I always wanted to pen down this most talked about duo and their unusual relationship. But every time I started to write, I always fell short of words and dreaded that I may not be able to do justice in capturing the true essence of their relationship. However, last night’s episode touched a deep chord in me and gave me the added boost to put forth my two cents. And I hope my words were able to strike the right chord with my readers, true to their relationship.
Children are believed to be God’s most beautiful creation and a gift to mankind. They are those innocent beings on the face of earth, harming no one. They only desire love and happiness and wish the same for their loved ones. Even God bows before his own creation. So when the innocent Nanhi, in an effort to put an end to her mother’s misery, prays to God asking for his help, “Hey Ganpatiji, kuch magic kar sakte hai jo Mummy ko phir se hasa de aur jo Mummy ko phirse pehle jaisi mummy bana de,”…he instantly grants her wish, and to everyone’s utter surprise, Megha bumps into Mohan coincidentally at that very moment in the temple or is it divine intervention. Whatever the case, Nanhi’s prayers were answered.
Who can ever forget the very first encounter between Mohan and Nanhi at the Prabhat Laher office where Nanhi comes to place a matrimonial ad for her mother?
“Bataogi nahi ki kya problem hai toh koi help kaise karega”….I still can’t forget that look on Nanhi’s face and the twinkle in her eyes when she heard Mohan say those words. Of all the people, a stranger was willing to help her. While she looked at him in utter disbelief, her heart completely believed him. To her Mohan was “the” one, who believed and supported her noble intention to get her mother married and helped her with no questions asked. “Toh ek kaam karte hain na Joshiji, main ban jata hoon iska guardian….” and with this simple statement, Mohan cemented her faith and trust in him for life. He became her Messiah and that moment laid the foundation for the birth of Chawanni and her Spiderman, both tied together with unconditional love, support and friendship.
And there was no looking back since then. Spiderman and Chawanni stood by each other through thick and thin. Their friendship withstood every test of time and came out with flying colors. Nothing and no one could dissuade Nanhi’s faith in her Spiderman. They laughed together, cried together, and even became each other’s confidants. Despite the huge age difference, they treated each other as equals. They found solace in each other’s presence, accepted each other for what they are and they even helped each other fix their problems in jiffy.
Last night, whilst everyone was surprised to hear that Mohan actually helped in resolving the case against Amar Vyas, Nanhi wasn’t fazed at all. “Spiderman ne mujhse promise kiya tha ki woh Papa ko innocent prove kar ke hi rahega. Usne apna promise pura kiya.” She believed in her Spiderman with all her heart. She was confident that he would go to any extent to keep his promise. Mohan has truly been a super hero for Nanhi and her family, and has managed to fulfill every promise of his.
Though Nanhi was happy that the the truth about her father was finally out in the open and he was proven innocent, a part of her is shattered at the prospect of losing her Spiderman forever. “Papa ke baad tumhe mere best friend ho, papa toh mujhe chodke chale gaye, ab tum bhi ja rahe ho.” Justice was served, thought late, but did it come at the expense of Chawanni loosing her friend?
Chawanni aur Spiderman ki dilchasp kahani; the more I try to analyse it the more I get drawn into it. Among all the relationships that Mohan holds close to heart, his friendship with Chawanni is “the” one he treasures the most. As Mohan rightly says “Jeeji kaash sab ka dil aap ki tarah saaf hota aur Nanhi ki tarha masoom….” Nanhi’s innocence is what makes Mohan believe that goodness still exists in this “Big bad world.” Nanhi’s unconditional love and absolute faith in her Spiderman is what makes Mohan believe in himself and feels worthy of himself. While every other relationship has strings attached, this is one relationship that Mohan can just be himself without having the fear of being judged. This is one relationship ruled by their hearts, nothing more, nothing less.
The parting scene of Mohan and Chawanni left me heartbroken and a bittersweet taste in my mouth. I could sense Mohan’s pain, as he died a thousand deaths seeing his little angel weep inconsolably. "Mohan ka promise hai, woh humesha tera Spiderman hi banke rahega, tujhe kabhi bhi koi bhi problem ho, yeh Spiderman zaroor aayega...”
“A part of you has grown in me. And so it's you and me, together forever and never apart. Apart maybe in distance, but never in heart.” As Mohan parted ways with Nanhi, his words of assurance to always be by Nanhi’s side, had left me eagerly waiting with bated breath for that moment when they eventually would come together again in life, never to part forever.
Spiderman and Chawanni’s relationship would not have managed to create the amazing onscreen magic without Kunal Karan Kapoor and Ashnoor Kaur’s brilliant portrayal of their respective characters. Hats off to both these artists who not only make their characters come alive on screen but also was a visual treat to watch. Viewers can’t help but keep falling in love with them every time they appear together in one frame. Nanhi aur Mohan ki Dosti ki Dastaan will definitely go down in the history of Indian Television.
Swati Ghosh
Writers Gully