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Of all our social institutions, the family is perhaps the one with which we are most familiar. As we proceed through our lives, our experiences within the family give rise to some of our strongest and most intense feelings. Within the family context lies a paradox, however: although most of us hope for love and support within the family -- a haven in a heartless world, so to speak -- the family can also be a place of violence and abuse.
MARILYN POOLE, Family: Changing Families, Changing Time
Definitely one of the defining moments of Pratigya ...So far Pratigya stood against wrong ...but y'day we saw her fighting against wrong,take an active stand against and express it with conviction..Two women ,Two different women belonging to different era..One representing the New order,new thoughts and hope and another standing in for old world,draconian rules and suppression were ranged against one another ,,One was light ,the other darkness..it was a fight between the light and Darkness..Darkness appeared overwhelming..but had to succumb to the piercing beam of light...
There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women. ~Madeleine K. Albright
Amma was bubbling and boiling and unable to bear the sight of a mirror which accurately reflected her inner hideousness, blew a fuse ..she lay a open challenge ..that either reforms, freedom and love will stay or suppression,violence and rigidity will stay on in TN... Pratigya refused to budge .. SS took a hand and decided that since Pratigya has humiliated her Mother-in-law , she must be punished ..and the punishment was to clean the well worn feet of hatred, oppression, jealousy ..Pratigya looked at her conflicted half for support ...realized that it will not be forthcoming ..she gathered herself and with immense dignity and poise tried to wash the feet of amma and tried to rid her of hate,jealousy and pettiness..but to no avail..Pratigya takes the tray and gets up to depart ..but Amma is not done yet ...she wants to vanquish and abase Pratigya completely , she stops Pratigya and says "Drink this purified and distilled water ..[Pratigya looks shocked, Shakthi thinks the duel has become interesting,GD is horrified ,Amma looks as if she is just ordering Pratigya to drink a cuppa ..Krishna is nearing the end of his tether ..] stop thinking and drink it up like a good girl ,and I am not going to stir from my position" ..The small flame which was flickering is fanned into into a blazing ,roaring bonfire ,crackling in righteousness ,Pratigya booms"I will not drink this water"..Everybody hold their breath and wait to see what the Thakurain's next step will be ..Amma looks smug and explains "You have to drink it ,you have to be punished for insulting me and this punishment is just a minor thing in comparison to ur crime, The MIL's of previous era forced their DIL's to drink lot of unpalatable stuff {Yeah, Amma and what was ur poisoned tipple??]..I am just following the ritual .. So [with a venomous look at P] Drink this up quietly !! It is for ur own good [Amma, I laud your concern and love regards your DIL,WAH ,,MIL ho tho aisi]
A woman is like a tea bag. It's only when she's in hot water that you realize how strong she is. ~Attributed to both Eleanor Roosevelt and Carl Sandburg
Pratigya rejoins "You are elder to me [tsk,tsk..never tell a woman she is old..that automatically set her up against you ] I do not have any problems washing ur feet the whole lifetime [me neither,provided it is cut off and hung like a show piece..I will even dust it occasionally ] I am willing to serve you in any way [Careful, what if she asks you to stop ur bhashan's, Can U survive without it ]..Drinking this water will not enhance your stature and neither does it serve any purpose [Amma looks malignantly,SS keenly,Shakthi watchfully ,Krishna anxiously ] Moreover it is not a tradition,This is the degradation of a human spirit..so I will not drink it "...with a challenging glance at Amma ,continues " When I have not done any wrong ,why shud I accept any Punishment [egg-jactly] * Nodding my head in Assent * [Amma looks puzzled and thinks ..didn't the slow processor workout that she is punished for sending Amma for Jail ]I will not allow you to grind my self-respect to dust *if she blends it into juice,would that be acceptable* whatever happens ,I will not drink this sanctified water and you will not force me to do this holy task "
Women's chains have been forged by men, not by anatomy. ~Estelle R. Ramey
All have become mannequins and are contemplating how to proceed,not so Krishna ..he has had enough ...he strides briskly to his wife's side and tells his mother that the Punishment meted out by bauji has been met ,so why drag it ..Amma's wrathful eyes zoom in on Krishna and she starts spitting forth bitter truths,exposing her insecurity and her uncontrollable jealousy But Krishna is undeterred ..He runs down Amma,while Amma continue to fulminate at him for his intervention ..All this is watched by SS ,decides to take a hand and summons Baba ...Baba hesitates for a sec..then even more loudly and with complete arrogance and assurance "Ay Baba" ..Krishna goes and asks "What?" SS puts his hand on Krishna's shoulder's and says "Don't consider this as a simple issue cos it is very complicated,ur wife planned to send my son and ur mother to prison [why doesn't he say ur Brother..]..she dared to do this to Thakur Sajjan Singh's wife and son ..if she has dared to do so..then that daring attitude has to be clipped ..we cannot change our age old habits ..we have to live together ..so all threads must held in tight rein ,Allow ur mother to do what she is doing,if u can see ,stay else go to ur room and sleep "
Women are the only exploited group in history to have been idealized into powerlessness. ~Erica Jong
