Justice is blind

It was a long night in the Thakur Haveli. First there was the arrival of the long waited sister and then the local police force.

Part 1

Avdesh's sadness continues. Even seeing his sister after so long could not shake him from his despondency. He is finding it hard to come to terms that for the very first time in his life he has hit a wall. Neither his strength nor his fighting skill is helpful in this situation and he is left feeling useless, depressed. That thought consumed him and wrapped around his heart like a rope with thorns. Constantly pricking and drawing blood.

His sister joins him asking to meet her new bhabi, then she was praising Arpita and teasing him about their jodi....it was like rubbing salt on his fresh wound. Her perky voice finally shattered his fragile control and unleashed his self loathing. Shikha was the loving sister no matter how long she has been away. She was like a flickering candle in his dark life at the moment, and I hope she soon shows him a light filled path that would help Avita reunite.

A lingering shot of the wedding picture spoke thousands...the happy face of the couple felt alien in this sad room which was empty, awaiting the return of the one who belonged here. And yet the picture is also a beacon of hope that not all is lost, the couple shown are in love and have more faith in each other than others do about them. Most of all, the picture frame served as a promise that Arpita will be back in this room again. That Justice will prevail, no matter how blind at the moment.

Part 2

The residence of the haveli gathered in the main room, tense and angry. The police officer RV and his men are here, in the middle of the night to carry out a search. Avdesh barely able to contain his rage and fury turned his back as if to shut out this continuing nightmare he was trapped in. Once again he was helpless, his wife's captivity holding him down and locking his mouth against the torrent and hatred waiting to spill over on the man responsible for the grief he and Arpita are going through.

RV took the opportunity to shoot some poisoned arrows towards Avdesh, first saying a criminal has no izzat and that law does not differentiate between men and women ...fiery slices on Avdesh's skin. That he was being pushed and prodded so that he would lose his temper and gives the other man the opportunity he was looking for to empty bullets into him, Avdesh was very well aware. It was a testament to his love how he managed to turn the other cheek on the incendiary words.

As for RV, well I hated his words to Avdesh about his lack of izzat and that the justice was blind but unfortunately it was all true. People would say a criminal, by his very actions, has renounced all izzat and does not have any. As for justice, well her eyes are blindfolded so she could deliver true justice by weighing her scales only. Yet it left a bad taste in my mouth to hear RV say these words. With his very actions he is showing that Avdesh has more izzat and a more sense of Justice and fair play than RV will ever do. His senses have been skewered and it is only now that we are truly seeing his warped vision of life. Indeed, Justice in his case is blind but soon her scales will be weighed and everyone will see who tips the scales – Avdesh or RV.

Rv's depraved nature and the fast slide into darkness continued in the bedroom. His sly comments and the sense of excitement that was arising in him as he looked at the bed and the wardrobe and that intense look at Avita wedding picture all hinted at dark emotions within him. RV was jealous of Avdesh and wanted everything he had including his wife but not from a sense of love, I think. It is more about owning something that bhaiyyaji had. There was a certain look of covetousness in his eyes as he looked around. If he could step into this life, I think he would so. He also seemed to like tormenting people, physically or mentally, and it gives him some sort of boost a rush if the smile and enjoyment on his face is anything to go by.

Commentary:

I enjoyed watching the brother-sister interaction. Both seem very comfortable even though they had been apart for a while, it speaks highly of their love and affection and I remain hopeful that this arrival will be positive for Avita.

Bhauji though was furious when RV came, you could see her brain clicking away that he had come without telling her. Her speech on the balcony was correct and all but her eyes, mouth and tone were saying something else, which he very conveniently ignored – plus he could hardly explain all while the whole haveli was listening on. But I predict a major clash between these two about his midnight visit to the haveli. This woman would not take it kindly that her orders had been ignored. She had given him the weapon and told him to stay away from Avdesh. I wonder if RV in his raging appetite for revenge has given himself away too soon? Bhauji is a clever woman, if she is not satisfied by his explanation she will soon be ahead of him in this game of theirs.

Lastly, it was unbearable seeing Arpita like that, but I am glad we got to see her. For some reason, it felt like so much other stuff was happening and she was cooped away and almost forgotten except by Avdesh. This seem to correspond with her appearance, she is fading fast and wilting to the point of no return. It really hurt me to see her limping and I almost cried when she found the kalash empty. I so wanted one of the other prisoner's to offer her some water, a clandestine friendship and support network between them all. I am worried about the repercussion of her incarceration. it would leave some sort of mark on her soul, it would change her in a fundamental way, maybe give her some darkness. But more than anything, it was so glaring that for the moment, Justice was blind to her torment.