TSMSPJ*ep.61*12.6.17: My Impression* the rule of the thumb..
It's a manner of calculation, which may fall short of being exact but is near enough to being correct. Today's episode carries forward from the previous one where rules of the household have been flexed if not broken according to Kanak. This episode deals with the discovery of flaunting house rules by Maasi and rightly fully continuing with unveiling the culprit.
Maasi clearly rules the roost in terms of being the domestic manager. She also takes the decisions of being in charge. Uma Shankar's dominance lies in emulating and protecting the rules. For the likes of Kanak who mistakes the household as being having no hard and fast rules, confession time is over and the one to one breathalyse test measure is enforced by Maasi from the youngest to the eldest. The scene is an amusing ritual, crude, yet frightening enough with the element of naming and shaming the wrong doer. It's almost like a game for the younger natives of the household like, Uma's siblings who only follow the procedural rules to prove the fact that their home is run by certain ground rules. Maasi also lets certain people off! like Palomi as she was right under her nose , at the time the onion eating crime was committed .
What the rest of the family perhaps rules out it is how when it comes to Payal and Kanak ,who goes first to get their breath tested by Maasi? Uma was right when he told Kanak nothing passes by Maasi. For its Maasi who picks up on how keen Payal is for Kanak to be tested first ,as she was junior to her status wise in the household. Maasi pick's up that Payal wants Kanak to be the exception to prove the broken rule of eating onions. So Maasi knows something that no one knows except her and Payal!
Kanak I suspect has been brought up the right wayby abiding by if not all, then some golden rules. Yes she may be errant, conspicuous, rebellious and nonconformist in her manner. But her heart is in the right place. All this pressure of breath testing certainly rules in her favour, as she in full sincere, contrite manner blurts out the truth and nothing but the truth before all.Uma and Maasi's heart warm for Kanak's confession. But there is one person who feels that the worse is over! she has gotten away with it! Kanak has been made the scapegoat of the same crime she has committed to. But its ok no one will find out..
Maasi is determined to rule with the iron fist , and since Kanak has confessed to her crime. It's only fair that she needs to be handed out her punishment for all to see that nobody gets away by bending the law of the household. Uma the protector of righteousness gives his wife Kanak's punishment ! Parvatasan! In Yoga. Its the Mountain pose .. is part of the surya namaskara after the ashwa Sanchalasana or the equestrian pose. Parvatasan ,in yoga is known for reducing aliments like arthritis. One look at the diagram Kanak moans about the rigidity of her body! The position needs flexibility! Kanak fails to grasp that part of this household's tradition is to flex the rigidity of the women folk under its roof. Kanak accepts and with much difficulty goes through the tortuous punishment. Uma demonstrates and educates her this mountain position is great for sharpening concentration of the mind.. plus it will help her remember not to mess with ground rules again! Massi too chastises her gently that , she's lucky she got away with a light punishment this time... but bigger mistakes will make Uma mete out severer punishments ... so pressing the rules with a velvet glove on... but Massi stills gives the reminder that the house is rules bound! And far from running wild ensuing anarchy.. systems and procedures are to be followed!!
The parvathasan ,mind you in the episode gives leeway for the heart to rule the head too! as Uma according to Massi orders, helps his wife..along side they share the typical husband and wife banter under their breath! Kanak gives in complete submission, crawls to Massi' feet for forgiveness and both foster son and mother glance at each other as Uma's jerk of the head! puts an end to Kanak's grueling experience of her initiation to what punishment means in this house! Extreme physical torture but with some relief from well wishers! May be this is justified by the nature of the sin.. vouches for forgiveness..The rolling of the yoga mats fails to roll another onion eater's sin. Worse sinner out of the two Kanak and Payal is exposed, rather craftily by Massi. Payal the one who assumes that silence is golden, let another take her blame as Kanak too was guilty of the same sin! Massi takes Payal off guard and asks her to narrate about why onions should not be consumed?
Payal introduces the dietary classification of foods that harm the body and mind and as such are considered malefic of which onion and garlic are part.. Payal rattles off that foods that are pure, are the seasonal, energy giving like fresh, foods, nuts ,vegetables that keep the body calm and pure. Here one can add that in this day and age, there are people who are born with intolerance towards pure foods like dairy products, nuts and gluten! Massi accuses Payal it's a pity that she has been long enough in this house, yet she went ahead and broke the rule of eating onions! Well Payal's sin is out in the open . Massi knew from the moment she sat by her at the dining table that Payal had onion breath! Payal begs Massi for forgiveness . But Massi raises the issue that forgiveness is given for a mistake not a misdeed ! Kanak is somehow looked upon with clemency, because she was unaware that eating onions is prohibited in this house. Payal's sin is, that she knew and deliberately chose to break the rule and tradition. More so her sin is doubly serious as Payal chose to withhold her piece and allowed Kanak alone to go through the punishment of something that she too was guilty off. She could have averted Kanak's punishment by confessing her sin too! Instead of forgiveness? Massi almost curses Payal as she lays the household law that she stands as a symbol of the honor.. she is expected to show patience, submissiveness , willingness to sacrifice, for by dedicating these qualities , she can hope for her husband to return. She has to practice these virtues. Massi hands her over to Uma to be further punishment. Uma decrees Payal will remain in solitary confinement for twenty four hours and served bland ,boiled food!.all this for making a mistake,not telling about it, and letting another suffer! Kanak disagrees with Uma and accuses him of being self willed in the name of righteousness. In my opinion what both Uma and Massi do is that they cruelly strip Payal of her human dignity and rob her of hope..
The Rathi famliy boasts of an ever loving husband and wife, who are old ad senile but even after being oblivious of each other, they know what each is doing.. do they make marriages like they use to? May be both players and rules have changed?? Hamlet53 13.6.17
The episodes are becoming more like teaching ways to a healthy life style. Today's episodes touches upon healing or harming foods and Yoga to maintain a healthy mind and body.. regards payal's punishment... yes it was not blue murder.. but not confessing like kanak did.. made matters worse for her.. now in solitary confinement she is meant to reflect where exactly she went wrong... mind you things might not seem so harsh ,had her husband been their..
