Dear Shyamala di , life truly sucks when you can't wiggle out of the iron grip of life to have some much required time to spend to an activity you truly enjoy, for example, reading your absolutely delightful posts for me and producing these little pieces of art for you , even at the cost of your precious health .
So, while I couldn't help but groan that even in such condition of your eyes while you should just leave us in the fog to grope around trying to find our way rather than be our sweet guide , n should REALLY keep your eyes away from any electronic screen be it Television or computer and simply enjoy looking at the lush green of the no doubt delightful garden of your house ( I hope forum members won't be attacking me for suggesting a break * Which is exactly what I should do to be honest to my instinct n profession n my personal concern for your good health * ) , I couldn't bring myself to let go of my greed for excellent analytical writing of delicious quality , I need to feed my mind after all.
The beauty of Jodha Akbar is that it's such a big elephant of a show that it could put us to the place of some blind people trying to get the gist of it n may be none getting to the whole picture , though you n Manshi di n Jyoti di always go absolutely close to it I must admit in all awe.
Which sadly leaves not much for me to add , except a few points-
First of all I humbly disagree with you ( Ah I can almost visualize you saying, " There she goes again ! " ) the interpretation of Jodha's emotional break down after Jalal the frustrated storm blew over her. I've found the reason to be quite different . I do not think that Jodha ever thought that Jalal cares for her in any way, but today she was at the receiving end of a hatred storm ( though I sincerely doubt the hatred part just like wise MA ) , n being a girl brought up in an overdose of love n care , that's supposed to rattle her , isn't it ? She isn't used to some one hating her so strongly n violently.
Let's go back in time a bit n consider the marriage from Jodha's POV. Jalal was so convincing in his profuse n very eloquent n intelligent excuse ( excuse none the less as he himself confirmed ) as to why he Must marry the Amer princess that he even managed to convince Jodha that the marriage is nothing more or less than an important political contract with both parties reaping the benefit n considered herself merely a pawn in the game n never the queen to be check mated. Didn't she know that Jalal will bear a certain grudge against her for that insult back at Amer in the Abdul rescue mission ? Yes ! But she didn't think that Jalal'll consider the episode important enough to actually marry her for revenge ! What she didn't know is that Jalal after taking an immediate fancy for her at the first glance was then forced to resent her deeply n the wound such emotional beating leaves is often very deep n not easily healed .
Her dialog , " I'd thought I'm a sacrifice for Amer n that gave me the strength to live the rest of my life in any way " shows that she indeed thought that she isn't some one important in the marriage, which means she's safe in a way. She believed that Jalal hates her but passively n he's not going to act actively on that hatred.
As for being the ice maiden , confess maam, that act caught our eyes even more starkly because of Jalal's obsession with the "standoffish" girl n him always looking at her direction for some signs of emotion or just any reaction. I daresay even Jayanta Bai would've seemed emotionless ice maiden if her Rana ji becomes suddenly very observant or obsessive with her reactions. For all I can see , Jodha must have been clueless that her husband , or Ruqaiya had been so keenly noticing her lack of interest in her husband. I bet no body in the court found any thing amiss in her behavior, n must've taken her disinterest n repulsion as signs of shyness n even became impressed by it.
We must not forget that Jodha HAD NOT had any idea till yesterday that she means any thing more than one more addition to the harem to Jalal. She was content with it n was preparing to live life making best of the situation. She was like, " Here , I've got a room n a few maids n basic needs for life fulfilled with a minimum allowance. I can practice my religion n I've been allowed my little temple. I hate my husband n he feels nothing for me. So, he'll leave me alone to live my life n that's goes perfectly with my plan. Only problem, he's gonna ask for conjugal rights . Sigh ! I'll deter him from having it by my eloquent n never failing-till-date lectures. So, now my life is set. No hope for happiness but hope for peace. I'm a martyr after all ! "
But with Jalal's insistence to make her sing in the court on the very 1st night of marriage made her to rethink it all that her husband may not wish to leave her alone after all. Then forcing her to sing in court ( very disgraceful for an emperor I must say n I couldn't agree more whole heartedly with Jodha for singing that song. Any ways, exactly what kind of song Jalal expected Jodha to sing ?? During those days Rajput princesses were not taught songs based on the glory of Mughals. Either it'd be a religious song, or being a Rajputani ,a song based on Rajput valor , dedicated to her fantasy crush PRC no doubt lolz !! ;). The dude was asking for a show down.) ,it made the fact quite obvious that Jalal may've some personal mission against her , or else why'd he put his own dignity at cost by doing such an outrageous thing ( in reality it wouldn't have ever happened any ways! ) ? That made her danger antenna go all crazy red n therefore the nightmare.
N after Jalal's clear vehement declaration of open war n confession of his motive behind this marriage, it shattered her hope for peace , for she knows very well that Jalal can make her life a living hell by publicly humiliating her n physically torturing her in the privacy of her quarters.
N what is this funny thinking going around that Jodha should be relieved after Jalal's declaration of not touching her ?? Why forget that she doesn't trust a single word leaving the omuth of the guy ?? Why should his words relief her, when he has chosen this extremely funny n absurd way of driving the point home by pinning her against the wall, pressing his body against her with all force, breathing down her neck n breaking her bangles before that !!! Goes really well with his dialogs following ! As for the promise of saving her from public humiliation, really ??? Whom was he kidding ?? When he did exactly the opposite that very day ?? I don't see any reason for Jodha to be relieved after coming to know that his hatred is not passive, as she hoped, but active n virulent ( word credit goes to Shyamala di ) hatred, when the person bearing such feeling is so powerful n you're so helpless against him. She realized that as she put it so beautifully herself , " I'm not even allowed to die ( peacefully ) , but my life'll be made hell by Jalal every damn moment." , that she's the target n not the pawn, she can't run or hide.
Must be difficult to read such crappy sms English for you , when compared to your rich Victorian one. Forgive me for doing that to you.
P.S- One word of sincere suggestion, you should ban me from commenting on your posts , Shyamala di, because I'm n will remain sincerely forver , I'm afraid, the perpetual " I object your honor." In your court. ;)
P.S.S – For God's sake take care of your health, JA may go to hell ! - Your sincere cheeky brat ( word credit goes to you ) Gargi.
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