Tia's Thread: Velvet Glove!!!

Ishwari reminds me of Velvet Glove. Just because you wrap a pair of boxing gloves in velvet, it doesn't mean that the punch doesn't hurt. Only the sound is muffled. So you don't think it's threatening, until it hits you.

Ishwari was like this before as well. At that time, she hated Sonakshi and pretty much wanted everything arranged around her son as per her specification and thought of Sonakshi as the toy he wanted. 


Now she loves Sonakshi. She is still arranging everything around her son as per her specification except this time she thinks Sonakshi is a necessity.

In either situation, she is forgetting two people and their right to make their own decision - Dev and Sonakshi.

A parent can't always get their child what they want or need. At some point of time, they will have to earn their way. 

If Sonakshi is to come back in Dev's life, Ishwari can't earn it for him. He has to earn Sonakshi's trust, love and respect. It's one thing to respect a relationship and another to respect a person.

Right now, Ishwari respects Sonakshi as a person and due to her effort Sonakshi also respects Ishwari as a person. 

Dev respects Sonakshi as a person, but Sonakshi respects Dev as father of Soha. Because he made no effort for her to earn her respect as a person.

She used to respect Dev as a man who loves his family - as a son, as a brother, as a nephew. She still does.

But Dev never earned her respect as a life partner. 

Then how will she make the choice to be with him? And with Ishwari's constant interference, it doesn't seem likely to happen.

I had said it before. When someone wants someone or something badly enough, they make the effort themselves.

Romeo didn't send a minion to woo Juliet.

Ranjha didn't send his assistant to fetch Heer.

Majnu didn't hire his servant to get hit by stone in his stead for Laila.

Had they done it, Juliet, Heer and Laila would have been happily married to someone else who had made the effort themselves.


You can't push love, you can't force respect and you can't threaten trust. They are things you earn and definitely isn't something you delegate to others to acquire for you.



EPISODE: The episode starts with the cafe/restaurant scene. Radha is spying in the back.

Me: Don't know if it's cafe or restaurant. Waise bhi yeh log kuch khate peete nehin hain. Sirf gappe haak ke nikal jaate hain. Aur privacy to poocho hi mat. Isse achha hota Sona ki office chali jaati.

(As it is they don't eat anything. They just talk and get going. And don't even ask about privacy. It would had been better if she had gone to Sona's office instead)


Sonakshi asks: Whatever you want to say, you can tell me. You can say anything to me.

Ishwari stammers: What can I say? You know everything. I mean you know Dev better than anyone else. You accepted each other. I mean you had accepted each other.

Sonakshi is taken aback. 

Ishwari: You used to love each other a lot. I have seen Dev happiest with you. He had a lot of responsibility since childhood. He never had much friends. One day you came in his life as his friend. Then you two fell in love. Sonakshi, the Dev I saw then, I never saw again. You two were so happy. He learned a lot of things with you. He understood that there are more in life except work. If anyone made him learn to live, it was you. 

Sonakshi: No, no auntyji. I didn't do anything. Dev did everything on his own.

Ishwari: A mother's eyes see everything. And you also know that I am right.


Me: Auntyji, lambi phenko mat. Bhaiya ke jyada friends to kya, adha friends bhi nehin the jab tak behena nehin tapki... (Forget Bhaiya having much friends, he didn't even had half a friend). Unless you count Siri in his iPhone as his half friend. 


Ishwari: I just know that you two are not happy. You have your daughter with you, but there's something missing. 

Sonakshi: After whatever happened, we learned to be happy, Auntyji.

Ishwari: But Sonakshi, when I see Dev, I feel he still wants to live. But he is not living. He is not happy. He wants what you had given him.

Sonakshi: I know what's in your mind. You had talked to Dev about him and me. Dev told me.

Ishwari: Did Dev also told you that I have said to him that if you two don't want to marry, he should marry someone else?

Sonakshi nods.

Ishwari says: I knew he will definitely tell you. Because even today he trusts you as much as he used to trust you before. That's why you will convince him that he should marry again. 

Radha is peeking behind the menu and gets shocked.

Ishwari continues: And what is even more important is that I want you to choose his life partner for him.

