Why MAITHLI Matters to Rudra.

I think it is time we spoke about the one character that Geetanjali is absolutely killing---Maithli. I have a feeling that we in the forum are guilty of ignoring her as anything beyond Paro's Jija. Everything about Maithli is filtered through her relationships for us. But its time to deal with Maithli, the woman. And aside from being Paro's jija, I am saying this because the CVs themselves want us to realize how important she is to the story.


They chose an incredible way of showing this through one simple, stunning visual---Rudra Pratap Ranawat touching her feet for her blessing. I am surprised we didn't all FREAK out at the symbolism here--that the only person he has opened up to, showed the most intense form of respect to is the one member of his family he is not related to. His loyalty is now established---but not to his blood. To Maithli.

No one could have seen this coming? I don't know. I think we should have seen it. The RR CVs have so far been remarkably consistent in their story progression, and executed each arc with a confident hand. For you naysayers, insisting RR will end--NO CV rushes through story lines with this much prompt action if they don't have a solid bank of character stories they always had planned on telling. The pace of RR has been the same from week one, when we had 5 days of spectacle any other show would have dragged for at least two months. Remember-- the CVs are not the one shooting shoddy love scenes but the people who are writing powerful ones. Everytime you love Rudra/ Paro--the creatives did that.


So why..Maithli?

They sure chose an odd one to give this much of the focus to. Firstly, they created a timid, absolutely dominated woman with no voice, from a poor family, a pawn to her mother in law, a servant to her family. The "gai" from the village who married a man who is quite frankly, the least of the Ranawats. Samrat is the most unmanly character we have in Rangrasiya---the one with the least to offer a woman. And yet, he has the most love out of any man onscreen, except Rudra. In some ways, his situation parallels Rudra--the eldest son, the absent or tormenting mother, the wife who adores him. But in nature? He is nothing. He is not assertive like Sumer, he does not have his mother's fire, does not have Sunehri's bubbly charm. He does not even have Danveer's strong moral compass or Dilsher's wit and personality. And it would be incredibly unfair to compare him personally to Rudra in any way, so we wont go there.


He is so weak, so much a cipher, he cannot even stand up to defend his own wife when she is physically abused--and this in spite of his very deep love for his only champion. When he is himself a weak man with no one respecting him ---not even his own brother respects his will, his rights--- what are the chances that he will appeal to a man-eater like Mohini as a viable son? And the unkindest cut of all...we in the cities probably have no idea what a big deal this is, but in the villages, to be impotent, as we know Samrat to be, its a heinous crime.


We might call Mohini an unnatural mother, and she is. But with Samrat, he has created his own issues with her, both by being so weak that she despises him, and because of his impotence. Mohini actually has NO reason to like her son, no reason to respect him, given the culture and background she is from, because of this one failing of her son's, which for women like her, is unforgivable. And honestly, it is a big failing. More so, since the simple solution for it (adoption) is the one way he can make up his lack to his wife, and even though he is personally okay with it, he doesn't have the guts to give Maithli this happiness. He cannot support her in public, he humiliates her when his mother orders it, and it is only in secret that he can show his love for his wife--Poor Maithli, indeed!

So why Maithli? Because, she will be the one to change her fortune, and not by fate, not by Bholenath's decree. Paro was always fated to have Rudra, and Rudra to love Paro. Samrat and Maithli got lucky-they fell in love after marriage, like so many girls do. She is not the eternal Parvati. He is not the god of strength, Rudra. Maithli is ordinary, one of us---and she is the woman who will change her Fate by recreating her already existing love story. The change in Maithli (and hopefully Samrat) will come because of Rudra and Paro--- by proving that there IS a different form of love aside from the secret desperate clinging to each other in bedrooms.


I think, we are to see how love is supposed to be, not just in Rudra/Paro's life, but in Maithli/Samrats's too. How it is a changeable force. How it is a rebirth-catlyst. You can always love BETTER. You can always love MORE- And its not necessary to have Divine intervention and be fated to be in love. You can love who you are with, right now, and reach immortal love by changing how you love each other, today.


It is possible for love to be there in all forms, through all barriers, in all age groups (small prediction-Dilsher/Mala). And we are supposed to see in Maithli/Samrat how love, without bravery is not effective love at all. On one hand, we have the love that is so strong and passionate, it has no "sharm," there is no hiding it. The one visual of that love---Rudra's grasp on Paro's wrist---eternal, there from the day he met her. The opposite visual---Maithli and Samrat, clinging to each other--- alone, frightened, behind closed doors. Which is more powerful?


We mocked the Train station scene over the past few days, laughed at the over-the-topness of Rudra's actions, of Paro's tears. Really? Because the other option for us was the prim and proper, hidden within their bedroom love of Maithli and Samrat, another couple who ALSO love each other passionately, truly. Who care for each other, but who simply don't have the balls, for lack of a better word, to ignore everything and everyone else for the sake of their love. They are your quintessential proper couple-- so look at them as they are being "proper"--- barren, timid, socially acceptable, downtrodden.


Rudra and Paro have never felt shame for loving. Their feelings are open, loud, obnoxious, if you like. But absolutely without fear. They are your rogue couple...shameless, open, devil-may-care, even the gao ki chokri Paro has not hidden her love (BSD) . Rudra has not (traumatized Indian Train Travellers). That is their love, open, brave, shameless in its ignorance of restrictions, of appropriateness . Their love is so vast, so big, it pours out of themselves and into their environment, and in doing so, it makes everyone ELSE bow before it. It cannot be ignored, which is why it is so powerful, and why THEY are powerful, as a couple.


Maithli has realized this, and in throwing away her shame, her fear, her bowing down before society in defense of her love, she has taken the first step towards the Rudra/Paro kind of love. She has said, in effect--- my love for my husband has not been GOOD enough so far. I have failed him all this while, by caring for anything other than him. She is going to risk it all now. Risk her mother in law's evil, risk society shaming her, risk her reputation as a "good" woman. Risk, even Samrat's anger. But she has taken a step much braver than anyone else so far.

For me, that is why Rudra touched her feet, in respect yesterday. He is welcoming one more person worthy of respect to his domain, into the tiny circle of people he respects. And Maithli, given who she still is timid, easily overpowered, reluctant to change, easily scared by the smallest raised voice. For Maithli, this step has to be the bravest thing we've seen on Rangrasiya. Paro in contrast is not as brave . She will do everything knowing Rudra will have her back, a solid immovable wall between her and any danger. Maithli has decided to BE that wall, for her Samrat-- a man who is still not worthy of that protection, who still has to rise up and be worthy of her love.


Welcome Maithli Baisa, to your war. By guided to victory by the warrior Rudra, for whom you now matter.