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SOLITARY CHAMBER
Seated all alone in a dimly lit blue-hue chamber, the tearful Jodha has flashbacks of what had happened after she'd entered the secret passage
'I want you to stay here for a day all alone and spend all of it pondering on what you were just about to do' Jalal had told her angrily after dropping her off 'I'll take you back to your bed--chamber tomorrow'
'Why have you brought me here so secretively?' she asks, genuinely intrigued
'I didn't want others to come to know about your deeds, I didn't want anyone to catch you in this haggardly state' he says eyeing her with disapproval 'which doesn't suit a Begum'
Her eyes drop down for a moment - possibly in shame?
JALAL'S TERRACE
Sitting all by himself in the terrace adjoining his chamber, a pensive Jalal comes across a strand of hair embedded on the embroidery of his left shoulder. Picking up the long strand with his finger, he instantly recollects how it'd found its home there!
Coiling it within his finger, he subsequently recalls a few things about his impulsive wife. For some reason, his first thoughts of her were their adorable meeting outside the temple - all of it!
Thereupon his train of thoughts move on to the incident at the lakeside and then their horse ride back home.
So lost was he in his thoughts, that he hadn't even realized the arrival of MA.
Only when she calls out to him does he snap out of his reverie. Quickly hiding the hair-twirled-finger, he answers MA's enquiries pertaining to Jodha
'Jodha is where she's supposed to be!'
Following the sceptical MA's pressing questions, Jalal innocently (or foolishly - you decide for yourselves!) updates her on all that had transpired that morning.
Needless to say, MA is enraged that Jalal brought an Agra-hater back home!
However, her rage turns to shock when Jalal actually starts showing his empathy for the lone queen. Seemingly disturbed by the incidents the past few days, Jalal reminds his Badi Ammi of all the calamities that had befallen the Ameri princess.
'Already stigmatized and loneliness to top it all...I can totally understand what she's going through!' he tells her...for the first time I've realized that Jodha Begum and I are sailing in the same boat...'
[Stop Jalal, most of us have swooned already!]
Increasingly annoyed by his confessions, MA desperately tries to shake him out of it all. However, he shushes her by his actions - by placing his hand gently on her shoulders 'Badi Ammi...don't people of royal lineages ever feel hurt? So what if I'm Humayun's son...isn't my plight similar to Jodha Begum's? I was also abandoned by my mother just like Jodha Begum has been...in spite of having so many kith and kin, I'm lonely just like Jodha Begum is...Jodha Begum is supposed to belong to both Amer and Agra, however today she belongs nowhere...just like how I was supposed to belong to Kabul and Agra, but couldn't consider both my home...'
Not minding MA's pleas, the wistful king overrides her grimly 'Whatever crisis my relationship with Jodha Begum is at - this is the reality! I wedded her and brought her here...she's not some prize I won out of battle...or a slave...she's a queen in the Mughal Sultanat..this is why I took upon the responsibility of searching for her myself'[How many points for Jalal here? Ting ting...as far as I'm concerned he's hit Jackpot!]
'Till date no Begum of mine has ever turned herself away from this palace and I don't want such a thing to happen ever again'
Having said so, he requests to take leave - he wanted to be left alone.
Without giving away much, Jalal had ACTUALLY given away ALL! What a touching scene it was!
MA-SALIMA
MA is harrowed by all that Jalal had told her - she doesn't want to be ruled by a Hindu Begum and will do everything in her power to stop that! THAT would include ensuring Salima would be the Begum accompanying Jalal to Ajmer Sharif!
Not surprisingly, Salima is not falling head-over-heels to avail the prospect. In fact, she'd rather Jodha went alone with Jalal. While MA is taken aback by Salima's platonic regard for Jalal and overt concern for Jodha, Salima remains unperturbed.
The only one obsessed with wanting the Sun's rays to fall on her was our darling Ruqs!
SOLITARY CHAMBER
Why, the confident queen had even pre-calculated the room in which the Sun's rays entered the palace first. Along with HB's team, she reaches the locked room - a chamber tucked away in a secluded corner of the palace. It was still early dawn. Hopeful as hope can be, the self-assured Ruqaiyya beams as the lock is opened - and voila what do we see!
What turns to be a nightmare for Ruqs and a blessing for us!
Precisely seven rays of the sun infiltrated through the lattice window to fall upon (lay their blessing upon?) the queen who lay asleep - oblivious to anything happening around her. She looked like a child who was peacefully resting after having had the most tiring day of her life - her conscious now in a land far far away!
Ruqaiyya is unimaginably upset about the turn-of-events, but HB is thrilled. The queen mother advises a forlorn Ruqaiyya to accept the fate that Allah had bestowed upon her!
[What a lovely turn of events this was! CVs have planned this out well, haven't they? Thought it all - well in advance. Also, watching tears welling up in Ruqaiyya's eyes, one can't help but feel for her at least for an instant]
When Jodha wakes up, she is confused by her unexpected audience. However, how charming that the two queens still give each other a cordial salutation! After Ruq rushes off in agony, Jodha hugs her only (only?) well-wisher a tight hug.
