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THE BOAT RIDE
Most of us were disappointed that our favourite Akdha scenes are now being polluted by the presence of Benazir in them
However, while watching the scenes today I understood the significance behind it all - i.e. the stark contrast in Jalal's feelings while going through the same notions between the two ladies.
When Jalal had indulged in that sword fight with Jodha (and this was when they didn't even like each other supposedly) he had fire, passion, interest and an enthusiasm - not to forget competitiveness - to participate in the duel with his queen.
With Benazir, he'd done it all just to witness Jodha's reactions!
The boat scene -
In Amer one could see generous amounts of mischief and a fair bit of excitement in his eyes as he got into that boat with her. Today, the only expressions one could witness on his face were 'What the hell am I doing here? Why am I doing this? How long am I going to keep up this facade?'
While in the Ameri boat ride, he couldn't keep his eyes off Jodha - thus making her very conscious. Today, he had to muster all will just to meet eyes with Benazir while speaking to her!😆
THE ANTI CLIMATIC CLIMAX - Was it a total dud?
What a disappointment that Jodha's arrows didn't find their mark. (I really wished she'd at least managed to injure Benazir. I realize that Jodha wasn't intending to kill Benazir in this scene - only to injure her/distract her from going ahead with her plan. Still, the direction in this scene was poor - the shower dangerously fell all over and around the boat with no guarantee that Jalal wouldn't have been subjected to fatal injury during the course of it!)
Jalal must be wondering what enmity the planets in his horoscope had against him boat riding - any such boat ride of his lately seemed to end up with a shower of arrows!😆
Nevertheless, while Jodha wasn't able to achieve much - she could save him for the time being. It is ironical that she managed to save herself from the soldiers' shower of arrows by using the very khoofiya rasta that Jalal had taken her through after the suicide attack!😳
(Btw, in the entire Sultanat, can none aim a darn arrow properly😕?)
JODHA JALAL
Jodha and Jalal's encounters in the palace following the attack were a treat!
Jodha's semi-guilty expressions throughout and Jalal's semi-annoyance at the fact that he knew it was her - but, didn't want to have her punished for it! Their entire volley of exchanges - both, via their eyes and their words was Mashallah! 😳
Every time Atgah Khan and Jalal come up with some form of sensible reasoning these days, many in the forum have started breathing sighs of relief😆.
Therefore, today their quick assumptions that the assailant was indeed someone from the Mughal Sultanat, someone who had good aim but with no intention of hurting the king and definitely no assassin sent by Abul Maali or the sorts - was a welcome development!👏
Jalal finishing off his telling assumption i.e. 'there are some people in the awaam who are out to prove that Benazir is a Vishkanya' with a sly glance in Jodha's direction and then dispersing the court so he could have a private word with his Begum was noteworthy! 😛
Following that, Jodha was nothing short of exceptional either -
To ensure that SHE hadn't hurt him in any way, she swiftly enquires about the hurt on his palm. Following that, her mock empathy at the fact that Jalal-Benazir couldn't make it to the dargah was such a treat to watch. 👏
Such battles of eyes and words - such dripping sarcasm between the two - always a treat to watch two hot-headed beautiful-looking egoistic almost-in-love individuals pitted against one another!😛
As she left, one could see the pain/confusion in his eyes again 'What are you doing Jodha Begum? Why are you doing this? What are you trying to achieve? You're such a difficult woman to read!'
SALIMA-JODHA
On one hand; while the temporarily brain-frozen Shehneshah is able to deduce and make astute decisions again - the otherwise ignorant-in-all-matters-of-Shehenshah Jodha is able to discern that he'd guessed SHE was the culprit by his manner! Her confusion at this stage was adorable. 👏
If only Jodha didn't interrupt Salima's 'M' word utterance - then we'd have one more person in the Agra Palace shouting from its rooftops that the leads were indeed in love with one another!😆
Basically, once everyone in Agra has finished doing this, the leads MAY finally accept the fact begrudgingly!
JODHA-BENAZIR
It was the first time I'd witnessed Jodha (Paridhi) depict so many shades of anger and pride in a long long time - what with her gritting her teeth and all! I loved it - I mean, what's not to love in a woman's resolute determination?
My only reservation is - why do the heroines and vamps gloat/blurt out all their plans to each other?😕
Nevertheless; 'Ghrinit jantu' - 'galeez jaanwar' - one more word to the JA Hindi/Urdu dictionary! 😆
When Jodha spoke of protecting HER husband she was the perfect mixture of a beautiful 'Rani Lakshmi Bai' and Savitri -a bahu, a wife & a queen - all in one!👏
'I do this out of duty...out of Rajvanshi pride...I have taken an oath during marriage that I will protect my husband from all harm and I will ensure I follow this...I have no fear of death...before anyone tries to harm the Shehenshah, they will have to face ME first!' she said - with pride and conviction!
JODHA-JALAL
I had to literally laugh out loud when Jalal gave those unperturbed 'Whatever' expressions when Ruqaiyya was yelling at all the guards. Well, how else could he react to all that melodrama when he knew that the culprit was there - right in front of him!😆
'I wonder what enemity you have with the Hakim...you never let him do his job!'😆 'Come to think of it..you have another twisted modus operandi too...you cause me hurt and then rush hither to nurse my wounds!'
[I was imagining Jalal say this very line to Jodha - on another day - in another situation - with a mischievous grin on his face - generating an abashed smile on hers! Ooo la la...Enuff said!]
Arjun
Cricket
Indian Mythology
