Friends, the Friday episode of Jodha Akbar was largely a boring episode for me. From the precap of Thursday, I knew I could expect Jalal to go to Amer in search of Jodha, but the Amer trip itself was rather uneventful (except for one high spot of melodrama from Mainavati) and the scenes leading up to the Amer trip were also rather mundane, so overall it was a bit of a dull 25 minutes of episode viewing for me.
So I am just going to do a very short post. Here's what happened generally in the episode:
Javeeda and Maham had a strange exchange where Maham told Javeeda to stop following her on her nightly visits out, and to especially not tell anybody about it. Maham said she was going to the dargah to pray for Jalal, and duas never come true if they are told openly to others, so Javeeda should keep quiet about it. That shut Javeeda up for one day at least.
Meanwhile Jalal was seen riding hard with his troops following him, as he prayed for God's help in locating Jodha.
Back at Agra there was another boring exchange between Hoshiyaar and Ruq. The sum and substance of it was that Ruq started her usual lament to Hoshiyaar that although Jodha's gone (and thus part of her trouble has gone) this Jalal has now run after Jodha to fetch her back, so the news is overall bad. Hoshiyaar tries to placate Ruq but gets nothing but more ill-treatment in return.
Jalal meanwhile is seen resting for the night in a khema that has been put up for him. He is toying with Jodha's anklet (and he is filled with memories of the other anklet he stole from her at Amer). Many such visions come before his eyes in flashbacks - some very sad ones of their fights, and some pleasant ones of time spent happily together. A sort of half-rueful and half-wistful Jalal finally tries to sleep, but it looks like sleep evades him.
At Agra again, Salima and Gulbadan are having a bad time trying to convince Hamida to eat something. Hamida is so angry, so distressed and down, that she can barely keep a straight face through her intense worry for Jodha. Ruq arrives there to take matters in hand. She convinces Hamida that she must eat something at least for the sake of her favourite Jodha if not for the sake of anyone else. Finally, Hamida accepts some food, and Salima is thankful to Ruq for her intervention. But the ascerbic Ruq turns round with a "damn all" flourish and tells Salima peremptorily "I still loathe Jodha Begum, but I was just concerned about Ammi Jaan". That was rather tasteless and graceless a remark to make in these circumstances, I thought. But that is Ruq for you!
Then comes the Amer arrival of Jalal. I will detail this Amer sojourn a bit as that was the only big scene in the episode.
Jalal's visit to Amer helps the Bharmals share in his concern and sorrow
As Jalal and his troops approach the gates of the Amer palace, Bharmal and Mainavati and all their family rush to the gates to welcome this party that has surprised them by their sudden arrival. Bharmal says to Jalal "Swaagat to you Shahenshah from your sasuraal." But Jalal is looking unsmiling and morose. His eyes are darting here and there presumably looking out for Jodha.
Mainavati goes through an elaborate welcome ritual, but Jalal's eyes still keep looking out for Jodha. Bharmal, all smiles, says "It is really nice to see you here." He then tells his sons to take all the other guests to the guest quarters and see that they are well looked after. "Do come in Shahenshah" he then says leading Jalal into the palace. Jalal's is still searching for Jodha, but as he enters the palace doors he thinks to himself "She must be still very angry with me, that's why she's not come out yet to see me."
Jalal is then fed with good food, but Mainavati remarks that he has hardly eaten anything and tries to tempt him to try out one of her sweet dishes. "Forgive me, Maharani Sa" says Jalal, "I have already eaten well." But Mainvatai says "How can that be? Eating a sweet after a meal is good for your digestion. You must try out some of this". A sombre Jalal says "OK, if you insist I will taste some of it." But his face looked like he hardly registers the food!
Bharmal who can contain himself no longer then broaches the subject of Jodha "Shahehshah, if you don't mind, can I ask you a question? How come this sudden trip to Amer? You could have summoned me to Agra?" Jalal looked briefly at the ground before saying "Raja Saheb, I am here because ... has Jodha Begum not told you why?"
"Oh I also meant to ask", Mainavati cut in "How is our Jodha? Why has she not come with you? Where is she? Just because she's so loved in her sasuraal, should she forget the way to her own maayka"?
Jalal's eyes are wide open by now with shock. "What? Is Jodha begum not here?" he asks with deep consternation. "If she's not here, then where could she have gone?" Jalal's alarm now spreads to Bharmal and Mainavati as well. "Is Jodha not in Agra?" asks Bharmal. "No Raja Saab" says Jalal.
