TSMSPJ episode 9: 12.4.17~ My Impressions~ Front and centre
Looking at things in terms of positional value, the front and central area, location shows what's ahead and before, and thus occupies a prominent position. With in human anatomy the highest peak of the body is the head, in comparison to feet. The head apart from holding the brain, also compromises of the one's face. The apex of the face, a flat part , right above the eyes and below the hair line is known as the forehead. Due to its prime positioning on our body. Many cultures equate the forehead as the chosen place where the invisible finger of fate scribes a person's destiny. The head or brow is readily mentioned in famous phrases like, high brow, slapping one's forehead, having one's head in the clouds..etc Within the episode the word forehead caught my attention due to the ornament Bor or tekka a traditional piece of bridal jewelry that graces the hair parting and rests on the flat surface of the bride's forehead. The front and central point of the face.
Amid the bright colors of the pinwheels, a variety of stalls and shoppers fever to buy. Kanak with her brother Vansh in tow, exhibits good breeding and certainly obedience to her beloved gran Bhabo's wishes, allows her MIL to indulge in the forthcoming marriage shopping. Kanak inwardly disappointed by Bhabo's presence here, whichshe imagined, manages to put up a brave front, for which her MIL ,leaving all selection to her choice. For this she wins the sincere praise of her MIL who concludes that Kanak goes for simplicity rather than bold dressing. The MIL is reasonable and leaves Kanak to do the final selection of what she fancies in terms of clothes and accessories. Kanak, agrees but a sided word with her brother Vansh shows a creased brow when she suggests ,he'd better cook something in his brain whereby Bhabo can be here at the shopping market too! does Kanak have her head up in the clouds? asking for something unrealistic? still no harm in dreaming..
In the market of the this world customers have their own agenda's, yet the purpose may be propelled by a common reason. Both Kanak and her medicine man who treats only male patients end up at the same shop buying apparels for a bride! as fate has it both like before are divided by a mysterious screen. The amusing thing is Kanak being a woman is blank of what to buy and what not too? may be her nerves fog her head! However the set apart , high brow Uma, wears his head firmly between his wide shoulders and knows exactly what he wants for the bride right from the color of her dress down to the pieces of jewelry to embellish the bride. Uma's words serve more as an inspiration to complete her given task rather than head start instructions, to Kanak. The girl chooses the complete package.. which is wholly put together by Uma. The lack of knowledge of who does what? for who? in itself creates gentle ripples of romance. the romantic overtones makes us imagine the giant of a man Uma ,involved in the process of dressing and embellishing key parts of an imaginary belle! goddess of his dreams? Kanak would be too hot headed to ever imagine she could be this woman Uma makes purchases for!! But one thing is evident Kanak buys and dresses up according to Uma's dictates.. such irony, both are not even remotely connected to each other as the bride or groom!
Well here comes the bride to be!! All ship shape! for Maynak.. except one item the Bor! Maang teeka! Uma's final reminder that completes the final grooming of the potential bride! Kanak hears Uma's voice from behind the screen and stops in her tracks!! not her sister but her brother Vansh fulfills this final touch gets one for her! Yet Kanak feels incomplete. All other pieces of jewelry although she was prompted by Uma's smooth decisive instructions, yet she managed to put on herself.. but the Bor? requires the hand of one particular elder! The gods smile on Kanak. Vansh perhaps manipulates Mayank's mother who calls bhabho to do the honors! as she is an expert at putting the Bor on the forehead. Will Bhabo's magic touch write a auspicious message on Kanak's forehead?
Bhabo's sits in her sweet mart, surrounded by sweet memories of her boy Suraj and his wife Sandhiya.. but now the syrup in her confectionary seems to have turned bland. Where has all the sweetness gone from her shop and more so from her life? Perhaps she deliberately impairs her vision to the truth? That love is magic the ingredient that adds sweetness and light to one's life. Still the deities offer opportunities to those who wish to mend their ways. Maynak's mother affords Bhabo the chance! and her acceptance is a move perhaps a slow shift towards getting sweetness back both in her life and in her shop. The servant girl Rani may talk out of place but to me she, is an objective harsh reminder of things gone amiss in the Rathi family perhaps due to the attitude of the heads of the family. Babasa. With his unconcerned malaise.. and Bhabo with her stiff forefront! I feel that the cold war between Meenakhsi and husband Vikram.. is also ill will that cascades down from the elders to the younger generation. Interesting to see how Golu is readily involved in the cold war between his parents..plus he clearly is anti father and pro mother! Who will be the one who will change the direction of the winds in the Rathi household , with the warmth of her heart and the bold front centre of a pure brow?
