Friends, when I first heard from the spoilers that Jodha would find out that she's pregnant but she would not tell Jalal this fact, it gave me a sinister feeling as if Jodha would hide the truth from Jalal furtively. I had all sorts of latent negative feelings about this because the spoiler sounded as if this would become cause for an MU between Jodha and Jalal. The article simply stated baldly that Jodha would not tell Jalal about the pregnancy and created a sort of impression on my mind that Jodha may do this in some kind of underhand way. Even the new montage of peaceful doves was not quite settling my mind that there would be no MU. I wanted to see some proof that there surely would not be an MU. Luckily the episode gave me this proof!
I thought Jodha gave lots of strong thought and compelling reasons for her decision to hide things from Jalal!
I am extremely happy to say that when the actual scene happened, Jodha was able to give her decision some really strong and valid reasons, some class and some queenliness. She felt dizzy when packing her things and Moti summoned the Hakima. The cheerful, chubby and sweet Hakima then checked Jodha and pronounced her pregnant . Jodha was initially so overjoyed that her face took on a glow like I've never seen before. But then reality hit hard when the Hakima said "Let me run to Ammijaan to give her the good news and claim my gift!"
Jodha suddenly realised that it would not be OK at all for the news to be spread for it would surely affect Jalal who was in the thick of planning for a crucial war. Jodha then told the Hakima to promise she would not tell anybody about this news yet, for the time was completely unsuitable for the Shahenshah to hear this now. It is not that she simply said that - but the reasons Jodha gave for her decision were clear, articulate and very compelling.
She said to Moti and the Hakima, "Do you remember my bhabhi at Amer who was also discovered pregnant just as my brother was going to war? She too decided that the time would not be right to distract my brother from his focus and she waited till he returned from the war to tell him the good news. This is the Rajvanshi code of honour for the women of my clan. We do not try to occupy our husbands' minds just when they are most needed to serve and protect their people from the harm of war. It is difficult to keep this away from the Shahenshah, but it is the right thing to do." Jodha then prayed to Kanha to make Jalal successful in war, so that he can get the good news in a happy frame of mind later.
The Hakima was no doubt immensely impressed. "I will not tell anyone, for I understand your sentiments very well and laud you for having them," she said. And so, folks, the hiding of the news from Jalal was thus not at all sneaky or devious, and it had all the hallmarks of a great decision taken by a great Queen in the best interests of her great King and his great praja whom he needed to protect.
In that moment, I was proud of Jodha, for which young girl, knowing she was pregnant could hide that happiness from her husband easily, knowing how thrilled he would be to hear the news? Jodha already knew that this would be the one bit of news Jalal wanted to hear the most - and yet she had to hide it from him and had to have a good reason for doing so that he would be pleased with later when he heard why she hid it. I feel thankful that Jodha has found a reason for her keeping the news from Jalal that Jalal himself would be extremely proud of her for!
We have to see this news of her pregnancy that Jodha got in the context of the extreme wistfulness for a child that Jodha heard in Jalal's voice just after the shastra puja. She knew he was pining for a child, a progeny, a successor. After the shastra puja, he tells Jodha "I feel alone. I know you are always with me, but there are times like this when I wish my "auladh" was with me too!". There was so much sadness in jalal's voice that Jodha must have heard very clearly.
Over and above the fact that Jalal was even otherwise pining for a child, it is also true that it is when men go to war - where there is fear of death - it is the time when they are most beset by this question of the legacy they are leaving behind. Jalal was no exception. How poignant it was that just when he is about to go to war he feels most that he should have had a successor should something happen to him. All this must have played on Jodha's mind, but yet she decided with honour that despite his longings and deep despondency on the matter of a child, it was good for him not to go to war without a mind chuffed by paternal emotions when he needed all his attention to matters at hand.
Jodha's decision to travel to the battlefield was risky , but the makabra scene showed Jalal would understand!
The part of the decision by Jodha that I was doubtful about, however, was her decision to travel to the battlefield with the entourage, despite hearing Jalal's opinion given to Bakshi Bano that women in the first and last trimesters of their pregnancy are most vulnerable to lose the child if they are not careful. There was guilt on Jodha's face, for while she herself was telling Bakshi not to go with the ladies to the battlefield, she herself was not able to follow her own advice, and she knew she was risking this child. The only other person she could appeal to for help was Kanha, for she could not confide in Jalal. She prayed to Kanha "It's all in your hands. Please, please keep the baby safe!"
