Food for thought
In even real life, you are prepared for the worst but believe in the best. It has been a similar journey for me for this track while I am ready to brave the worst, I now truly believe in the best: Jalal is indeed acting to trap Atifa and her companions and ensure the safety and future happiness of his love, Jodha.
And please don't get thrown off by Jodha and Jalal's fight today ...
The CVs are trying to stack multiple things against Jodha ... the fight over Khaiber (which I think is a separate concern) and now over this princess and the wedding. Do you remember in the Ben track when they tried to push everything against Jodha ... including Shivani's wedding fiasco?
But, these are all separate issues:
- Jalal's anger and frustration over Khaiber I think was because he is truly trying to save Jodha from dangerous elements he does not know and wants to eliminate a danger he knows
- Jalal is frustrated by Jodha complicating matters with this wedding ... and without telling him
- And remember, this is the Jalal that did not get mad at Jodha when her sister left his brother hanging at the alter... so obviously, he is overdoing it for his broader plan
Mini-take 5: There were many tell-tell signs on Jalal's plan even today:
(1) Maybe I am just going crazy, but I noticed a pained expression when Jalal answers yes to Jodha's question ...as if he is hesitating, to see if there is any way he can avoid breaking this news so directly
(2) And if you had any doubts about why Jalal was acting even with Jodha, then we could see how Maham Anga was overhearing Jodha- Jalal's conversation ... God knows, who else is listening through these thin walls!
(3) I actually think Atifa's husband going to the Kaazi today unlocked another key piece of the puzzle ... he needs proof ... and Jalal wants to see who helps him with that proof (and Adham Khan may fall for this for all his new-found intelligence 😉)
(4) Why else would Jalal , not being able to control himself, from stopping to see his Jodha Begum from afar ... he cannot stand to see her in this sad state, but he has to; if he was under a spell or truly angry, would he have done that?
(5) He knows he has done a lot to hurt Jodha ... and that is why he does not want to burden her further with doing the service ... see the sadness on his face in this scene. And just see the expressions when he stops Jodha and says "Jodha Begum." This is confirming to me he is under no spell but in complete control- except he is getting tested by the pain of his own plan.
And I must add that the CVs are executing this track quite well to keep the suspense intact. They are clearly showing multiple players observing and benefiting from the fight between Jodha and Jalal: Ruqaiyya, Maham Anga, SD, and even Adham Khan. And suspiciously, they have not shown Nigaar at all. And this is exactly what Jalal is acting and holding on for ... that how are these key players involved.
Now onto my real take 5 ...
Earlier this week I started a musical journey showing where the key players this week were starting off: Jalal, Jodha, Atifa, Khaiber, and us.
But today, I realize is that what matters is Jodha and Jalal ... And our relationship with them. How much ever screen space is given to villains ... In the end, it is what this pain and trials does to strengthen Jodha and Jalal's love that matters ... And our emotions get churned as well so we too can value the strength of their love. What is the value of something if it is acquired with ease?
So, today's take is dedicated to Jodha and Jalal and only them; and I am in a musical mood so songs in italics:
(1) Jodha and Jalal are like the lotus in murky waters ... As I have always said. And the murkier the water, the greater the beauty of the lotus.
It is like the song:
Chup ke se sun (Listen quietly)
Is pal ke dhun (To the tune at this moment)
Sapnon ki hai duniya yehi (This is the world of dreams)
Meri aankhon se dekho zara(See it from my eyes)
When the dark clouds loom ...
Gehra dhuaa (the dark clouds)
Patne lagaa (start to open up)
dekho chaaron taraf ab noor hai jannat ka(and the light of the Heavens shine all around us)
And the light of the Heavens do shine on Jodha and Jalal in the end of the day ...
It may seem that Maham Anga is always winning ... but what is the victory that today Jodha and Jalal are together ?
It may seem that Ruqaiyya always gives pain to Jodha ... but what is the pain that is clearly evident in Ruqaiyya's face?
It may seem that conspiracies like Ben and Atifa are separating Jodha-Jalal ... but what are these conspiracies that only make Jodha and Jalal's bond stronger?
But, now there has been too many conspiracies. First, MahaC and Abul Mali do a direct attack ... it seems, but then they use Nigaar to do a conspiracy to trap Jalal. He realizes the rules of the game are not fair and square. Then there are random attacks ... Khaiber enters the mahal and than Atifa , a random lady from Kabul, lands in his harem. He knows the dark clouds are getting more and more dangerous and closer and closer ...