"I don't understand" says a concerned Bharmal. "And why should she be here?" a shaken Mainavati adds. "If she's not there either, where is she? What has happened to her?' Bharmal's voice rises in anguish. Jalal is unable to look at the worried parents of Jodha any more. He rises to go and stand by the parapet wall of the terrace they are all on, as he gathers the courage to tell Jodha's parents the whole story.
Jalal then proceeds to tell them all the whole story (which he does in mute). The faces of Jodha's family grow more and more worried and scared. "I thought she would have come here after getting angry with me" says Jalal, "But if she's not here ... I have to go at once to find her." And with that Jalal makes to start his troops moving again. "Wait, you don't go yet" says Bharmala to Jalal, "I will despatch my soldiers in all directions. They are bound to find her soon. She must be somewhere near or around Amer." And with that Bharmal orders his Senapati "Go break the troops into mobile units and if need be move heaven and earth to find Jodha, Quick!" Jalal looks ashamed, guilty, distraught and even distressed that he is imposing on the aged parents of Jodha in this way for the mistake he may have committed.
Later in the Amer palace, Mainavati is in terrible depression. Her sister-in-law tries to placate her saying "Sambhalo apne aap ko ... we are all with you in fearing what's come of Jodha. But if you cry so much where will we all get our strength from? Our Jodha is intelligent and brave. Wherever she is she must be keeping safe. She will find her way to Amer soon". "Oh no, Jethani Sa", weeps Mainavati, "Jodha will never come to Amer again." "But why not?" asks the Jethani, "why won't Jodha come to Amer?" "It was my black tongue that told her that either she should come with her husband to Amer or not visit here alone at all," said a remorseful Mainavati, "I am the doshi of Jodha, it's my black tongue that put her in this position."
Mainavati then looks at a fruit knife nearby and lunges for it saying "I will cut my black tongue out!" The Jethani's loud cries bring Bharmal there and between them they manage to stop Mainavati from over-reacting. Mainavati then breaks down in utter misery. "Stop this Mainavati" says an equally distraught Bharmal, "do you not have any vishwas on our daughter Jodha?" "Oh where has my Jodha gone" shrieks Mainavati. "Stay brave" says Bharmal, holding her by the shoulders. "Jodha will come back. Mainavati, I give you my word, I will seek her out. And the Shahenshah is also on the search." But Mainavati just collapses on the shoulder of her Jethani murmuring Jodha's name over and over again. Bharmals's face is also one of deep pain.
Meanwhile on the terrace balcony Jalal is alone in his misery. He stands there, a lone figure, unable to even cry, so deep are his wounds and his sense of loss of Jodha - and I suspect, his disappointment in not finding Jodha at Amer has dashed his hopes. A daasi brings him something to drink and leaves it on a table beside him ... and for a moment the rustle of someone near makes him turn around saying "Jodha Begum?" in hope. But it is only a servant and that look of loss appears on his face again!
Bharmal then approaches Jalal on the balcony. I think by now he has sensed that while he, Mainavati and the Jethani at least have one another to speak to in this distress, Jalal is all alone in his sorrow. "Shahenshah, you have not slept yet?" asks Bharmal. "You have come on a very long trip from Agra, and it appears you have not even rested enough on the way here. Please do rest for some time." "No Raja Saab" says Jalal, "till I ask for forgiveness from Jodha I will have no peace. I had great hopes she would be in Amer ... but a whole day has elapsed and she's not come back."
"In Amer, I have sent out all my troops to find her", Bharmal replied "Please do rest for a while at least. You yourself came on one of your fastest horses, and so you may have reached Amer earlier than Jodha. It could be possible that Jodha is still on the way here. We must at least wait till dawn to see if she arrives".
"No Raja Saab", says Jalal, his mind beginning to churn. "If she was on the way I would have seen her. Who know, she may not be bound in the direction of Amer at all. I am getting terribly worried. I'll go now myself to find her!" "No Shahenshah" says Bharmal, his worry visible in his shaking voice, "I have already sent out all troops everywhere to look for her. And as regards Jodha's safety, she is quite competent to take care of her safety herself. Don't worry about her."
But even as Bharmal rushes to calm Jalal down, he thinks to himself "I too am so worried. God knows what state my daughter is in. Ambe Ma, please protect my daughter.". Jalal reads the unspoken prayers in Bharmal's face and says with a low voice "Forgive me please. I am your gunegaar. I wan't able to take care of your daughter." "No, don't say that please, " says Bharmal "I know how much you care for her, how attentive you are to her. I know you can never do Jodha any harm."
