Fear is the mother of morality: Nietzsche
Everyone looked on in concern as Avdesh led Arpita gently towards the front door of the haveli, something was wrong though they did not know what. Bhauji, eaten up with being kept in the dark rounded furiously on the gang to let her know what was going on. Even Ammaji failed to get through to Arpita. Her face blank, her vision on what only she could see she remained locked within the grips of a nightmare that never seem to end. Avdesh clasped one of her hand tightly offering comfort, warmth and love.
To love someone is nothing, to be loved by someone is something,
but to be loved by the one you love is everything: Unknown.
Once in their room, Avdesh leads Arpita to the bed and gently settles her down. Arpita finally let out her fear that she should be in jail for killing RV that she belongs in jail. Avdesh's face reflects pain at her words; he tenderly makes her drink a glass of cool refreshing water, wiping her lips with his thumb - a caressing and loving gesture. He makes her lie down but the moment she does, the memories crowd in. Unable to see his wife in so much pain, Avdesh settles down next to her and draws her close to him, his face worried...I'm here with you, always will be...He soothes her, his hands wiping the tears away then gently stroking her beloved face..Arpita trembles more and then hugs him tightly, her only lifeline in this black moment even as more and more vision dance across her eyes....everytime I close my eyes, I see him...she whispered, shaking more and more...don't you worry, I am here..Avdesh hugs her and offers her his lap to sleep in..He whispers words of love and comfort, stroking her hair while his other hand gently covers her hands...slowly Arpita drifts off to sleep secure in the love and warmth that surrounds her.
After making sure Arpita is sleeping deeply Avdesh at Bhauji's urging goes to have his wound taken care of. He also tells everyone the immense sacrifice made by Arpita for his life. His face sombre and heartbreaking, he tells of his wife courage and love for him. Bhauji though shocked was furious, her scheming mind already finding a way to keep Avdesh near her while getting rid of Arpita...just letting the police know who was responsible for shooting RV.
In another part of town, the Rai household was in an uproar due to a hurricane by the name of Simple. She is like an unstoppable force and her current task is to teach the Rai boys to take care of their Mama. After an exhausting shopping expedition, Simple comes to her Sasural very unhappy and does not hesitate to let her MIL know why. Her husband-to-be wasn't carrying enough money for this to be an enjoyable shopping trip!...Mama Rai the ever diplomat, offered tea at which point Simple turns a gimlet eye on her devar and orders him to make tea for his mother and Bhabi. She does not let her husband-to-be off as well. Both men stomp off, face as black as thunder. Life as they know it is coming to a rapid end, thanks to hurricane Simple.
Back at the TH (Thakur Haveli) Avedesh looking so much chirper and lighter, enters their bedroom carrying juice for Arpita. Seeing the empty room he starts searching for her, calling her name....On the terrace, Arpita teeters on the ledge her mind on the scene that is constantly replaying on a loop...her shooting RV, him toppling like a tree, his lifeblood flowing like water over and over again till she has no choice but to seek oblivion in the hopes of finding some peace....Avdesh still searching for Arpita comes out and see's her on the ledge. Shock and horror twists his face as he yells at her to stop!
My thoughts:
Things are getting tough for Arpita, her cycle of guilt, grief and horror going on and on until she has no choice but to end it anyway she can. I know Avdesh will save her, but the enormity of what she is going through, will finally sink in him. Though he is loving and caring, all that she could have hoped for, he actually does not understand the enormous burden she is buckling under. At her words, about jail, he told her not to worry only the two of them know...he completely missed the point, that her moral compass won't let her live knowing she has killed someone. He knows she is sacred but he doesn't know of the scar in her soul yet....He will soon and then we will see the full force of his love for her. Already, she had made tremendous strides in his life, influencing him even more than they both could have thought so but still more needs to be done.
Today we saw the fruits of Arpita's labour of love; he took care of her without any hesitation or shyness whether alone or in front of people, he firmly stuck to his need to take care of her in the face of his Bhauji's orders even though that woman commands him like no other....There was no doubts at all for anyone as to who came first for him at that moment. However, it will take Arpita a while to get over what she had done, I think knowing that RV lives will lighten her burden tremendously. I think they will soon know, if not then Avdesh needs to be proactive, he needs to take her away so that it is only the two of them, talk over things and generally be there with his love so she finds her way back to him. Love is healing, the balm for the scar on her soul. She has done nothing wrong except to protect what was hers. History is recorded with such actions. What history fails to tell though is the price it extracts from the person concerned. We, however, will get to see the price Arpita pays. Or will it be Avdesh? For their love is strong, now even more stronger because Arpita has shown him that self sacrifice is part and parcel of love. He too will emulate that when the time is right. Just as she was his lifeline, he is hers now. Day by day the ties of love and bond is deepening between them till one is incomplete without the other.
Then we see the other side of love, the one that makes demand whether justified or not. The one that believes love and respect is due one automatically. Simpleji, off course. We will have to see if her attitude works but I can't help fearing that behind her brash act there is innocence in failing to see these Rai men as they truly are. I would hate it if she finds out like Mama Rai. Will she stand her ground or will she be cowed?
Love gives strength and power but it also withers when not tended properly. Simple is yearning for love, demanding respect as well. Will she continue to do so when faced with indifference months after months?...will she blossom and find her own place regardless of love or will she wither like a rose when faced with a lifetime of drought?....It is all in the personality and how each person face life. These two women, Arpita and Simple, have attitude to life as different as day and night. But one thing they have in common is a steely inner core. It now remains to be seen which way they go based on their decisions and attitudes to what life throws at them.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the episode.
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Shiv Shakti
