Take 5: Top 5 Countdown for August 6th, 2014

Guys, I knew it, the CVs will make it worse before making it better. So, I already had my take 5 ready 😆

As you read this post, things will get better and better (I hope)

Most of this forum is already lamenting as if the worst has happened, when there is no need it.

This weekend I highlighted the Schrodinger's cat experiment ... if you lock a cat with poison and close the door of a box, till you open the box you do not know if the cat is alive or dead. So, why claim the cat is dead before we know?

The episodes are always confusing and created almost rile us up to expect the worst ... so for my take 5 I created 5 scenarios that are ALL POSSIBLE to highlight that you don't have to naturally gravitate to the doomsday scenario.

Here is my take 5 ... and the scenarios get better and better, so please try to make it to the end and hence the reverse counting:

5. The doomsday scenario: You know they say that imagining your worst fears actually helps you get over it ... it actually works so here it is:

Jalal is completely smitten with Atifa. In his guilt and due to his vice, he is turning irritable and showing bad judgment in all situations, including yelling at Jodha. He is pushed to the edge and decides to marry Atifa. He demands Atifa's husband to divorce her. They get divorced. On the eve of the wedding, Jalal is busy in the company of Atifa. He finds out, taking advantage of his absence, someone has kidnapped Jodha. It is Shariffudin (but his face is covered so Jodha does not know)! Khaiber has a whiff of these plans as he overheard Shariffudin. He escapes from the jail and goes to save Jodha. Jodha is shocked and goes unconscious. Jalal and his extremely talented (oops inept) soldiers go in search of Jodha. Shariffudin (whose face is still covered) attacks Khaiber with a poisonous needle (see I learned the tricks from yesterday's episode) and kills him. He is about to run-off with Jodha ... when Jalal arrives on the scene (late). Shariffudin flees before being recognized. Jalal is shocked to see Jodha unconscious. He carries her back to Agra fort. Hakim Sahiba says the lives of Jodha and the twins are critical. Jalal goes to Dargah and cries and prays his heart out. He realizes his sins and cancels wedding plans with Atifa.

Jodha recovers. She is extremely upset with Jalal. Jalal apologizes profusely and then we have a few weeks of roothna and manaana.

Reasons for: It is the most obvious answer if one doesn't look closely at the scenes and read between the lines. It is also in line with our frustrations in watching these scenes. Also, remember the end of the Ben track? Jalal's tears in the dargah shot the TRPs to number one.

Reasons against: As I wrote it , it sounded more and more ridiculous and so I am glad I did. It will kill multiple aspects of Jalal- his love for Jodha, his love for his pregnant wife, whatever sense of judgment he had left, and most importantly his spirituality and devotion to God. And that too in just 4 days.

Also, Jalal's expressions no where seem like love ... compare his expressions to Jodha. And even if he was in love, that would not completely change how he thinks and acts in four days ... it took a long time for Jodha to influence him and it is not as if Atifa is riling him up against Jodha or Khaiber.

In essence, for one track, the CVs will kill a 300 episode love story. Unless the CVs want us to hate the Jodha-Jalal love story for us to get ready for Salim-Anarkali ... this makes no sense. 😆

And most importantly, what happened to Jalal's taste? 😉

4. The spiritual revolutions scenario: Similar to the doomsday scenario ... but things stop before they escalate too far, before the wedding announcement. Salim Chisti gets wind of the evil winds blowing in Agra. He visits Agra and Jalal learns a powerful lesson in spirituality and recognizes his divine connect with God and his potential. He mends his ways. Same ... ends with Jalal's stronger spirituality and sense of purpose ... and him manaofying Jodha.

Reasons for: If executed well, Rajat could nail the spiritual discovery and transformation. It is in line with all the dialogues on sinning, Ramadan, etc.

Reasons against: Spirituality is not a focus area typically in serials. All the reasons against the doomsday prediction.

Guys, see how hard I worked to get 5 scenarios. 😆

3. Jodha saves the day scenario:

Jalal is attracted by a spell from Atifa (or another source) and is not aware of it. He continues to go deeper into the spell- yelling at Jodha and announcing his wedding to Atifa. Jodha realizes something is wrong with Jalal , remembers the words of Atgah that such behavior changes are driven by some sort of spell. She realizes all the trouble began with Atifa. She begins spying on Atifa and realizes she is a spell woman. Jodha knows Jalal won't believe her. She remembers an anti-dote she had learned to such spells and brings Atifa's truth out.Atifa ends up being Ben's sister who has come to take revenge. Jalal is shocked at what he has done. Though unintentionally, he knows he has hurt Jodha and cannot believe he could have been trapped like that. He apologizes ... Jodha understands.

