Friends, yesterday's episode saw a big bit of suspense revealed. We were all wondering how exactly Jalal would get to know that Jodha was pregnant. We got to know that ... and how! Did any of us think it would eventually be Ruq who got to know the news and would break it to Jalal like she was breaking a vase over his head?
As it turned out, Nigar had overheard Jodha telling a sleeping Rahim that he would soon have a little brother or sister to play with, and Nigar, spying on Jodha before the war, got that valuable bit of information that a pregnant Jodha would be engaging in the fight with her. When Jodha heard Nigar say she knew about the pregnancy, Jodha was quick to tell Nigar not to let anyone else know, for she had not yet told Jalal himself about it - neither was the time right, nor the place, on a battlefield in the middle of a war. When the time came for her to tell him, Nigar had landed back at the palace and a hungama had broken out. But Jodha did add that she intended to tell Jalal the good news that very day itself and end his suspense.
Unfortunately, Ruq overheard all this part of the conversation between Jodha and Nigar - and the burning cauldron of jealousy in her became so overheated that she was about to burst. She ran as fast as she could control herself straight to Jalal demanding why he had hidden the truth from his childhood friend and his khas begum! To put it mildly, Jalal himself was stunned to hear that Jodha was pregnant. I doubt he heard a word of Ruq's rants for he was so lost in his own inner space, thinking with incredulity about Jodha being pregnant.
When Ruq got to him at last through the haze he was in, she threw another bombshell at him. Jodha had known before the war that she was pregnant and had yet gone ahead and fought the war, endangering herself and the baby. That was too much for Jalal to take. His eyes grew to the size of saucers in his face. Mid-way through Ruq's belligerence and embittered words, he just walked out of the room in an angry search for Jodha.
When he subsequently saw the happy Jodha walking towards him on the terrace of the palace, all semblance of civility left him, and his rage grew all the higher. He pulled her by the hand to his room, and there he began throwing words at her in a flurry, "How could you do this to me? How could you not tell me? When you knew it was what I most wanted to hear, how could you not tell me I am about to become a father? Twice I have been cheated of this expectation and once I have actually lost a baby ... how could you keep me away from this news you know I would have pounced upon?"
It took Jodha a long while to get what he was getting at, but then it was her turn to look at him with saucer-like eyes. She had expected him to be happy, even thrilled to bits - and not to blow a fuse like this. "Remember, it's your baby but mine too. And you need my permissions for all the decisions you make about this baby. How dare you go to war carrying this baby? You know if something had happened to you I would have just broken apart?" he ranted ... and I suspect Jodha finally knew exactly why he was so affected that words left him in an uncontrollable flurry. The man was going mad with care - care for her and the unborn baby! We didn't exactly get to hear what Jodha's reply was to all this, because that has been reserved for the next episode.
To add to this "breaking news" was another bit of a really important thing ... remember, folks, Ruq had advanced all kinds of suitable arguments to Jalal in his room on why she should have been told the news. She had said that even if she hated Jodha, she loved the baby and thought of it as precious because it was Jalal's baby. How could Jalal have belittled her by not sharing such a big part of his life with his own childhood friend, his first and khas wife, etc etc.? But alone in her own room, Ruq was later seen throwing the biggest tantrum yet. She chucked everything big and small across the room and hounded Hoshiyaar out of the room with a string of invectives. And then in the privacy of her own space out came the real truth. "Jodha Begum, you have taken everything from me ... my position as the Begum-e-Khas, my husband, and even that audha I so coveted of Marium Uz Zamani. But more than all that, how can this baby be born that is not of pure Shahi blood from both sides. How dare a Rajvanshi taint the blood of the waaris of the Sultanate? I WILL NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN!"
The words from Ruq were ominous. Even without any instigation from Maham, the parochial feelings inside Ruq that the waaris should be of untainted Shahi blood were so patent. All her praise of Rajvanshi valour of Jodha on the battlefield disappeared as smoke against the thought that the child born of her womb would be half a Rajvanshi and that would be intolerable. Ruq also said the words we all were almost sure we would soon hear "I WILL NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN!"
We all suspected that if she knew Jodha was pregnant, she would probably do something to induce a miscarriage in Jodha, but here was the proof. We all thought she would need Maham's instigation to do her mischief with Jodha but she needed nobody. We all thought parochialism was Maham's angle on the subject, but look at Ruq with her bigoted point of view!
