Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of the TM or other contributing members. 😊
Beware the Fury of a Patient ManLast night's episode sent shivers down my spine - I was transfixed to see the ever patient, usually forgiving Jalal seethe slowly from simmering rage to impassioned fury against Adham Khan. It was like a long-dormant volcano had erupted without warning and the lava that poured out of him slowly engulfed Adham Khan and wiped out his existence for ever.
For many years, Jalal forgave Adham for all sins and crimes, out of a sense of fraternity with him and a sense of gratitude towards his mother, Mahamanga. But when Adham killed Atga Khan, Jalal's ataliq and closest counsel, the resulting shock and grief devastated Jalal. There were very few people Jalal trusted blindly and Atga Khan was one of them.
So far, I had only read this mesmerizing tale about how Adham Khan killed Atga and moved on to attack Jalal in his private quarters. And how Jalal then threw Adham Khan down from the ramparts of the palace till the latter no longer breathed.
But seeing this scene was highly disturbing. How much Jalal grieved for his ataliq can be gauged from the fact that, for the first time ever, he overlooked Adham Khan being Mahamanga's son and launched a fatal attack on him, culminating in that fearsome fling in the end.
The royal ladies who had gathered there hearing the sounds of fighting, were shell-shocked by the scene they saw unfold before their eyes. Jodha made one tentative attempt to prevent Jalal from unleashing his wrath on the by-now hapless Adham but was stopped by Hamida, who was dazed to see this streak of violence in Jalal with her own eyes.
Jalal didn't stop with making short work of Adham. He carried the corpse like a trophy over his shoulders and addressed his awaam, making sure that everyone got the message loud and clear that Jalal would stand anything but an attack on his near and dear ones.
Did Jalal do the right thing?
I feel the question here is of not what is morally / ethically right. He had given far too many chances to Adham to reform himself. But Adham had taken Jalal's graciousness as weakness of character.
When Adham dared to kill Jalal's ataliq brazenly in broad daylight within the palace precints, Jalal could not just let him go. He had to send a message that as an emperor, he was conscious of his responsibilities towards his family and those who were loyal to him to the core.
The method chosen may have been a bit barbaric. But when a man who has been silent for too long is woken up, then there is nothing anyone can do to stop the furies from unleashing.
An over-taxed patience gives way to fierce anger.
-Publilius Syrus