HB-JODHA
Later, HB advices her DIL
'When one is dark, no stain can be seen...however, if one is pure white even the slightest stain becomes evident!' [Hey I'd said precisely this statement in an earlier post of mine when comparing Ja-Jo! Anyway, I liked that HB didn't overlook Jodha's latest mistake.]
Tenderly yet with authority, the mother said very touching yet very beautiful words!
When Jodha later wants to find out about the hows & whys of HB /Ruqs arrival in her room, she gets a shock
'Pir baba has informed us that Jalal's life is facing imminent danger' [Yes...in the form of Mohan and all thanks to you Jodhađ]
Jodha nearly yells in shock 'WHAT?' [YES IT WAS A worried YELL]
HB then informs her about everything - Pir Baba - Sunrays - Ajmer- all of it!
Watching Jodha's confused frowns, HB continues 'You wanted to leave Jalal for Amer...however God wills it the other way around!'
Though Jodha is hesitant she obviously bows to the wishes of a caring mother.
JALAL'S BT
Bathing luxuriously, Jalal seems pleasantly immersed in his own thoughts [I don't know if any other hero has enjoyed so many opportunities of bathing on screen]
Just then, much to the chagrin of more than half the forum- Ruqaiyya traipses in. Not only that, she even starts massaging his (aching?) shoulder muscles. The force of her touch is enough for him to understand that his best friend was not in the choicest of moods. Without even turning around, he asks her why she was upset!
The unfortunate queen reveals everything about Ajmer [she's under the impression that Jalal had deliberately locked Jodha in THAT room so Jodha'd be the chosen one!đł]
'Why are you so fond of taking one who hates you so much? You could have told me all this before...'
Jalal was unaware of it all. He instantly confesses that he'd rather take Ruqaiyya along 'My journey will be a pleasant one [Yup nowhere near adventurous thoughđ!] Shall I talk to Ammijaan?'
However, the genuinely-concerned-for-Jalal's-wellbeing Ruqaiyya refuses to accept the offer. With no malice in her heart, she wishes for Jalal and Jodha to go ahead [How adorable...how adorable when they don't have to drag one lady down just to prove that another was worthy!đ]
JALAL-JODHA
Just as Salima is busy advising Jodha that she should proceed to Ajmer Shareef ONLY when her devotion is true, the august Emperor strides in. While Salima gives him a salutation, Jodha just continues with her hobby - i.e. feeding the pigeons! [Jodha, where's your manners girl?]
'Hopefully Rahim isn't up to anything naughty now...'Jalal says as he returns Salima's greetings
Always ready to leave Ja-Jo alone, Salima walks away soon after. Not surprisingly, Jodha's attention is still on the (possibly by now) overfed pigeons!
'Pigeons know thirst as much as they do hunger!' he tells her casually and walks away to fetch a pail of water (just like in the nursery rhymeđ!) to fill the empty pitcher.
'If you do something, do it wholeheartedly to completion' he advices thereafter
'Well... you've left my life incomplete Shehenshah...'
'Taunts and arguments - they're really your speciality, aren't they Jodha Begum?' he interrupts her 'When you hate me so much, why didn't you refuse the trip to Ajmer Sharif?'
When Jodha confesses that she was doing so to respect Ammijaan's sentiments, Jalal appears a tad bit irked 'Hmmm...so you do everything according to the wishes and permission of my Ammijaan, right? Then did you tell her before you'd disappeared yesterday...about what you were going to do?' he pauses 'Even I regard the Pir Baba and Ammijaan a lot..however, you'd be the last person on Earth that I'd want wishing for my safety!'
Jodha is surprised by his revelation!
'When one's heart is filled with so much hatred' Jalal mutters 'It goes without saying that you wouldn't genuinely be able to offer your prayers for my sake...so, I want you to refuse Ammijaan for this!'
He is about to walk off when she stops him 'Wait! You are the most powerful man here...the Emperor of the Sultanat...then why do you need my help to approach your mother? Why can't you tell her so yourself?'
'I hope you don't think that I can't face Ammijaan!'
'I don't know about you..but I can't refuse her' Jodha says worriedly 'And as far as offering earnest prayers are concerned...don't worry about it...' she pauses 'I believe that only in a King's health, wealth and safety lies the welfare of his subjects... therefore for the sake of my subjects I'll offer my genuine prayers!' [ting ting...Jodha won a few points here...đ]
PRECAP
LOOOL our filmy jodi
Ashobana a new word from her shudh hindi khoshđ...and this guy just loves tearing his way through purdahs doesn't he?
My take on today's episode
There was not one line I didn't like
Not one scene that wasn't well directed
Not one expression that wasn't heartfelt
Not one character who failed to leave me impressed!