Reasons for: Jalal is in a spell is the best explanation for how his behavior has changed completely towards everyone. It also will redeem Jalal at the end of the track as he was not in control of what he was doing. This is also the simplest situation for the CVs with not a lot of loose ends to tie.

And yes, Jodha saves the day as always!

I would love to see a stronger Jalal. But, that is never a reason!

But most importantly, this scenario is way too predictable.

2. The sudden tedapan scenario:

Till now, Jalal is primarily in a spell. Finally upon being questioned by many people on his behavior including Jodha, Hamida Bano, he suddenly discovers that something is amiss with him. He spies on Atifa and overhears her talking about the spell with her "husband." He also realizes that they were worried Jodha may interfere in their plans and maybe they should kill her ... hence, he acts like he is mad at Jodha and not listening to her. He traps Atifa by announcing the marriage. Finally, by the day of the wedding he figures out who is working with Atifa and unravels her truth in DEK.

Jalal later explains the situation to Jodha and apologizes for any hurt he caused unintentionally and they tried living as happily as possible as long as the CVs would let them. 😆

Reasons for: Jalal sometimes seems like a spell ... but he shows moments of consciousness. This would make the situation more unpredictable as he shows sudden tedapan. A lot of Zee man have claimed that there will be a twist and Jalal will be teda (hope he is not limping again because of Khaiber).

Reasons against: In which track has Jalal been shown to save himself! Enough said. It is also hard to get out of a spell once you are trapped in it, even if you are Akbar.

1. The tedapanti scenario: If the CVs do this, they are brilliant. And I thought it a lot to make it all fit in as logically as possible, at least by the standards of our CVs.

All of this is a big plan by Jalal . He feels something odd about Atifa as he draws her painting and feels there is more to her. He spies on Atifa and her husband the day before the DEK session itself and overhears the following:

-Atifa is here to trap Jalal in her spell and destroy him by brainwashing his actions

-They have support both within Agra and outside

-They have spies constantly watching Jalal to monitor the impact of the spell

-Their only threat is Jodha Begum as her love / strength could protect him ... so if the spell does not work they will hurt Jodha Begum

Hence, Jalal wants to trap not only Atifa but also find out who is the mastermind behind this plan so he plays along (or else, why wouldn't he have just captured Atifa by now , he doesn't need evidence?) . He lets them in without security checks so that he can have them around ... it is better to have enemies close than afar.

His self-talks and conversations with Atgah are altered as he knows there are constant spies. His behavior with Jodha is terrible as he does not want his enemies to view Jodha as a potential obstacle and hurt her. He purposefully shows his attraction to Atifa through the hunting trip so everyone believes him.

He announces the wedding to throw Atifa off guard. On the day of the wedding Jalal unveils the truth and now knows the accomplices whoever they are. He later goes to apologize to Jodha but explain that what he did was for everyone's safety ... as he had hinted, to be a better husband to everyone. All's well that end's well till the CVs develop the next track.

Reasons for: It would be sheer brilliance and the CVs have that potential as shown in Sukanya's wedding track. It would be a true surprise. It would also explain why Jalal seems in control when he claims he is not. And also, why Jalal is so OTT in expressing his emotion if they are real.

Reasons against: Are the CVs that brilliant?

In any case, CVs if you are reading this, there is a very logical way you can show Jalal's full-on tedapanti and close this track with great drama. I truly won't mind if you copy. 😉

I believe (3), (2), and (1) are all likely scenarios. I would love (1) to be true ... I was a bit unconvinced yesterday, but then went through all the things that would have to be true for it to be true, and it is in the realm of the possible. And, Jalal's expression in the precap gives me hope.

But, the one thing I want to highlight in this very long post ... is please do not think the doomsday scenario is the one we will see for sure. I have visualized it, so I no longer fear this scenario, but there is no reason I need to believe that is true.

I think the CVs true brilliance is that they have created so many possible scenarios to have the viewer glued on ... with a lot of passion as well. In addition, I have heard a spoiler that would support EACH of these scenarios (except for 4 which I made up) ... and so I am not letting a spoiler spoil my mood for now. I will just enjoy Jalal sword fighting 😆

So, what is your favorite scenario? Any ones to add?