Hi Friends,
After a long time, I saw JA last night. It was a mixed bag for me. Sharing my feelings and thoughts about the episode with you.
I missed the initial scenes, including Rahim touching Jodha's feet and begging forgiveness for what his mother had done. Jodha assured him that he didn't need to do that. I started watching from Ruq's smirk with Resham standing in the background. I don't really know or care what she was thinking.
Jodha-Salima Meeting
The next scene was interesting and poignant. Salima Begum is a sad and lonely figure, shedding silent tears, in her hojra under nazar band. Jodha Begum walks in. with tears glistening in her eyes too. I was touched for a moment. I thought she had come to empathize with Salima Begum, share her sorrow and reassure her that the guilty would be found soon. It was apparent that Salima Begum too felt like me.
She stood up happily and pronounced that she had known that Jodha would come to meet her, even if no one else did. She was happy that at least Jodha believed in her innocence and came to give her a hug of gratitude and love.
But Jodha didn't return the hug. She said, as if in a daze, that she no longer knew what trust was. She could not believe that Salima would do such a thing, being a mother to Salim. In fact, she elaborated that no mother would harm her child like this. But then, and here Jodha chose her words carefully and said that all the evidence was against Salima.
This broke Salima internally, for she responded by saying that Jodha knew how to wield the sword as well as how to use her words like a sword to hurt others. She said in a hurt voice that Jodha knew well that the injuries inflicted by a sword could heal but not those inflicted by tongue. The latter only brought a gap in relationships and she didn't want any distance in her relationship with Jodha.
Jodha asked her why then she had accepted Jalal's accusations silently in court and not offered any tark in her favor. At this Salima said that she was innocent but she could not oppose her husband's and emperor's judgment because it would have been wrong. She reminded Jodha that she too had been held in nazar band a few years back, though that didn't imply that she was guilty. Similarly, Salima too might be in nazar band, but was innocent. In fact, she reasoned that if Jalal really thought her to be guilty of giving afeem to Salim, he would have punished, beheaded or buried her alive in a wall.
Jodha asked her about the evidence and what Salim had told them. Salima didn't take Ruq's name even once but she hinted darkly that the glass of milk had passed through the hands of 2 begums. Jodha entreated her to tell her the entire truth but Salima only kept iterating that the truth would be out soon and Salima would then be free. For good measure, she indirectly told off Jodha too that in the interim period, it would be better to hold her tongue because words are very hurtful.
I love Salima Begum. She is frank and forthright and if someone has hurt her, she doesn't wring her hands and cry. She tells them to their face, in a matter of fact manner, that they have hurt her and they should not do so again. I so wish everyone would be as direct and plain speaking as her. This world would be a much better place then.
But in spite of her own sorrow, she understands Jodha's position too, as MUZ and Salim's mother. She tells her that Jodha should not feel unduly guilty because she had only been trying to protect her son. And she warns Jodha to guard Salim carefully.
Note:
Salima Begum had such a beautiful relationship with Salim. She even mediated between him and Akbar, when the former revolted against his father. What a travesty of beautiful, pure relationships!
Yesterday (and hopefully tonight), Jodha seemed at least partially awake and in her senses. She felt that Ruq may have framed Salima with a false accusation, but she doesn't say anything further and the scene ends here.
Jalal-Jodha Meeting
Now, here is where the CVs really BUG me!
The next scene had a pensive looking Jalal and Jodha in private conversation. I was expecting that Jodha had her fears about Ruq framing Salima. But I was way off the mark.
Jodha again goes back to her pet line how she can't believe that Salima could do it. Hey, she just came away convinced that Salima didn't do it. Then why is she again asking the same doubt? Did someone knock her on her head between Salima's and Jalal's hojras?
Enter Todarmal
Todarmal seeks and is granted audience with Jalal. Jodha is still present. I loved how TM called her MUZ.
He has brought an anonymous letter that states that Salima has given afeem only but someone else who is very close to Jalal wants to kill Salim. My third point of confusion. I thought the letter was about Ruq but now it's apparent that it was sent by Ruq to Jalal to frame MS. But didn't Jalal and co wonder how an outsider knew so soon that Salima had given afeem to Salim?
Anyway the letter warned that a fatal attack would be made on the prince the next day as he was going for some ceremony in which he will probably be officially made the wali-ahad.
TM wants to postpone the ceremony but Jalal says that he will not change his plans because of some threats and that they just needed to increase security. After TM leaves, Jalal assures Jodha that nothing will happen to Salim.
Jalal's Conference with Navratnas
Jalal then has a meeting with his navratnas. This is good - at least, in such meetings, we are assured that all are present in the show still. Though Tansen was absent today. MS echoes Jalal's sentiments that they cannot postpone official engagements because of some threats.
All those present voice their opinions except Birbal. (It was a treat to see Birbal in the first episode I saw after a long time. Missed him!) Jalal asks him what he is thinking. Birbal says the attack would happen the next day, so it would be prudent to move the prince out immediately as a commoner and hide him near the place of the ceremony till required. Jalal agrees with this plan.
But MS expresses his inability to accompany the prince because he has to see the arrangements for the ceremony. Jalal asks the others to dress up as commoners and accompany Salim in a palki to a secret hiding place. He also tells them that no one outside this circle should know about the changed plan to whisk Salim out of the palace that night itself.
