The episode opens with Anupama arriving at Manohar ji’s (Guruji’s) traditional house. She finds him comically cleaning cobwebs from under a bed, during which he discovers some of his lost belongings – a comb, a smiling ball, and a pin he doesn’t recognize. This inspires him to share a “thought of the day” with Anupama, which she writes on a whiteboard: “Life’s journey is fun if you believe it to be, otherwise, there are problems here every day.” He compliments her handwriting and lightheartedly requests two cups of tea, stating he won’t share this time.
Meanwhile, a distressed Prathna is on the phone, urgently looking for a temporary place to stay. She mentions she’ll head there straight from her office. Later, feeling nauseous, she drinks some water and expresses her reluctance to involve Leela (Ba) in her troubles, determined to handle her situation independently. As she walks down a street, her abusive husband, Gautam, ambushes her. He grabs her bag and tries to force her into his car. Prathna resists, screaming for help, but Gautam silences her, threatening her and revealing she’s pregnant with Aansh’s (Prem’s) child. In the struggle, he pushes her out of the moving car. Seeing a motorcyclist approach, Gautam speeds off, leaving Prathna injured on the road.
Back at Manohar’s house, Anupama is in the kitchen preparing tea. Manohar interacts with his dance students, offering them homemade lozenges for colds, which he humorously attributes to “Chandrama” (Moon) before Anupama corrects him, clarifying her name. He then proudly shows Anupama his small “Ayurvedic dispensary” – a shelf filled with herbs and spices, emphasizing the power of Ayurveda and nature’s bounty. He reminisces about his past fame, teaching dance to renowned actresses and earning accolades, contrasting it with his current life of serving art by teaching. He philosophically remarks that he is like a setting sun, content with his present. He tells Anupama that life waits for no one and one must keep moving forward with it. Deeply impressed, Anupama says she would proudly tell people she works for him, but Manohar humbly dismisses his current recognition.
As the dance students begin their Kathak practice, the sound of the ghungroos (ankle bells) deeply disturbs Anupama. She is overwhelmed by flashbacks of a traumatic past involving dance, possibly an abusive relationship, and seeing another woman (Malti Devi) in a similar painful situation. She tries to block out the sounds and memories by putting cotton in her ears and busying herself in the kitchen, but her distress is evident.
The scene shifts to the Shah house, where Samar confronts Leela (Ba) in a furious outburst, blaming her for Prathna’s disappearance and stating Leela would be responsible if anything happened to Prathna. Leela dismisses his concern, accusing him of caring more for Prathna than his own family. Samar breaks down, expressing his frustration that his wishes are never valued, and that he sacrificed his passion for gaming to take up a corporate job for the family. He tearfully asserts he’s a good son whose life seems destined for sacrifice and questions if helping a helpless, pregnant girl is wrong. He angrily compares Leela’s attitude to Vanraj’s past irresponsibility and threatens to leave the house himself, though he would continue to send money.
Later, Anupama accidentally drops a box of ghungroos, and Manohar notices her lingering distress. He gently asks her about her past and shares photos of his own family—his wife, son, and daughter, who are now abroad. He mentions they call him late at night due to the time difference. He expresses his deep love for his country, dance, and memories, stating he couldn’t leave them. He then informs Anupama that he will be going to Ahmedabad for a few days to conduct special classes at Parag Kothari’s dance academy. This piece of information visibly worries Anupama, who recalls Rahi (Prathna’s sister-in-law) mentioning a connection to a Parag Kothari and a dance academy. She wonders if it’s the same one, fearing a potential link to Prathna’s in-laws. Manohar tells her not to come to work the next day due to his trip.
In another scene, Prem (Aansh) finds Prathna dancing. He remarks how long it’s been since he saw her dance so happily and encourages her to never stop doing what brings her joy. Prathna explains she was practicing before going to meet Manohar ji at his academy, as it had been months since she last danced. Prem then informs her that he and Hasmukh (Kaka) are traveling out of Ahmedabad for a business meeting and will return by evening. When Prathna asks where, she reacts with fear upon hearing “Mumbai.” She anxiously pleads with Prem to come straight home after his meeting, without any detours for shopping, which puzzles him, but he agrees.
The episode culminates with Anupama arriving at a new household, “Aditya Pawar,” for a cooking assignment. The lady of the house, Sunita, explains that her husband’s two colleagues are visiting for dinner and that they are Gujarati vegetarians, a detail she hadn’t known earlier. As the guests arrive, Anupama is stunned to see they are Anil Kothari and Prem Kothari – Prathna’s father-in-law and her love interest, Prem (Aansh), respectively. Prem is equally shocked to see Anupama working there as a cook.
Major Recap Points:
- Prathna’s Kidnapping and Revelation of Pregnancy: Prathna is revealed to be pregnant with Aansh’s (Prem’s) child. Her abusive husband, Gautam, attempts to kidnap her, leading to her being pushed out of a moving car and left injured on the road.
- Anupama’s New Job and Unexpected Encounter: Anupama starts a new cooking job at the Pawar household and is shocked to find that the guests are Prem (Aansh) Kothari and his father, Anil Kothari, connecting her new work directly to Prathna’s troubled in-laws.
Plot Twists & Key Revelations:
- Prathna is Pregnant with Aansh’s (Prem’s) Child: This is a major revelation, explaining her distress and vulnerability, and raising the stakes of her conflict with Gautam.
- Gautam’s Brutality: Gautam’s attempt to kidnap Prathna and his subsequent act of pushing her out of a moving car showcases his dangerous nature and the extreme threat he poses to her and the unborn child.
- Manohar’s Connection to Parag Kothari’s Dance Academy: Manohar ji going to Ahmedabad to teach at “Parag Kothari’s Dance Academy” creates a potential link between Anupama’s new mentor and Prathna’s in-laws (as Rahi, Prathna’s sister-in-law, was previously associated with a dance academy). This could be how Anupama gets further involved.
- Anupama’s Traumatic Past with Dance: The loud ghungroo sounds trigger severe distress and flashbacks for Anupama, hinting at a deeply painful past associated with dance, possibly involving abuse and a connection to Malti Devi.
- Anupama’s New Cooking Job is at Prem’s Colleague’s House: The coincidence of Anupama taking up a cooking job where Prem Kothari and his father are guests sets up a direct confrontation or an awkward situation, and pulls Anupama deeper into the Kothari family’s sphere.
Predicted Outcomes (Next Episode/Arc):
- Anupama will try to hide her identity from Prem and his father: Given her shock, Anupama might initially try to avoid being recognized by Prem and Anil Kothari while cooking, leading to tense and awkward situations in the Pawar house.
- Prem will recognize Anupama and question her presence: Prem, being equally surprised, will likely confront Anupama or try to understand why she is working as a cook there, potentially leading to a conversation about Prathna.
- Prathna’s safety will become a central concern: With Gautam’s attack, Prathna’s well-being and that of her unborn child will be paramount. Samar, Anupama, and Prem might try to find a way to protect her.
- Manohar’s trip to Ahmedabad might reveal more about the Kothari family or Prathna’s situation: If Parag Kothari is indeed connected to Prathna’s in-laws, Manohar’s visit could uncover crucial information, or he might even encounter Rahi or other members of the Kothari family.
- Samar’s emotional outburst will lead to further conflict within the Shah family: Leela is unlikely to take Samar’s accusations and emotional breakdown lightly. This could lead to deeper rifts in the family, especially regarding their differing views on Prathna and Samar’s responsibilities.