Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Ep 9: Mihir rejects misogyny in powerful episode

India Today

4 days ago

In the latest episode of 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', Mihir takes a stand against gender roles and patriarchy, delivering a progressive message. Hemant and Tulsi wait for Vrinda, and he questions her about the night of the accident. Together, they realise someone tampered with the evidence to falsely implicate Angad and his friend Sameer.Tulsi makes Vrinda feel comfortable, and Hemant asks her to help them with a sketch of the man she saw in the accident. It turns out the culprit is the brother-in-law of Ajay - Mihir's friend's son - who is being considered a match for Pari, Mihir-Tulsi's daughter.advertisement
Later, Tulsi teasingly asks Mihir if he loosened her blouse just to make her feel better about how she looks. The two share a heartfelt moment and compliment each other.As the family prepares to welcome Ajay's family to Shanti Niketan, Mihir grows emotional, seeing Pari all grown up and graceful in a saree. Tulsi asks all the boys to join her in the kitchen to prove that daughters and sons share equal responsibility in the household.Angad is anxious about meeting Pari's potential in-laws, but Tulsi reassures him, reminding him he has nothing to fear when he hasn't done anything wrong. She also tells Pari to remain at ease.Angad and Hrithik serve drinks to the guests. Ajay's mother asks Pari to touch their feet and comments on her beauty, noting how daughters-in-laws in their family are expected to wear only sarees.Tulsi promptly intervenes, asserting that Pari wears whatever she likes - be it sarees, suits or Western outfits. Ajay's mother insists that while she could wear what she liked at her mother's home, she would be expected to wear only sarees after marriage. She also questions whether Pari dances or sings, adding that daughters from respectable families don't indulge in such activities.Mihir and Tulsi are left uncomfortable by the remarks. Ajay's mother further probes whether Pari enjoys cooking. Pari responds that her mother is the one who loves cooking. The older woman then suggests that Pari should "own the kitchen" and even urges her to discontinue her studies, as Ajay is only a 12th-pass student. "If a less educated boy marries a more educated girl, just imagine what he will go through! God has blessed us with so much money that our next three generations won't need to study," she tells Pari.Mihir finally draws the line. He tells Ajay's family that while he likes Ajay, he is not ready for this match. He tells everyone that even though he likes Ajay, he doesn't think that the family is right for Pari, or for anyone else's daughter. 'I have taught my children to dream, and to work hard to fulfil those dreams. I never told them they could only study up to a certain point or that they couldn't pursue what they wanted," he says.advertisementHe tells them that his children are free to study and build their careers, and that his family doesn't differentiate between girls and boys. A furious Indira then highlights how she saw the boys in the Virani family bringing trays for them.When Indira (Ajay's mother) mocks the boys serving drinks, Mihir proudly responds, "My sons go to the kitchen, and my daughter studies."Indira refuses to back down, insisting that her family has its own rules. Mihir warns her to stop, saying he would never allow his daughter to marry into such a family. As the tension escalates, she asks Ajay to leave. But Ajay intervenes, admitting that Mihir is right and that gender discrimination has no place in today's world.Pari is impressed by how Ajay supports her, and even agrees to help him audit his accounts. Tulsi and Mihir notice their chemistry.Indira eventually softens, saying that there's no tradition greater than her son's happiness. Mihir leaves the decision to Pati, and she agrees to marry Ajay. Both families take God's blessings and begin wedding preparations.advertisementLater, Indira asks Pari to show her room and open her cupboard - still displaying her controlling and sexist antics. Tulsi silently wonders why it feels like her daughter is preparing for an exam, not a wedding.In the promo for the next episode, Viren arives at Shanti Niketan. Tulsi tells Mihir that they have received the sketch of the man who caused the accident - Viren overhears.'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' airs Monday-Sunday at 10:30 pm on Star Plus and is also available for streaming on JioHotstar.- EndsMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Smriti Irani