#remarriage track

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

Arnav-Khushi’s Remarriage

(Navigate the Blog)

Remarriage Begins

Is anyway the remarriage convo could've come up on the show without the whole forced Suhaagrat thing?

Validity of the marriage

What the poolside kisses during roka meant and a short analysis of the remarriage 🙂

What is the big deal about Arnav coming to the temple during the remarriage ceremony? He did visit the temple many times ( including Teej), didn’t he?

Do you think asr’s apologies to khushi at the gupta house for everything was enough?

Date

Why did Arnav pay when Khushi took him out on a date?

What do you think of Arnav and Khushi's date during the remarriage track?

Mehendi/Post Mehendi

Why did Arnav ask the workers to stop the preparation of remarriage (after Shyam was back)?

Did Arnav really think Khushi came over to ‘break the wedding’ ritual?

Post mehendi tiff and poor NK (the exchange of hindi/urdu between ArShi)

Haldi

During the remarriage track Arnav woke up in the morning of Haldi and couldn’t find his ring. Remember how he got very anxious? And was relieved when Anjali found the ring for him. Do you think there is a in-depth meaning to this whole scene?

Thoughts on both families reaction when Shyam comes to Gupta house during Haldi ceremony

What happened after Haldi? 

Consummation Sequence 

Why Arnav was emotional when Khushi kissed his face during consummation?

Arnav’s thoughts after the farmhouse consummation sequence

Wedding 

Opinion on Khushi’s wedding dress

Arshi contemplating if Arnav never showed up for the wedding

Possibility of Arnav not showing up at the wedding

How did the Raizadas (including Arnav) let go of the ‘past’ and what happened in the past?

Why Khushi wore sindoor and mangalsutra during final days of contract marriage and remarriage?

How Arshi's second marriage was presented to the outside guests since in the eyes of society they were already married right? Was it presented as more of a ‘renewal of vows’ event or an actual wedding?

(these are answers to previously sent asks)

[sellenite]

Girl you're FEEDING the Choso simps with your cherry blossom series! I love it sm, and I was hoping you could do a fluffy normal!AU?

Maybe Choso can be a TA/Tutor for an upper division college class and Reader is a senior in undergrad. He can tutor her in office hours, they become friends, then eventually hang out once classes are over?

(I'll let you decide if there's NSFW in there ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°))

pairing: TA!Choso x fem!reader contents: fluff, no smut (but implied at end), Choso and reader are both a little shy/awkward word count: 2.9K notes: I thought this idea was so cute, and I had some fluffy ideas for college AU Choso and reader so I hope this is what you were looking for <3 SFW :)

Choso Kamo wasn’t exactly what you would call a “social butterfly.” He never had been much of a talker, even before the twins passed away. But as his undergraduate years floated past him, he had failed to make so much as a single lasting friendship—driven firstly by grief, and second by natural introversion.

When Eso and Kechizu died, Choso had just started his freshman year of college. It was a stupid accident; the two of them driving home from a late football practice—a practice he would have been there to pick them up from if he were home—when they got hit by a drunk driver. They were cruel and pointless deaths, and Choso had a difficult time accepting them.

He didn’t go home after that summer; there was nothing left for him there. His mother had long since forgotten about him, too busy with her new husband and her new family. But he supposed the one good thing his mother’s remarriage gave him was his half-brother, Yuji. Yuji was the only person Choso had left, and he called him almost every week between his graduate studies.

Choso was on a pre-medical track with a specialization in hematology—the subject just seemed to come naturally to him. He felt he owed it to Eso and Kechizu to do something with his life, to help people if he could. It had been hard work—and he had near-permanent circles under his eyes to show for it—but he found an odd comfort in suffocating his misery with never-ending lab assignments and exams. However, his solitary habits left little room for friendships to grow; Choso found most of his undergraduate—and now graduate—nights alone, either with a textbook in hand or on the phone with Yuji. He was envious of his half-brother in a way; making friends always came so naturally to him.

Choso had learned to adapt to his loneliness until he didn’t notice it anymore. So his professor was more than a little shocked when he saw Choso had applied for the teaching assistant position. To be fair, he surprised himself as well, but he was putting himself through college and some financial help was better than none at all. And that was exactly how he had wound up being your Clinical Hematology TA. The laboratory class was known for being difficult, but it was one of the last remaining requirements you needed for your biology degree.

Choso wasn’t the best teacher—you didn’t think anyone would argue against that—but it was obvious he knew his stuff. He never needed notes—let alone the skeletal slideshow projected onto the laboratory whiteboard—when the professor had him lead lectures or experiments, but he was so soft-spoken. The subject of hematology he knew as if it were his closest friend—in an admittedly lonely way—but public speaking was far from his area of expertise. You often found other students zoning out or easily drowning Choso’s voice out with their own quiet chatter.

You followed along the best you could though. Sometimes you found yourself a little confused when Choso’s already-quiet voice would grow more muted, as if he were speaking to himself rather than to an entire class. But you still found yourself listening to Choso diligently. He was charming, in a sad, quiet sort of way you thought. He had an aloofness about him that made him seem somewhat intimidating to you at first; he didn’t talk to anyone unless there was a question, and he didn’t linger for a moment longer after the professor dismissed him at the end of their lectures.

