Camera cuts to a close-up of the locket opening – inside is a faded photograph of a young woman (Gauri’s mother) standing next to a young Tej Singh Oberoi… and behind them, a man with his face scratched out.

For fans of the romance genre, it is a textbook example of the "wedding sabotage" trope done right. For fans of strong female characters, Anika’s courage is inspiring. And for those who love a flawed hero’s redemption, Shivaay’s turnaround is cathartic.

While the episode centered on Shivaay and Anika, it also gave screen time to the other two Oberoi brothers. Omkara is seen confronting his own marital issues with Gauri (Mansi Srivastava), trying to mediate between her and the family. Rudra, true to his nature, provides brief comic relief with his antics, but even he senses the growing tension in the house.