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Today, the misunderstanding between Rudra and Paro unfolded fully with the many arguments for and against believing Paro's innocence. But for Rudra, the lack of trust in Paro's word was based on something much stronger than arguments, deeper the logic, beyond reason itself. It was based in deep-seated prejudice, which had over the years become an unshakeable belief.
At the press conference at the BSD HQ, Paro listed her reasons for turning witness for the BSD. And sought forgiveness from Rudra for doubting him, fighting with him, and being stubborn. She had supported the enemy, but no more, now she would support the right.
But it made no difference to Rudra, he told her, what she did now that she was awakened by Tejawat holding a gun to her head. No. What mattered was what she'd done while she was still asleep. And he grabbed the puzzled Paro and dragged her away...
...to the hospital to thrust her into his father's room. And cutting short her shocked exclamations, he accused her of attempting to burn Ranawat alive. And not just of burning his father, but also of calling Tejawat to the mela and beaning himself, Rudra, in order to run away. He could still have forgiven the rest, but not this injury to his father. And for what? To get back at him, Rudra? Or as payback for all Ranawat's love and care for her?
And nothing Paro said in her defence could convince him or his extended family. On the contrary. Every exclamation, explanation, defence, reason that she offered only fuelled their fury and disgust. Paro even swore on Bholenath that she hadn't done it. But Kakisa was quick to reprimand her. What was the point of that when Sunehri was witness to her crime? Sunehri stuck to her guns and would not be swayed. And Mythili Jija was vocal about her betrayal. No matter how vehemently Paro insisted that she wasn't there; she couldn't have done it; wouldn't have done it, nobody believed her. Until, finally, Paro turned to Rudra with tears in her eyes, and was asked to leave for her pains.
And when she refused to leave - why should she, she had done nothing wrong - he towed her after himself down the corridor, while Kakasa ran after them. Kakasa, who had seen Paro try and fail to kill Rudra in cold blood even when she was at her most desperate in the jail, but had instead turned the gun on herself, alone believed her incapable of the crime. Kakasa appealed to Rudra's gut, to his instinct. After knowing Paro for so long, how could Rudra still think her capable of harming Dilsher?
"Did anybody think that my mother could do what she did?" Rudra's question effectively silenced both Danveer and Paro. Fifteen years previously, his mother had left home, reducing his father's heart and soul to ashes. "Can you say that she too is innocent? Will you support her too if she were to come and stand in front of you? Will you be able to talk to her today?" And taking his uncle's inability to meet his eyes as signs of an argument lost, not for once imagining that it could mean much more, Rudra continued.
"Today, once more a beautiful woman has tried to take my father's life. The only difference is that she tried to burn his body. Today the only reason for my father's condition is that he forgot his own lesson that you cannot trust a beautiful woman. But I haven't forgotten and will never forget it." And a wild-eyed Rudra, who was beyond reason, slapped his hand around Paro's arm and dragged her out of the hospital.
Meanwhile, Thakursa, his men now prisoners, his empire in ruins, his very freedom in BSD's grasp, was frantically urging his Thakurain to pack her clothes, in between filling his bag with valuables in preparation to running away. But the Thakurain would not be persuaded. She was in a dream world of her own. Beyond reason. It was Maha Shivratri. Her Rudra's wedding. The day she'd dreamed of for so long. He couldn't stop her from going to her son's wedding. She knew he wouldn't. So Thakursa did the only thing he could. He knocked her out yet again.
Back at the HQ, Paro was still trying to reason with Rudra. She did not know that Tejawat was coming to the mela, then how could she have planned to run away with him? And if she had to run away, why would she have tried to set fire to Bapusa's room?
Rudra turned his back on her logic. It was not necessary to answer her questions, when her reality was in front of him. Paro defended herself: she was not two-faced. Whatever she was was before him. Her tears, her pain, her repentence, her truth were all real. She pleaded with Rudra to believe her.
Rudra backed her up against the one-way mirror and threw his own futile attempts to convince her in her face. What had she done when he'd begged her to believe him in the marquee? She'd attacked him, her saviour. Paro admitted she was wrong. And blamed it on Tejawat's propaganda; on her fear that Rudra would kill Tejawat.
And Rudra, flaring at that last statement, asked her why she'd left her God and run back in that case. Because she'd found out the truth, Paro told him. A reason that drew his ire, scorn and disbelief. "The reason that you betrayed Tejawat; the reason that you attacked me; the reason you threw my father into the fire - it's not your fault; nor the fault of your blood. The reason is that you are a woman, a beautiful woman, who can belong to nobody but herself." And ignoring Paro' s hurt, he told her that she would never win his trust in this life.
Their conversation was finished even before Rudra's CO came in to order Rudra and Aman to go to Birpur and nab Tejawat.
At Tejawat's strangely-deserted haveli, Rudra could find no traces of the villain, although he found some guns to add to their tally of those recovered during the fake baraat. The rather uncertain light gave out as the fuse tripped. So Rudra lit a candle, turned and caught sight of a large portrait hanging above the stairs. There was something about it that called to him. And Rudra found his feet leading him to it. Until finally he stood directly before it, peering at the dark painting through the gloom, half-afraid of what he might see. Which was a ridiculous, illogical thought. What could he have to fear from a portrait? It was an oddly-reluctant hand that finally raised the candle up to eye-level. And as it hovered there uncertain whether to stay or drop, the lights came on, leaving him with no choice but to see. And Rudra reeled before the face of the smiling, happy Thakurain next to the Thakur. It was beyond sense, beyond sanity, beyond reason. The face staring back at him, the Thakurain, was his very own mother!
In today's fast-paced episode, in addition to the MU, the CVs gave us a dhamaaka! The surprise reveal to Rudra that his mother is the Thakurain, living with Tejawat, the traitor. The second shock coming before he's even had the time to come to terms with Paro's fall from his eyes, and not to forget Dilsher's precarious condition. Poor Rudra! His cup of woe is running over.
Today, there was much forgiveness sought, and in some cases refused. Paro begged Rudra's forgiveness. But he and his cousins refused to forgive her. Rudra indicated anew that he could never forget and forgive his mother, Paro, or any beautiful woman, for that matter. Thakursa hoped that the Thakurain would forgive him yet again for chloroforming her. Paro, though, was much more forgiving of Mamisa when they finally embraced.
Acting honours go to Ashish and Sanaya for a sure performance. Ashish convincingly portrayed the bolder emotions. A rewarding episode for those interested in his expressions, as Ashish unfurled a host of new expressions that bear no resemblance to any from the first episodes. Sanaya was subtle and low-key but equally convincing. The CVs gave us many great lines. 👏👏👏 to them and the rest of the cast and crew for a great episode.
Can't wait for tomorrow!!
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