But you felt that was more to him than the cold front he seemed to put up, and every once in a while you could see cracks in his stoic mask. You could see it in the way he sometimes let out a long sigh when he wasn’t needed in class, his deep brown eyes gazing out the window, distantly. The way he always seemed to rub over the same silver ring he always wore on his right hand when he was presenting. The heavy circles under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in months, half-heartedly covered by smudges of charcoal eyeliner.

Your simple observations began to turn into questions—How old was he? Did he go out on the weekends? Who did he hang out with? What kinds of movies did he like to watch? Did he have a girlfriend?—until (unintentionally) you realized you may have developed more than a small crush on your TA. But you had carried out most of the semester thus far without talking to him, so you doubted anything would change. He was your TA, you were his student; it was best to leave it at that, was it not?

Choso was the TA for your specific class, but there were other graduate students that the professor had to teach in his other time sessions. However (as with most of your other college classes), all TAs had office hours open to students no matter the section they were in. Choso had gotten used to his usually being empty. He didn’t mean to seem cold, or off-putting; it was just in his nature to be quiet. Yet, unfortunately, his modest tendencies led most students to seek help from some of the other, friendlier TAs.

Choso still made sure he was present during all of his office hours, though—it was kind of the job, anyway. But being as he spent most of them alone (sometimes the professor would be present as well), he had started using the time as a dedicated study hour. He found his way to the hematology laboratory and unlocked the door, preparing for yet another hour spent alone in the sterile room. At least there are windows, he thought to himself; he couldn’t remember the last time he had spent more than twenty minutes outside at one time.

But just as he was beginning to pull out his own work, he heard a soft knock at the laboratory door. His brows furrowed in confusion as he looked up, almost forgetting from how many sessions he had spent alone that students were supposed to be at these. You opened the door slowly, a little cautiously even, slightly poking your head in. And you couldn’t help the reflexive way in which your eyes slightly widened and a faint blush spread across your cheeks at the sight of Choso sitting alone at the front desk of the classroom.

“Oh! Hi, I’m Y/N… I’m in your Clinical Hematology class…” You started to introduce yourself, feeling more flustered than you had hoped or expected you would be now that you were talking to Choso one-on-one.

“I know,” Choso said back—maybe a little too quickly, he worried. “I mean, I’ve seen you before… You usually sit by the window, right?” He asked you, in that deep yet soft voice of his.

You mentally kicked yourself for the way you felt your heart fall into your stomach as a small smile formed on your lips. He knows me? You thought to yourself as you nodded back to him, stepping into the classroom a little more.

“Yeah, I do,” you smiled warmly at him, recovering some of your nervousness. You watched as Choso slid a notebook back into his backpack.

“Well… Is there anything I can help you with today?” He asked you politely, and you suddenly remembered the reason you had come to office hours in the first place. You felt your cheeks burn slightly and you hoped that Choso (somehow) wouldn’t notice. You nodded again as you swallowed a lump in your throat, sitting down in the chair opposite the teacher’s desk. You couldn’t help but notice how pretty (albeit tired) his eyes were up close, the brown of them so warm that they almost looked red when the light caught them right.

“It’s this upcoming lab report,” you started gently, trying not to get distracted by all of the beautiful details you never had the honor of seeing—the dark purple color on his nails, his long eyelashes, the way the right corner of his mouth tipped up ever-so-slightly as you sat down… You pulled your lab notebook from your backpack, placing it on the table between the two of you. “I have all of my data from the experiment, but the numbers just aren’t adding up…”

Your visit to Choso’s office hours confirmed two of your suspicions: not only was he intelligent, but he was also much kinder than many might assume at first glance. (And he was incredibly beautiful—with particularly nice hands—but there had never been a doubt in your mind if either of those things were true.) He had this gentle way of explaining things, checking in to make sure you understood before he moved on to anything else. It made you feel like he had done this a hundred times, even though you were confident that he didn’t have particularly busy office hours. You had—somewhat ashamedly—only been able to nod along as he explained where the calculations in your data had gone wrong, nervous that if you spoke your voice may waver and reveal that you were harboring a not-so-secretive crush on him.

And when the errors in your calculations revealed that you would need to rerun the experiment again, not only did Choso offer to help you get set up, but to be your stand-in lab partner, too.

 Choso moved around the room with ease, gathering the blood samples and necessary equipment as if he did this every day—which in a way, you supposed he did. He guided you gently, explaining in his soft voice where you had gone wrong, helping you to learn from your mistakes. He was currently looking through a compound microscope at a red blood cell sample, adjusting the magnification to be at the correct level.

“And if you look here…” He began as he lifted his eyes away from the lens, sliding the microscope toward you. “You’ll see the irregularities in the shape of the cell membrane…” You began to lower your eyes to the microscope, moving to place your hand on the side of the base—without bothering to look—when you were met with warm, soft skin, instead of the cold plastic of the instrument. You quickly (although reluctantly) removed your hand from Choso’s with a small gasp.

