Okay, before I start off with my comment on today's episode, here is something that I want to give the writing/creative/channel team credit for ( we always appreciate the actors ) :
As much as the team is bashed for the writing and execution of the thriller angle, the team deserves due credit for shaping the Maya-Rudra relationship the way it is today. The characterizations, the journey of the two characters, the evolution of their relationship , their intense dynamics in every color of the emotional and psychological spectrum , the light and darkness of their toxic and co-dependent relationship - with all it's beauty and flaws has been very well detailed and it's great story telling. Writing this kind of an equation in a daily soap where the team works round the clock and to deliver this quality of work is not easy at all. Yes, the thriller angle is weak , but with the dynamics of Rudra and Maya, the team has hit bullseye and they should be proud of the writing and execution of the same. So, WOW , BABIES! You are doing a greatttt job! đ¤
Coming to today's episode, what can i say except that it is an episode you should see instead of reading pieces about it. Scenes, dialogues, acting, execution , DOP job and the intelligent emotional symbolism was just right in place without going OTT which is often a tendency in such high voltage scenes. Both Rudra and Maya stayed true to their characters and yes, Rudra won over Maya's darkness and Maya won over her hatred ( even if for a while , but she has a ray of hope).
The scene on the bridge today locked it that how intense, passionate, obsessive and soul-hinged Rudra is to Maya. If emotional insanity had a face , it would be Rudra at the bridge today. He was not begging Maya for anything ; he declared everything he felt to her and the tone and words were that of ownership and not pleas and begging bowls to accept him. Everything that Maya didn't receive in her last brush with 'love' was committed to her by Rudra , and that too with such emphasis that it was unsettling. A man's intensity for you can be scary and comforting at the same time. The dialogues were intense and on the spot but what stood out was "Jaan ho tum meri" That was stronger than the I love yous that followed. And Maya had no control there. Revenge jumped off the bridge to take a swim and meet her at the tail end of the bridge later. Maya was not acting when she was in Rudra's arms. All her fears , complaints, insecurities that she voiced slowly seemed like the voice of the 21 year old Maya who received nothing except devastation in the name of love. Until she snapped back from the kiss, Maya was that vulnerable and devastated girl who was fearful to love again. And Rudra had an answer to her every fear - that come what may, he will stand by her , for her , with her always. But Maya's darkness had to draw her back, like satan's call to Eve the forbidden tree. She tried again. She ran away from him , not facing him because she had to prove a point to herself - Darkness over light, head over heart , revenge over rebirth. Of course, without facing him, FYI.
And the symbolism of Holy Ganges, the blackened white beads, Universe testing Maya with it's dark humour, Rudra's decision to drift away in water, the loss of the bracelet that Rudra wore and Maya feared, Maya choosing Rudra's hand instead of that knife says more than what can be put into words. We all knew that Rudra would never drown in Ganges. Not because he is the male protagonist , because he is Lord Shiva's namesake and a pure soul - the holy river would never let him drown and it threw him back to Maya. But whatever passed, it was necessary. Maya needed to feel the loss of Rudra when he went underwater ( My revenge is complete but why am I feeling defeated ), Maya needed to have Rudra slapped back into her face by the universe as the universe refused to give in to Maya's God complex and her stubbornness to not give life another chance with Rudra. Maya tried again, with that knife and then, Rudra played that shade of light , in front of which darkness stood no chance. He handed her the beads back; white, pure, cleansed of all the darkness and bad karma , he decided to unintentionally fulfill her wish and thought of her life and safety by letting go as he feared that the boat will now not be able to hold both of them. He asked her to promise that she will live in hope, light and give her life another chance , even if he is not around. THAT did it for Maya. The internal war, the demons , the hatred and all the gall she held for Rudra for being a bad blood dissolved. The snake of darkness that she was holding on to stubbornly slipped out of her hands ; because the one who was drowning decided to give her life a chance , even if it meant he won't be around to see it. And all the pro-Rudra flashbacks and words of Rajeev, Myrah and Nandini tore through her being and she gripped the hand she had wanted to cut. Her dream to see Rudra dead became her biggest nightmare...
The much needed emotional catharsis happened for Maya. The rock changed the path of the river and we all saw what happened. All the dark mystery, stiffness, cold heartlessness, the facade of being an ice queen , a femme fatale dissolved to reveal a desperate and scared girl trying to wake up Rudra , scared that he has left her at the mercy of darkness..... her voice echoing with pleas that she loves him and he shouldn't leave her behind.
Rudra is right. Tumne jhooth kahaa tha Maya ki Dard ko dard se mohabbat nahin hoti... Pain empathizes with pain and it is a bond that is denser than the ocean. Rudra fell in love with your pain , wanting to save your soul. You fell in love with Rudra because you knew that if there is any hope for you for this remainder of life, it is Rudra.
Irrespective of their equation in future, Maya and Rudra will always be tied to each-other. No matter what emotion binds them.
So, a very intense episode, ladies and gentlemen.Absolute emotional brilliance , so I will not talk about the faults at all today.
Love and light! â¤ď¸