Amma : "I am telling you for the last time ,Drink this up " [Pratigya is giving piercing glances ,rebellion in her evry fiber] else I will not take a sip of water nor a morsel will pass thru my lips * Goody,Goody..don't drink ..P* even if I were to die ..cos my words are that of a thaukrain *So😲* If you want to commit matricide .then be one ..Pratigya stands silently ...Shakthi pips up "What are you waiting for?Do as Amma says..not satisfied by insulting her,now u want to take her life too " Krishna is getting restless and is barely able to control himself..SS gives a quick glance to Assess him ..Pratigya angrily shoots "I have not insulted anybody and you cannot force me to bow down to somebody's arrogance,This is illtreatment -and I will not put up with it and neither will I agree to do any wrong doing "..SS :"See for ur self ..her self esteem is so important ..that ur mother's life has no place in front of her self esteem ..Such type of girls destroy the fabric's of a family ,of the society"..Amma gives another malevolent look at Pratigya and orders "DRINK"
Family quarrels are bitter things. They don't go by any rules. They're not like aches or wounds; they're more like splits in the skin that won't heal because there's not enough material. ~F. Scott Fitzgerald
Krishna is roused after seeing his wife being continuously bullied ,he stalks to his beleaguered wife's side ..stands by her ,snatches the water filled plate and drinks it up..Pratigya is shocked looks on in disbelief gradually replaced by wonder,gratitude and finally by respect and admiration at this simple man who has boundless and unconditional love hidden inside him ,one who is willing to undergo humiliation, sacrificing his ego to protect his wife's self-respect and at the same time not allowing his Mother to hang her head in defeat in front of his wife ..Amma looks on in angry disbelief tinged with a slight sorrow ,while SS looks on with a sardonic smile ,fully understanding his son's action ,proud of him and loving him despite everything ,Shakthi is stunned and turns towards SS for his cue ,,GD's bell finally tolls in approval, for a Grand son ... who still has a heart in him, for a son who upholds his mother's respect , for a husband who supports his wife inspite of all odds .. tears of happiness streams down blessing this loving souls twined in the union of marriage ,Amma's spiteful glance fixates on Pratigya ,while Pratigya looks on shaken by Krishna's gesture ,her eyes openly expressing her love and thankfulness .. having drunk the nectar..Krishna shows his contempt for Amma's action's by throwing it by her side ..Gives one and all a measured look and says with a a subtle sarcasm "What's the matter..Now everything is right,Isn't it ?? I married Pratigya..so we both are one ..so what's the difference if I drink or Pratigya [Pratigya looks humbled by the depth of his love ].As for this water..the water which washed my mother's feet..what's the big deal in it ??You are my mother you have given me life...for you I will happily give up my life..and this is nothing [Amma looks in mute sorrow and pain ] ,,My mother has lot of issues with me ,at least on this pretext,I have tried to lessen her list of complaints and wash off my sins [Pratigya continues to regard him in wonder ,getting increasingly overwhelmed by his gesture ] SS lips curls in derision ..Shakthi gets discomfited on hearing this outpourings of emotion ..Krishna holds Pratigya's arms and leads her towards his room ...Amma watches them saddened,finally comprehending that she has lost her son ..SS and shakthi look on impassively ..while GD looks on approvingly..
Amma was left holding the empty utensil depicting her barren heart devoid of any tenderness, empty of love,bare of affection ,A heart enveloped in darkness , all the love and affection and finer feelings getting crushed to smithereens in her tightening clasp..indicating the narrowing heart and cold intent ..A heart giving into evil ...
MY THOUGHTS :
Brilliant acting by one and all . with Ashmita leading the pack..be it the venomous looks that she darts at Pratigya or the smug smile of triumph that she shoots when Pratigya begins to wash her feet or the sadness that finally creeps into her eyes when the knowledge sinks in that she has lost her son to his wife..she was outstanding !!
Krishna as the soul torn between duty and loyalty was admirably portrayed by Arhan...his conflicted looks, his restlessness ,the way he controlled himself so as not break his father's diktat ,finally love triumphing..he breaking the shackles and marching towards his wife and protecting her..and at the same time not letting his own mother down in front of his wife ..was simply awesome
SS was pragmatism and cunning personified...Anupam lived in this..the way he made a very insulting punishment seem eminently reasonable and the way he explained the situation to Baba was outstanding
Pratigya ...for the first time today came as a real woman ..there was a strength in her voice and a fire in her eyes ..her refusal to yield and the way she felt gutted when she saw her husband taking on the humiliation reserved for her ..her pain,respect and love was effectively conveyed ...
stand out scenes for me ..one was when Ss calls Krishna ..the power and authority in that voice and the hesitation by Krishna to join him immediately and only goes to him when called the second time ..is indicative of a weakening bond between father and son and a strengthening of Pratigya and Krishna relationship
The second is the continuation of this ..when SS places his hand over Krishna..indirectly stating that he lives under his protection, the respect ,clout,status are all due to him (SS) ..he takes care of his daily needs ...Ss leanig towards him also hinting that he needs Krishna , his support ..that Krishna is vital to him !!
The other one was Amma clasping her hands ....
Anupamaa
Cricket
