Hi Friends,
I feel thrilled with yesterday's episode (Dec 2, 2014) because finally, after a long time, JA brought back a slice of history into our lives. It was totally unexpected and, therefore, all the more gladdening to the eye and the heart.
Finally, we got to see MUZ earning the right to issue farmans independently using her own seal and with the proviso that she CAN at any time, overrule the emperor's decisions. She is only the second person after Mariam Makani to get this power and privilege. Hamida looked pleased as punch at this decision.
Sure there was a lot more to the episode than just this, :) but to me at least, this was the high point of the episode. I was so driven to despair seeing Jodha reduced to being a silent shadow that I had given up all hopes of ever seeing the MUZ in all her glory. And, lo and behold, the CVs suddenly turned the story around and showed Jodha fighting for her rights as the MUZ, even giving up the "empty title without any powers", and earning for herself the right to overrule the Emperor himself by showing complete faith in his trusted aide Man Singh and sticking to her guns.
I think Akbar realised that she was right - of what use a title if it had no power or authority. He knew that Jodha was not one to be enamored of titles. She would rather have the power to stand up for what she believed in, support the truth and fight for justice. Though his hands had been tied by evidence and circumstances in the Salima Begum and Man Singh cases, she had shown implicit trust in Man Singh's loyalty to Akbar, in the pride of being honorable Rajvanshis who never back stab or betray their king, and had sought the right to probe the case herself if the emperor was unwilling or uninterested to do so.
Her zid to not accept the crown even for the sake of her son's mohar bandi ceremony made Akbar realise that she would not rest till she had restored Man Singh's pride and honor. He was himself in his heart torn between evidence and his faith in Salima Begum and Man Singh. As a result, he undertook the investigation along with Birbal and Rahim.
And when he discovered that he had woefully wronged the duo, when the culprit was someone else (Resham), he lost no time in apologizing most sincerely to them and restoring their honor publicly. No wonder, he became one of the greatest kings ever. He knew when he made a mistake and lost no time in rectifying it and apologizing to the concerned people, without any trace of guilt or shame.
He apologized to Jodha too, and persuaded her to accept the crown and the right to issue farmans most humbly. Jodha also apologized for inadvertently hurting him and this reunion of the 2 souls made Ruqaiyya seethe with resentment and worry whether they would discover the truth from Resham.
Note: I have stressed that Jodha earned the right to issue farman for herself, which makes me doubly happy. It was not a privilege that Akbar bestowed on her out of generosity, but out of respect and implicit faith.
Flashback Time
There was indeed a flashback specially introduced to show us the TE and his style of functioning. :)
When Akbar came to apologize to Man Singh for keeping him in nazar band kaid, Man Singh recollected how Akbar had visited him and announced that he had come as a father to meet his son. Man Singh had expressed gratitude for being still accepted as his son at which Akbar responded that MS should have understood how much Akbar trusted him when he was kept under house arrest and not imprisoned. Akbar wanted to know if MS harbored any ill-will towards him but MS brushed it aside saying he too would have weighed the evidence in Akbar's place.
Akbar informed MS that Jodha had never disbelieved the latter for an instant and had given up the MUZ title too for it. He was feeling guilty for this but MS assured him that Jodha could never stay upset with Akbar for long, for she loved him, and, more than that, respected him.
Akbar called a special mini DEK of just his navratnas and important women of the harem. And there restored to Man Singh his lost power and prestige. Here he underscored the fact that MS was synonymous with loyalty and had served Akbar impeccably for several years. Jodha looked on proudly from behind the purdah. She had been able to keep the word given to MS that she would restore his lost pride and honor soon.
The Gracious Salima Begum
In Salima's hojra, JJ and Hamida were seeking pardon from the ever-gracious lady. But she took everything in her stride and restored all relations to their former footing. Rahim wished to be punished for doubting his mother. But does a son really need to do that? Esp with a mother like Salima? :)
Jodha was wondering why Salim had pointed fingers at Salima when Ruq barged in and let her tears do the talking. Jalal looked thoughtful upon seeing Ruq and her act, I felt.
In this scene, Ruqaiyya neatly led both Jodha and Salima astray and squashed their doubts in the bud.
Now we come to the not so pleasant parts of the episode.
Ruqaiyya's Self Talk!
After clearly showing that Ruqaiyya had planned the attack on Salim to frame MS, yesterday we were told that she was innocent and the whole attack had been planned by Resham and SD's father.
Another flashback! Ruqaiyya overheard Akbar, Birbal and Rahim talking about Resham's attack on Salim and she promptly framed Resham for her crimes too by depositing her opium boxes in her room.
Ruqaiyya has been exceptionally lucky so far. She was able to use Salim, Salima, Jodha , and now Resham to escape from discovery.
But Ruqaiyya is puzzled as to why Resham accepted all accusations silently. She is also fearful that Resham may tell someone the truth. She is going to do something about this for sure - she is not the kind to just worry and hope for lady luck to smile upon her.
She is also puzzled as to why Jalal kept Resham alive for 2 days when he could have killed her instantly.
My Qs to the readers are:
1. Were the CVs planning to show an extended track where Ruq plots against Jalal's close associates, one by one? Which would explain the scene in the DEK where Ruq smirks that she has eliminated Salima and Man Singh and next is the turn of Jodha as well as the human chess game dream sequence of Ruq where she plots against Rahim and calls Salim over to her side.
But may be because of audience feedback or falling TRPs, the track has been cut short.
2. I personally feel that the CVs have developed cold feet at the prospect of having to show Ruq being punished for attacking Salim. So they have suddenly absolved her of this crime and shifted the blame conveniently to Resham. Do you agree or disagree?
3. Ruq yesterday mentioned that she was only feeding Salim opium. Is this her self-justification or is she telling us that this is not a big crime compared to what Resham did?
4. How did Resham become so intelligent as to plan the frame up of Man Singh?
5. Why did Resham and SD's father join hands? What do they seek in common?
6. What does SD's father have against Man Singh? Why did he go to such lengths to frame MS?
7. Why is Jalal still thoughtful, though he has arrested Resham? Does he suspect anyone, esp Ruq?
8. Why is Resham silent? Did she really plot or is she being made the scapegoat by Ruq and SD's father jointly?
Precap
Jodha slaps Resham tightly and says enough is enough. As a queen, she had forgiven enough but as a mother, she could not forgive (someone who had tried to harm her child). Resham has a cut lip and is crying silently.
Ruq is looking on in "shock". I feel this is Ruq's gameplan to create an MU between Resham and JJ so that even if she tries to tell them something against Ruq, they will not believe her. And in this way, the CVs may stretch the Ruq track for some more time.