“Oh, um, I’m so sorry!” You let out a nervous laugh, looking up at Choso bashfully. You gestured to the microscope a little awkwardly. “After you,” you finished as calmly as you could muster, only to wince at yourself when you remembered that Choso didn’t actually need the microscope anymore—he had just been passing it to you.

Choso shook his head and smiled at you as an emotion you had never seen on his stoic face flashed through his eyes; something akin to amusement, or—if you dared—maybe joy. “No, I insist,” he said with the gentlest trace of a smile gracing his lips. Your eyes lingered on each other’s for a moment longer than necessary before you gave a quick nod and a “Thank you,” before you turned back to look through the microscope. Choso cleared his throat as you bent down to rest your eyes against the lens. 

“Um, as I was saying…” Although he would never admit it, he had only realized when your palm faintly rested on the back of his hand how long it had been since he had touched anyone, since anyone had touched him. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been hugged, let alone hold someone’s hand or kissed them. He was thankful you had been looking through the microscope after that because he could feel the heat in his cheeks reach a blistering height. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts of you and your touch from his mind the best he could as you straightened up from the lens.

You wrapped up the experiment fairly quickly after that, but the awkward yet sweet moment lingered in both of your minds throughout the rest of the meeting. You helped Choso clean up the lab, returning all of the equipment to their proper homes as you thanked him profusely for helping you. He only nodded, a sincere smile on his face as he assured you it was no issue at all. And before you left he called out to you:

“Don’t be a stranger,” a soft, sheepish smile on his face handsome face.

And a stranger you were not. You started going to Choso’s office hours once a week, under the pretense that you wanted to make sure you were prepared for the professor’s weekly exams. Choso never pointed out that you didn’t actually need his help, and he would “tutor” you for a couple of minutes before the conversation inevitably shifted onto more personal topics.

You found out that Choso had a younger half-brother named Yuji. That he didn’t go out most weekends because he kept himself busy with his studies. That his favorite food was tonkatsu ramen with extra pork, and he liked watching horror movies, something he and Yuji did together a lot. That he used to be afraid of the dark when he was a kid, but he never let it show because then his younger brothers would be scared too. The weeks passed and you grew closer to Choso, exchanging little bits of information about yourself until a genuine friendship had blossomed. He eventually told you about his younger brothers, the twins, Eso and Kechizu. How they passed right after Choso started college, and how their deaths had shaped him—in a sad sort of way—into the man he was now.

You had expressed your sympathy, of course, but there was also a quiet respect you held for Choso after hearing his story. He had seemed so calm, unshakable on the outside. To think he had been dealing with so much pain in secret, and for so many years… You didn’t know whether to cry or commend him for his strength. He had opened up to you more than once that day, also revealing how much he had retreated from the outside world after his brothers’ deaths. And how now, he was embarrassed to admit that he didn’t have very many friends.

“Well, I would argue that one is as good a place to start as any,” you assured him with a bright smile, and Choso’s heart swelled. After that day you invited him to hang out with you for the first time. It was just a few days after Halloween, so why not watch a horror movie together? Choso accepted with a boyish grin that spread slowly across his face, the widest smile you had ever seen grace his lips.

The first time you kissed Choso, you were both a little drunk. You had taken him to one of your friend’s parties, an early celebration to welcome in the approaching holiday season. You and Choso had retreated to the kitchen to take a shot together; your suggestion, as you were secretly looking for the liquid courage to finally make a move. But, ironically enough, Choso had the same thought in mind that night. So when you locked eyes underneath the mistletoe strung from your friend’s ceiling, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation on either end as your lips met. The kiss tasted faintly of pine—that earthy flavor of gin—and tart cranberries, and your mouths were warm and soft against one another’s. The kiss wasn’t hungry, despite the alcohol—maybe a little sloppier than you normally would have kissed—but it didn’t lack any tenderness. The crushes you harbored for each other had flourished over the last few weeks, and the dreamlike satisfaction of tasting each other’s lips for the first time wasn’t something you wanted to rush.

Your first kiss quickly led to your first official date; a dinner celebration in honor of the completion of the semester for both of you. The first snow was just starting to fall as Choso ushered you onto the crowded subway car with him, exploring the city after your meal. Your cheeks were tinged pink from the cold as you huddled close together, chest-to-chest, giddy off of the feeling of your new relationship. Choso’s large palm found your smaller hands, holding your cold fingers to keep them warm as you strolled through the streets searching for hot chocolate. The snow collected on your lashes as it fell, and Choso stopped you more than a few times to brush gently his fingers across your cheek and tell you how pretty you looked. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this way—if he had ever felt this way—about anyone.