Even as she told herself that she would never let this baby happen, her conscience was pricking her but she put up her hands to her ears and tried to shut out the noise. The words that she had heard Nigar say to Jodha were like the whispers of her own conscience. "Even a shaitaan would care more about a pregnant lady but I engaged in war with you knowing you were pregnant". Ruq heard those words incessantly, but she looked into her hand mirror, took a good look at the shaitaan in herself and then broke the mirror to preserve that shaitaan!
I think yesterday we all saw not just how Jalal came to know about Jodha's pregnancy from Ruq, but we also got to see the complete picture ... Ruq was on the surface claiming to be afraid of losing the audha and Jalal, but under the surface, sectarian and prejudiced feelings against a half-Rajvanshi waaris for the Sultanate were acting as the most powerful driver of her real emotions. Now all she needed perhaps was Maham to give her the green signal to do some harm to Jodha and Ruq would be off in a shot to do the dirty deed, I feel. And she will also thus conveniently play into Maham's hands, giving Maham plenty to blackmail her about or even to expose her.
If Jalal was already broken at the very thought of the war endangering Jodha and the baby, think what his boiling point would be if he knew Ruq was trying to induce Jodha to a miscarriage just to preserve the Shahiness of the future waaris? I think if Ruq tried any hanky-panky with Jodha on this pregnancy it will be curtains for her as far as Jalal is concerned. And the story does seem to be going the way of history, where Ruq was supposed to have done something so intolerable to Jodha and Jalal, that he stopped speaking to her and sidelined her for years together!
The other relatively smaller issue that happened was that Hakim Mirza made a long trip out to Kabul to warn his mother to stay within her limits, saying he would always be a Jalal-wafaadaar, and she had better not try too much against Jalal. Like many of you, I too watched all this with a bit of scepticism. I am not yet 100% sure of Hakim Mirza's loyalties, and the fact that he took the pains to go all the way to Kabul to meet his mother just to warn her seemed like too much, when he could have sent her a paigam or something. When people take the trouble to go and meet others at such a distance, it always makes me uneasy that there may be more to it all than meets the eye! Anyway let's give Hakim a long rope for now and let's see what he may be up to ...
I thought the words by Atga were ominous when he warned Jalal not to fall for Nigar's innocent face yet again. Has Jalal learnt his lessons and is he wiser after the captivity in the war or is he again falling for Nigar's faked remorse? Even if we had not seen the spoiler yesterday that Nigar would once again double-cross Jalal, I would have wished for Jalal to be more careful.
I personally think Jalal so wants a large family and many siblings around him - in his bid to feel the warmth of his own close ones - that he tends to be a sucker for any sister or brother batting eyelashes at him. He had better be warned about both Nigar and Hakim Mirza. If he wants to feel the closeness of family, he'd be better off adopting the Ameris rather than trusting the Bakshis, the Hakims and the Nigars of this world.
Will he ever learn not to trust the ones he so badly wants to be brotherly and sisterly to him? I suspect Jalal, having been a lonely child growing up, without close family around him at the age when he needed them most, craves "family" so much that he exposes an open gullibility all the time to his near ones. Maybe in time when he has his own children he will be less dependent on his siblings that seem never to have any sincere feelings for him. But till he has his own nuclear family, we may have to bear watching him being taken for a ride time and again by his own kin. Sigh, even the most powerful of people usually have a chink in their armour, and this "family-craving" is Jalal's huge weakness.
For those who want it, here's all that happened in today's episode:
The episode begins with Nigar in bed surrounded by concerned relatives including Jalal. Atga, being astute this time around, warns Jalal about Nigar being untrustworthy. "She has already once similarly traded on your concern for her and taken you for a ride. Hope that doesn't happen again," says Atga. Jalal curtly replies him "I know your fears Atga, but this time around things are different".
Nigar sitting up in bed and still looking rather tired says "Atga says right, Jalal Bhai, I am unfit to be trusted. After my gunah, who will trust me?" Jodha rushes in to calm her "Lie down Nigar Banu, your wounds are still very raw". Jalal then, despite one more warning from Atga, steps in the area around Nigar's bed and sits by her on the bed. "I realise it was not your galti but all due to a galat faimi caused by circumstances" says Jalal. "And it was my galti that as a Shahenshah that I couldn't understand you well, nor make you understand. I couldn't understand you and your mind as my sister."
"Forgive me Jalal" a seemingly contrite Nigar says "I was always told that you had hidden and incarcerated my mother and tried to deprive me of my khazana left to me by my father. I fell for this brainwashing and even lifted a sword against you". Saying this Nigar leans on Jalal's shoulder as if she is about to collapse. "I used to think those people were my own and didn't realise they were using me."