Then how did Ruq come to know of the plan? Did she eavesdrop on the discussion or is there a mole of Ruq in the navratnas?
Trapping Man Singh
Later MS also receives an anonymous letter as he is getting ready in his hojra. The letter writer asks MS to meet him near a hill for details about a conspiracy to kill Salim. MS makes a huge blunder here. He just leaves such an important letter lying around his hojra and goes out to meet the letter writer.
He meets with a group of armed men whose leader shows his unveiled face and says that that should be enough for MS to trust him and that he is also a Rajvanshi. (Actually, he's just another Mughal servant of Ruq.) He says that the conspirators have discovered that Salim is being taken out that night only and have planned to attack him at that time.
MS leaves to warn the others and prevent the attack.
The group of men laugh that they have misguided MS and leave to attack Salim's convoy.
The Attack on Salim (or is it Maan Singh ? )
They attack the convoy and TM, Rahim, etc fight with them. Salim sees the fight from within the palki and is scared. Suddenly, MS comes there and sees the attack. Before he can react, the letter writer - leader of the group welcomes him, as if he was expecting him to come and says that he is glad of MS' support. Both Rahim and MS are shocked to hear this. Anyway MS joins the fight and sees one of the attackers trying to take away Salim. He saves Salim and holding him with one hand, tries to fight the attackers with his free hand. The leader of the attack again comes there and congratulates him for getting hold of Salim. Rahim is angered by this and snatched Salim away from MS. Suddenly all the soldiers and nobles accompanying Salim surround MS and arrest him for planning the attack on Salim and for treason. MS tries to protest his innocence but to no avail.
The Trial (Such as it was - a Kangaroo Court!)
The next scene is the DEK. MS is standing as accused in front of a very angry, hurt and shocked Jalal, while Jodha cannot believe what she is witnessing.
MS' treachery is recounted and Jalal asks him what he has to say for himself. MS states his case. At this point, Birbal comes to MS' help (I felt so) and says that MS can just produce the letter he received as proof of his innocence. MS says the letter is in his hojra. Jalal sends Rahim to fetch the letter and read it aloud. Obviously, the letter has been changed. It states that the letter writer is very happy to receive support from MS and that MS should meet him near the hill to discuss the details of the attack on Salim. The letter further states that this action of MS would make the Rajvanshis happy because it would erase the bitter memories of the compromise Bharmal had made with Jalal by giving his daughter's hand in marriage to him.
MS says that now he knows the conspiracy was against him and not Salim.
Jalal says that he was giving MS one more chance to prove his innocence but, of course, MS has no proof and just swears on God that he is innocent. Jodha is in tears, as Jalal orders him to be sent to prison, pending further investigation.
Thankfully, at least, there will be some investigation, instead of just taking MS to be guilty on the basis of concocted circumstantial evidence.
The pained look on Jalal's face after this spoke volumes of his relationship with MS, the small boy he had brought with him to Agra, wishing to make him a legendary soldier in his own mould.
It was obvious that MS had been trapped because he had taken Ruq's place next to Jalal in the jashn. And Ruq, like elephants, never forgets or forgives.
Ruq gloats to herself that she has succeeded in eliminating both Salima and MS and next only Jodha remained.
Precap
I LOVED Jodha in this scene. I hope it plays out well tonight.
Jalal is slightly angry and irritated with her and asks her where she was coming from so late at night.
Jodha replies that she had gone to meet MS. Attagirl! I love people who have the guts to speak the truth to the face.
Jalal grits his teeth and says that she was aware that MS was a traitor and had tried to kill their son. Jodha says that she does not believe this could be possible. Jalal asks her if she had forgotten that she was the MUZ?
Jodha does not turn her gaze away for a second nor does she flinch or need time to collect her thoughts. As soon as the words escape Jalal's mouth, she boldly cross-questions him. She asks him to tell her the adhikaar (rights/powers) a MUZ has.
If I could whistle, I would have whistled. This is what I was asking for ever since the CVs turned Jodha into a doormat. I wanted her to assume the position of MUZ and flex her muscles. Show some love for justice and fight for what she believes in. Initially, Jodha used to flex her position as the Shahenshah's begum with the likes of Adham to make them fall in line. I hope we get that kind of queen back who knows she is powerful and knows how to use that power to guard justice and the downtrodden. A queen who through her counsels guides the king towards the right decisions.
Tonight, I hope we finally see the MUZ assert herself and fight for the causes of Salima Begum and Man Singh. Tonight, I hope we finally get to see the MUZ we only read about till now.
Promo
Jodha declares that she doesn't want the MUZ title when Jalal accuses her of violating the orders of a Shahenshah.
What Next
I feel strongly that Ruqaiyya will use this golden opportunity to drive Jalal and Jodha apart. She will convince Jalal that Jodha is still connected to her Rajvanshi roots and her side of the family than she is to Jalal or even Salim. THis will be Ruq's plan to drive away Jodha too, as per her plan, from Jalal's life, so that only she (Ruq) remains all-powerful in the court.
Ruq may use this opportunity to further poison Salim against his mother by telling him that his mother is more worried about her nephew, one who had tried to kill her son, than she is about Salim.
Will Ruqaiyya be punished (not just exposed for the nth time)? Is Jalal again playing the TE of the Atifa track? Keep watching / reading WUs! 😊
Please share your views freely. Ranting also welcome, no apologies required! My only request - please desist from historical discussions here. 😊
Anupamaa
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