“Like an angel,” he said softly, admiring the before he stole a sweet kiss from your smiling lips. The snow fell around you, softly illuminated by the streetlights as he pressed you to the side of a building lining the empty alleyway. You giggled between soft kisses and gentle touches over your winter coats, suddenly unaware of the chill of the air around you. The touches grew needier as your fingers laced into the soft strands of Choso’s hair, his strong body pressing you further against the wall as his hands slid ever so slightly underneath your coat. You broke the kiss to catch your breath, leaning back against the brick as you traced the deep scar that ran over the bridge of his nose—when you asked him he said he had gotten it when he was younger, too long ago to remember. You smiled up at him somewhat mischievously.

“You know what? I just remembered that I have hot chocolate at home…”

[raelyn-dreams]

Enstars Updated Ages (as of 12/2024)

(Plain Text and Info under the cut, as well as new HiMERU age spoilers)

31-33: Jin Sagami.

29-31: Akiomi Kunugi.

21-22: Rinne Amagi, Nice Arneb Thunder (Sanda Yoshihide).

20-21: Rei Sakuma.

19-20: Eichi Tenshouin, Wataru Hibiki, Chiaki Morisawa, Kanata Shinkai, Tatsumi Kazehaya, Nagisa Ran, Hiyori Tomoe, Shu Itsuki, Niki Shiina, Kaoru Hakaze, Nazuna Nito, Keito Hasumi, Kuro Kiryu, Leo Tsukinaga, Izumi Sena, Ritsu Sakuma, Tsumugi Aoba, Madara Mikejima.

18-19: Yuzuru Fushimi, Hokuto Hidaka, Subaru Akehoshi, Makoto Yuuki, Mao Isara, Mayoi Ayase, Ibara Saegusa, Jun Sazanami, Mika Kagehira, Koga Ogami, Adonis Otogari, Souma Kanzaki, Arashi Narukami, Natsume Sakasaki, Anzu, Kaname Tojo.

17-18: Tori Himemiya, Tetora Nagumo, Midori Takamine, Shinobu Sengoku, Hiiro Amagi, Hinata Aoi, Yuta Aoi, Tomoya Mashiro, Mitsuru Tenma, Hajime Shino, Tsukasa Suou, Sora Harukawa, Hitsugi Kurone/NEGI.

16-17: Aira Shiratori, Kohaku Oukawa, Esu Sagiri.

15-16: Ibuki Taki.

14-15: Fuyume Hanamura, Raika Hojo.

12-13: Kanna Natsu.

HiMERU Spoilers!!!: 19-20

Unknown: Seiya Hidaka, Gatekeeper.

Info / Explanations for the Curious

All ages are one year up from their currently listed age. The newly released ages for 4Piece are confirmed to be before their current year birthdays, meaning they will age up during the year.

While Jin and Akiomi's ages are currently listed in !!/ES1 Era as 31-32 and 29-30 on their profiles, respectively, these ages are not widely agreed upon, due to them not lining up with the Main Story's stated ages (which would be one year younger for each). Therefore, I used a wider range encompassing both of these possible ages.

Rinne and Niki never attended high school, and Niki therefore did not graduate with any of the ! Era third years, while Rinne would have been a third year during the War, had he attended.

Rei was held back due to his time abroad in his second year, making him one year older than the other ! Era Yumenosaki third-years, which he graduated with.

Tatsumi and Ritsu were both held back in their second years, due to Tatsumi's hospitalization and Ritsu's chronic absences due to his condition and lack of motivation, making them one year older than the other !!/ES1 Era third-years. Therefore, Ritsu recently graduated from Yumenosaki at the end of !!/ES1 Era March, while Tatsumi graduated from Reimei Academy around the same time.

Kaname was a first year alongside Jun during the Reimei Revolution (while Tatsumi was a second-year). Therefore, had he not been rendered comatose, he would have graduated Reimei Academy with Jun at the end of the !!/ES1 Era, making him the same age as the other !!/ES1 Era third years.

Hitsugi was admitted to the producer course during !!/ES1 Era as a second year, much like Anzu the year before, placing his age as the same as the other current !!!/ES2 third years. (While Hitsugi is 17-18 NEGI identifies as his older sister, likely putting her conscious around the age Hitsugi's original older sister died).

As of Ephemeral Festival, HiMERU is confirmed to be 19-20. This tracks with Akira's impossibly mature writing of children & babies (10-month-old Rei remembering specific details of Ritsu's birth, 3-year-old Hiiro speaking in full complex sentences about philosophy, etc), the possibility of Kaname being an affair baby (HiMERU ran away after his father's remarriage specifically; his father could have cheated on his mother before she died), the fact that HiMERU needs to be younger than Rinne (stated in internal monologue), and general Enstars timeline weirdness.

Seiya and Gatekeeper's ages are unknown, though they are typically estimated to be slightly older than Jin and Akiomi (mid-late 30s), with Gatekeeper seen as older, due to Gatekeeper's long history with Godfather (while Seiya is still an active idol with a late-teenage son).

[pejite]

During the winter months, the ebb and flow of farm life softened, granting occasional days of tranquility amidst the seasonal chill. Edwin found solace in this respite from the rigors of farm labor, relishing the newfound opportunity to immerse himself in family time. Wilhelmina, in turn, rejoiced in witnessing her husband's uplifted spirits and increased presence at home.

