Thipkyanchi Rangoli – Weekly Episode Review – 221 – 227

Why do you come in search of me when I disappear from your sight?
Why do you risk your life to save mine with all your might?
Why do you look at me like I am the only woman your eyes behold?
Why am I so sure that you will recognize me in every life even when your eyes will be covered even with a blindfold?
-iAdoreYouCreates

M Y   T A K E

Blessed are those who have got the beautiful blessing of leading their lives with the people who dearly adore them and who they dearly adore. 

What a beautiful week this has been in the universe of Thipkyanchi Rangoli! Though the picnic barely changed anything, it brought out what has been hidden for quite a while.

Mai’s aching heart and the heartbreaking pain that she has been impeccably hiding from everyone all along!

Aparna Kaku’s annoyance toward Netra’s constant taunts to Apurva!

Shashank’s heartwarming concern and deep affection that his heart holds for Apurva!

Apurva’s undeniable fear and insecurity of someone snatching and taking away Shishta’s Khadoos from Shishta!

This has been a week of emotions and it has been so natural and relatable that it is almost not possible not to let yourself freely wander in that universe because the emotions are just so honest that even if you want to step away, they will hold you with the thread of their charm and swiftly pull you toward them.

| Sweet Synergy

• The whole picnic brought back memories, making me realize how truly I miss the similar moments that I have lived in the past. I sincerely feel why Thipkyanchi Rangoli works so magically for most of us is just because of how incredibly relatable it is. It is tough not to relate to these people and their situations every once in a while. Seeking soothing peace and restoring your calm in the serene air of nature, enjoying the free swing ride in the embrace of the generous trees, cooking on the stone or clay stove, playing games doesn’t matter if intellectual or lame with your family – I am sure, most of us have experienced these beautiful things and Thipkyanchi Rangoli just made us nostalgic, didn’t it?
• Shashank making Mai’s favorite dish when she got upset, remembering Avantika and the whole moment where he stood there to make sure that Mai knew that her kids were with her and they weren’t going to let her feel alone and distraught no matter what was so soft.
• Apurva – despite not even knowing what had suddenly gone wrong, who Avantika was and why her mention upset Mai so much – stood mature enough not to repeatedly touch the topic, sensing that it was probably not the right time to do so – chose to cheer Mai up, without letting her curiosity find her voice and disturb everyone more.
• Apurva – though still upset with Shashank – kept getting worried and upset – watching him struggling to cook and hurting himself in the process. Her eyes kept finding him because no matter how mad her brain was for everything that he had done in the past – her heart holds nothing but absolute love, concern, and affection for him.
• The significance of the three-legged race that Shashank had come up with to relate it to the marriage was sweet but more than Apurva, it is his own self that needs to remember that because it is usually him who shifts his feet away from her in a different direction and not the other way around.
• The cooking challenge that was given, accepted, and won has definitely made things a lot more interesting as definitely, none of us saw it coming that Shashank was going to ask for – erm – what he did – as his prize.
• Shashank’s heart didn’t wait for a minute when he realized that Apurva hasn’t been around and made him rush around to find her.
• The kind of relaxation that his face held when he caught her playing with the kids, realizing that she was safe and alright was worth watching.

| Bitter Babe

Seriously, how bitter this babe really can be! Oof. She exhausts me. For real. I would like to believe that, somewhere, deep down, a part of her knows that she shouldn’t be doing what she is doing but I guess, it is a bit too deep for her to see and realize but I must say, the bitter babe makes me sigh every now and then. It’s like when she starts speaking – I am like, oh okay, there she goes again.

The bitter babe got the bitter taste of her own medicine in this particular track though. When she passed that comment on Apurva when she was saying that she was hurt when they fell during that three-legged race, even Aparna Kaku couldn’t keep quiet. When someone as sweet as her is losing her patience, we can only imagine how tough it is getting for the Kukki gang to keep their mouths shut.