Now both Radha and Sona are shocked.

Sona starts stammering: Me?

Ishwari holds her hand: Don't say no, beta. Sonakshi beta, who knows him better than you? 

Sonakshi is stammering: No no no... I won't be able to do this. This is too much responsibility and I am not worthy of it.

Me: Seriously behena? That's your excuse? Here, Ishwari who is your ex mother-in-law and your daughter’s grandmother tells you that you, who is ex-wife of her son should find your daughter’s new stepmother and your ex-husband’s future wife. It doesn’t seem crazy to you?

Had you never been married to Bhaiya and had just dated in the past, it’s one thing. But how would you feel Sonakshi if Bhaiya’s ex (say Natasha) who has a daughter with him came to fix you for Bhaiya?

If you don’t value your dignity, at least value other women’s dignity. No woman or her family (if they value their daughter like Bijoy) would be comfortable with their soon to be future son-in-law’s ex-wife and mother of his child coming to secure their daughter for her ex-husband.

So any smart woman in your position would have respectfully said: While I am his friend now, but the fact remains that I am his ex-wife and mother of his daughter. I don’t think any woman will be comfortable being chosen by me as his wife. Not to mention, she might feel insulted. So I think it would be better if you and Dev make the selection. 

If he asks me for my opinion after he has made some choices, I will try to be objective at that time. But I won’t pick his life partner for him. This is something he should do himself and that’s exactly what I had suggested to him. 

Simple. It’s not difficult at all. 


Ishwari starts twisting her emotional knife: You have said that we should make a new beginning. I want to see my son happy. Sonakshi, I know that Dev still needs someone. Can't you do this much for Dev? Can't you do this much for me?

Sonakshi isn't yet convinced. 

So Ishwari adds her second hand on Sonakshi.

And Behena nods.


Me: First of all Aunty, Sonakshi said new beginning for you and her. Not her fixing your son's new beginning.

Secondly, your useless son might need someone else. But pray tell what use is he to anyone else? 

Thirdly, Sonakshi has already done enough for you and your entire family for next seven births. But your demands are never ending. What have you and your precious son have done for her? No really, when will your turn come to do something? And I am not talking about emotional blackmail and manipulation. Why don't you do her a favour and leave her alone?

By the way, behena, I am right now making chicken noise for you. Pak pak pak...


At Bose house, Ronita tells Saurabh: I am saying what is in my mind. But I don't think Ishwari aunty wishes bad for Sona didi.

Bijoy overhears and comes there: Ronita, beta how can you think that?

Saurabh says: Why can't she think that?

Bijoy says: Ronita beta, you don't know that lady.

Asha says: You don't know her.

Bijoy says: One minute. I am talking to Ronita.

Asha says: And I am talking to you.

Bijoy says: But I don't want to hear what you have to say.

Bijoy again starts talking: Ronita beta, what I was saying is that...

Saurabh butts in again: No Ronita, don't listen to anything Baba says.

Ronita says: But why all of you are shouting?

Everyone starts shouting at the same time.

Dida comes there and says: Stop screaming. Who is saying what no one can understand. You guys have turned this place into fish market.

Bijoy says: Okay, I will tell you. Ishwari Dixit is like a chameleon. She changes her colour as per situation. Keep in mind, you will find out the reason for her change soon.

Asha says: You mean to say that no one can change ever?

Bijoy says: How will she change in this age?

Asha says: You can't change Bijoy, but that doesn't mean no one else can change. I know that now Ishwari ji has started to understand Sona. That's why she wants to set everything right.

Bijoy: You mark my words, she must have some motive behind this.

Saurabh shouts: Baba, why can't you give someone a chance?

Dida suddenly gets a heart attack. Everyone rushes to her.

Bijoy shouts at Saurabh to get the car.

Suddenly Dida starts laughing: This is called acting.

Bijoy shouts: Maa, don't you feel ashamed to do such dirty acting? 

Dida says: And you should also feel ashamed doing so much grumbling. 

Bijoy whines: Maa...

Asha says: Good Maa.

Asha and Ronita hug Dida.

Me: A few things I noticed today. 

1. Remember the advice Sona mentioned Asha gave her about Elena? That when someone fights with you, you should step back and when they are done talking you should hug them and tell them how much you love them?

