Friends, today's episode was beautifullly choreographed one for which I want to congratulate the Creatives. We had many separate conversations in this episode that were primarily built around the twin concepts of "trust" and "love". But the real beauty was the way the episode unfolded.
The initial four scenes were about "trust", with each scene highlighting different facets of "trust". The second set of four scenes were about "love", with each scene highlighting different facets of "love". The episode thus started talking about trust but ended up talking about love!
(But there is a caveat here: the word "love" here in this episode was not only about "romantic love", but also about "love" sometimes hidden inside other emotions).
Many of us thought that the whole pregnancy track would help build better "trust" between Jodha and Jalal, but we never thought to look for more than that "trust" at this stage. We thought all talk of "love" would come at a much later phase after "trust" has been set on a solid foundation. To the contrary, this episode today seems to have led from "trust" right into discussions about "love" within a single episode itself, thus almost landing us into a totally different landscape than where the episode started out from.
Aside from the fact that all the conversations were either about "trust" or about "love", each conversation was in and of itself very interesting. The dialogues were so well scripted that not a single word in any dialogue was out of place, repetitive or redundant. Someone has done a phenomenal job of scripting, sequencing and, as I said earlier, choreographing of the scenes in such a way as to make the whole episode a treat, no matter how many times you watch it.
Here goes my analysis of the epsiode, scene-wise ...
SCENES ABOUT TRUST:
Scene 1: Jodha and Bakshi
The scene opens with Bakshi begging Jodha for forgiveness. She says "Trust me Bhabhijaan, I was forced to do all this. It was not by my own volition". Jodha angrily asks Bakshi to go and leave her alone - and Bakshi leaves. Jodha then sinks into a sofa, remorse and copious tears overcoming her, as she thinks of all the many times she mistrusted Jalal ... she has flashbacks of scenes where she had vented her ghrina at Jalal, sometimes alone, sometimes in front of others, questioning his humanity and his ethics. She remembers that he had always never replied - but silently withstood her accusations. At the end of this scene, with more tears streaming down her face, Jodha shakes her head unable to digest the fact that she had stooped to this level with Jalal.
The whole scene to me seemed to be showing two situations where trust was highlighted. First, it ws clear that all trust between Bakshi and Jodha was now in a shambles. Second, Jodha sees how "mistrust" led her to accuse and abuse Jalal, belittling him for his "untrustworthiness", even in the presence of others. This whole scene seemed to be about two people seeing what the absence of trust could leave them with!
Scene 2: Ruqaiya and Hoshiyaar
Ruqaiya is in the bath, seeming mightily upset with the news she has got from Hoshiyaar that Sharif was the mastermind behind the whole pregnancy saazish. Ruq says to Hoshiyar "If this news is true, then this matter is too serious, for the Hakim has been murdered. And behind all this is none other than Jalal's brother-in-law? So much saazish has happened in this palace, and I haven't even been told about it?"
She then asks the baandhis to vanish and changes tack: "So this means there was no relationship between Jalal and Jodha? And I was needlessly angry with them and behaved badly with them? How did I even think I could lose Jalal to Jodha?"
Hoshiyaar replies Ruq with: "There was a relationship between Jodha and Jalal ... at least a relationship of trust. Just think how much trust Jalal has in Jodha, he didn't for a moment think she could be wrong. To prove Jodha right, he even lied to you and to Hamida that he had a relationship with her. Somewhere Jalal has started liking Jodha!"
Ruq is visibly upset and shouts "Not one word more. I will trust no one's word anymore and will listen only to my own heart. Jalal is mine only, and no one can take him from me. I must go to him myself and beg his forgiveness that I so mistrusted him."
Four different facets of trust have come forth in this interlude. First, Ruq seems to question why she could not have been trusted with all this information of the goings-on at the palace. Second, she seems to question the trust she placed on Jalal's version of events of the stormy night.Third, Hoshiyaar talks of Jalal's trust in Jodha as a signal of his starting to like Jodha. Fourth, Ruq talks of hereafter trusting her own inner voice rather than the judgement of others as to where she stands with Jalal.This whole scene seemed to be about what Ruqaiya could be trusted with - and what she in turn could trust (about herself or about Jalal).
Scene 3: Jalal and Maham
Maham is sitting in her room when Resham asks "What punishment will Jalal give Bakshi?' to which Maham replies "Only he knows! Bakshi was his favourite sister. Questions must be plaguing his mind!"
A distraught and broken Jalal walks in listlessly and Maham makes him sit, caressing his head. He says: "Just as I have come to you now, Bakshi used to come to me with her troubles. Her happiness was my happiness, her sorrow was my sorrow. Then why did she do this to me ... when I am her own brother? Those whom we think of as our own, why do they act as outsiders? First Abul Mali, then Sharif, then Bakshi ...!"
