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The next 24 hours were crucial in determining the course that Jalal's life would take and Jodha's medications appeared to be worsening his health! Agra was in torment!
JODHA'S CHAMBER
Unfortunately, when Jodha learns of the fact that her already-troubled fortunes had taken a turn for the worse - what with her lep having worsened the King's health - Jodha is even more distraught. She prays to her Kanhaji for mercy
'I was only trying to save the lives of innocent animals...Shehenshah's life became endangered in the process! The lep that helped cure Sujamal Bhaisa's wounds are not working on him...whenever I try to do something good, why is the adverse effect being achieved Kanha?Why?'
Just then, HB comes and rushes to take her favourite bahu to safety - what with her latest administration having seemingly aggravated the Emperor's health. Anyone could assassinate Jodha at this point in time. HB could afford to endure anything apart from NOT having Jodha Bahu around her!
However, Jodha is not willing to hide anywhere 'I don't want to run and hide thus...people will consider me a culprit' the teary queen says 'Besides, I don't want to leave the Shehenshah behind in this state and leave...I can't leave...'
[How sweet she sounded here...she has no idea about it, but the concern she's showering on the Shehenshah is really heart-warming!]
However, HB tries to be her stern-best and successfully drags the unwitting lady away - where, is a mystery as any other!
HAREM LADIES
For the first time, they showed the remaining ladies of the Harem disheartened following Jalal's misfortunes! [However, the meal scene made little sense to me]
'Eat your last meal...because after this we shall poison ourselves' Salima tells her fellow-harem waasis...
And then with sad expressions marking their faces, the ladies start having their meals![WHAT!
I'd have thought that if their husband was on his death-bed, eating would be the last thing on their mind]
Anyway, Ruqaiyya comes there and does what she does always - lays her claims - this time on the bottle of 'poison' since she was the Begum-e-khaas!
However, her dialogues in the following scenes are quite moving. The harsh reality that befalls a palace and its inmates after the death of its king was portrayed well enough by the lady 'I was the first one to enter his life...I am the one who has the prime right on his life..I was the first partner to the Shehenshah' she cries 'Therefore, if he is to die, then I shall be the first one to accompany him there too!'
[Awww - this revelation of Ruqaiyya's was really really touching, though one can see quite an emphasis on the word 'first' even in her saddest moments!]
SHARIFUDDIN-ADHAM
So here enters Sharifuddin. He'd basically been missing since he'd apparently taken long leave of absence to have a decent hair cut!
Anyway, now with his hair smart and all- Sharifuddin and Adham basically get together and begin plotting against the king.
As expected, both villains had planted soldiers at various points to make sure that the Gwalior Hakim didn't reach the palace in time. When the two relatives reveal their plots to each other - they have a mini-celebration of their own! How were they to know that this very unexpected co-incidence they'd orchestrated would be the prime cause for their plans backfiring badly!
PRAYERS AND NAMAAZ
Very pious was the scene indeed where they showed all the important ladies of the Harem offering their morning Namaaz in their respective chambers
At the same time, Jodha offers her Arthi (albeit mentally) to her Kanhaji
[A very nice scene this - all religions offering their prayers consequently]
ENROUTE AGRA
Not surprisingly, Ekta has brought her typical Indian touch to it all - While Om Jai Jagadeesh Hare plays in the background in Agra - enroute from Gwalior, Adham's soldiers who'd been stationed at a particular point to attack Baba, suddenly notice Sharifu's soldiers.
With the Arthi still in the background - as though with divine intervention- the soldiers make last minute changes to their plan in fear! Both parties decide it was better to practise their sword skills against each other and leave the Baba to his own solitary self!
'Ya...Khuda!' the baba tells himself, watching the turmoil around him 'In what trouble have I fallen?'
The poor man then takes advantage of the ruckus around him and escapes with his white-robed assistants on foot!
[I don't know if this scene was supposed to be a devotional one or a thrilling one - However, it did turn out comical, that's for sure!]