Upon Edwin's return from tending to the animals at Abernathy Farm, they would retire to the warmth of the lounge, gathered around the crackling fire. There, they would while away the hours, nestled together on the sofa, watching their children's playful antics against the backdrop of the wintry landscape beyond the windowpanes.

"How have you been feeling lately? Everything alright?" Edwin's voice was tender as his hands glided gently over Wilhelmina's burgeoning belly, a silent gesture of concern and affection. She offered him a grateful smile, touched by his attentiveness. "Fine, a bit tired, but it's normal" she replied, turning her head to meet his gaze. "I'm quite certain it'll be another boy."

An intrigued expression played across Edwin's features as he arched an eyebrow inquisitively. "And what makes you so sure?" he inquired, bestowing a soft kiss upon Wilhelmina's cheek.

"Because he's remarkably calm." Wilhelmina explained, her hands resting atop Edwin's. "And you know how serene Thomas and Robert are, almost as if they're not there at times."

Edwin's laughter, low and melodious, resonated through the room. "Well, Thomas didn't give you an easy pregnancy..." His attention briefly shifted towards the lounge door. "By the way, hasn't Thomas been outside for quite some time now?"

During the winter, Thomas spent his days out in the cold streets alongside the other village children, immersed in the joy of the season's snowfall. They would mould the freshly fallen snow into intricate snowmen, create delicate snow angels on the ground, and engage in lively snowball battles.

Thomas had always been of a timid and reserved nature, a trait that still lingered within him. However, the vivacious siblings, Bernard and Beatrice, had managed to draw him and Josephine into their playful escapades and social gatherings. Edwin and Wilhelmina were relieved to witness Thomas forging friendships and relishing the outdoor activities, yet they couldn't shake off their concerns, especially Wilhelmina, who had watched him grow up closely attached to her side.

The morning slipped away swiftly as they lost track of time amidst their festive frolicking. As the evening approached, they bid farewell to Bernard and Beatrice and commenced their journey homeward. Thomas, as usual, escorted Josephine to her doorstep before retracing his steps back home. Along the way, a conversation he overheard between his parents about the potential remarriage of Josephine's mother lingered in his mind.

Clearing his throat, Thomas tentatively broached the subject. "Is it true that your mum's getting married again?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued. Josephine turned to him, her expression uncertain. "I don't rightly know" she responded. "Well, she's met someone and stopped working, so I supose it's possible. My mum hasn't said much to me about it."

Thomas nodded thoughtfully. "We'll still see each other, won't we?" he asked, a hint of worry tingeing his voice.

"Why do you ask?" Josephine queried, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Because my mum says that when a woman gets married, it's normal for her to move to her husband's house." Thomas explained, frowning sadly. "And that man doesn't live here."

Josephine waved off his concerns with a dismissive gesture. "Don't be daft, my mum ain't keen on leaving. We're perfectly content in our own home." She said innocently.

"Ah, well…" murmured Thomas, his desire for Josephine to remain close evident. "What I mean is, I don't want you to go." he confessed, enveloping her in a heartfelt embrace before Josephine could respond.

[phuljari]

imho, the reason why arnav's redemption in ipk is so tragically underwhelming isn't because his apology seems half-assed but due to (as jalebi put it, the fodder for a lot of fics was):

sab tumhari galti hai khushi, kyuki agar tum nahi aati toh shyam aise harkat nahi karta

his apology would have otherwise worked because:

1. he lets his actions speak louder than words. the gifts are his way of taking responsibility for his actions. it's not really an apology, it's a promise

2. the real apology comes during the re-marriage track where he actually says sorry, his remorse is raw and clear on his face

3. technically, the whole remarriage track is an apology to khushi. he's doing all the things she wants, he's doing it for her! he's respecting her beliefs where once he might've insulted them, he's treating her as his equal

4. the only reason it fails to be as impactful is because right after almost losing khushi, he says those words. while it makes sense that characters don't change overnight. it was far too soon for him to flip like this

5. them falling back into their flirty era almost immediately, that was super feelz! would've definitely panned out so much better if they got to be in that phase longer

anyway, the problem isn't arnav lashing out because he's worried about his di, that's all normal! the problem was that despite knowing the entire truth, he chose to phrase it in a way that blames khushi! khushi, who had almost died! khushi, who he had to literally give cpr to revive.

[honeybellexox]

Happy happy birthday 🥳🥳🥳. Hope you have a wonderful year ahead ❤️.I don't know how to choose since here are so many beautiful moments but one my absolute favourite is their remarriage suhaagraat, Arshi and their chotti si duniya and karwachauth when Arnav breaks her fast

Thank you so much! 💖💖

I love little gem scenes like karwachauth post marriage! Some of the tracks were so hard to get through but scenes like the ones you mentioned made it worthwhile, the touch of Arshi magic sprinkled in! ✨✨

[thegleampt3]

umm asoryuu!

i love them so much my personal yaoi cocaine. i think they kind of got divorced but by the end would be on remarriage track but they still need to talk about 800 billion more things before they can reestablish partnership properly and all of that is going to happen in my beautiful mind. also i love angst of them :')

[khyatipareek]

These are the moments when Arnav saved Khushi from falling.