Maham tells him "A Shahenshah has no friends, only enemies." But Jalal then asks :"Why then do these enemies wear masks? I can lift my sword against enemies but not against my own sister. She calls me Bhaijaan, how can I take her life? Inside me there is war going on between a Shahenshah and a brother. Whichever side wins, I will lose."
Maham embraces him and tears also roll down her cheeks. His pain is so intense, that even an intrinsically evil person like Maham seems momentarily to be genuinely moved.
This scene seems to show up two aspects of trust. First, Jalal questions whom he can trust when enemies masquerade as friends and family. Second is the irony of the whole scene itself, where Jalal has tried to find solace from Maham, who must be one of the most untrustworthy people in all of the Agra Palace. The scene overall seems to be all about "misplaced trust".
Scene 4: Bakshi and Hamida
Bakshi is sitting in sadness, all alone, when Hamida walks in with Gulbadan Begum. Bakshi addresses Hamida as "Ammijaan", but Hamida slaps her soundly twice and says "Don't call me Ammijaan. Daughters are those who make mothers hold up their heads in pride. What kind of daughter is this of mine that has shamed me, ruined her brother's life and despoilt her bhabhi's character. Daughters should be like Jodha. What has Jalal not done for you - and what have you done in return?"
Bakshi pleads for forgiveness, but an unrelenting Hamida continues: "Your gunah cannot be pardoned. Is all this the teaching I gave you, the upbringing? I am ashamed of what I seem to have achieved. From today, till Jalal declares his punishment for you, I don't want to see your face. Don't rely on me to help you procure your pardon." Hamida then leaves a battered Bakshi as she trounces out with Gulbadan.
This scene seems to reveal two facets of trust. First, the trust broken by Bakshi that she had with the mother who had reared her. Second, the trust that Hamida seems to indicate she has with respect to Jodha in comparison. (This is an interesting aspect of this dialogue that only a day or so ago, Jodha was the one who had lost Hamida's trust.) The scene overall seems to be all about the ease with which trust is given or broken.
SCENES ABOUT LOVE:
Scene 5: Jodha and Salima
Salima finishes her prayers as Jodha appears to meet her. Salima tells Jodha to sit down, but Jodha says: "You have become so great for me now that I cannot sit before you. What you have done for me as a big sister, is what I would have myself done for Sukanya. I don't know how to thank you." Salima says between sisters, there is no need for thanks.
Jodha then says: "People must learn from you what samajdhari' is ...". Salima replies: "People must learn from you what wafaadaari' is ...! I was able to do to do all this for you because I trusted in your loyalty and your integrity. Your honesty made me obliged to help you, and it was, I am sure, even the same for the Shahenshah. The light of truth that lit your face showed how pure you were. I am happy that the Shahenshah did nothing wrong, and that he was fair and also protected you "izzat"!"
Jodha then says:"But I am not happy within me, for I mistook the Shahenshah. I said all kinds of things to him that I shouldn't have". Salima offers sage advice: "For that you have to be very careful in future, Jodha, for the relationship between a man and wife is very delicate. Maybe you made a mistake that circumstances forced you to do. But I trust your intelligence that you will know hereafter how you should conduct yourself with your husband. Now whatever is in your mind go ahead and do it, and don't think too hard. Too much thinking weakens decisions."
With a hug Jodha leaves Salima saying "In a few words you've taught me a lot". Salima prays for God's blessing on the relationship of Jodha and Jalal.
This scene seemed to throw up two facets of love. First, Jodha and Salima agree that they have between them the kind of love that sisters enjoy. Second, Salima teaches Jodha that love between a husband and wife can be a very delicate thing that poor conduct should not be allowed to despoil. Overall, the scene seemed to be about how love can be strong between sisters and yet so delicate between husband and wife.
Scene 6: Jalal and Jodha
Jalal is sitting deep in thought when Jodha is announced in. She starts speaking, but he cuts her short as he says :" I know what you are about to say. You have had to bear great shame because of my sister Bakshi, but I am more ashamed than you that my own flesh and blood has done a "gunah unworthy of maafi". So for your humiliation, I ask forgiveness."
Jodha replies in all earnestness: "Shahenshah, I want to ask your forgiveness not for Bakshi's mistakes, but my own mistakes. I understood you so wrong , thought so ill of you. I started hating you and saying you were worthy only of "ghrna" and there's no humanity in you. But frankly, I am truly unable to understand who you are, what you are ...?"
He stands up to reply: "I am a man, Jodha, whose humanity was killed during war when I was just 14 years old. I am one who has no heart. I am one who doesn't know how to trust ... but I don't know why today I have this deep trust in this one woman. I have trust on her integrity and her conduct." A very moved Jodha asks: "But why do you have so much trust in me?" He just says: "I don't know why, but I just do! Maybe from within me there is a voice that says you are sincere or maybe I have seen it in your eyes. Or may be some other reason, but whatever it may be, I know I trust you."