The bitter babe can’t keep calm even while eating. Did nobody tell the bitter babe that food absorbs vibrations? Why you shouldn’t be watching TV or checking your phone or having any serious or conflicting conversation at least when you are eating? That aside, the taunt was lame and actually didn’t truly bother anyone because Shashank spoke up. Let’s give him a pat for that.

The bitter babe’s lies are never-ending. She ended up convincing Apurva that she was indeed at the conference with Shashank.

Shashank and Apurva have a major difference though. Shashank needs proof to trust Apurva while Apurva needs proof to doubt Shashank. Very different things.

I think that has got a lot to do with the kind of people that Shashank and Apurva are.

Shashank understands books and theories more while Apurva understands people and human emotions better.

Apurva can and does trust Shashank because she understands him because of her own personality which helps her see people for who they are.

Shashank conveniently trusts and distrusts Apurva because he looks at her from the same lens that he uses while reading his theories.

Why she wins every time and he fails every time!

Back to the bitter babe. The bitter babe actually had the audacity to stop a husband from looking for his wife who seemed to be missing. Like what on the earth? It cracked me up. I genuinely do feel bad for the bitter babe. She is putting in her efforts where they are going to result in nothing. Absolutely nothing.

The bitter babe’s conversation with Dr. Kaushik made me wonder if they really do share that kind of rapport for her to say what all that she said to him. I remember that after Dr. Kaushik brought Sarika home, she was never allowed to meet Netra by her father and his family so logically speaking, I don’t think Dr. Kaushik had met Netra in the past several years so for her to speak those words in that tone with him seemed quite odd. He let it pass because that’s who he is. She considers him nothing but for him, she is his niece.

The bitter babe actually said to Dr. Kaushik that Apurva was creating a drama just to make Shashank run behind her. The bitter babe seems to have forgotten that Apurva is Shashank’s wife. She can do whatever the heck that she wants to.

She can make him run behind her, make him dance to her tune, make the ponytails of his hair and tie colorful rubber bands to them – whatever the heck that she wants to do. It’s between her and her husband. The bitter babe does not absolutely get to speak there but the bitter babe is just being… bitter. Sigh.

| Ritualistic Romance

Ritual #1 – Drowning in the maddening concern. 

Unlike Mr. Kanitkar, in the battle of the brain and heart, Mrs. Kanitkar’s heart has been defeating her brain all along. All along. Watching a bit of burning and some tears in his eyes was more than enough for her to curse the existence of the onions as harshly as she could. As harshly as she could.

Why did the onions have to exist? Her heart yelled. Anything that could bring tears to her Khadoos’s eyes doesn’t deserve to exist. It added.

Oh, hello, the ever-so-idiot heart, the universe isn’t here to walk on the path that you create, alright? Moreover, have you forgotten how many times this so-called Khadoos of yours has brought tears to your eyes? Like you have amnesia or what?

They fell during the three-legged race and his priority was to get a first aid box because she was hurt. Annoyed with the irritating voice of his assistant that was asking his wife to stop the drama, he shut her up and rushed to get something to soothe his wife’s pain.

Netra manipulated Apurva and she chose to walk away from Shashank, not knowing that her husband was far too deeply in love with her to let her do that. Netra’s words of manipulation stayed stuck in her head, making her believe that he wasn’t going to bother if she was around or not. The woman had no idea that it was not just gonna get him bothered but also worried-sick.

He couldn’t sit in peace for even a moment when he realized that he hadn’t seen Apurva around for a while and his heart made him wander in search of her.

He stumbled when they were finding their way out of the forest but she held on to him, protecting him from falling and getting hurt.

Her Puja stuff fell and it was important for him to protect it because it was hers. She ran to him after spotting a car that was about to hit him. She could have gotten hurt in the process. The car could have hit her instead but she still chose to push him away from the harm first. She risked her life so that he could stay safe.

Drowning in the maddening concern. 

Ritual #2 – Kissing away the traces of pain.