Yes. She doesn't apply it on her and nor she taught the same advice to her son. So of course, that advice only applies to other women.

2. Even after Ishwari caused Dev and Sona to break up the first time, Bijoy trusted his daughter on her assurance. But they broke up again. 

Why should his family assume that he should give another chance to her or Dev without knowing every detail, reason of her sudden change and not to mention any proof, I don't know. 

Third, Saurabh's behaviour is not so disrespectful, that if he was my son, I'd have told him to get out of my home. He thinks he is some hotshot considering he is someone who couldn't make a living on his own without his sister and get a home of his own without his father. Bijoy's home and life are all his own income. 

Fourth, another thing that makes me wonder if Dida learned early that she can only live a happy life if she only supports Asha at all times because otherwise her daughter-in-law can very well make her life difficult. Because it looked to me as if Dida performed a trick for Asha and she gave a patronising pat on her head as a praise. 


In the cafe/restaurant, Ishwari comes out smiling and sees Radha. 

Ishwari goes and calls Radha: What are you doing here?

Radha says: Where else would I be? It's not even two days since you got discharged from hospital and you went out. 

Ishwari asks: How did you know I went out?

Radha says: I was worried for you. So I had come to your room to see how you were doing. But you were talking to someone. So I heard that you are coming here to meet Sonakshi. You no longer share anything with me. You did what I feared. You told Sonakshi to look for girls for Dev. You know her, naa? And you gave her chance to go close to Dev. Now she will never go away from Dev.

Ishwari: Bhabhi, do you really think so?

Radha: Yes.

Ishwari: That's what I want, Bhabhi. 

Radha: What?

Ishwari: When Sonakshi had come to our home with her family, I talked to her. Then Sonakshi said may be that time was not right.

Radha is scared: That's what I am saying. Sonakshi isn't right for Dev.

Ishwari says: No, Sonakshi said then the time wasn't right. At that time they were not prepared for that relationship. But now time has changed. They have changed so much now and even I have changed the way I see them now. Now even when they fight, they have an innocence there. Like friends. Now this friendship will be the base of their new relationship.

Radha's teeth starts chattering: Didi, you are not trying to make them friends, you are trying to get them married.

Ishwari: Because this is right, Bhabhi. They were made for each other. In fact, they are made for each other. But they are not understanding what is going on. I have understood Bhabhi. This is the fate's decree. 

Radha: But then why did you ask her to find a girl for Dev?

Ishwari: Because you can't talk to kids like adults, naa. I learned this from Sonakshi. But my two kids, they are not kids that I can cajole, but they are still kids. When Sonakshi will look for girls for Dev, they will understand the fear of losing each other forever and that fear will make them realise what they feel for each other. You wanted to look for girls, for Dev. Naa?

Radha: Yes.

Ishwari: Then find girls. We will show pictures of the girls to Sonakshi. This time if Dev and Sonakshi get together, they will never be apart.


Me:  Ishwari aunty, before making this elaborate plan, have you thought it through?

First of all, life partner isn't a bag with 80% off sale that people will buy just because someone else might buy it. Life partner is a lifelong commitment which people don't make simply because they are afraid to lose someone.

Let's not forget that Sonakshi has nothing to lose because in her mind, she already lost Bhaiya. 

Did you ask what was her response when Bhaiya had told her what you had said? The answer would have surprised you and may be would have made you reconsider your plan.

Also, have you considered that thinking Bhaiya has moved on, what if Sonakshi agrees for marriage to someone else? You don’t know that Sonakshi has refused to marry anyone. Did it occur to you that they have a perfect specimen ready in Bose house clutching Bose family approved certificate? Then what will you do? 

Then because of your manipulation, you would not only have torn Soha's family apart and permanently break your son into tiny pieces (because this guy is happy even with Sona as friend but he won't be able to swallow her as someone else's girlfriend or wife) and take away his last bit of happiness.

And have you thought about all those women you are planning to use to get behena and bhaiya together? What if they fall in love with bhaiya (seeing his outside facade of course), then what? Are you prepared to change the bride then? 

I keep saying for you to stop your manipulation, but you just can't help yourself. 