Jalal says "But I knew that one day the right realisation would come to you". Jodha adds "Niyati plays these tricks on people", while Hamida says "You are still part of our family. Have patience all will be well." Salima also adds her bit to Nigar about getting the feeling now that she has come home to her own people. Seeing all this love around her, Nigar says "You all seem to have hearts of gold. Why did Allah keep me so far away from such a wonderful family? And Jodha Begum, I owe you most of all for taking care of me right from Mathura to Agra. But I used you and waged war against you and tried to take your suhaag. Jalal, I have no idea where to begin begging pardon and whom to ask first for what." Jalal says "Let all that go and get well fast. I will come with you and we both will, by the grace of God, find your mother fast. And now I think you should rest". With that Jalal leaves the room and so do the others. Mahamnnaga is left trying to look happy for Nigar at the thought of finding her mother.
At Kabul, Mahchuchak is sitting on her throne looking like a boxer ready for a fight when her son Mirza Hakim is announced in. His sisters run to hug him and he does all the regular greetings of his mother as per protocol. "May God give you a long life and I pardon all your misdeeds. It would have be even better if you had fought this war on my side", she tells her son."No Ammi Jaan, I have not come here to say I am now on your side. I have come to warn you to come to your senses soon. Try and get onto the right path while you still have time", her son replies.
Mahchuchak is enraged "Mirza Hakim" she shouts, "this is tauheen..." and holds a knife to his throat. But he is calm. "You can behead me if you wish AmmiJaan, I am not afraid of you".Mahchuchak replies to him. "You don't know what I am capable of" she says in frustration and anger, and then utters a loud "Takhliya" asking all to leave the room except Mirza Hakim. "I thought you have finally left Jalal, but his salt seems to be stillspeaking through your veins. He seems have sent you here with this message to me" she says. "No one sent me, I have come here of my own" says Hakim Mirza, "God forbid that I have to raise a sword against my own mother in war, and so that's why I have come. I've put up with a lot from you, but be careful Begum Mahchuchak Sahiba, the next time you cross limits, you will not face your son in war, you will face an enemy."
"Ho" laughed Mahchuchak derisively,"Maybe you don't know that my flag flies from Kabul to Punjab and will soon be fluttering over Delhi and Agra." He son is not impressed."Your guroor and power have gone to your head AmmiJaan," he says. She admonishes him "Stop, don't go, come over to my side and after the war we'll make sure you are the only chirag of your father that stays burning" she promises ... but he replies "I am a true wafaadaar of the Mughal Sultanate and will stay so till the end. Better you adjust to that idea for your own good. Khuda Hafiz" ha says and walks out.
Faazal Beg, seeing all this happening, goes up to Mahchuchak to ask if Hakim Mirza needs to be beheaded for his own good. But Mahchuchak holds a knife to Faazal's throat and says "Don't even dream of it!"
Nigar is just waking up in the morning in her bed when Moti brings her clothes and jewellery from Jodha. Nigar wonders where Jodha is and then seems to realise that she can't expect more attendance from Jodha after all that she has done to her. But Jodha jauntily walks in with prasad after her puja and offers it to Nigar. Nigar says she will take it after her bath.
Jodha then says "Can I also follow Jalal and call you Nigar Apa?". Nigar seems touched. "No it's OK, just call me by my name as you always used to" she says and Jodha then starts addressing her as just Nigar! Jodha then tries to see how well Nigar would look in the dress and jewellery she has chosen for her, but Nigar starts shedding tears. "You are so good to me, how can I take all this after what I have done?" she says. Jodha tries to put her at ease saying "Forget the past, and let's all begin on a fresh start. That would be for the best of everyone." But Nigar then says something that confounds Jodha.
She says "How can I forget that your are pregnant, and knowing that fully well, I still made you engage in battle?" Jodha is shocked that Nigar knows and looks at Moti in stunned surprise. "But how do you know I am pregnant?" Jodha asks. Nigar replies "Before the war I was spying on you to know how best to conquer you ... and I overheard you telling Rahim that he would soon have a little sister or brother, and he would no longer need lullabies to sleep as he would be so tired just playing with his siblings. I can't believe I was so far gone that despite knowing you were pregnant I fought against you."
Unknown to both Nigar and Jodha, Ruq had overheard all of this last part of the conversation. Anger, jealousy and uncontrollably negative emotions sprang through her and she could barely stand and hear more. She left in a huff.