I keep thinking "Would Jalal later appreciate the fact that Jodha hid the pregnancy from him so as not to distract him?" My heart says "Yes, Jalal would have understood and would actually laud Jodha for this decision". But when I ask myself "Would Jalal have equally lauded Jodha's decision to go to the battlefield in her delicate condition?" the truthful answer has to be "No!" But then what could Jodha say if she had to refuse to go to the battlefield? Would people including Jalal have not seen it as odd? Should she have feigned some other illness and ascribed her dizziness and vomiting to that? Wouldn't Jalal have been equally distracted and concerned if he knew she was staying back out of some other illness? I think any ill-health in Jodha would have just as powerfully affected Jalal's feelings, so Jodha really had no choice but to go with the group.
That's why I think it was a lovely stroke by the Creatives to show that Akbar ka Makabra scene, because it gave us a foretaste of how Jalal would look upon all this subterfuge regarding the pregnancy after the war was over. In the makabra scene Jalal says to Jodha "I would never have allowed you to go to the battlefield if I knew you were pregnant." Jodha replies "That I knew well. In fact that's why I didn't tell you because it would distract you from doing the work you needed to do for your praja". Jalal then says very understandingly "That's the beauty of our relationship. We used to hide things from each other out of concern for each other - but then we would also later read each other's minds very clearly." That showed me the sanket that Jalal would take it all in the right spirit later and my own heart was satisfied that this situation would not develop into an MU.
In summation that one sentence that Jodha said to herself and to Kanha says it all ... "The praja needs a Shahenshsh now and not a father!". How wonderful of Jodha to have thought beyond her own happiness at a time like this! She herself attributes it to the Rajvanshi sanskaars that she was given!
What to do if Ruq and Maham find out about Jodha being pregnant - will they insinuate that Jodha deliberately hid it from Jalal?
Accha, as regards Ruq finding out about the pregnancy before anyone else ... I think if Ruq sees any hint of this nausea and vomiting that Jodha tried to suppress from Jalal in the precap, Ruq will get more than a broad hint. A woman denied the child she wants will surely be acutely aware if Jodha shows the same signs of pregnancy that she once faked? Even if Jodha refuses to confirm it, I think Ruq will easily find out, and with her perceptiveness, I think Maham also will find out if she sees Jodha with these symptoms. At best Jodha can probably tell these two that she may have been pregnant but didn't know it for sure. Jodha could cover up the fact to Ruq and Maham that the Hakima gave the official confirmation. She can act as if she had no clue.
Aside from all this there is one more scene that lingers in my mind from yesterday's largely filler episode.
I loved that scene when Jalal rode alongside Jodha's doli, and when he saw the statue of Kanha in Jodha's doli he prayed to Kanha. Then some eye signals passed between Jodha and Jalal where he seemed to tell her that he was OK and she seemed to tell him that she was OK too. That was a simply lovely scene!
One more thought regarding Chand Begum's fate ...
Yesterday we did not see Chand Begum being taken by Maham as part of the battle group. So will we see Chand at the back of the dolis in today's episode or has she really been left behind? Considering the fact that Bakshi and Sharif are going to stay back at the palace, can Maham afford to risk leaving Chand behind? I am feeling dead sure Maham must have somehow included Chand Begum also (covered in a chaaddar) as part of the whole harem group of begums and bandhis. Let's see ...
Accha, for those who want a blow by blow account of what happened yesterday, here it is ...
The episode opens with Jodha having just completed the shatsra puja for Jalal's word. Jalal asks Jodha what she has prayed for. She says "I prayed for you, for the speedy and bloodless end to this war and for the praja you are protecting." He says to her "I feel alone in this war. I wonder if I'll be able to fight my own sister." Jodha quickly replies "But I am your ardhangini, Shahenshsh, and I am always with you." Jalal replies wistfully, "Yes you are with me, but one day I hope my "auladh" will also be with me". Jodha sees into his heart and sees his dearest wishes reflected there.
Elsewhere in the harem the ladies are grumbling that they don't know what to pack and what to leave. Ruq appears there and berates them saying each one has a limit to what they can carry - only ten sers per head. This sets up another cry of disbelief from the women. Maham appears there just then and says "I don't think the whole harem should go?" (No doubt she is still looking for an opportunity for Adham to stay back at the palace?) But Ruq draws the line. "The Shahenshah has said everyone should go" she says to Maham and then she adds ascerbically "You look happy that there is a jung". Maham is quick to put down this idea. This slight bickering between Ruq and Maham seems to have been included to indicate to us that they are not in close friendship any more. Anyway Ruq then tells the ladies "Those who are coming, get ready fast... and those who are not, stay back, if you will!" and she stomps off.
Meanwhile at Kabul, Nigar asleep in bed has a horrible nightmare of her mother in chains being killed mercilessly by a sipahi. Hearing her screams, perhaps, Mahchuchak comes to the room to commiserate. She says "Never fear the dreams you dream with closed eyes, the ones you dream with open eyes are the ones that matter. I am with you and you will soon see your mother again after you have claimed Delhi and Agra, I promise!". There is a sinister message though in Mahchuchak's eyes even as Nigar seems to be blindly believing her to be a wellwisher.