Behena comes to Dixit house thinking about what Ishwari has said. She sees Bhaiya dancing with Soha 

Me: That's definitely not ballet, that's more in the ballroom dance category.

Soha sees her and asks her to learn dance with them.

Bhaiya asks: Sonakshi Bose, how come you are here? What happened? Your work is done?

Soha says: Mama, do you know, we had a lot of fun in dance class. Papa, you perform in front of Mamma.

Bhaiya: No. I don't want to do any performance in front of your Mamma. Did you know how she got angry with me? She doesn't listen to me. She just keeps shouting at me. Now what happened? Tell Soha everything.

Sonakshi is still quiet.

Me: Sorry, I am busy face palming. So no reaction for a while. I am just thinking that now I know why Ishwari is desperate to hand over Bhaiya to someone else. No one can tolerate that whine forever. 


Suhana asks if they are fighting.

Bhaiya says: No. Why will we fight? We are friends. Best friends. And best friends don't fight. They forgive each other. That's why I forgive you, Miss Bose. Fine?

He holds out his hand...

Sonakshi keeps staring.

Me: I'd have kept staring too. Let's see here. Sonakshi is at work, Bhaiya calls whining that he can't do what his daughter is asking so Sonakshi should leave work and do it, Sonakshi says no and he is saying that he has forgiven her.

Let's reverse the situation where Bhaiya is in an important deal, Behena calls whining and demands he leaves work and handle it, Bhaiya says no and when he comes back, Behena says that she has forgiven him for shouting at her idiocy. 


Bhaiya says: Okay. We also don't want to talk to such arrogant and rude girl. Let's go. We will practice somewhere else.

Sonakshi walks away.

Bhaiya sees her walking away. He follows her.

Behena is in Bhaiya's room. 

Me: Yeh ghar nehin, public garden hain. Koi bhi kahin bhi muh utha ke chala aata hain.

(This is not a home. This is a public garden. Anyone, anywhere feels free to walk in)

Bhaiya comes there and asks: Sonakshi, why didn't you tell me that you were coming here?

Sonakshi: Like I had a choice.

Me: Behena, you had a choice. The problem is that you didn't exercise it. 

She sits down. 

Bhaiya also sits down by her: What happened? Why are you talking like this? You also spoke like this in the morning to me. That's why I had to go in her dance class and had to wear tights and dance weird.

Behena gets up. Bhaiya gets up and shows ballet moves: Like this. Who dances like this? And pirouette? Sounds like the name of a disease...

Sonakshi shouts: Just shut up. What are you getting doing this? 

Bhaiya says: What else will I do? You are not talking and also not telling me anything. I have disturbed you a lot on phone but that doesn't mean...

Sonakshi: Dev, when will you grow up?

Me: Never. Behena, first of all, stop taking your inability to say no on Bhaiya. You should have known better before agreeing to be matchmaker for your ex-husband. That's your problem.

And your second problem is to expect Bhaiya to grow up. He will never grow up. He is living breathing Peter Pan. Forever a boy, never a man. 

Either wash your hand of him and his mother and let her hand him over to a woman who will become his mother after Ishwari or you mother him for the rest of your life.

READ THIS CAREFULLY: If you are looking for a life partner who will be equal to you in all sense and will always stand by you, this is not the guy. 

If you want another kid to handle without having to go through childbirth again, this is that guy.


Bhaiya: I am just saying sorry...

Behena: What sorry? For what sorry? Keep your sorry to yourself. Get married to your sorry.

Behena sits down again with head on her hands.

Bhaiya: What happened Sonakshi? Tell me what happened?

Behena: I don't want to say anything.

Bhaiya: Sonakshi, you can tell me anything. We are friends. We can say anything to each other and we won't judge each other either. 

Behena: Friends...

Bhaiya: Like my problem is your problem, your problem is also my problem.

Sonakshi gets up and says: I met Auntyji at restaurant today.

Bhaiya's says: Maa? But why outside?

Sonakshi says: She came to talk to me.

Bhaiya: What?

Sonakshi: What she told you.

Bhaiya: I am sorry, Sonakshi. Maa must have forced you to marry me, naa?