Avantika’s mention had upset not just Mai but every Kanitkar who heard it except for Apurva. Shashank seems like was quite close to his sister that is no longer a part of their family. I wonder why but we will get to know that. Though Shashank has been of the kind to stand strong no matter what you throw his way, his family matters are more than capable of leaving him more vulnerable than people can imagine. He knows how to conceal his pain but that doesn’t mean that the pain does not exist.

Apurva was incredibly mature in handling the situation that could have easily made someone like her react a bit childishly, stubbornly stick to the topic, and ask about Avantika again and again but Apurva chose not to do that. She shushed her curiosity and made it a priority to cheer Mai up even when she did not even know what had gotten her upset in the first place.

When she came up with that game, everyone knew what she was trying to do. Even Mai. When she hugged Mai, the hug wasn’t just limited to Mai. It had reached Shashank as well. By making Mai smile and diverting her attention from the pain that her past was trying to bring to her, Apurva unknowingly ended up becoming an elixir to Shashank’s invisible wounds as well.

Apurva hurt her hand while taking out her anger on the stones as learned from Shashank and he was instantly in front of her, holding her hand, blowing air on it, and… kissing that hurt thumb that I am sure must have forgotten that it was hurt the moment his lips touched it. That is exaggerated a bit, of course, but the whole moment was so soft.

I don’t remember when I saw a thumb kiss in ITV last. What made the moment more beautiful was the fact that it was done out of full consciousness. Shashank knew what he was doing. It was something that he had willingly chosen to do. There was no awkwardness, no hesitation. Not during that moment. After that – it was bound to exist but even that was so mild. Neither of them seemed too awkward about it. Rather, their smiles weren’t fading. Gave away that though unexpected, how precious that moment was for them.

Ritual #3 – Painting each other in the color of confession.

• You may be Katti with me but I am not. I am still Batti.
• The people who are incapable of doing anything in our opinion know the things that we cannot even imagine so you shouldn’t underestimate anyone like that, Netra.
• What would I have done had something happened to you?
• You know what I want to do at the moment? I want to cut and bring the wooden logs, start a stove here, cook everything that you like, and feed you that.
• I have won the bet. Now give me what I want. No, not at home. Right now. Right here.
• You want me for the next seven lifetimes?
• You might not be this Khadoos in the next life so I won’t mind having you as my husband but would you be okay with this Shishta wife?
• If you won’t be this Shishta… then I would be okay with having you as my wife too.
• I want to complete my puja. I want to tie the thread to the tree and do the pradakshinas but I can’t even walk. How will I?
• You will. I am here, right?
• I am your wife and I have this constant fear that someone will snatch you and take you away from me. And what was the need for you to go to pick up that fallen stuff? What if something had happened to you?
• How do you say that? That was your puja stuff. What if someone had stepped on it? It wouldn’t have been okay with me. I wouldn’t have liked it. What was the need for you to come there? What if something had happened to you?
• That car could have hit you, Khadoos.
• Even if you don’t tell me, I can feel that you feel somewhere the same as what I feel for you.
• Khadoos, stay with me here.
• If I say that my leg is still hurting and I can’t walk, will you pick me up like yesterday and carry me downstairs?
• I will.

Ritual #4 – Gifting each other a precious moment of togetherness.

I am really sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone over here. As he intertwined their fingers together, he mentally vowed to not leave that hand no matter what fate may throw their way. If there was something that he had silently learned from the unfortunate events that had knocked on their doors in the past few days then it was that things and people were on their toes to either take him away from her or take her away from him. He couldn’t and wouldn’t allow them to attack their universe again.

Khadoos, be careful. Are you okay? Her senses would always alert her whenever harm would advance in his way and she would never have an explanation for it because it would be the strange, enigmatic universe’s play. Concern reflected in her orbs as she got the hold of his arm when he stumbled. Falling may have been his fate but the woman standing beside him who happened to be his wife held the determination to change the fate if it had written any awful things for him.

Long as she was around, he couldn’t fall. She wouldn’t let him.

