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Tonight the CVs gave us Paro leading the effort to keep Rudra safe. Rudra might have been knocked out by the poison but he wasn't quite dead. For the moment, that is. There was every chance that the murderer would try to kill him. So it was imperative to watch over Rudra and prevent another attempt on his life.
It was a combination of luck and her own finely-honed instincts for Rudra's well-being that brought Paro to the right place at the right time. A second later, and she'd have lost her precious Major Saab forever. But as it was, by flooding the room with light at the very moment that Kakisa had the needle lined up with Rudra's toe, she thwarted Kakisa's attempt to inject poison into the unconscious man.
And when Kakisa tried to send her away to rest, it was her refusal to leave her husband's side until he was back on his feet that held Kakisa back from finishing the job.
But Kakisa was not so easily deterred. She sent Paro off to the far corner of the room to get her a drink of water. Hoping to jab her nephew's inert body with the poisoned needle while Paro's back was turned. She had scarcely bent to palm the injection, when Paro, alerted perhaps by the sudden movement, turned and caught her bending down. And was unimpressed by Kakisa's explanation of mosquitoes.
Her senses thus armed, Paro refused to turn her back on Kakisa. So that Kakisa had no option but to drink up the water and leave - mission not accomplished.
Meanwhile, the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. At Paro's behest, Mythili had kept her eyes peeled for anything that could be connected to the poisoning. And having stumbled across iron filings in her mother-in-law's room, and having ascertained that they were indeed made of iron, Mythili called up Paro to let her know.
From Rudra's bedside, then, Paro master-minded the investigation into his poisoning. The laddoo that Rudra had taken a bite out of after the pooja, should be in the bedroom, she told a sympathetic Mythili. Jija needed to find it and determine if it contained iron filings. Paro didn't let up until Mythili had found the half-eaten laddoo.
But while the investigation was progressing satisfactorily, the same could not be said of Rudra's recovery. The sky was beginning to be lighten, unlike Rudra's throat that was still stained blue. Nor were there any signs of Rudra emerging from his slumber. And as the first rays broke through the night, Paro felt the darkness close in.
Rudra needed to wake up. There was fear in the fingers that drew back the blanket covering Major Saab's chest. Fear and determination to wake her love. She would talk non-stop until he got up. Would ask him questions, uncomfortable questions like why he was so bent on seeking her forgiveness after they returned from Jaipur. Like why he hadn't scolded her when she'd run to him from out of the darkened room in the hotel.
The lump in her throat was so big that it was difficult to talk, to breathe. But Paro swallowed hard, walked with a firm tread to the foot of the bed and cranked up the head. He hated such questions, didn't he? Well she had more. Like how they happened to have woken up in bed together. And her earring. She couldn't find it. Was it with him? And now her mouth curved in delight. He was as red as a tomato, although he needed to open his eyes to see it, she told him. Begged him to open his eyes.
And his lack of response just threaded anger into her fear. A put-on heat that could not dispel the cold. Major Saab was very stubborn. And she was getting angry. She'd stop talking to him never mind if that made him angry.
But even the momentary heat could not sustain her spirits. Paro sank down by his feet in tears. And made a last-ditch attempt to rouse him. She'd sing him that song he hated, she warned him. And she sang... all of two lines, before she had to stop. Could go no further. Because her voice was corroded by the acid that ran down her face and dripped onto her hands. Hands that clasped the Major's tight, giving strength, drawing strength, unable to let go. Even if the breaking dawn was snuffing her hopes. Rending her heart. Dissolving her control.
But she wouldn't give up, couldn't afford to give up. So when Kakusa and Aman Bhaisa came to sit with Rudra, she left them by his bedside as she ran barefoot to His side. To her Lord. To plead, pray, fight with Bholenath for her Major Saab's life. She wouldn't return empty-handed.
Tonight the CVs gave us high emotion as Paro fought to save Rudra's life. But they also appealed to our minds with the thwarting of Kakisa's murderous intent. As well as with Mythili's investigation and her presence of mind in getting the laddoo and the iron filings to the doctor for analysis. Today, Kakisa was on a losing spree. Bested by fate at just about every turn first by Paro and then by her daughter-in-law, whom Kakisa has seriously underestimated to her cost. The CVs also laid the foundation for Kakisa's exposure as the murderer, and hopefully Sumer's as accessory to the crime. And, more importantly, for a PaRud separation, that now looks like just a matter of time following Paro's deal tomorrow.
But the images that remain etched are the images of Paro trying every trick in the book and then some to wake Rudra up from his slumber. Paro coaxing, fighting, panicked, despairing, holding on to the Major, broken and weeping, running bare-foot and bleeding for her man.
Acting laurels today rest firmly with Sanaya for her exquisite portrayal of a lover about to lose the love of her life. Exquisite, because Sanaya played her imminent loss with restraint, nuance and without a false note, when in lesser hands the scene could have descended into messy melodrama. Ananya was spot-on with her comi-evil performance as the Kakisa who failed. The actress who played Mythili was convincing in her role as detective. Special mention to the actor who plays Danveer for easily essaying his role today. đđđ to them and the rest of the cast and crew for a compelling episode.
Waiting for tomorrow for some PaRud joy!!
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