And She Said - You're not alone.I'm there with YOU, Shahenshah. - Page 16

Originally posted by: RadhikaS0

The Tragedy of Being Jodha

Ever since Jodha became aware that she was carrying the much awaited waaris of Jalal, her life has been a constant stream of tragedy and upheaval.

She discovered this cherished news on the eve of the war with MC and had to exercise great restraint to keep silent about it because she didn't want to hold Jalal back from waging a war to save his kingdom from his step-mother and step-sister.

As Jalal got captured and the enemy reached the harem outpost on the war front, Jodha had to reassure the ladies that Jalal would return safe and galvanize them into action against the enemy. How she must have fought that pitched battle against a strong army, while filled with apprehension for her babies.

Upon their return to Agra, Jodha fixed a meeting with Jalal in the DEK where she would surprise him with the special news. But they were intruded upon by Nigaar and all the attention went to her.

Then, Ruq pipped her at the post to inform Jalal of the good news. And made him upset with Jodha for hiding the news from him for so long and for waging war in that delicate condition.

Somehow a small jashn was arranged for Jodha, but she had to share the limelight with Ruq, lest the latter feel left out. In a gesture of generosity, she even passed on a wish granted to her by Jalal to Ruq.

Then, by a quirk of fate, she saved Jalal's life from Khyber and was kidnapped herself from her private quarters. There she had to adopt a physically taxing way to escape from the clutches of Khyber.

This was followed by Jalal's drama of being bewitched by Atifa and humiliating Jodha in a bid to distance her and their unborn babies and thereby keep them safe from unknown enemies. Jalal's drama almost led Jodha to suicide point.

Khyber kidnapped her again when Jodha, in a misplaced act of kindness, freed him from the well. Jodha had to undergo a torturous trek through the jungle along with Khyber and face the ignominy of being maligned by the awaam.

Though Jalal saved her from Khyber and accepted her innocence and chastity in public, he continued his facade of being angry with her in private. He blamed her for abusing his love and announced his desire to not only marry Atifa but also divorce Jodha soon after the marriage.

The final straw came when she thought her beloved Jalal had been beheaded. Oh! she was so relieved to see him alive again. And she felt so proud of the way her husband had saved the day.

The pulling down of the curtains on Jalal's Teda Plan should have brought an end to Jodha's misery too.

But soon, Agra witnessed the fall of the loyal Atga Khan and the gruesome murder of Adham Khan. The former event has shattered Jalal emotionally and he desperately needs someone to comfort him. The latter event perhaps makes Jalal feel guilty enough to free Mahamanga from prison. Whether she uses this opportunity to make amends with Jalal or plot further sinister plans against him, holding him responsible for her son' s murder remains to be seen.

At any cost, Jodha is yet again faced with the difficult prospect of not only having to find inner reserves of strength to cope alone with her condition, she is also now burdened with the weight of being a sheet anchor to Jalal. 😕

Much fuss was made when Ruq faked her pregnancy. Poor Jodha is actually pregnant but fate has not allowed her the luxury of being indulged and pampered. A princess and now queen of the mighty Mughal empire is no different from the wife of a poor peasant when it comes to being pretty much on her own instead of being taken care of during her pregnancy. 😕

And how can we forget the poor babies? They are bereft of their father's love and indulgences. And Jodha has been so emotionally strained in recent times that she has also been many a times unable to take care of them, as they should be cared for.

Hoping someone in the Agra family circus remembers her condition soon and personally takes care of her.

Originally posted by: RadhikaS0

Jaljo,

Just click on his signature, which appears after every post he makes...

Akbar's Kids Thread

This signature contains the link to the Akbar's Kids thread. In that thread, at the end of Main Post, you can get the links of all the other threads.

Let me know if you face any problem. 😊

And please do post your views after reading them. Abhay would love to hear/discuss your views.

Originally posted by: MaddyO

I will absolutely hate the CVs if they WRAP this up fast. They absolutely should not, this was such a landmark turning event in Jalal's life. We have to be able to see the reactions in detail of every person who this affected. Jalal, MA, Javeda, HB, Jiji Anga, Jodha just to start. It is going to be totally mind churning and I hope they do not wrap this up with lollypop scenes of crying.

Jalal did not just lose Adga Khan and Adham and MA - he lost last bits of his childhood completely. We should not forget Jalal is a young man, for him MA was his mother, Adham brother and Adga Khan the father figure he depended upon and trusted.