Jodha is all remorse. She says: "I cursed you so much thinking you were ruining my character. But in fact right from the start you were protecting it, just so the culprit could be caught. Forgive me Shahenshah!" But he raises a hand to stop her and says: "Don't say sorry. Any other woman in your place would have done the same thing."
And then in a very, very interesting afterthought he adds: "But I want you to not have any wrong assumptions. Please don't think what I did was because I am in love with you. No, that's not so. I did it all because no one should ridicule or hurt the Begum of a Shahenshah." Jodha smiles, as if that sentence pleases her immesely. She then thanks him for everything saying: "Truly, I am very obligated to you, that you have not let my soul, my character or my dignity be scarred. Thank you." He nods as if to accept her thanks. And she goes ... while he stays thinking.
This scene has four beautiful aspects of love hidden in its conversation. First, love is seen in the act of both of them asking for and giving each other forgiveness. Second, love is seen in the trust he has in her for which he can't find a reason why. Third, love is expressed by him as something he is not able to give her, even though he has given her love via protection of her dignity. Fourth, love is the paradoxical happiness he has given her by saying he is unready to give her love! (Fancy that! )Overall the scene seems to be about love expressed via other emotions.
Scene 7: Jodha and Bakshi
Jodha sees Bakshi, despondent, refusing drinks, when she goes up to her and says: "There's something I have to ask you . Why would a decent and straight woman as you give help to your husband for this kind of dirty work? Even if Sharif was pressurising you, why didn't you tell Jalal the whole truth?"
Bakshi replies Jodha with an answer that completely throws her. She says: "I did it for love, for the man I ardently love. For fear I should not lose him. You will never understand that fear. I've already lost one husband. I could not go through one more loss. I love Sharif. I can do anything for him. I can take my own life for him or take someone else's life too. I have no enmity with you, yet I did all this. I ruined your life, so my husband's love for me shouldn't be ruined."
A perplexed Jodha then asks her: "What kind of love is this where you can't tell right from wrong and you set out to ruin the life of a sister?" Bakshi is quick to reply: "You won't understand because you and Jalal don't share this kind of love. But the truth is that love knows no boundaries. People cross all boundaries, as I did, not knowing why or where it leads. I had no idea why Sharif wanted to split you and Jalal and he may never return here to explain."
Jodha asks again: "I can't understand ... does a person in love reach such a limit that they build their own destruction and put their integrity on the line?" Bakshi says very simply: "I don't have any other answers!"
The scene offers a splendid display of three aspects of love. First, Bakshi talks of a love that makes it difficult to tell between right and wrong. Second, Bakshi again talks of a love that cannot stand separation from the one that is loved. Third, Bakshi talks yet again of a love that defies logical understanding. Overall the scene seems to be about love in its blind aspects.
Scene 8: Jodha and Salima
Salima is again met by Jodha in her room when Jodha asks her outright: " I've just been seeing Bakshi. I am wondering ... is it OK for a woman to love her husband so much that she can't tell right from wrong? I too loved my first fiance Suryabhan, but not the extent Bakshi seems to love Sharif. I can't tell if Bakshi is a culprit or a victim here."
Salima then gives Jodha another very valuable piece of advice: "Have you thought, Jodha ... that which is the biggest good is also often the biggest evil? Love is also like that. When one is in love and faced with a conflict between love and the right thing to do, a lot of people are tempted to choose love because it becomes very difficult to live without the one you love."
Jodha then moves onto the more immediate situation: "When the Shahenshah asked you for advice you gave it to him. Can you likewise advise me here on what can I do to save Bakshi?" Salima replies sagely: "Bakshi can only be saved by Jalal himself."
There is then a call to attend the sabha where Jalal is to pronounce his verdict on Bakshi!
This scene rounds up two aspects of love. First, Jodha asks if there is such a thing as too much love leading to evil. Second, Salima explains that love of the avoidable kind is the one based on compulsive dependancy on someone. Overall the scene seemed to be about love in its extremes.
I enjoyed seeing all the different aspects of "trust" and all the different aspects of "love" that this episode took me through today. There were ten facets of "trust" discussed and eleven facets of "love" discussed!
Coming to the precap, it looks like Jalal is giving Jodha some logical reasons first as to why "insaaf" cannot be mixed with "relations" and so Bakshi cannot be given "insaaf" just because she is a sister. But Jodha advances a strong argument to Jalal that if she can forgive Bakshi why can't he? He is unable to offer any more logical reasons for not wanting to forgive Bakshi. He just refuses!
I am wondering: Is it easier to forgive someone for what they do to you, but not so easy to forgive someone for what they did to someone else who matters a great deal to you? And has Jodha now become someone who matters to Jalal a great deal?
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