She would be lying if she said that she saw it coming. Saw Khadoos picking her up in his arms to make sure that she would complete the Puja because she wanted to complete that coming. She didn’t but the moment his hand snaked around her waist and he effortlessly lifted her up, assuring her that she would do it, and actually began to walk around the tree with her in his arms – she knew that her husband cared for her and her wishes far too deeply to allow anything to ruin them. Anything to ruin them.

He still had not gotten himself used to the teasing smiles and embarrassment but for the sake of her smile, he did not mind pulling out the Gajra from his pocket in front of his family, despite knowing what that gesture was going to invite – a whole lot of embarrassing teasing. Just for the sake of her smile.

Ritual #5 – Uncovering the unspoken desires of intimacy. 

Oh, I definitely did not expect Mr. Kanitkar to lean in for a kiss, asking for a precious moment of intimacy from her as his prize for winning the challenge but then I remember that I was the one to say how Mr. Kanitkar has recently completed his Ph.D. in romance in private recently. Mr. Kanitkar seems to be willing to shift from theory to the practical now and experiment with what he has learned in the theory.

Without confessing what his heart holds for her, he actually let his heart lead him to do what he might not really have pondered over. Unintentionally stealing her for a while from the world that seldom lets him go close to her, uncertainty and hesitation had run away from him.

Knowing that there was nobody to spy on them, nobody to disturb the mood that he was setting and nobody to break the soft petal of intimacy that he was exploring with her – his hands reached out to hold hers before he poured his eyes into hers, to let her see what he was desiring without having to spell it out loud. A kiss. 

The beauty of the scene is more because it wasn’t done in the heat of the moment or out of some momentary attraction or some sexual tension. Mr. Kanitkar knew what he was doing. It wasn’t something that he regretted afterward. It wasn’t something that he was like – dammit, what was I doing? about. It was something that was done out of his full consciousness and willingness.

Amey Da’s timing… oof! That gave away everything.

I will go and tell the Kukki gang that we’re going to go out tonight. Yay. His fingers curled around her hand and he pulled her onto himself before his utterly innocent wife could ruin his plan. Why wouldn’t she get it that the Kukki gang could not come with them? How was he supposed to explain to this woman that they were going on a… date? How was he supposed to put it in her head that when a husband and wife go out to spend some time with each other – her no gang members need to be there. He silently smacked his head as she brutally killed his plan anyway by choosing Manasi Vahini’s party over their erm date.

But then again, wasn’t that one of those traits that he adored the most about her? His family and their happiness had been a priority to her from the very beginning. From the very beginning. As he watched her rush out with Amey, he could only smile for there could be a hundred things that his wife may not understand but she understood humans and their emotions far too better than the most. Better than even his own self.

The highlight of the week for me was – when Shashank comforted Apurva when the lightning was scaring her. I am not sure how many of you remember but in one of the initial episodes, Shashank had heard Apurva confess when she was talking to her mother how she used to get scared and keep crying as a kid when there used to be lightning and heavy rain.  

That is one of the moments in Thipkyanchi Rangoli that has really stayed with me. I knew back then that this bit will come up in the future with Shashank and it came and I couldn’t be happier, watching it. 

Shashank is someone who will not just comfort her when she gets scared by the things that have terrorized her all along but he is someone who will teach her to get over them because the man is practical enough to know that he may not be always around every time those things would find her to haunt her so he would rather teach her how to fight her fears than to just hold her to himself when she gets scared. 

Undeniably my favorite moment from this week is when he asks her not to be afraid as he stands with her, protecting her and helping her learn to fight her fears.

His Radki Bahuli was no longer just his radki bahuli. His Radki Bahuli had now become his Ladki Bahuli. The Bahuli that he could no longer imagine his dollhouse without. The dollhouse that they had started by allowing the sacred thread of marriage to bind them in a beautiful relationship as partners for the rest of their life. 

The contract was long forgotten. Long forgotten. It stayed nothing more than a piece of paper to both of them.

If there was a piece of paper that actually mattered to them then it had to be the paper called their marriage certificate. 

Their marriage certificate!

Thank you for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.