thinking about though. Initially, I thought she has been in love with Bhaskar for several long years now but never quite confessed since she was happy with just being around him the way she was. It kinda seems like Bhaskar not being with her is not her issue but Bhaskar being with someone else is. Probably, she had become so used to how their small family was going that she didn’t quite expect that it would ever change someday. She didn’t expect that Bhaskar will start a new life with someone else someday. Maybe that is making the acceptance harder? 

Back to Mr. Kanitkar – the way he stood in that corner all alone – the man couldn’t even hide his gloominess. 

Mr. Kanitkar, Kukki wasn’t saying what was in his heart. He was stating facts. We saw the same what Kukki did. You were clearly struggling to cope with your wife’s absence, Mr. Kanitkar.  How long do you think you can hide that?

The blanket of denial that he had covered herself with was snatched by Kukki, exposing what Mr. Kanitkar had thought that he had hidden deep enough. 

Poor you, Mr. Kanitkar! There is no easy escape for you here. 

I loved the whole conversation revolving around Netra. Everyone is pretty clear about their views on her. They have even already decided what their response would be if she tries to upset Apurva. Family goals! Why I love Kanitkars! 

Mr. Kanitkar’s sweet little monologue was quite comforting to my ears as he did acknowledge that her absence was getting him restless. In those last few minutes, Mr. Kanitkar seemed no less than a seven-year-old, ridiculously upset upon his favorite play partner having not come to play with him today.

The way her absence was playing with his sanity – does it take so long to collect stuff and return? 

I couldn’t control my laughter.

Shashank So-In-Love Kanitkar! Shashank So-In-Love Kanitkar! 

Apurva’s silent battle about if he called her to shout at her or because he was missing her was fun to watch, especially when it ended with the sweet conclusion that her not-so-anymore-Khadoos husband was actually missing her. Something that she couldn’t have imagined!

तू अशी जातेस निघून,
मला इथे एकट्याला सोडून.
तुझ्या मागे माझे मन पळते माझ्याशी वैर घेऊन,
मी कुठेही असलो तरी ते मात्र कसेही घेते तुला शोधून!

Shashank So-In-Love Kanitkar. 💜