Hi, I am new member, but have been following the posts...enjoyed too!
Well, I have thinking about this all day as well!
Obsession: Akbar wanted jodha. He was obsessed with her, wanted to own her and her thoughts. Reasons:
- she was beautiful, a typical thought of mogul rules of the time as shown in a previous episode where he just picks a girl from the street!
- she was fearless and hated Mughals openly and wanted to wipe them out and specifically wanted akbar's head!! And that was hitting his pride since he had heard it straight from her mouth.
- she had I fact recognized him as a probable traitor and swung a sword right next to his neck and did not let it down until he manage d to prove her wrong. Now that was hitting his ego...he clarified this when she tried to end her life...
His obsession grew every time she refused him (mu dhikayi, first night music session, first night, etc) or his gifts wedding dress.
From obsession to pure revenge: Breaking her pride. All that happened soon after the wedding - the song, chess, food (although it was not her intent), forcing her to take his Vachan (to fulfill one thing she wanted him to do). She stood up strong and gave it back bravely and fearlessly and this was very uncommon thing in those days for married women who simply obliged and cried in the silence!. only a handful women have known to overcome the suppression and stand out. Jodha was one of them.
He was intrigued (appreciating her sword fighting skills, her poem for rukayya).. But he had no faith stillL. The moment something like the death of an unborn child was had the slightest hint that she could have been behind it got her arrested. Poor judgement on his part. He is definitely angry and ashamed when she finally folds her hand and says she lied to just end this game he was playing with not only her but everyone from amer.
Revenge to pity: To cover it he Decides to give her a divorce and save her any more grief not realizing that for a Hindu especially in those days divorce was worse than what she already was facing. Her mother concurs with this thought and refuses to take her back which leads to the suicide attempt.
Pity to understanding her: the Ajmer trip gives him time to think about her from a different perspective since there is mo maham or ruks or anyone else interfering with his thoughts.
Simple understanding to regard and respect: although she was behind the tiger wounds she did not give up hope and he is definitely consciousness when she put him on her back and rides towards Agra and gives medication! Nor does she hide in Agra from fear of death.
I believe what he does for Sukanya is purely out of respect and regard to make things right for her since he feels he was wrong and some hidden political reasons (and this she smells - Ajmer people must have started admiring akbar what he has done for them and dhawalghar is also under his kinship after the last minute twist at the wedding ). He enjoys the fact that she still doesn't trust his intensions and uses it to tease her at every opportunity! In the process he has started feeling for her. And this regard, respect mixed with some feelings makes him stand by her on their return!
I don't think this is love yet. I think he has just found a person he can probably talk to, a person he admires and is curious to know more about! He is probably playing with her to keep her close because he knows she does not really love him or care for him as her husband to want to spend any time with him. ( this where the Kheme theory of nothing happened and the fact that he might have actually lied comes to my mind) She will do all the wifely duties of cooking for him, treating his wounds, etc, but not let him close to her more than required! Why? She is definitely different from the rest of the harem with the exception of the trio (mom and her companions) but he hardly spends time with his mom to know much about this..
I think they will get to know each other, grow to like each other but...
Something big is going to happen and I think she will be sent away to Amer and that's when he is going to realize what is love...
God I can't believe I wrote so much! :-)
CID