Jodha continued to Nigar "Nigar, I have not told anyone yet that I am pregnant, not even the Shahenshah. And I hope you won't tell anyone too." "But why not?" asked Nigar "BhaiJaan would have been thrilled to hear of this." "Yes, replied Jodha, "but somehow in wartime, neither was the time right nor the place. And yesterday when I was about to tell him, you arrived. No issues, I will tell him today anyway."
Jalal is in his hojra when Ruq storms in with a rude "Takhliya" and the rest of his courtiers assembled there leave. "What are you angry about now, Ruqaiaya?" asks Jalal with an irritated face. "You are the cause, Jalal," says Ruq, "You call me khas in front of everyone yet you don't think it fit to tell me the news? You have put me away from yourself, that's the truth. You don't care about me!"
"What am I supposed to have done now?" Jalal asks stupefied. "You hide such a huge truth from me, " shouts Ruq."You don't tell me that Jodha is to become a mother?" Jalal face takes on a look of stunned wonder. "I cannot understand why Jodha would want to hide such huge news, but why you should hide it beats me even more. You are my husband, my childhood friend. Did you think I would hate the news, feel jealous about it?"
"What are you telling me Ruqaiaya" says Jalal barely above a whisper, as incredulity hits him. But Ruq goes blithely on "Don't try to pretend not knowing. I have just come from hearing for myself that Jodha is to become a mother. I know I don't get along with Jodha Begum, but this is your baby and precious to me for that. And you wanted to hide this from your own childhood friend. And what's more, Jodha has gone and fought this battle pregnant - for she knew well before the battle that she was pregnant!" Jalal's face takes on a redder hue, and his eyes grow as large as saucers. "Tell me why did you hide all this from me" Ruq shouts, but a dazed and shaken Jalal barely hears her. He just walks out of the room in search of Jodha!
On the corridors of thre terrace, Jalal and Jodha are both walking towards each other. Jodha thinks to herself with great happiness "Wait till I tell you the news Shahenshah, I just want to see that happiness spread across your face at the news that you are to be a father.". Jalal is morose and miffed as he walks purposefully towards Jodha who seems to be in her own dreamland. They come face to face as a happy Jodha says "Shahenshah I have to tell you something ...". "I too have something to say" he says angrily and pulls her hand and takes her away to somewhere in private.
Ruq inn her rooms meanwhile is throwing the tantrum of the century. Evveryhthing in sight is being funng across the room and she shouts to Hoshiyaar to get out of her face. Objects and furtniture gets banged and shunted across the room, such is her pent up rage. "You have taken everything -nbut everything - from me Jodha Begum" she says through clenched teeth. "You have taken my place, my status as begum-e-Khas, my husband, and even the audha I so coveted of Marium Uz Zamani. It cannot be for you, all this, Jodha Begum. The waaris should have been born with pure Shahi blood, and not like this bearing half a Rajvanshi's blood. No, no, never. I can never let this baby happen.". Ruq sits on her bed fuming when the words of Nigar keep hitting her consciousness where Nigar had told Jodha "Even shaitaan's take care about pregnant women but I waged war against you". Ruq hears this repeatedly but it only enrages her further and she tries to shut hear ears to this. Then Ruq looks at her own bloated and angry face in a hand mirror and then hating what she looks at, she breaks the mirror with a huge crash on the floor.
In his room subsequently, Jalal is accosting Jodha relentlessly. "Why did you like to me, Jodha Begum?" he asks her in agony. "How could you have hidden such a huge bit of news from me. Why did you make such a big mistake? You knew what would be my life's biggest happiness and yet you never let it come close to me? You kept my life's biggest longing far away from me? Why didn't you tell me that I am to become a father?" Realisation dawned on Jodha regarding what he was talking about. But she was stunned into silence by the vehemence of his words.
"Why are you silent now, give me your answer!" he shouts. "You know how desperate I always have been to hear such news. And you hid this very news from me? And what's more, knowing how important this baby was for both of us, you went and fought a war against Abul Mali? You went into the battlefield? You know, Jodha Begum, that I have lost a child once and been cheated of expectations twice. This time if something had happened to you I would have just broken apart, you know that! Don't forget Jodha Begum, that if you are the mother of this baby, then I am its father. And I have just as much rights over it as you do. If you had to take any decisions about the baby you should have asked me too." And with that Jalal looks implacable as he stares daggers at Jodha. She is stunned beyond words.
In the precap, the scene shifts back to Kabul, where in his cage the animal-man is beating a human to pulp. Mahchuchak looks on at the sights and says "He is now ready to be unleashed onto Agra. She tells the animal-man's bodyguard and handler "Take with you a few sipahis and you too go along with him. Jalal's end is near."
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