"But something has happened because of me, I have done her harm" says a contrite and shaken Jalal. "Shahenshah" advises Bharmal, "sometimes things like this do happen between husband and wife. The sorrow and the love I see in your eyes will never allow this relationship to break. In fact, it will only strengthen your relationship. Please stay fearless. Jodha will come back to you fast." Jalal looks so thankful to Bharmal for seeing that love for Jodha in his eyes. "I'll try to wait till morning, Raja Saab, but beyond that I have no patience" he says with tears brimming out of his eyes.
Bharmal goes after having said all he could. But Jalal sinks to the ground beside the parapet saying "Ya Allah, if I have ever prayed to you with a true and sincere mind, please keep my Jodha Begum safe!" He looks up at the sky for divine support, as tears run down his cheeks.
My comments on this scene:
Despite the overall dullness of the script for this whole episode, and the uneventfulness in the storyline, I liked the Amer visit scene of Jalal for a few reasons:
a. It is so different to watch Jalal amidst the loving embrace of Jodha's family as a contrast to the treacherous folds of his own Agra family. Here in Amer, everybody rallies round one another, they share in grief and happiness alike, and they take you over into their open arms without rancour or ulterior motives. It was nice to see the way the family of Jodha, despite knowing all that had passed between Jalal and Jodha leading to Jodha's disappearance, still held Jalal in high esteem and accorded him not only the regal honours due to him, but also the love of a father and mother. Mainavati was a bit too distressed herself (on account of her own guilt towards Jodha) but Bharmal spared his own sorrow to try and counsel Jalal to take it all in his stride without self-flagellation. I liked seeing that touch of fatherliness in Bharmal that forgave the son even as he worried about his daughter!
b. Jalal, I think, needed one night to rest and think out a new strategy. He had rushed to Amer in the sureness that this was the way Jodha would be headed. But after drawing a blank at Amer, it would have been foolhardy to just rush back out into the countryside looking in every direction at random for Jodha. A plan, a strategy, was needed for a thorough search ... and that one night at Amer could give Jalal that clarity. Bharmal knew that .And that is why he sent his soldiers out on a search mission while advising Jalal to rest - for a calm mind can better work out a worthwhile plan.
c. Unknown to Jalal, Mainavati was coming a full circle. It is not surprising that she should feel extreme guilt for it was she who had refused to let Jodha enter Amer again alone (without her husband) during that suicide attempt phase of the story. She kept cursing her own "black tongue" and even wanted to knife it out for having closed her doors to her daughter. But then how could Mainavati have envisaged a future scenario when Jodha and Jalal would be driven apart by a rather deep misunderstanding and Jodha would need a place of refuge from Jalal? Mainavati knew she had done right at that previous time in barring Jodha from Amer if only to give Jodha a feeling that she should not turn up at Amer for every small fight with Jalal, or the marriage would not get the time and space to consolidate. But at the same time, if the doors of her family home are closed to a girl, where will she go when something big erupts that she cannot escape from? Mainavati was in a strange "damned if you do and damned if you don't" situation and she knew that she was a big part of the reason why her daughter had preferred to be unsafe somewhere rather than return to the refuge of her maayka.
d. I loved the way Jalal asked forgiveness from Jodha's parents for treating her ill, and I also loved the magnanimity with which Jodha's father sank his own sorrows to lift Jalal's spirits by preventing him from self-blame. Age and experience have given Bharmal a better ability to see rapproachment possibilities than Jalal can, so it was nice to see age and experience guiding the rashness and depression of youth. I like the bond between Jalal and Bharmal. It has had its ups and downs, but while Bharmal is inferior to Jalal in social and kingly rank, he is a true father to Jalal in emotional support. The tandem between them is beautiful to watch.
Okay, so what happens on Monday? The precap suggests that Jalal is going from village to village enquiring after Jodha ... and he seems to be hitting pay dirt at one particular place where two men think they may have seen Jodha.
But as is the typical trend of TV serials, it may be a hit-or-miss situation.
Either it may turn out to be some other woman, or it may have genuinely been Jodha (who unfortunately left before the two men could show her to Jalal).
Either way I doubt if Jalal will find Jodha so soon! I don't know if the whole of next week will go in the khoj?!!!
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