1. Ramp walk in the beginning.

2. In the broken Guest house when Khushi fainted.

3. Teej episode one with sindoor and other while fainting in the temple.

4. Nainital trip when Khushi was talking on phone in the Dhaaba .

5. When Khushi brought cold milk for Arnav, Arnav saved her from falling into the pool.

6. After contract marriage when Khushi wanted to throw Payal's divorce papers into the pool.

7. During Heer ranjha episode, one saving her from the falling curtain rods (I love that whole scene 👍) another at the house when he was questioning her that where was she?.

8. During their honeymoon at night he saved her from... falling from the sofa ( wow he cares for her so much ❤️).

9. After Diwali when she was about to fall in the kitchen he saved her , they both decided not to talk with each other.

10. He saved her from committing suicide (jumping off the building).

11. During Pritika's marrige preparations he tried to save her but both fell down and flowers fell on them (He smiled in that scene awwwww 😍).

12. He saved her from falling before giving her a dictation in English in the office during that 15 days office challenge. ( The way he removed his blazer.....ufff 🔥).

13. When he went to the Gupta house to apologise to Khushi in the night during the remarriage track, she was shocked to see him and he saved her from a fall.

14. During their 2nd marriage when she was about to faint he holds her and his blood fall on her forehead.

15. During the bachelor party.. while dancing Khushi was saved by her husband many a times.(Namak Ishq ka).

[jalebi-weds-bluetooth]

Hiya JWB! Your thoughts on the scene when Arnav takes khushi to his mums. i HATE that they used such obvious body doubles & only watched it i think two seperate times, whenever it comes on i skip or stop it. I dont even remember what was said in it as all i can see is the body doubles, and that hand rubbing khushis cheek to clean the drawing just before they go? Cant remember when but it properly annoys me haha. Love ur replies and analysis keep it up for us still loving Arshi. Biggest thankyou!

Hey Anon!

Oh I so wish they had the script supervisor just note which car they used to create some semblance of continuity! I totally understand why they’d use body doubles but then considering how prominent Sanaya and Barun’s hands are, why they’d go for hand close ups and just why they chose completely different cars… sigh

To be honest when you’re shooting rapidly and daily these important things can be really missed out on! I’m sure on the editing table they realized that damn the nail work just doesn’t match (they tried to crop it!) and the cars don’t match either but probably what’s most important is to get the episodes out in line at the proper time!

You can see below they super cropped in but couldn’t do a anything much cause it was evident how different the hands were!

However all said and done it is a BEAUTIFUL scene, one of the best ones post elopement and is absolutely worth the watch! It adds the emotional gravity we were so waiting for!

It’s a shame there wasn’t a common schedules for the actors that day and that very obvious discrepancies were visible (I can bet that even the directors and editors went “ah shit”) but perhaps it’s one of the few times I can watch over an obvious error.

Also at that point ipk was seriously breaking down in terms of budget - I think a lot of the production stuff was probably being funnelled to other shows? - because you could start to see the set wear down, makeup go off, cinematography slightly cheapen and all.

The scenes also are suddenly too brightly lit. You see the way they managed outdoor Nainital versus the garden and you’d understand there was just a higher quality of equipments employed previously.

(You can see the difference in colouring lighting costume and makeup - massive yet subtle differences)

It’s a good scene though - just hear it out - it ties up the conversation Arnav had with Khushi about parents becoming stars and the whole Anjali Arnav bangle conversation.

Sigh, if they’d only top that scene with Arnav actually giving her his mum’s bangles it would’ve totally closed the loop! But hey very few shows give things in retrospect at this point (where the writers were changed or new writers stepped in).

Small things though could’ve made the scene easier:

- give Sanaya a glitter mehendi or a real mehendi with sketch pen to the body double

- give the body double short red nails instead

- have Arnav wipe Khushi’s face with a handkerchief so in a closeup we have the thumb wrapped in a hanky

- choose the same car for the actors to blend the scene

- have the master shot instead of close ups where they touch each other’s face so we can see the full moment between the actors (the pic below is a master - which is usually a wider shot with both the leads in)

- shoot the hands from the other side so we don’t see the nails but just the hands together

But also there were moments where they got the lighting and body double position really right where you can easily believe it’s arshi! And that is tough considering you need to command eye line, where they’re looking, outdoor lighting and all to look cohesive!

