Another important sequence, and I am very pleased with how it is executed. Agni's Tara! And its effect.

Moments before the Sindoor daan, Tara hears Agni calling her name. Her eyes snap open, and her head, slowly but surely inching down towards the sindoor jhanpi; moves back into a neutral position.

Dhruba frown when he hears that voice, but then his brows straighten. He had been expecting this, yes. A test for Tara, a way for him to challenge her strength. He is far from happy at the interruption but he knows that it wouldn't change anything.

He drops the tikli maangtika, halting the marriage proceedings. He knows that the Sindoor daan won't happen unless Tara processes the situation.

Processing part one: Face flooded with joy (and relief too). Her Agni, her saviour, is here. First course of action is running to Agni.

Yeah. Not happening Tara. It is so rough, the way he handles her. Just pulls her towards him, his expression shifting from anger to questioning her attempt to leave the mandap - as if to ask, Are you planning on leaving, Tara? Can you even do that?

Everything about Tara's expression screams about her surprise at being pulled back. Moments before, her body was on autopilot, rushing to Agni. It takes her a while to adjust to the situation.

((puro sequence ta Maa er samne hobe ar ami seta miss kore chole jabo, hote pare na)). Not only is this a beautiful scene, but this also serves for an interlude between the two scenes. This moments reminds us viewers, that these two are sitting in a mandap. He is the groom, and she, the bride.

Processing part two: begging him to let her go. Whether she genuinely thinks that he does have a heart and he will understand her pain or just trying her luck with him is an question. What is more important, is that she doesn't want to escape the marriage, she just wants to meet Agni, for one last time. To explain things? Unlikely. To make one, last good memory, one she will cherish forever? Maybe.

"Tumi jodi ekbar ekhan theke berie jao ar kokhono amar kache phire aste parbe na"
Dhruba decides to quicken the process. I love the way he makes things very clear for her. If she leaves, then she wouldn't be able to return to him. Ever. It surprises Tara, because she hadn't expected this reaction. He doesn't say that she can't leave, only that she wouldn't be able to come back once she leaves this marriage ceremony. The shift in her expression is beautifully portrayed, that straightening of her brows, the way her iris moves, as if searching his face for a clear answer.

She hadn't expected him to be this cruel. There is a flicker of disbelief, before understanding sets in. She is marrying him to save her family, sacrificing her whole life, and he wouldn't even let her have this tiny little thing? Just one moment, that's all she needs. One last moment with Agni, before everything changes for the worst.


Even when he is explaining about the options she has, Tara can't believe that he is going to make her choose. She has chosen a side, she has chosen their wellbeing over her own happiness.

Ultimatum, and it registering as an ultimatum. He too, is well aware that she has already chosen her side. That is why he easily lets her go. Either way, it is a win-win situation for him. If she leaves, he is free to move forward in his quest for revenge. If she stays, then he will only alter his path. One thing is for sure, the Choudhuris will sufffer.

Processing (final stage) and realisation: cue flashback to hospital scene, Agni's famous 'proyojon porle nijeke bikri kore taka jogar kore niye eso'.

Stages of grief - denial, bargaining, depression.

And at last, ACCEPTANCE. 💔
Bonus:

This is the face of a man who knew this is how it will go. The confidence, the hint of satisfaction..
*****
*****
And now I'll leave, before the Mods throw me out for filling the thread with gifs and blabber.
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