And, he is willing to put it all at stake to preserve the Heaven he has with Jodha ...
(2) Tere haath mein, mera haath ho , saari jaanate meri saath ho (As our hands are together, all of heaven is together)
Tu jo paas ho phir kya yeh jahaan (if you are with me, what is the rest of the world)
Tere pyaar mein ho jaaun Fanaa (In your love, I will be destroyed)
He is ready to put everything at stake and become close to Fanaa to save this Heaven of love with Jodha.
He is putting at risk his reputation, his relationships, and particularly his love for Jodha to win it all back in a more permanent way. He is even hiding his heart behind his Jallad self as he knows he needs to be that Jallad against his enemies ... and cannot show his soft side to anyone no matter how much he tried today.
And most importantly, he has trust in Jodha ... that she is strong enough to bear this pain as:
She had the strength to survive the emotional pain that Abul Mali gave her that Jalal may be dead ... and fight back to it
She had the strength to survive the pain of Khaiber kidnapping her and resolve to free herself
She will have the strength to bear this temporary pain that Jalal is giving her ... so that their future is in a much brighter place
Jalal knows Jodha will always be strong.
(3) And today, Jodha was shaken but not completely broken as shown in her later scene with Jalal ... she was still there for Jalal. She needs to ask herself:
Ajeeb daastaan hai yeh (Weird are the current turn of events)
Kahan shuru kahan khatam (Not sure where it begins or ends)
Yeh manzile hai kaunsi (Not sure where the destination is)
Na voh samajh sake na hum (Not sure if he understands or me)
And hope she comes out of this reflection with an even stronger realization that her true manzil is Jalal and their love and truly comes out stronger in this ... recognizing that she needs to be the strength and support of Jalal not only to love his people, but also to win against his enemies.
And this experience will truly strengthen her to be the true Radha of Jalal.
(4) Mujhko bhi Radha Bana De Nand Lalal: I always wondered what this Radha analogy truly mean and today I feel Radha was the one that let Krishna go to fulfill his duties and responsibilities to the world ... but that never effected her love for him that has been immortalized for it.
Coming out of this, Jodha's love will be strengthened in such a way, that nothing will be able to shake her confidence from it in thick or thin.
(5) I know everyone, including myself, feels bad for Jodha ... her sadness is the most visible and Paridhi portrayed subtly and beautifully today. However, let's also think of the pain this is giving Jalal
Rajat's Jalal gave it away in the last scene as he was reflecting pensively to himself. He is not a new lovelorn Romeo at all or even wrapped in a happy spell with Atifa.But, what a sad fate for an emperor ... who cannot enjoy a moment of peace around him as his power comes at the cost of his enemies and betrayal of his own. He has worked so hard for his empire and his people and his enemies want to steal it with something as simple as one attack by Khaiber.
And even worse, he has built a storm within himself to hurt the very Jodha he loves and is his identity ... to dispel the bigger storm that awaits outside.
Jalal is always caught in the midst of storm ... a storm to attack the power and greatness he has earned by people who do not deserve it at all.
Mujhpe Toofan Uthaaye Logo Ne (People always raise a storm against me)
Mufth bhaite bhitaaye Logo Ne (People who they themselves have earned nothing)
And to end of a light note, we have a looong weekend ahead of us. We can sing, "Intehaa, hogayi intezaar ki!" It is going to me a long wait to what should be a very exciting climax.
So, thoughts about my take and the episode?
P.S. My take on the precap: First, never fall for precaps 😆 The CVs are trying to make our weekends miserable now that we all have comfort that this is Jalal's plan 😉My guess- Khaiber kidnaps her (hence, the well is open before she jumps in). She is shocked to be kidnapped ... realizes she was wrong in saving him ... doesn't know how she will face everyone ... uses this trick to have Khaiber bring her back
P.P.S. Reference to songs:
Chup Ke Se Sun, Mission Kashmir
Tere Haath Mein, Mera Haath , Fanaa
Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh, Dil Apna Preet Paraya
Mujhko Bhi Radha Bana De Nand Lal, Ankahee
Mujhpe Toofan Uthaaye Logo ne, Tehzeeb
Intehaa hogayi Intezaar ki, Sharaabi
