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Today's episode explored the flesh below the I-hate-you-like-I-love-you epidermis of Jodha and Jalaal's relationship , and their perception and opinion of each-other as human-beings.
Yes, its only natural , if not valid, that Jalaal screamed his lungs out at Jodha and Raheem. Raheem , because the child only mounted Jalaal's emotional fury with his terrified response. Jodha, because she dared to raise her finger at Jalaal's Badee Ammie , his saviour, friend, philosopher, tutor , guide. It was impulsive on Jodha's part to put a very small and very fragile Raheem under Jalaal's temper scanner. It was impulsive of Jalaal as well ( like Jodha said - blindfolded by his blind love for Maaham) to howl at Raheem instead of dealing with the kid with patience and promise that no harm shall come to him. It was stubborn of Jodha to challenge Jalaal that as long as he does not step out of his emotionally cushioned zone, he can never near the truth. It was stubborn of Jalaal to keep harping that his beloved Jodha Begum is after Maaham's life for no rhyme or reason...YET... in these sequences , there was a major shift of ATTITUDE from their previous layer. Today. Jodha is not about "Shahenshah kab sudhrenge" - she was more about " Hum Shahenshah ke saamne sacch laakar rahhenge" . She was upset that Jalaal told her to get lost from his Khwaabgah but her concern was not "apmaan nahiin sahenge" - it was more about her resolve that she will not rest until Jalaal sees the truth. Same goes for Jalaal as well. Jodha was proven a liar , she was arguing right-left-center , she accused the GREAT Maaham , she called Jalaal an emotionally blind fool - and for the very first time, Jalaal didn't yank her or spank her. He just told her to leave before his anger goes back to the "zinda jalaa denge" mode. TOLERANCE. PATIENCE. CONCERNED RESOLVE. They are slipping in , into this see-saw relationship.
Later, the scene at the Maa Ambe temple shows a soft yet strong layer of this marriage. Like we have said and believed before, Jodha has given her complete commitment , loyalty and sincerity to this marriage with Jalaal. She has always honoured her role as a wife - even when she was under arrest and in Ekaantwaas. In her downpour on Jalaal , we have seen her latent binding of sentiments with Jalaal - and how Jalaal has always just ruined their chances of having a relationship of a husband and wife. And today, she shows you that she not only honours her commitment as a wife, she honours Jalaal as well - as a wife and as a member of the Mughal clan. Yes. she can call him Kroor-attyaachaari-duraachaari-raakshas-nirdayi-abhimaani within the four walls of her palace and her heart, but NOBODY else gets away with discussing Jalaal like prices of potatoes and tomatoes. Her mercurial Rajputana sense of honour comes striding to the fore when she hears the general public sympathize with her and accuse and abuse Jalaal for being a KroorSingh patee and an attyaachaari Shahenshah. Excuse moi? Only i get to call him all these things , who are you? Go and wipe your own home , first. Its not that the public was saying anything wrong - THEY WERE RIGHT. Jalaal had been a total ogre to the babe and her gang. But Jodha could not take it because from the chambers where she was brought up, she has been taught that your life is not public property. And your yudh-games with your hubby are no fodder for gossip. She , in the voice of a wife and a queen nicely but firmly sends the message across - Keep your hands off , my duraachaari Shahenshah. Taming him is my job , not yours. Its good that Jalaal witnessed this and looked a tad tender . She hates you, Jalaal but this is her bloodline , her breeding... exactly what you had questioned a few hours ago.
Coming to Jalaal, i think the creatives, clearly gave an indication that this so-called " Kyunki hum unhe jhukaana chaahte the " Raaga that Jalaal keeps humming as his defense line for marrying Jodha is not true at all. Haan, use haasil karne ki chaah zaroor thi , lekin nafrat kabhi nahiin thi. Because if so had been the case, Jalaal wouldn't be wearing the gold cuff given to him by his Rajput in-laws. Agar Jodha se ittni nafrat hai, toh uttni hi usski har cheez se honi chaahiye. But no, the cuff sits pretty on his wrist and brings an almost smile on Jodha's face as she tells him that she knows who he is. ...its an almost insignificant thing that Jalaal is wearing that cuff... but when you look at Jalaal's otherwise pseudo-cruel personality and his torrid relationship with Jodha, it speaks volumes.
Jalaal's face goes tender again and Jodha, like a typical cutely cribbing wife , basically tells him that she disapproves of him asking for alms , even if he is in disguise. Dude! Disguise mein bhi standard hotaa hai. Lajja nahiin aati Amer aur Agra ka naam ek saath kharaab karte hue? Get back into your Royal silks and brocades right now!
Point being that JJ are always on barbed wires because that is what they THINK their relationship is- hateful, incompatible, chess-like, a burden, a war. While the truth is , that both of them , whenever pushed to the edge and whenever the hateful mind is on lunch break, they will always go an extra mile for each-other. Lekin maane kaun? Ghuroor ko fridge mein daal kar , emotion ko frying pan mein garam karne ke liyye bhi bahot badaa jigar chaahiye.
Coming to the revelation of Maaham, I am no longer excited or even concerned about the culprit being found. I am more concerned about whether Jalaal will be able to deal with this ? Will he be able to raise the sword on the same neck on which he clung for protection as a baby? ...Finding the truth is one thing... and dealing with it is a totally another ball game , especially when the truth breaks your heart and threatens to erase your faith in humanity forever.
Anyway, at least , Jalaal tried and took an objective approach and gave in to his instinct that Qaadir may not have told the whole truth at the harem. Uss zamaane mein Shahenshah ke khauff se waise hi sacch baahar aa jaata tha. Hai na, Qaadir?
A small comment on portrayal of Maharana Pratap in today's episode:
Yes, Maharana Pratap is the greatest Rajput hero ever. Yes, he hated the Mughals and only saw them as invaders . Yes, his steel against the Mughals made Akbar actually believe that Pratap was the only befitting enemy he ever had and always wanted to capture him alive. But... Maharana Pratap was not cheap enough to rejoice in the sorrow of a a Rajput Princess staying a spinster. Yes, he would have confronted Bharmal but he would have never gives such cheap 'taanas' that show him as a sadist Mughal hater. And as a Rajput myself, i am offended. Watch it EK, showing Rajputs against Rajputs can also land you in some deep trouble. Be careful with what you show of Maharana Pratap , because what i saw today was BULLCRAP.
Otherwise, good job. đ
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