Zoyaan - the slippery highground of morality - Page 6

Originally posted by: Oldestfan

Nikaah ek vaada hai, ek baar kiya to taa umr nibhaoongi.

Why does Zoya make that statement over and over again?

In the episode of the trellis, she says that her father left her mother and when she came to know of it, she promised herself that she would never let that happen to her.

Main Janaab Rashid Ahmed Khan ka beta hoon. - Implying that Asads greatest fear is becoming like what he perceives his father to be - a cheat, who broke promises and commitments. He is afraid to hurt those whom he loves - not atypical for children who go through family breakups thinking somehow that its their fault and fearing that they will repeat the sins of their fathers.

And so we have two strong willed people making judgements about their parents and their life choices, in the form of their own beliefs about themselves.

Asad went through a horrifying breakdown. Such a strong man, so morally upright, who could not bear to look at himself even after what he was made to believe that he did - how much he agonized over it, and how much his instinct and destiny pulled him back to Zoya. She went through a lot of self doubt and heart break, she thought that he had ended up betraying her - her idol had fallen from his pedestal. The miracle of Ajmer was not the chaddar flying to rescue her. The miracle of Ajmer was that she found the vision to figure out what really happened.

Asads evaluation of himself and his father underwent a sea change after this ordeal. He has not admitted it yet, but he is thinking of his father differently. The confrontation in the rain, amid all the accusations and raging was a corrupted reflection of a certain empathy for his flawed father.

Now with the apparent nikaah happening, it is Zoyas turn to lose her confidence in herself, to question her beliefs, to question her mothers wisdom, her fathers integrity, to understand that everything is not as it seems. Her credibility will come under question - and it has not yet, thus far. Yes Mr. Khan did not trust her for the small things, and about Tanveer (Tanveer fooled EVERYONE) , but she always had defenders. Now who will defend her? Is she really going to stand by what she said so blindly?

The Mahabharata is full of stories and examples like this - where ones expressed principles and beliefs can only be put to the test when the world turns upside down. Yudhistira lies, Bhima cheats, Arjuna does not play fair etcetera. (acknowledging bheegi starstruck and a host of others here)

The test can have two outcomes - either your principle stands, or you declared it without thinking of the caveats. Zoya should have had an inkling of the bravado of her statement when she almost got married to Akram - that's why she was so terror stricken when she woke up and asked Asad if the nikaah had really happened. But now, what is she going to do? Will she soul search ? Will she question? Will she grow in character? The highlands of morality are slippery, Zoya - ask your man, he should know more than anyone.

Zoya ran and ran from that Suhaag raat scene until she could not hide anymore, and then she came back and fought for her man. Is she going to run again?

I tell my kids everyday of their lives - You can run but you cannot hide.

Stop running, Zoya - no more orphanages, no more dargahs - stare yourself in the face and question yourself - what really matters in your life?

True love? Famlly? The past? Your future? Your word? Is your word really your word? Or is it a reaction to the fate life handed you?
What is it going to be?