AGRA
The minister Shamshuddin seems to be the most sensible one of the Agra lot. Not a moment later than the Hakim's arrival in Agra, he is literally whisked away by Shamshudin! Why, the minister doesn't even allow him to explain anything that happened on the way
'We don't have time for all that' he shuts up the old man, who was only too eager to share his recent adventures!
With only our MP to beat him at dialogue-delivery-speed, minister Shamshuddin updates the doctor on all the treatments that'd been tried on the ailing king, as he drags him to Jalal's chamber!
JALAL'S CHAMBER
'There is only one person who knows this medicine...' the doctor says as soon as he inspects the medication that'd been applied on the king. As it was a day of chamatkars after all - the 'only-one-person' in the whole of North India turned out to be none else than Jodha Bai!
It was quite a sight to see the Harem ladies fall flat on their faces when the Hakim goes on to praise Jodha. Following this, he also gives his Agra confederates a quick refresher on the basic chapters of medicine!
'The king shall recover soon' he tells them all. As expected, everyone's face starts breaking out into expressions of relief!
JALAL'S AWAKENING
Poor Jalal, the first thing he remembers when he opens his eyes is Mohan and the scenes of the attack! [Realistically enough, it made sense that he remembered Mohan here first and not Jodha😆!]
A short while later, the Emperor gradually lifts his finger to point at something. [I can bet that most of us thought he was going to point to Jodha😆] However it turns out that he was pointing to a pitcher of water
Ajmer Sharif is a place of wonders, after all! How blessed that Jodha was the only one who could understand the silent gestures of the king by now.
While the rest of the queens watch on in confusion - wondering what the king was pointing to -Jodha speaks up from behind the purdah, advising him sweetly 'No Shehenshah! You cannot drink any water now'
While Ruq is more-than-ready to pounce upon Jodha for refuting the king yet again, Jodha explains that she did so because it wasn't safe for his health -a fact that was confirmed by Hakim Sr!
HB-JODHA
I liked that HB gave Jodha a copy of the Quran and that Jodha respected it with utmost care.
What was more beautiful was that after doing her typical namaste to the Quran, she instantly remembered Jalal's words of advice to her at the Dargah. Placing the Quran down gently, Jodha lifts her hands up to offer her Sajda (hope its the right term) to the Holy Book! While a dumbstruck Mothi watches her friend in alarm, HB is pleasantly surprised
'Where did you learn all this?'
'I learnt all this at Ajmer Dargah from the Shehenshah himself!' Jodha smiles heartily.
Mothi can't believe her ears.
Finally; HB stated what most of us have been doing so long enough 'This is the other way around! I was under the impression that Jalal would learn something from you Jodha, and you ended up learning something from him instead!'
While Mothi was breaking out into a subtle smile - watching her friend's changed demeanour -Jodha continues earnestly 'I learnt from where I had to Ammijaan...religions may be different...means of expressing them might be different...but, the goal..the aim is the same - service to the Lord! The Masjid felt just like a temple to me...I felt like the Qawwali was a Bhajan...' she explained - a cordial smile gracing her lips!
[Awww how sweet!]
Thoroughly embroiled in the pleasant memories of the Dargah trip, Jodha continues 'Most importantly, I'd noticed an aspect of the Shehenshah that I'd never seen before...just like how Meera Bai used to forget the world around her and become immersed in the Lord, the Shehenshah too forsake all of his royal pride and honour to become close to the Lord' she pauses 'Those people who used to state that the Emperor has no heart, have been proved wrong' [TING TING TING] 'I am grateful to you and to the Lord for having let me visit this Holy place' she tells her mother-in-law 'I believe that its because of the prayers I offered there that the king is safe today' [Ahem...ahem...]
HB is more than just pleased - what with her efforts to avail Salim showin fruition 'I am certain that because of Jalal, your life will take a new turn henceforth!' the mother concludes
Suddenly, Jodha loses the smile that had been adorning her face so long. She probably realized how she'd been revealing glimpses of a reality to the queen that even she hadn't known existed!
PRECAP
Jalal back to his naughty self, I guess!😛
Mangal Lakshmi
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Real Estate
151