The episode opens with a dramatic and stormy confrontation between Mannat and Aishwarya on a pier. Mannat tells Aishwarya that she was right, she only has one daughter. She continues, stating that she, the unwanted child (Mannat), does not want a mother who doesn’t want her in the first place. Mannat declares that she doesn’t need Aishwarya’s love or hate and sets her free from their relationship, but with one condition.
Mannat’s condition is a shocking one: Aishwarya must become a liver donor for Shruti Maa. When Aishwarya hesitates, Mannat reveals her trump card. She threatens that if Aishwarya refuses, she will cause a storm in her life. Mannat vows to tell the entire world that the great Aishwarya Raisingh is her biological mother and, more damagingly, that her real name is Sonia Khanna. Aishwarya is stunned as Mannat holds up her phone, revealing she has recorded their entire conversation, including Aishwarya’s confession about her past. Mannat threatens to expose Aishwarya’s carefully constructed life, which would ruin her daughter’s engagement to Mr. Saluja’s son and destroy her business reputation. She further taunts Aishwarya, revealing her secret identity as a woman from the very chawl she despises.
The scene shifts to a grand mansion where a puja is underway. A priest is giving a sermon about the eternal battle between good and evil, much like the one between Maa Durga and Mahishasur. While the family, including Gagan, is engrossed in the prayer, Aishwarya’s mother-in-law receives a call from her. Aishwarya lies, claiming she is on her way to the Sheetla Devi temple to fulfill a vow for her daughter’s engagement. Her mother-in-law, unaware of the truth, blesses her.
Meanwhile, Gagan is seen at a bar, looking extremely distressed. He repeatedly tries to call Mannat, but she doesn’t answer. Frustrated and heartbroken, he starts drinking heavily, lost in a montage of his romantic and emotional moments with Mannat.
Back at the hospital, Mannat arrives with a reluctant Aishwarya, who is now wearing a surgical mask to hide her identity. A nurse informs the doctor that Shruti’s condition is worsening and she needs an operation immediately. Mannat steps forward and tells the doctor that she has found a liver donor. The doctor is initially hesitant, reminding Mannat that the donor must be a family member. Mannat confidently introduces the masked Aishwarya as Sonia Khanna, Shruti’s sister. The doctor agrees to run the necessary tests.
A short while later, the doctor returns to Shruti’s room with a team of nurses. He has good news: Sonia’s liver is a perfect match for Shruti. Mannat is overcome with joy, laughing and crying as she thanks the doctor and hugs her ailing mother. She assures Shruti that she will be fine now. Aishwarya, standing in the corner, watches with a look of pure fury and helplessness.
The doctor then informs them that they need Sonia’s signature on the consent form before they can proceed with the surgery. He mentions that they have also run some other tests on Sonia to avoid future complications. Mannat looks at Aishwarya and tells the doctor that there will be no objection. With a pointed look at her mother, she adds, “She doesn’t have a choice, does she?” The episode ends on Aishwarya’s trapped and furious eyes, her secret and her future now completely in Mannat’s hands.
Review
This episode was a masterclass in high-stakes emotional drama. The confrontation between Mannat and Aishwarya was the highlight, fueled by powerful performances and a dramatic, stormy setting that mirrored the characters’ inner turmoil. Aishwarya’s transformation from a powerful, controlling figure to a cornered and blackmailed woman was compelling to watch. Mannat’s character takes a morally gray turn as she resorts to blackmail, but her desperation to save the woman who raised her makes her actions understandable, if not entirely justifiable. The tension is palpable throughout, especially in the hospital scenes where Aishwarya is forced to play the part of ‘Sonia’. The final scene, with the doctor asking for consent, perfectly sets up the conflict for the next episode. Will Aishwarya go through with it, or will she find a way to escape Mannat’s trap?
Recap Points
- Mannat confronts her biological mother, Aishwarya, and reveals she knows her true identity.
- Mannat blackmails Aishwarya with a secret recording, forcing her to agree to be a liver donor for Shruti.
- Mannat brings a disguised Aishwarya to the hospital, introducing her as Shruti’s sister, Sonia Khanna.
- The doctor confirms that Aishwarya’s liver is a perfect match for the transplant.
Plot Twists
- Mannat has recorded Aishwarya’s confession and uses it as leverage.
- Aishwarya is forced to adopt her old identity, Sonia Khanna, to become a donor.
- The liver test results are a perfect match, leaving Aishwarya with no way out of the surgery without exposing herself.
Predictions
- Aishwarya will reluctantly sign the consent form but will look for an opportunity to sabotage the surgery or take revenge on Mannat later.
- Gagan’s concern will lead him to the hospital, where he might get suspicious seeing Aishwarya there.
- The truth about Aishwarya’s past will eventually come out, leading to a major confrontation with her husband’s family and the end of her daughter’s engagement.