Bhabo arrives at the market, more so to check if her grand children were up to no good! What she beholds is the apparition of her beloved Suraj in his bridal outfit, good looking, fresh, simple, and so sincere in expression. Young Kanak is replaced by her father's image before her Bhabo's eyes, and softens her hardened heart. It has to be another person to tell Bhabo what to do! For Bhabo continues to reserve her true feelings of attachment or detachment towards Kanak ,as it were. Mayank s mother serves as a positive influence here as she requests Bhabo and makes the golden opportunity of an elder blessing the young one of their house! Bhaho's old wrinkled hands feel the smooth silky black tresses of this girl child who is the living evidence of her Suraj and Sandiya's love! with each stroke of Bhabo's hand on her head, Kanak's forehead beams with the blessings of her Bhabo's love, as the comb of care and affection, teeth's its way down Kanak's hair and untangles many knots of distance between Kanak and bhabho! Even through the proud matriarchal figure's stubborn silence Kanak's whole being right from the pinnacle point of the Bor on her forehead.. down to inner recess of her heart!.
Kanak recalls her aunts words.. behind her mother stood her father Suraj who helped her find the way to reach goals! Today she too feels that she in some way found the beacon of light..that voice of an unknown stranger who supplied her with the blessed reason to amass her Bhabo's blessings for which Kanak's soul thirsts all those years till date!
She will say it with sweets.. to the unknown man who brought sweetness and the light of love in her life today. As usual the sheet divides them from seeing each other. Reminds me of the white sheet held between the groom and bride before the Vermala ceremony. Of course there is no marriage here! just an insinuation hanging in the air and certainly not to each other... Kanak from one side of the sheet that stays between them like a wall of mystery .. seeks Uma's attention, states her gratitude, asks for forgiveness if he thinks she's lost her mind! But accept her thanks as coming straight from her heart! Even a somewhat orthodox man's heart may be subject to some softening, especially so to find out more about his own act of goodness that qualifies him from this girl's thanks and sweet gift.. Kanak tells him it was his idea of the Bor that brought sweetness and light into her life! her little hand once more breaks the law of the curtain ! as she offers him the platter of sweets. Uma accepts it! His heart forces him to stick his head out to the other side of the curtain! Too late Kanak does a runner.. well he somehow he can tell it is the same girl who carries the sweet essence of the sacred wood..the sandal wood girl!! It lingers and silently makes way to Uma's soul...
Ved is on the lookout for Payal but there are other issues that have to be ironed out in her life. Uma turns up at Payal's house , this time in all propriety carrying symbols and gifts related to the brides homecoming. The gifts he bares for his brothers bride, sums up his high brow conservative widely accepted orthodox beliefs. Once again the girl's parents put up a brave front that they cannot send their daughter to be part of Uma's family in the wake of his brother, her groom missing. With a fixed brow, and a detached voice Uma pronounces what would be best for Payal if she were his own sister.. in the case of his brother Aditya missing , Payal would be still live and considered a married woman. In the event of Aditya being dead, Payal would be treated as his brother's widow from henceforth!! Thus has spoken the high brow Uma with his cut and dry mindset, believed and followed by many. Uma fails to see a midway of showing mercy and compassion for the girl to perhaps start her life fresh with another man...
Uma has his beliefs and Kanak has hers.. will there be a mid path for them to agree upon.. set by the ancient scriptures and ways to live life to the fullest? Hamlet53 13.4.17
Dear readers sorry for the late post , had a touch of stomach bug andit was next to impossible to update last night..
Shiv Shakti