Sonakshi: Dev, she didn't force me to marry you. She wants you to marry someone else.

Bhaiya is shocked.

Me: Bhaiya, you must be thinking that everything was falling in place without you lifting a finger, how come now everything went to shit, eh? Well, this is why when something is very important, you don't leave it to others. You do it yourself.


Sonakshi: And she wants my help in this.

Bhaiya: What?

Sonakshi: She also made me promise that I will help her find a life partner for you.

Bhaiya: And you promised?

Behena: What else would I have done?

Me: I don't know, Behena. You could have grew a personality which you seem to leave behind when you stand in front of Ishwari. 


Bhaiya is upset: You could have said anything or made any excuses. You could have said you had somewhere else to do. Why did you promise? Now you promised Maa.

Me: So what? You also said to your mother that Sonakshi will never come back in your life. I don't see you keeping that promise.


Behena: How could I have said no to her? And why are you so shocked? She has already talked to you before she talked to me. She asked me for help and that too for you. How could I say no? Besides what's wrong in what she said? That day when I was changing tires, you said that...

Bhaiya: What did I say?

Me: Haila!!! Did he forget his ramblings again?

Sonakshi: You also think that...

Bhaiya: What do you think? That you will select a girl for me and I will marry her? Why will you be alone? I can also select a guy for you. You can marry him.

Me: But Bhaiya, you are forgetting. Behena doesn't have any problem saying no to marriage. She doesn't want to marry. You, on the other hand, do. And you can't seem to say no to marriage to anyone else either. That's the difference.

Besides Behena asked you what you want and you said you wanted to marry. Remember? Behena also said that she doesn't want to marry. So everything is happening as per your consent.


Sonakshi: What are you saying? What else would I have had said? You could not say no to her either. 

Bhaiya: That's different.

Behena: Why is it different? She was also asking you to get married. 

Bhaiya: Sonakshi, my mother was asking me to marry you.

Behena is shocked.

They stare at each other, eyelock and tung tung Tana Nana in the background.

Me: Behena, don't pretend. You also know that you were one of the options and Bhaiya knew it too. But the difference is that at that time you were one of the options in Maiya's mind and now you are the only option. But you two won't know that.


Bhaiya leaves from there. Behena thinks.

Bhaiya then comes to Maiya's room.

Maiya says: Dev?

Bhaiya asks: You talked to Sonakshi about my marriage?

Maiya: Then who else would I have talked to? You left this discussion in the middle as if you forgot.

Bhaiya: But Maa. You told her to look for a girl for me? 

Maiya: Yes. Now if I have to do this big task, I will need someone's help naa.

Bhaiya: But Sonakshi. Why didn't you talked to me?

Maiya: Then I am saying now. We have already talked about this. I had said that if you don't marry Sonakshi, then you will have to marry someone else. 

Bhaiya: But Maa, Sonakshi and I...

Maiya: Dev, why are you getting angry with me? I just asked Sonakshi for help. She is a very good friend of yours. She knows you so well. So I thought I will ask her for help. Did I do something wrong?

Bhaiya: But why did you chose her for this?

Me: No Bhaiya, you just tell me that where is your objection? The fact that your mother is forcing you to marry or the fact that she is forcing your ex-wife whom you still lust after to find your next caretaker? Because I am honestly not getting you. 


Maiya: You are right. May be I should have talked to you first. I am sorry. After all you had asked me if I understood why she is connected to me. And when I got the answer, then I should have told you first that I understood why Sonakshi is connected to me. She is here to handle you. She is helping me. 

Look, you are my son. Maa can never see any shortcoming in her son. So may be I won't like any girl for you. So I asked Sonakshi to find a girl for you. Because Sonakshi knows both of us. She won't do anything wrong. I trust her completely.


Me: Wow, sounds like Ishwari is hiring Nanny for her baby. Someone mature, understanding, smart and trustworthy to handle an overgrown baby. Do any of you know contact information for Mary Poppins?


Bhaiya is still mumbling: But Maa, Sonakshi and I...

Ishwari: Yes, you two. You have changed so much. Now both of you take decisions after thinking about it. So I thought Sonakshi should be included in the decision for your marriage. What is it? Are you scared? Beta, everyone gets scared of new beginnings. I was also scared. So I went to Sonakshi.