In Jodha's hojra, Moti is helping pack Jodha's things, when suddenly Jodha gets dizzy and falls onto a couch. Moti in alarm summons the lady Hakima. After a bit of checking up, though, the chubby and cheerful Hakima says to Jodha "Mubarak ho! You are going to be a mother!" Jodha is transported into a heaven of joy. And Moti cannot stop beaming. But then the Hakima says "Let me rush to Hamida and give her the good news and claim my gift." But Jodha suddenly stops her short.
"No please, do not tell anyone anything at this stage. It is the duty of a good Rajvanshi wfe to protect her husband at a time of war and I want to protect Jalal from distractions. My bhabhi at Amer too refrained from telling my brother the similar good news when he was at war and she dutifully waited for him to return victorious before she did". The Hakima was all praise for Jodha and promised not to tell anyone yet. "You are truly an inspiring example for other women in a similar situation" she said. Jodha then prayed to Kanha "Let the Shahenshah be successful". She then gifted her ring to the Hakima for the good news.
Later Jodha, when she goes to Bakshi Bano's room sees her also packing her things and exclaims in alarm, "Where do you think you are going?" Bakshi says she is going with the ladies and the troops to the battle. Jodha is alarmed for she is in her last trimester of her pregnancy and in no way fit to be near the battlefield. Jalal comes there at that moment and says the same thing to Bakshi - he puts his foot down and refuses to let Bakshi go with the ladies. "I will leave Sharif behind at the palace to look after you", Jalal says with finality. Bakshi however protests right till the end hoping to change Jalal's mind. But with Jodha next to him Jalal says "No the battfield is no place for a pregnant lady. They say the first three months and the last three months are most dangerous for the pregnancy. You cannot come with us." Jodha is filled with guilt for she is hiding her own pregnancy from Jalal and she is in her first trimester. She tries to look down and cover her guilt. "What's happened Jodha Begum?" asks Jalal looking at her pale face . Jodha tries to act as if it is nothing. "I am afraid I cannot tell you the truth Shahehshah", she self-talks, "because Agra needs a Shahenshah at this time and not a father!"
In a later scene there is a lot of hustle and bustle as the ladies are seen loading their belongings onto the travel carts and themselves sitting in their dolis. Jodha takes her Kanha with her in her doli, and elsewhere Ruq is sitting in her doli, Hamida in hers and Salima and Rahim in theirs. The men then follow the entourage of ladies on their war horses, and the whole procession leaves for the battlefield. Adham is among the last to mount his horse but in passing he tells his mother ruefully that he too has to go to battle now. He tells his mother "Looks like these days your plans don't work" She tries to tell him she tried her best on his behalf - but he is sceptical.
For a brief while Jalal is riding alongside Jodha's doli when he sees the Kanha statue inside and he dutifully prays to Kanha and also sends eye signals to Jodha that he is well and he hopes she is. They exchange meaningful looks. Jodha then prays within her own mind to Kanha "Please Kanha, protect the baby".
As the procession moves on, there is a beautiful intercut to the Akbar ka Makabra where again the souls of Jalal and Jodha are speaking. Jalal's soul says "If I'd known then that you were pregnant, I would never have allowed you to come to the battlefield." Jodha's soul replies "I knew you would do that, and distracting your focus would have been bad for the people. That's why I had to hide it all from you. " Jalal's soul then replies "That was the beauty of our relationship. We used to hide things from each other, but we also used to read each other's minds so easily!"
At the battle encampment on her own side, Nigar got word that Jalal and his armies were marching towards her for war. She got wind of the fact that even his harem was travelling with him. The headstrong and pride-stuffed Nigar then scoffed at Abul Mali "Looks like Jalal has less men and more women in his ranks!". Abul Mali scoffed with her. Nigar then said to Mali "Let Jalal think whatever he likes of me, but I too am the daughter of the great Humayun. His blood is in my veins too. Let Jalal think meanly of women, but I can show him soon that I have what it takes to be the Queen of the Sultanate with complete powers.". Abul Mali wears a look of sympathetic response, but his treacherous single eye tells another story.
In the precap, Jodha and Jalal are together in the frame, when suddenly Jodha has a bout of nausea and is looking ready to vomit. But she controls herself with effort just as Jalal asks "What is the matter? What is happening?". She tells herself that, come what may, she must not let Jalal get a hint of her pregnancy at all!
Folks, I think I have had enough of filler episodes and would like to see the actual war start. Hope today they show us some action. Enough of wasting time on so much preparation. I thought it was totally unnecessary yesterday to waste so much time showing the women packing their things! Was that Ruq-Maham-harem ladies packing scene really needed?
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
CID
24