Posted:
Today the CVs gave us the much-awaited bargain with Bholenath, which roused Rudra from his unconsciousness. And tacked on a surprise addition, a much-needed talking-to as Paro asked Rudra to let go of his past, and tried to rouse Rudra from his emotional slumber.
In the end, Paro sacrificed Rudra. The priest had asked her to surrender what she considered invaluable in exchange for saving Rudra's life. So Paro obediently closed her eyes and summoned up the images. All she could see was Rudra. Rudra as he saved her from the goons. Rudra as he called her his Adharmi Patni. Seeking solace in Rudra's arms in Jaipur and Rudra holding her towel-clad body in wordless comfort. Feeling the heat as Rudra held her close in their dance. Rudra stroking his moustache just yesterday as he tried to make up to her after their fight.
Rudra - her protector, her husband, her friend, her lover, her other half. Rudra, her life's breath. Without whom she could not exist. Or imagine a future. It was Rudra she would have to give up. The realisation froze the blood pumping in her veins. Drove the breath from her lungs. Slashed her legs from under her. So that she fell onto her knees in front of Bholenath, eyes streaming with agony. But hands clenched in acceptance.
It was a bloodless sacrifice. Then why did she feel eviscerated? Pithed? As if her heart had been wrenched from her? But even that was acceptable if it would save his life. She would exit his life the moment he recovered completely. She, Paro, would leave Rudra then, she promised Bholenath.
And her Lord knowing the promise was made by a pure heart and in true devotion, accepted it. And even as everybody around Rudra slumped in unrelenting gloom, having lost the battle to resuscitate him, He bathed them in light.
Aman was the first to spot the change - the squeeze of the eyelid. And then Rudra took a breath and exhaled it on her name. "Paroooh". Finally, miraculously, Rudra had been roused. Brought back from certain death. And having woken up, was asking for Paro.
It took Paro a little longer to return to his bedside. And even then she approached it in stages, hesitating by the slats of the door for her first glimpse of the conscious Major Saab. Her Major Saab who had given her such a fright. She edged quietly into the room, and saw Rudra open his eyes. That was enough to make her run to him. It was the memory of her promise to Bholenath that stopped her in her tracks after only a few steps. But Rudra had spotted his Paro and called out her name. And more: even in his weakened condition, he insisted that she have her bloodied feet tended to.
The next time she entered the room, the doctor was informing Rudra that they hadn't been able to prevent the poison from affecting his right arm. And that he may not recover its usage for a week or ten days. A reprieve for Paro. A bitter-sweet reprieve. She didn't have to leave her Major Saab just yet. But each day with him would lodge him deeper in her heart, make the wrench harder when she did leave. Paro could see that. And also the effect of the doctor's announcement on Rudra. His panicked incredulity as he gritted his teeth and failed to lift his hand.
The nurse tried to help him sit up, and felt the rough edge of his temper for her pains. So Paro dismissed her and took charge. Rudra tried to brush her off too. But Paro was unmoved. She would do what needed to be done whether he wanted it or not. And she was not daunted by his anger, had made friends with it, knew how to control it.
But that only made Rudra bristle. Just because she'd been to the temple Paro needn't think that the Lord had given her any right over him. Rudra's defence mechanism was automatic. He couldn't have known how his unthinking words flicked Paro on the raw.
Stung her into telling him a few home-truths to shake him out of his unhealthy obsession with the past. This time Paro held nothing back. That he was letting his past eclipse his present. She too had seen bad times but those memories were not a dagger ripping apart her present. If he looked back and walked, he wouldn't be able to see the stones in his path. And he would stumble and fall, or break his toes on them. He'd grasped his past so tight in both hands that there was no room for anything else. His feelings, his love, his ability to believe had all flown out of the window and into the blue.
And having shocked him out of his emotional slumber, Paro delivered her parting shot. She had told him what she could. And now it was up to him. He knew what he had to do.
A delicious episode today that tasted, however, bittersweet. First with the bitterness of Paro's sacrifice, and then with the sweetness of PaRud conscious and communicating. Bitter with the confirmation to Mythili of her mother-in-law's hand in poisoning Rudra and sweet that the culprit had been nailed.
The CVs gave us a surprise package today with Paro's stern words to Rudra about letting go of his anger and hatred and opening himself up to joy and love. There were other memorable moments: Of Kakusa and Aman trying to awaken Rudra. Of Kakisa losing her footing when she got the news that Rudra had not succumbed, and her prescient words that she'd be the one leaving the haveli. And of course the PaRud moments. None sweeter than when Rudra first laid eyes on Paro walking into his room and couldn't then look elsewhere. And his insistence, when he could barely speak, that she have her foot seen to.
Acting honours today go to Sanaya, Ashish, Ananya and the actress who plays Mythili. Sanaya was compelling in her portrayal of the woman who's just made the ultimate sacrifice, and on whom that sacrifice is taking its toll. Ashish was spot-on as the man trying desperately to hold on to the status quo and stop ceding control to Paro.
Ananya was enjoyable in her comi-evil portrayal of the ineffectual villain who knows there's something afoot, but is unable to put her finger on it. The actress who plays Mythili was convincing as the daughter-in-law torn between championing what's right and being a good daughter-in-law. 👏👏👏👏 to them, to the rest of the cast, the CVs for some remarkable lines, the crew who gave us great screenplay and direction, and everybody for a very satisfying episode.
Looking forward to more PaRud scenes tomorrow! 😆