Bhaiya: Did you think about Suhana? How will she feel when she finds out that there could be another woman in my life?

Me: Oh, so Suhana is the only one standing between Bhaiya and his remarriage now. I thought it was Bhaiya's obsession with Sonakshi. 


Ishwari pretends to think: You think it will affect Suhana? Then let's go. Let's talk to Suhana.

She hustles Dev to Suhana.

Suhana and Golu are playing. Golu is winning. Suhana wonders if this is his lucky day. Why is he winning so much?

Golu says it's his lucky day. 

Just then he sees Bigcha and comes running and says that he is winning.

Ishwari praises him. 

Then Golu tries to drag Bhaiya to show his game. 

Ishwari says that his BigCha wants to talk to Suhana for a minute. So could he leave them alone? 

Golu wants his Bigcha to see his game first.

Bhaiya says that he wants to talk to Suhana.

Golu gets jealous and upset that no one cares whether he wins or loses. He always wants to talk to Suhana.

Bhaiya is about to go after Golu when Ishwari stops him.

She tells Bhaiya to talk to Suhana first.

Bhaiya stammers.

Ishwari says that she will talk. She says to Suhana that she knows that her Mamma Papa are not like other parents. They don't live together. 

Suhana: Yes, Mamma has said that it's not possible but I can stay with my Papa.

Ishwari: Yes. But do you want your father to be alone? Don't you think your Papa needs someone? He won't be happy if he lives alone. And you want your Papa to be happy, don't you? Then your Papa marries someone else would you feel bad?

Bhaiya: Suhana, look I promise, I won't do anything that you won't like. If you don't want any of this, you can tell me clearly. 

Suhana: I need time to think.

Me: Are you serious? Arre sharam karo. Apni beti ke kandhe pe bandook rakhke chala rahe ho iss ummeed se ki jo aapko bolne ki himmat nehin woh beti bol de? Thodi si bhi sharam nehin hain kya? Kitne bade lallu ho aap.

(Shame on you. You are making your daughter say what you have no courage to say? You have no shame whatsoever, do you? What a wimp.)


In Dev's room, Sonakshi is still standing in front of the mirror just like before: You are so stupid, Sona. This is about Dev, his future. And Auntyji is asking for your help. Why is it affecting so much? Dev is an idiot. He can't move on. But you? You have moved on. Then let him get married. He will be happy, Auntyji will be happy, Soha will be happy and you will also be happy. Won't you? Sona, this is good for everyone. Then why this confusion?


Me: I am also wondering the same thing. When Bhaiya told you that he wants to get married. You were fine with him marrying someone else. In fact you encouraged him to follow what he and his mother wants. So is your problem that you don't want to find a girl for Bhaiya or Bhaiya marrying someone else? I mean you can get out of this promise by giving this responsibility to Elena. Because let's face it. Elena knows Bhaiya longer than you. 

CVs, please bother watching past episodes before writing scenes. No need to go too far behind, but at least check out a few weeks back. Because as of now, this sudden change is confusing the hell out of me.

Aur Behena, jaake dekho kitna bada lalluram hain Bhaiya. Thodi si bhi sharam nehin hain in mein ki apni beti se shaadi rokne ki koshish mein hain. Aap ko phir bhi yehin pasand hain? Itna useless banda?

(And Behena, go see what a big wimp he is. He is making his daughter stop his marriage. And you like him? This useless guy?)



PRECAP: Ishwari is in a room with Bhaiya and Behena.

Ishwari to Dev: I don't want you two live like this, Dev.

Ishwari to Sona: Sonakshi, you promised me. I have complete belief in you. Only you can save him. I am putting my son's future life in your hand. Don't say no.

Bhaiya: Maa, I am not ready for this.

Me: Good for you, Bhaiya. I thought you were dumb. 

And Auntyji, how about putting your son's future in his own hands? Huh? How about that? Shouldn't all adults take the responsibility of their future themselves? 

He is not a kid, you know?

And if he is a kid, well then, please don't ruin Sonakshi's life again.

You know that child marriage is illegal, right?


NO RULES!!! YAY!!!