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Jodha-Jalaal: Thoda sa Resham ( A little bit of silk)
If you look at the scene again where Jodha falls back in horror on hearing Jalaal's demand in the garb of the plea, its interesting to see that her impulsive reaction was not of disgust at the thought of pretending or bearing Jalaal's child. It was of an emotional shock that her husband could actually think that something as pure and beautiful as giving birth to another life could be taken so casually by Jalaal. The kind of sacrifice and bold plunge Jalaal had wanted from Jodha was not given to him. But she was shaken head to toe by it . Not disgusted or repelled as the 'sar kaat doongi' Jodha. Just shaken - with a plethora of emotions that intensify in her eyes. The very thought that she could pretend/bear Jalaal's child has hit her for the first time with the Peer's prediction still sinking in. And when Jalaal brings the truth closer home by throwing this bouncer , Jodha's fears/complicated emotions have heightened. If you notice, at the point when she is praying to Lord Krishna, you realize how seriously she has taken this pretension demand - almost as though Jalaal is asking her to give him a child for real. She is unconsciously binding sentiments with Jalaal. That bee-sting hatred and disgust for Jalaal is melting away - what he does now hurts her, doesn't repel her. Even when she tells Motibai ( who seems an avid JJ supporter by the way ) about Jalaal's demand/plea, there is a child-like complaint touch - that how can he ask me something like this. Unlike pre-wedding Jodha who would have howled - How dare he?
Next day, when she sees Jalaal, there is hesitance , there is a convoluted shyness as she approaches him with the Pooja Thaal. Should i or shouldn't i? He is this, he is that, but its cool - am only giving him God's blessings ( PTBN- Jodha actually THOUGHT of blessing Jalaal). When Jalaal , clearly offended by her last night refusal but always kind of defenceless in front of her shows a spark of naivete and innocence in not knowing how to take the 'aarti', Jodha , for a change worries about his lack of cultural education instead of poking his cultural illiteracy. She is fluttered by his passion , his intensity , amused by his naivete , defences to escape his physicality are no longer that strong and she is flummoxed like a deer caught in headlights when Jalaal grins at her as though saying , you cannot protect this flame without me. Jodha's veil of hatred and prejudiced disgust is going into a glacier as her clear and compassionate heart is beginning to walk Jalaal's way.
Jalaal? You can only believe what he shows - or maybe better still, what his eyes say. From reprimanding Jodha's refusal to giving her sulky looks at the Tulsi pooja, to bending his head in front of her , to looking at her pious and luminous face with such fondness , to going the mischief pathway and flirting with her via physical proximity and an intense gaze - the point to be noted is that Jalaal cannot stay angry at Jodha for long. She has to just come in front of him with that dew-fresh face and spirited eyes - and all the Shahenshahat goes to take a walk at the beach. He does not touch the pretension subject again - instead, he honours her religion's rituals and even burns his hand while helping her protect the flame of aarti. Jodha's presence makes the uptight Mughal Monarch turn into a naughty boyish lover who wants to see the change of colour on Jodha's face when he touches her.
In a way, JJ are in the same boat. Jodha is on the train to Jalaal's heart while Jalaal has no idea that he is fast approaching a point where he will not be able to imagine a life that has no Jodha in it.
Silk routes... with rocky terrains ahead and how.
Ruqqaiya: Thoda sa khurdara ( A little rough )
Hmm. Last , i checked, human beings are supposed to be GRATEFUL for what destiny bestows on them. Happiness and fulfillment of dreams are supposed to make you humble and a better person. Shoulders with the weight of God's and Providence's blessings are always slumped in gratitude and happiness. Taqdeer ka adab karte hain , uspar ghumaan nahiin karte. Taqdeer guroor ko gaanth baandh letti hai. Kab samjhogi, Ruqqaiya?
Its shocking that how the whole Harem and MA know Ruqqu so well. Even before Ruqqu disgusts us , the Harem and MA tells us that Ruqqu really is the " Maa toh koi bhi ban saktaa hai" types and her real agenda is to have her pie of the Mughal Monarchy. The moment you see her face turn all arrogant and devious , instantly after she has thanked God, you know that this woman has no REAL attachment to Jalaal or even the future baby. The only REAL attachment that she has is for herself and her pride - affection for Jalaal and expectancy for the baby is SECONDARY. MA reads Ruqqu like a book within minutes - once again establishing that she can actually read a person inside out.
I am disappointed that for Ruqqu, its all about being 'Mariam Ul Zamani', about the political crowning and her self-obsession. I still cannot get over her " Maa toh koi bhi ban sakta hai" dialogue. She was actually doing a u-turn on all the Dua she had done to become a mother. So does that mean her pleas to the Almighty had no real honesty?
I am sorry Ruqqu, but having seen your pride overrule your maternal instincts today, alongwith your attitude towards MA, Jodha , all i can say is , fate does not like the ungrateful and the arrogant.
Maa toh koi bhi ban sakta hai? Really? ...Kudrat se sawaal nahiin karte aur naseeb pe ghumaan nahiin karte. Someday, you will know what this means.
Hmmm.
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