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Few days back we saw Krishna blessing Arjun , with the words "Ab jao".That was the very casually done, fun filled and sweet blessing from Shlok standing on the top stairs and blessing Astha , in a sweet romantic scene between husband and wife. When Shlok raised his right hand in the blessing gesture and said that to Astha, it was not meant just for her next work or for time pass. It was meant to be the ending of Gita bodhan. Means that time in war, when Krishna gave geetopdesh and asked Arjun to fight against his own people for Dharma.All along since the day of marriage, what Shlok has been doing with Astha, it was a preparation of what is to come when the real war starts between Evil ( NA) and Truth/Goodness(Astha).
In the Mahabharat war, Krishna 's army fought for Kauravas , because Krishna pledged allegience to both sides . He was with Pandavas as thier sarathi..the driver of the ratha. But his wealth and army were with Kauravas. Similarly Shlok now is divided into two. His allegience is openly with Baba because thats his primary Putradharma. He is born to NA. Therefore his first duty is to support his father. Second his duty is towards truth, correcting his father and being a correct husband to Astha...which he is doing by motivating Astha, by provoking her and cornering her into being absolutely brave and strong.
That day of the blessing , though was a sweet scene between a couple on the outside , spelled doom for thier relationship because whatever Shlok needed to teach AStha , he has finished doing so. He has empowered her to be strong in his face from first night itself. Now his angry mean behavior hurts Astha and cuts through her, but does not break her...she stood so strong ..so strong that on three occasions I saw a spark of respect for her on Shlok's face.
One was when she says that she is not his servant, that she has not given anybody the right to slap her...that he should remain in his limits. Shlok was proud of her for a millisecond ..and Anjali is shameful that she could not say those words to NA,
Second was when he asks her to apologize of get out. She refuses to submit to evil. There is a hind of pride in his face again.
Third was when he tells to to leave the house, she sticks to her guns and says that the house is as much hers..she asserts her rights in the house and clearly states that neither he nor his Baba can ask her to go out. Again there is that " Thats my girl " look in Shlok for a fraction of a second.
Actually Shlok is not blind to any truth..rather he has been yelling at the top of his voice that he very well knows what his Baba is ...he knows his father more than Astha.Shlok already does know his father 's dark face.So what is Shlok waiting for? Shlok is waiting for his mother to strike against her evil husband and he is using Astha to push Anjali to that point. Anjali has tolerated years of abuse and allowed it on herlself...but if she sees the same abuse on her sweet child Astha..that Astha that fought for her freedom, Anjali will not take it, She will stand up for AStha someday..and she may even tell Astha to leave Shlok and not live a life of Abuse like herself.
That is the only way Anjali will break her silence, if she sees Astha having to tolerate same things as her. Anjali has spoken up for Jyoti thanks to Astha. Now, Anjali will stand up for her in the upcoming track at some point.
That is Shlok's real motive..to awaken the tigress in his mother. Just exposing NA's truth openly to the world is not enough.That exposure has to lead to some change. In the lack of any evidence of NA's wrongdoings, it is Anjali who will ultimately provide witness and evidence to NA's darkness for the sake of protecting Astha. That is where this track will get into...I feel that Shlok is going to abuse AStha a little more before Anjali becomes Astha's shield.
Astha told clearly that she will not leave until she proves her truth and Na's evilness. But the day she proves it and truth becomes self evident, Astha is going to leave Shlok. She might be pregnant but his words that he doesnt care if she is dead or alive are going to cause her to leave him. And Shlok will not stop her because he knows that was going to happen. He has zeroed in on her because he loves her and also because she has the truthfulnes and righteousness in her that he needs for his family. He has trained her to fight with him when needed. he has trained her to keep silent about certain things until times comes. He has seen her bringing change to Jyoti and Anjali.Now by not supporting her, he is forcing Anjali to support Astha.
But in all this he very well knows he is losing AStha...because after the war she will go away from him. Then another story of redemption of Shlok as a husband will start..because his role as Krishna will end.
Then the story will be of how Shlok brings Astha to their dream house.
Kudos Kudos Astha for the strong spirit you show us , where you have put truth and courage much before marital relationship. If only Anjali had the courage to do that, all this would not ave happened. In tolerating abuse, we never do the right thing for us or our children.We rather teach them that the way to live and survive is by tolerating the wrongs done to us. That will only spiral the next generation to use abuse as a form of control in relationships, either by doing it or by tolerating it. It takes guts and courage to break the cycle...Anjali has not been able to break it, but together with Astha she will. Shlok's job has been to get these two women to align with each other..to be protective to each other, and to do that he has to don the mask of being a bad husband.If Shlok supports Astha, Anjali will never have to change. isnt it?
Shlok is doing all this for his mother, and that will be his only defense when Astha leaves him.
Wonderful work by team EBP...kudos. Glued.
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