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" Of course, i have something going on inside my head, Jodha Beghum. And don't even try deciphering that because you cannot decode me or my brain. All that you need to know is that you gave respect and honour to Mughals, you stood by our side and i value that very much. So, i gave the fort and see, how happy everyone is. Now, go and get ready for the wedding preparations. Don't think too much about what i was thinking. Okay?
-Jalaal.
" Thank you, Badee Ammie. For teaching me the most important lesson of my married life. Its because of you that i have realized that there is no point in opposing Jalaal and being a vamp in his life. If I can be on his good side, win him over by compassion and tenderness, i don't need to howl my lungs out at him all the time. I have come to realize that Jalaal is an extremist. You hate him and he will slit your throat. Love him and he will bring the world at your feet. So, let me correct you. I have not gone against Jalaal. I have just brought him to my side , by bowing , bending and lowering my voice. And i don't mind that at all. Jalaal's honour was not in being called a cruel backtracker who didn't process what he promised . It was in making Sukanya's wedding happen and now, by giving away the fort, he has won everyone's favour and regard. Now, kindly move out of my way because i need to go and speak to him immediately."
-Jodha.
Surprised, hmm? Both Jodha and Jalaal seem to have given shockers to everyone around them. Jodha in the first half and Jalaal in the second half.
Lets start out with Jodha first. The first 15 minutes can give you the impression that Jodha was psychologically and emotionally arm-twisting Jalaal into giving the fort to Jalaal. Using reverse psychology since Jalaal had refused to see the truth and called her a liar and an opportunist. But Jodha's reaction in the court and her following confrontation with Jalaal in his 'Hojraa' show you a different picture.
Jodha did all that emotionally triggered and politically tackled performance in front of Jalaal to GET ON JALAAL'S GOOD SIDE. After Sukanya's , Bakshi's and Maaham's mention of the hanging sword on JJ's marriage, Jodha was in the process of assessing what to do with Jalaal next. And stuck in 'whose-side-should-i-take' jazz , she was still figuring out what to do next , when Maaham came and jalaaoed her dimaag ki batti. In her self-praise speech., Maaham spanked Jodha's brain into realizing that by always going against Jalaal, Jodha will never be a good wife or a queen - and that Jalaal can only be tackled with love and tenderness - roaring in front of him only makes him roar louder.
And like we had said before, the greatest lessons of the Mughal Darbar have been taught and will be taught to Jodha by her arch-enemy Maaham. Its from Maaham that Jodha has learned that even a good person needs a certain dose of pragmatism and a dash of Chanakya. Even the ones you love have to be handled with BRAIN at times and the heart and instinctive emotions should take a backseat at that time.
So, Jodha comes to the court - playing a gamble and actually kneeling , in a way ,even though she is right and on the just side. She surrenders to Jalaal's will and pride. She embraces Maaham and she begs forgiveness from 60% losers over there. She comes to Jalaal and promises him that she will always be on his side and he need not give the fort. And having melted Jalaal and gang , and infuriated the Fateechar Gang ( Daayan Anga - Cheapu-Dhadhaam) , she walks out of the hall with a bowed head but a triumphant heart.
And Jalaal? Within milliseconds, he not only takes a decision to keep Jodha's heart , he even thinks of a devious plan to teach Dhawalians the lesson on their lives.
Jalaal, like a good son-in-law and a 'praan-jaaye-par-vachan-na-jaaye' types king , gives the fort to Bhukkad Dhwalians - and you can tell by the look of seven-wonders-of-the-world on the Amerian faces that they were imagining Jalaal with a halo and wings. Its here, that Jodha's shocked face makes you realize that the theatricals she put up in the Mughal hall were to just stop her war with Jalaal, win the favour of her in-laws and bring down Jalaal's mercury. It was not a backhand weapon to make Jalaal give up the fort. Even Jalaal knows that Jodha was not expecting this and so, when he looks at her ' did-you-just-do-that-for-me?' look, he gives her a lopsided 'keep-guessing-honey' smile and walks away.
Later, Jodha takes pride in Jalaal and her deepening relationship with him in front of a seething Maaham , but inside she is dying to know that what made Jalaal give up the same fort for which he was ready to behead all Dhawalians? ... She may have put up a great show in front of Maaham as though ' i-know-everything' but the fact of the matter is that Jodha was just as 'deer-caught-in-the-headlights' as everyone else.
"Shahenshah ka mann kaun padh paaya hai aaj tak?" Says it all from Jodha's side.
And madam Baaghin Beghum comes flying to Jalaal's room . Jalaal was expecting Jodha to come running to him , so he does an immediate Taqliyaah. And even before Jodha can ask, he can read her scrutinizing face and says i know what you are gonna ask. Why i did what i did? Jodha tells Jalaal that all said and done, she has come to understand him this much that he wouldn't just get up and give away that fort without a motive or a Plan B. Come on. Tell me the truth.
Jalaal smiles at her and says that he is just returning what she gave to him , his Mom , aunts and the Fateechar Gang - RESPECT. My heart melted and i decided to put my anger aside and give away the fort. Simple. Jalaal can see that Jodha is not buying his argument. She is still looking at him searchingly with a " what -are-you-upto-now-my-toofani-patee' look? He smirks at her face and tells her to stop trying. You are never going to understand what is running inside my head. Now, stop ogling at me and get ready for the wedding.
But Jodha is Jodha and she may not read Jalaal well, but she knows that her husband is a labyrinth. That's why she stops while leaving , turns, gives him a deep look of scrutiny and leaves his chambers with a suspicious expression on her face.
And as expected, Jalaal unleashes a pathway of his labyrinth to Atgaa. That tuccha , licchad, fateechar New Sasurji wants my Ratanpur Fort? Of course, am giving it to him...Only to SNATCH it back in my time. Sukanya gets married , i get to keep the promise made to Jodha and i get my fort back. Twisted i may be, but am the man and everyone BETTER deal with it.
PERIOD. So, who has the last laugh? Ask Pratap, he gave the answer at the end of the episode.
P.S-
Today's screenplay is very LAYERED and very INTELLIGENT. It starts out by giving you the impression that Jodha is emotionally arm twisting Jalaal to melt and give the fort to get Sukanya married. And right in the middle of it, the whole script turns upside down with an almost O Henry twist - It turns out that Jodha was only trying to win back her Jalaal and in-laws' favour and its Jalaal who decides to kill two birds with one stone - Be a goody-goody son-in-law and hubby on one side and an absolutely vengeful Mughal on the other side to teach Dhawalians the lesson of their life.
Jodha's shock at Jalaal giving up the fort was the TWIST in the tale today. I have to say it and I rarely say it. The screenplay writing of today's episode was BRAINY BRILLIANCE.
As for the title of today's post - aren't JJ all shades of the shade card under the sun? 😉
Cricket
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