Kya Paate Hain Kya Khotein Hain...

Growing Up With Suhana & Golu

Disclaimer: This is not to victimize/white-wash any character, this is just trying to understand a character from his/her POV, why they behaved in a particular manner. This isn't justifying/glorifying them either.

(A conversation between the teacher, Golu and Suhana, which depicts their respective family dynamics. Episode 253) 

Teacher: Golu, yeh assignment pura wrong hai, maine sabko apni family draw karke ke liye            kaha tha, aur tumne yeh kya banaya hai? Ye bike hai, aur uske upar kaun hai? Tumahara friend?

Golu: No Miss, superbike pe mera friend nahi hai, yeh to mere Big Cha hain.

Teacher: Par maine toh tumko family draw karne ke liye kaha tha na?

Golu: Mam, aapne toh tell kiya tha ki jiss se hum most love karte hain, jo humari take care karte hain, who jo humari family hain, unko draw karna hai. Aur yeh Big Cha mere all hain.

Teacher: Apni family draw karne ka matlab hai, apne Mummy-Papa, aur bhai-behen.

Golu: Par mere Mummy-Papa to mera take care karte hi nahi hai. Unke paas toh time hi nahi hai. My no bhai, no behen.

Teacher: Golu, no argument. Main yeh assignment nahi lungi. Next time main jo bhi kahun dhyan se sun na, aur wahi draw karna. Samajh gaye? Ab yeh lekar jao aur correct karke aao.

Golu: Ok Mam.

Teacher: Suhana, tumne bhi yeh assignment thik se nahi banaya hai. Tumne yeh kya banaya hai? Dr. Bose, tumhari Mom?

Suhana: Yes, Miss. Main iski tarah dumb nahi hoon, maine toh apni family hi draw ki hai.

Teacher: Lekin tumhare Papa kyun nahi hai isme?

Suhana: Papa bhi hain na.

Teacher: kahaan hai?

Suhana: (pointing to a blank space) Yahaan hai.

Teacher: Suhana, you think I am joking?

Suhana: No Miss. Mere Mummy-Papa saath nahi rehte. Maine kabhi apne Papa ko dekha hi nahi hai, issi liye main unki jagah blank chor di.

Teacher: Thik hai, main phir se mark kar deti hoon. Golu assignment kal phir mujhe vaapa chahiye.

Golu: Ok Mam.

***************************************************************************************

This one scene tells a lot about the difference in the upbringing, the neglect, ignorance and that glitter may not be always gold.

****************************************************************************************

I've seen a lot of stuff over the years, where some considered Golu to be better just because he was a pure entertainer, or Suhana for her maturity. And I will again laud the writers for showing what upbringing of a child in different situation does to them behaviorally. Here are my two cents.

Suhana behaves exactly as so many children who grow up with single parents (especially single mothers) do. There's a maturity behind her smiles and mischief. She tries to read between the lines, is empathetic and tries to ease the burden by sometimes hiding her true emotions and questions so that her mother can have a reprieve. (This is an excellent parallel between Dev and Suhana. Both brought up by single mothers, who have to become mature so that they can be emotionally supportive to their family.)