I cannot get over the look in Jalal's eyes - after killing Adham and addressing the awam - he was numb. Like brain on auto pilot where he is taking in the words of others but his mind is somewhere else. Yet to come to terms with a single event of this horrific morning.

He just obeyed HB blankly, not a single thought in his mind about MA. Seeing her ask him questions and talk about Adham brought bit of Jalal back.

I am wondering did he take in all the words MA spoke? Did Jalal realize that the woman he worshiped, the woman he put on such a pedestal, who he loved more than he loved his own mother - did not love him as much, never did.

MA kept talking about Adham being her guroor, what he means to her - was Jalal finally rid of the last vestige of hurt and pain at her betrayal? Will he realize that he loved MA far more then she ever did?

This realization should finally liberate Jalal from feeling any last vestige of guilt about MA and Adham. He certainly gave her more than she gave him by way of respect, love, protection, affection - everything a mother has to give to child.

Will Jalal then finally be rid of the guilt? After this hopefully only the compassion and kindness for MA and Javeda might remain - which are part of his personality.

I think maybe Jodha will be be shaken to see this Jalal, like he had told her once that if she sees him in battlefield she will not be able to recognize him. Jodha's reaction might bring Jalal out of the zombie like state to realize what he became and what he lost.

Jalal addressed the awam saying he might be remembered only for this one cruel act but he does not care - JALAL ALSO CONSIDERS HIS ACT AS SOMETHING SO UNLIKE HIM - that is why HE has to explain it to the awam.

It was the women's reaction that brought out how much Jalal was affected by the killing of Adga, his rage in stark contrast to their disbelief. Jodha's being shaken up after seeing this Jalal is only her first reaction. Just like Jalal has yet to come to terms with everything that happened so has Jodha.

👏 how nice to read you.

Originally posted by: RadhikaS0

Maddy,

I have been searching for the right words to describe Jalal's condition at the moment. And I just want to thank you for writing about just this in such a beautiful manner. 🤗

When someone, who knew us from our childhood, leaves us, it's a strange kind of emptiness in our heart and mind. Esp when that someone has been a foster father, friend, mentor, aide, counsel, constant comrade in court and battlefield. It's hard to even begin imagining how desolate and orphaned JAlal must be feeling. After his father and Bairam Khan, if Jalal looked up to any man, it was Atga. Surrounded as he was by traitors and conspirators, Jalal could breathe easy knowing the ever trustworthy and loyal Atga was by his side.

Jalal's relationship with the hot-headed and overambitious Adham had been always uneasy. But Jalal took the foster relationship more seriously than a real sibling would and forgave Adham time and again. In his eyes, Adham was misguided but the brother he didn't have.

Jalal's love and respect for Mahamanga underlines the deep humility of Akbar and how he always remained grateful to those who had done even a little service to him. I remember one scene long back, when he bowed to Jijianga. She objected saying it didn't befit an emperor to bow to someone of her stature. He replied that she was his foster mother and for her, he would always remain her son, and not the emperor. His bond with Maham ran even deeper and the depth of his hurt at her betrayal can never be gauged.

When these people leave his life in quick succession, Maddy, a part of him that is tied to his past will die too.

The task facing Jodha is daunting. She has to put her own needs aside and nurture and rejuvenate Jalal's heart with an abundance of love and care. She has to be his mother and friend and help him come alive again. Like you said, her first reaction on seeing this side of Jalal has been extreme shock and distress. But Jodha is made of sterner stuff. She has the capacity to subsume her own needs and emotions and reach out to those who need her.

She has been mocked many a times for her unduly compassionate nature. But at this moment, Jalal has turned to her alone for he knows only she can bring succor to his ravaged heart and frozen mind.

We expect a man to be strong enough to care for a woman. Very often, ironically, it is the woman who is the stronger of the two emotionally and cares for the man. In many families, it is the woman who holds the family together in a crisis or otherwise.

I don't blame Jalal entirely for not being able to keep his promises to Jodha. He has been dealt one strong blow after another by Fate and is still standing, if a little bent. Abhay quoted quite correctly that leaves may shed but trees remain upright even in Autumn.

Jalal is now like a barren tree that needs the touch of Spring to bring forth new leaves and bloom and bear fruit. Jodha must be that Eternal Spring in his life. If Jalal is the Sun, she must be the Firmament that holds him steady. If he is the parched Earth, she must be the gentle rain that quenches his thirst. There cannot be the one without the other now.