So, I hope you give this scene a chance regardless! Cause tv is tough to perfect, especially under pressure, and sometimes when the writing is brilliant you can forgive other things 😊 I’d always take good writing above two actors in the same frame doing shitty scenes (for example the swami track eww)

On a funny note, the hut scene did give us the worst of both worlds 😂

Best,

- JWB

[sofipitch]

It is interesting that Lestat was committed to Louis in IWTV for 70 years I believe? And didn’t stray until Antoine (which even then was about Louis), to only then be incredibly elusive and flighty with Louis. Why do you think that is? I’m delusional enough that I’m choosing to believe their endgame is a monogamous remarriage lol

I'm guessing you are talking about their relationship after book 3? I think Lestat is just struggling with the idea of commitment because of his past like when you look at his track record

Nicki - said he hated him and had actually hated him the whole time he knew him (regardless of if that is true youch that is cruel) and then killed himself

Gabrielle - distant throughout his whole childhood and eventually leaves him when he is at his lowest

Louis and Claudia - eventually tried to kill him, Lestat's actions result in the death of Claudia which he never forgives himself for, he asks Louis to come back to him multiple times and he says no

Akasha - idk how much of this is actual love vs coercion but he did want to try and redeem her, find a way to settle things without anyone he loved dying, and Akasha gets her head cut off and Lestat feels he could have helped her but didn't and blames himself

So yeah that I think is enough to make anyone crazy. I also think one thing of important is how many of these relationships start with crazy infatuation before ending terribly. Nicki and what Lestat called their golden moment. Running through the streets with Gabrielle after he turned her. Despite their fighting Lestat says he had decades of happiness with Louis and Claudia. And Lestat VERY SLOWLY realizing Akasha is bad. It doesn't surprise me Lestat hops from relationship to relationship, he is craving the honeymoon phase, and then has moved onto the next person BEFORE things can go sour. Lestat "falls in love" with everyone immediately, I don't think he genuinely is in love with everyone equally, I think he is in love with the potential that they could love him l, as long as they never know too much, they never peel back Lestat's mask to see what is actually underneath (Lestat repeatedly refers to himself as a monster and I don't think just bc of vampirism)

I'm now gonna combine this answer with the answer to an ask about the TV show bc I think they are really similar:

I know the whole cheating thing has been driven to ground but there’s all these differing takes of Lestat’s affair so as a book reader what’re your thoughts on the matter? Is Lestat simply poly? Is he just a cheater? Is it circumstancial? And how do you think Louis and Lestat would navigate their second ‘marriage’ in that context? Does Louis take on a simple ‘I do not see it’ approach or maybe he’s just a ‘cool girl’ and doesn’t care? Vampires live forever so monogamy must seem ridiculous but if you remove reality from fiction that leaves it open to different outcomes (especially when you take into consideration how gothic romances usually play out). Sorry it’s probably a loaded question but it’s one of those things that seems up to interpretation so I’m curious as to what your thoughts are on it :)

So I personally don't think Lestat is poly. I personally have no experience with the matter but he often interacted with "other lovers" (basically anyone who isn't Louis or Nicki, Gabrielle and Claudia I'm refusing to consider his lovers but I do think they also count as his fee actually close/genuine relationships) on a very surface level basis. He meets some random person and is kissing them, but that is before they ever actually KNOW him.

I dislike Lestat's relationship with Amel because in a lot of ways it's just insane but Lestat's love for Amel once he is inside him makes a lot of sense, Lestat sees Amel as someone who has seen ALL of him (I'm assuming he has access to Lestat's thoughts and memories) and is not horrified. Amel also can't leave him which I'm sure Lestat sees as a plus 😂

Antoinette in the show being around for a really long time just never made much sense to me just bc based on the books, it doesn't match Lestat's patterns.

None of this is to excuse Lestat or say that what he does doesn't hurt others. Louis says he is hurt by Lestat's distance and affairs in both TOTBT and the TV show. I just think the cause is out of some deep rooted insecurity rather than just uncontrollable lust

As the books go on Lestat becomes Anne Rice's self insert, and I think Lestat's many lovers and everyone in love with him (especially in the PL books) is her own desire for ppl to love her to the level of worship, AR is known for her enormous ego

[northeasternwind]

WAIT WAITWAITWAITWAITWAIT AHAHAHA

okay so it's stated by people who don't know that Radagon is Marika that godhood lineage can be passed down through adoption, ie Rennala's children became demigods after their father's remarriage not because he was also secretly a god but because that's just how godhood works. Which tracks for a fromsoft game in general tbh let's be real.

THEREFORE

PLEASE CONSIDER

DEMIGOD RYA

[laadgovernorandsankadevi]

Hi there! It’s my first time sending you a question but I’ve been following your page for quite some time. And this is amazing!! Especially the one shots you write on ArShi! Now coming to the question. I would like you to shed some light on the post- remarriage intimacy and chemistry of Arnav and Khushi. I have seen people complaining how their passion fizzled out, or how Arnav’s eyes that used to burn with passion and longing for Khushi, turned into someone who started taking his wife for granted. I, in all honesty, am a little confused. While, I know the extra-ordinary love between them would always exists, the inconsistency post- remarriage, was hard not to miss. That’s why, I’m here to ask you this question. How do you see their post remarriage intimacy and how do you think their shared chemistry/ intimacy would be after a few years of marriage. Hope this is not too much. Take care!

Hello Hi!

Thank you so much for sending in a question! My apologies for not answering earlier. I had been under the weather, and real life has been kind of a bitch!

