The episode is titled “The Pretence in Surat,” focusing on the family’s arrival at Babaji’s home and the difficult facade Mihir and Tulsi must maintain.
The Arrival at Babaji’s Haveli
The episode begins with the Viranis arriving at the ancestral Haveli in Surat. Babaji, an elderly and respected patriarch who is unaware of Mihir and Tulsi’s six-year separation, welcomes them with great fanfare. Following tradition, he insists that the “ideal couple”—Mihir and Tulsi—perform the welcome Maha-Aarti together. Noina is forced to stand in the back with the distant relatives, her face contorting with jealousy as she watches the village elders praise the “unbreakable bond” of the leads.
The Room Assignment Crisis
In a move that sends Noina into a panic, Babaji assigns the “Raj-Darbar” suite—the house’s most prestigious guest room—to Mihir and Tulsi. Despite Tulsi’s attempts to request a separate room near Gayatri, Babaji jokingly dismisses it, saying that at their age, a couple shouldn’t be apart for even a night. Mihir remains silent, his guilt evident, while Tulsi is forced to share the room to keep Babaji’s failing health from being stressed by the truth.
Noina’s Hidden Revenge
Unable to handle being “the other woman” in Surat, Noina decides to subtly sabotage Tulsi’s image. During the wedding preparations, Noina “accidentally” spills turmeric water on the expensive designer saree Tulsi was supposed to wear for the main ceremony—a gift from the groom’s family. Noina hopes that showing up in a stained saree will make Tulsi look careless in front of the elite guests. However, Tulsi remains calm and decides to wear a simple, traditional Anjar-print cotton saree instead, which unexpectedly earns her more respect for her humility.
Ritik’s Breaking Point
While the elders are focused on the wedding, Ritik is seen struggling with the presence of Mitali and their hidden child. He is triggered by the happy wedding atmosphere and gets into a heated argument with Ranvijay near the stables. Ranvijay taunts Ritik about his business failures and his “broken” parents. The episode ends with Ritik raising his hand to strike Ranvijay, only for Tulsi to catch his arm at the last second, her eyes filled with a warning that the “Viranis do not fight like cowards.”
Major Highlights
- The Forced Reunion: Mihir and Tulsi are forced to act as a happily married couple to protect Babaji’s health.
- The Room Trap: The two are assigned the same bedroom, leading to an awkward and emotional confrontation behind closed doors.
- Noina’s Jealousy: Noina’s attempts to humiliate Tulsi backfire as Tulsi’s simplicity wins over the Surat guests.
- Ritik vs. Ranvijay: The internal family feud threatens to explode during the wedding festivities.
Precap for Tomorrow:
Inside their shared room, Mihir tries to apologize for the last six years, but Tulsi tells him that “some mirrors, once broken, can never show a clear reflection again.” Meanwhile, Noina finds the divorce papers Tulsi had kept in her bag and plans to leave them on Babaji’s prayer table for him to find in the morning.
