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DONATION
The scene where the Royals distributed clothes and jewellery to the poor - in celebration of the King's recovery - was a beautiful scene indeed. However, MA was disheartened watching all of it! (Surprise! Surprise!)
I loved that Jodha also donated some of her bangles for the noble deed - a gesture that was appreciated by HB!
JODHA - RUQAIYYA
What a beautiful parallel comparison the CVs managed to draw in the following scene - Jodha shares her heart's feelings with HB, while Ruq with MA!
'What is greater than the fact that he is my husband or my best friend is that he is the Emperor of the Sultanat! I prayed for the speedy recovery of the Crown-Jewel of the Sultanat!'Ruqaiyya confesses to MA, revealing that power was just as important to her, as Jalal himself was!
'I didn't pray for the Shehenshah, the subjects must have done that for him!' Jodha reveals to HB with a smile 'I prayed for the recovery of a mother's son, for the recovery of a sister's brother, I prayed for the man who saved me from the tiger that was going to attack me...the one who braved the assault by facing the beast abreast...I have only tried saving the man, who the subjects consider their King!' [Jodha, I love this new avtaar of your's]
Both are queens, both wish well for their Sultanat, but the vital difference is that while Ruqaiyya wishes for the King, Jodha prays for the man in him - the human that lay hidden within those multitude of complex layers that was the Emperor - a fact that even MA seemed to notice time and again!
JODHA-RAHIM
'If the Begum had realized that a violent animal could have attacked them, she would never have removed the bullets from the gun' Jodha discloses glimpses of her guilt - as she updates the child on the story of the King, the queen and the tiger in the garden.
[I guess we'd have to ignore the fact that Jodha was being silly in the first place - NOT expecting an attack from a dangerous animal in the forest! Instead, we should possibly channel our observation on what was a noticeable side-effect of it all - that Jodha finally has started showing signs of feeling guilty and apologetic for her actions, at least through her words and expressions during her conversation with Rahim!]
Nevertheless, how can one overlook the fact that grief clouded her face when she stated that 'The tiger wounded the King' or
How elation uplifted her spirits when she rejoiced over the fact that 'The King ended up slaying the tiger!'
How could one not watch the unfolding scenes with awe, as she flashed her 100-watt smile when Rahim sang his praises for their Shehenshah 'Victory to the Shenenshah! He is a brave king, after all!' and
How could one not gasp in surprise, when Jodha'd reserved a bowl full of fruits for the shehenshah and SHEHENSHAH ALONE - the fruits that the oblivious queen wasn't ready to share (albeit playfully) even with this favourite playmate of hers!
JALAL'S CHAMBER
Ruqaiyya tends to Jalal's health - offering him Sevaiyya to help him regain his strength. However, it was Rahim's (aka Jodha's) fruits that won the duel when the child comes running into the chamber and offers the King his bowl.
Jalal beckons the child with his fingers, who only too gladly takes his place beside the King. After a few sweet moments between son and step-father, Rahim proceeds to feed Jalal a morsel of fruit.
'How sweet of Salima Begum...' Ruqaiyya observes 'Not only does she dote her affection on Rahim, she also cares for you a lot...I admire this gesture of hers!'
'These fruits weren't sent for by Ammijaan...they were sent for by chotiammi' the child corrects Ruqaiyya. The chief-queen's smile disappears in an instant.
'Oh!' Jalal sighs 'Jodha Begum?'
No sooner than the child runs off to move on to his next game, Jalal follows Ruqaiyya's comment with an ironic question 'So, what is your opinion on this gesture of JODHA BEGUM's, then'
'She removed the bullets from your gun...' Ruqaiyya replies unhappily 'I didn't like the manner in which she brought you harm!'
'She caused me pain AND she helped me heal...' Jalal adds, still snacking on the apple 'I heard that before the Gwalior Hakim had come here, she was the one who prepared the medicines that helped with my recovery!'
'What's the point of harming one and then helping them recover? Isn't it better NOT to bring harm in the first place? And after all of this, you're still smiling?' she pauses with disdain 'I was enraged...I didn't like her actions, so I responded by slapping her thrice...three resounding slaps'
'I didn't like this deed of your's Ruqaiyya' Jalal interrupts, appearing unmoved 'Such a grave crime and such a small punishment...'
'Had it been anyone else, I'd have done the same!' she explains
'I still reiterate my point - such a grave crime and such a small punishment to make up for it?'
Ruqaiyya understands (or rather mis-understands) his smirk. Watching how her husband was out to punish Jodha further, her doubtful smiles break out into a victorious grin! If only, the lady knew what her notty notty pati was upto! [Actually, if only we knew what he was upto or rather the CVs are upto since there seems to be NO glimpses of nursing whatsoever!]
JODHA'S CHAMBER
Jodha was busy observing her reflection in the mirror, when Ruqaiyys approaches her chamber - ready with a barrage of taunts.
'I'd thought that my slaps would have left behind a few marks on your cheeks' the chief-queen rebukes Jodha
'If you're not satisfied, you can try once more if you'd like Ruqaiyya Begum!' Jodha comes back [Wow...nice reply Jo!😛]
However, Ruqaiyya was too happy to go around slapping anybody. Instead with a sarcastic smile adorning her lips all through, she applies the very medicine on Jodha's face that Jodha'd used on Jalal 'If this medicine has worked on Jalal, I trust it will work on your cheeks too!'
Was this an attempt to taunt Jodha? Was this an attempt to rebuild the relatively-tatty bridge between her and Jodha? Was this a non-humble attempt of apology from the conceited queen? I think it was a mix of all three.
Ruqaiyya might gloat all that she wanted to, however, as MA rightfully observed - she was too blinded by the 'glare' of power to be a wife to the Shehenshah. For the first time, MA revealed her fears of Jodha becoming the Marium-um-Zamani to Resham - a fear that would one day turn to reality, of course!
JALAL-BHARMAL
If one thing is to be noticed, Jodha was witnessed without her veil in many scenes today. Was it a mark of her feeling more comfortable in Agra? Was she beginning to feel like she was at Amer? She was definitely her cheery-self for most of the episode. 😊
Jodha overhearing Bharmal's congratulatory cum gratitude-filled dialogues with the Shehenshah was a lovely scene to watch. As many of us had hoped, Jalal had orchestrated an alliance for Sukanya - a favourable Rajput one at that! To add to it all, he was presenting himself as humble as he could when the news was brought to him
'What have I done...I just presented the proposal to the king..'etc etc
He definitely scored many many many brownies point with Jo there!😛
How convenient when Bharmal tells Jalal that it was customary for the older sister and brother-in-law to participate in their wedding rituals [Looks like we're going to be watching a Barjatya serial the upcoming week! Oh hare dupatte waali, be ready for it!]
While MA is NOT pleased in the least, Jo is taken aback - in a very very pleased way, I mean!
PRECAP
What is this I hear Jalal say to Ruqaiyya 'I love Jodha Begum?'😕 [I am not in the least bit impressed! Where did this come from? Hope it was Ruq's nightmare, because if it is not - it's mine...only thing I hate more than half-baked love stories is completely uncooked ones😡!]
My take -
I didn't think I'd say this - but the only saving grace today was Jodha! Firstly, where the hell is the nursing scene they promised us in the promos? I'd defended the CVs left, right and center - confident that such a thing will occur in Agra...there seems to be NO necessity for any such occurrence henceforth...seeing how Jalal appears much better now!
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