Thank you so much for enjoying my fics! I simply cannot be more overjoyed than I am at people finding my fics worth reading!

Coming to the question at hand, I think you partially answered your own understanding of why the audience/fandom reaction to Arnav and Khushi's post marriage chemistry evokes their unsatisfactory response.

Within the show, the drop in the quality of production value, direction, and the writing reflected within the tracks that played out once Shyam was ousted from the Raizada mansion. As an ardent viewer and of course, a questionably obsessed fan of Arnav and Khushi, I found myself filling in the gaps in the writing with my own interpretation of their characters.

I think our understanding of their chemistry stems from how clearly they lusted or desired one another during Diwali. That energy even if not replicated in future tracks thereafter, is understood by us as viewers. That chemistry felt more passionate and raw compared to them post-marriage. it is probably because the initial lust and desire felt forbidden to both Arnav and Khushi.

For a girl like Khushi, who is not just prude but also is exploring her feelings surrounding sex and desire for the first time with a man who she shouldn't logically like, let alone love; those feelings make her toe the line of her own morals she is so proud of. Thus the chemistry is heightened by her own understanding of her feeling something forbidden.

For Arnav, Khushi is someone exact opposite of who he thought would be the most compatible partner for him. She also evokes something visceral in him which he is not fond of initially. Arnav concisely forbids himself from wanting to explore his desire and lust for Khushi. Obviously him having a girlfriend, and then the Shyam misunderstanding plays a huge role in how Arnav disapproves of his own desires for Khushi.

The chemistry is raw, passionate, fiery and carries hose undertones until throughout the show from the first episode till the farmhouse episode. So, once the two finally give into one another and their desire to be physically intimate with one another, that forbidden factor that evokes the sensuality when they are next to one another is gone.

Now, coming to my take on how their chemistry evolves, I think the interpretation of every varies based on their own interpretation and opinion of what sex and desire mean. I think within the show, we see Arnav and Khushi share a more sweet, and gentle relationship when it comes to sex. Even within the karvachauth dance sequence, there is a touch of gentleness mixed with eagerness and frustration of delaying their intimacy due to Khushi fasting. Thats not to say that the sensuality is lost altogether.

I think with a character like Arnav, a lot of us want to think of him being more dominant and aggressive to an extent when it comes to intimacy and sex but in my opinion, Arnav is definitely someone who understands that a good time, and fun intimate moments rely on understanding your partner's needs.

My take on their intimacy would be that there would be small touches of physical assurance. I think we see an example of it post-marriage when Khushi gives Arnav a hug after he agrees to see a Hindi film over going to the Darby, or when Khushi gives him a quick kiss when she is stressed and isn't able to share her decision of taking part in the mrs. india contest at Arnav's office —, there could also be moments where they are emotionally overwhelmed over something together and that translates into them getting physically intimate.

I think over the years, the two seem like characters who will incorporate vacations or weekend getaways to spend time together. I do think yearning for each other physically will be a consistent thing in their relationship. You need to want someone, or desire their physical presence to want to have sex or be physically intimate in anyway. If we consider the average lifestyle of a MD of a multi-million company alongside Khushi alluded to be a restauranteur or sweet shop owner in the REWIND, and then her owning the catering dabba business, the yearning and want to be with each other in between their busy lifestyle will always be present, and that can always translate into a good time between the two.

I am not sure how else to answer or share my take on their intimacy. Ultimately, like I said before, everyone's take on desire and sex translates into how they see the same ethos translated into any work of fiction.

You mentioned reading my OSs, so I would redirect you to the smut pieces I've posted thus far. Eventful Endings, Before You Go, and then one of the Verses in Motion show bit of my interpretation of how intimacy would exist between the two after their marriage. The absence of intimacy or sex being 'forbidden' will most probably be replaced by whatever situation they find themselves in.

I think the show's writing really messed up in portraying how their intimacy is challenged when they are in stressful situations or how they consider their physical responses to each other when they are angry or mad at each other. The weak writing and direction that infantilized Khushi's insecurities in the end did a lot of damage to our perspective of desire existing between the two.

-LG&SD

[phati-sari]

Hi PS, I was watching the remarriage track of IPK and a random thought came in to mind. Arnav accepted Garima and her past for Khushi, right? So if Garima was just Payal's mother and Khushi is not related to them and he got to know about the past before Payal-Akash marriage will he still be able to acknowledge the past and move on? What would be Akash's reaction to this? Please answer if possible. Thank you in advance

Hello! Thanks for your curiosity, but I no longer answer "What if" questions.

[winepresswrath]

Wandering over to VC fandom to take a look around is like a high school reunion where you find out that one of your former classmates is now ruling a small European country and also has been divorced twelve times. Five or six of those divorces feature their high school sweetheart, which tracks. You congratulate them on their sixth (seventh?) remarriage. Originally distracted by the small European country (good one wait what please elaborate), you realize partway through the night that you have have learned through context clues who David and Merrick are only for someone to mention a Quinn. What's a Quinn? How does Quinn fit in with all of this? Why are there so many names?