Originally posted by: CogitoErgoSum
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Hey Shru dear...🤗 🤗
Kudos, first of all, in managing a rather difficult transition from the intense action, drama and soulful romance drenched chapters in 11 to 14, to the needed one taking the tale forward, as it were.
Part 1, stood out for me in the entirely realistic portrayal of the interaction between the Royal family. It rang true of the time, where even as several of the Ranis/ Begums wielded considerable aura, power and prestige; the paternalistic notions of the time would have it that the Ranas/ Shahs be considered the ultimate word, the final arbiters in any question, political, familial or personal.
But what a queenly figure, what a persona Annapurna is! She set right about informing the Rana in no uncertain terms, what she thought of Kaveri having the temerity to demand an audience with him!! Though Durga Prasad is filled with shame and self loathing at his brief, ill judged and tawdry liaison with the said disreputable lady, he would still have it that his Rani ought not to question him openly about it; or allude to it in front of their new samdhis! Like I said, a typical attitude of the time, and you have stayed true to it.
I really liked that interaction between all 4--Annapurna & Durga Prasad, as well as Sujata and Ram Prasad. Annapurna is convinced that Sanskaar could not be a traitor; and it would seem that Sujata herself, is filled with anger and resentment at her brother in law for the treatment meted out to her son. I was glad at that touch, for till now, it always seemed that she cared but little for Sanskaar, preferring her nephew, Lakshya.
And Ram---stoic and forbearing as he is, completely loyal to his brother, he too, feels an intense pang of distress at the fate of his son. Those words: "One way or another, he will be found", though sounding so bland and objective, cut his heart to the very quick, didn't it? He has convinced himself, that his son is a traitor---but I would like to believe that there is something in his heart which protests at this.
And Annapurna--my God! My respect for her just grew by leaps and bounds. The way she stormed at Durga Prasad---that far from complaining to her about how she handled Kaveri, he ought to realize that this came about since he, by his own ill advised conduct, gave that woman the right to bandy words with his own Rani! And the way she confidently tells him, that she does not know where Sanskaar is; and even if she had known, she would never tell him!
I found that sentence of Durga Prasad very, very meaningful---when he tells Ram that he is so sorry for speaking of Sanskaar that way---he and Annapurna forget sometimes that he is Ram and Sujata's son; they have always considered him their own son, had been so very attached to him. Shru, Shru...you just sent my suspicions on Adarsh soaring sky high. The nondescript, nonentity Crown Prince, overshadowed by his brilliant, noble, popular cousin. Who was a favorite with his own parents, the Rana & Rani, besides being a hero amongst the army as well as the populace in general...Me thinks its not Lakshya, but Adarsh, who has connived to have Sanskaar branded a traitor...
Part 2: was awesome, too. The way Swara reacts to leaving Ehsas Nagar was so moving, She has cherished memories of the place, and that tender, reverential kiss Sanskaar planted on her forehead that previous night means so very much to her, doesn't it? She's practically broken hearted to leave, it was like a warm bubble, encasing her and Sanskaar in a fuzzy cocoon of sweetness which she is loath to leave behind.
And Sanskaar, Sanskaar...I told you, na, Shru, that one of my favorite historical novels is Men of Iron, by Howard Pyle? Prince Sanskaar really reminds me of that title. So much determination, so much fortitude! Even though his heart is breaking at the thought of letting Swara go; he has steeled himself to slowly distance himself from her, to seem businesslike and brusque. He is quite unable to resist the unspoken tenderness and wistfulness in her eyes though, and the way he had to again steel himself, after adjusting the dupatta to cover her head while leaving her face free, was such a lovely moment.
That small but meaningful semi-argument between them, when Swara says that he needs to take her back home after he's cleared his name; she does not want him to send her back to safety with anyone else! 👏 👏 And Sanskaar, tenderly but trying to be firm at the same time, explaining to her that she would be in danger if she remained with him...his mission might fail and anything could happen to him...Swara just couldn't bear to hear that, could she? The thought of him suffering, possibly losing his freedom or life, is well nigh unbearable to her now.
And so, each in torment of their own, they proceed from Ehsas Nagar, with Swara shedding tears at her last sight of the haveli. 😭 I felt so very bad, too!!
And the name of the spot they reach next--Aha!! Sanyogghad. 👏 😉 How ever do you come up with these apt names! A mysterious phantom army there---which Durga Prasad had also referred to? The mysterious forces neing sighted which Adarsh and Lakshya had ridden out to investigate and deal with?
Sanskaar is rightly wary of the news, as this mysterious contingent has come camping in the very area where he laid the fake trail to entice the person who had him trapped. Did you say that this area was under the control of the Runawats before they handed over control to the Maheshwaris? Could this mysterious force be some relic of the earlier Runawats? Because Adarsh or Lakshya and their forces would wear the Maheshwari uniform and crests, na?
And then came the nerve jangling, heart pounding part of the chapter, which had be wincing, and grasping my hands tight, literally digging my nails into my palms!
Sanskaar is so noble, in a very real, tangible sense. As Swara senses, its not anyone who would be willing to take punishment which was supposed to be inflicted unjustly on another man, a poor indigent. Sanskaar was not a man who picked and chose which innocent to succor and protect, his conscience and convictions ran deep. He would fight against injustice and bullying, no matter what. Truly, the stuff of what legends are made.
And My God, those awful five lashes, which leave his back again raw and bleeding, the way Swara wept and cried out in pain at the lashing administered to him, but Sanskaar himself, merely stiffened and made not a sound. In fact, his only reaction was concern for Swara, and anger at the soldier holding her back by her arm.
I was literally urging on Sanskaar when he whipped the leader who'd caused him to be whipped! 😆 Those were the terms which Sanskaar insisted after all, that he would take 5 strikes of the whip, not merely 3, and he would have the right to inflict a strike on a person of that barbaric company! You go, Sanskaar!! 😆 😉
But just when I was sure Sanskaar and the now energized populace of Sanyogghad would take on these boors, the rest of the platoon arrives, at the head of which is their ranking commander/ officer, whom Sanskaar recognizes, and who knows him, too, and Sanskaar fears, might see through his disguise!
What a place to end the chapter! Can this be Adarsh/ Lakshya? But I'm confused---why would they not be wearing the Maheshwari crests/ uniform then? Is this another old rival/ enemy of Sanskaar's? And if it is indeed Adarsh, why does he seem to be heading a mysterious phantom army, more a brute force than an ordered, disciplined fighting force meant to defend their kingdom?
What worries me also is---Sanskaar had taken off his tunic prior to the whipping, and those old scars, marks of his torture are visible. Would be easy for any man who knows of his history to surmise this could be Sanskaar, isn't it? If they knew of his incarceration and torture?
Update soon, darling!
Love,
---Viji
