Friday 14th February
Paro apologised for using relationships to hurt Rudra ... but Rudra turned around and did the same to Paro, using her sister to hurt her. Or so Paro thinks ...
Does Rudra have real information on this? Or is he hitting out in the dark? It makes sense that this would be the fate of the missing girls, but till he can get Paro actual proof of this, why would she believe him?
Or is she afraid to believe him, afraid to even think that the possibility might be true? After all, what he says is true ... how is it the girls never return for festivals, never even send a letter or a message after marriage?
She doesn't want to think about this. Her jeeja is fine, she's happy ...
How can she say this? Does she have any proof?
She doesn't want to hear it ... what she doesn't know, can't hurt her. She'd rather lash out at him instead ... he's saying this only to hurt her, to get back at her because she hurt him. How could he say this about her sister ... she takes back her apology, her words, her sympathy ... she was wrong to feel sorry for him, because he is a jallad. A man of stone, who cannot understand the power and the meaning of relationships. Alone ... and he always will be.
That was a low blow ... but Rudra has no time to reflect on it ... more urgent to stop her rushing out in full view of the workers.
Maithili waits eagerly for Samrat ... after Paro's pep talk, she's decided to take the bull by the horns tonight. Samrat is a wuss, he doesn't want to listen. But Maithili is determined this time ... drawing strength from baby Kanha.
SN - love the mirror work on the walls ... saw the identical work on the walls of the Lake Palace in Udaipur.
Dinner time ... Sunehri exults happily about the beautiful dupatta her special bhabhisa made for her. Rudra listens, notes, absorbs. Mohini lets loose a small taunt.
Rudra still annoyed with Paro, refuses her pouring food for him. Paro gently tells him it's ann ka apmaan, he quietly allows her to pour it.
What a contrast from Laila, who said the same thing, and he didn't bother a jot.
Mohini launches into latest version of nasty MIL from hell ... she has a major problem with Samrat getting kadas for his wife. Samrat is a major wuss ... why can't he speak up?! Grrr ...
And Maithili takes the bit between her teeth with an encouraging nod from Paro ...
Samrat senses danger, and like the wuss he is, wants her to keep quiet. So how and when exactly is Maithili to talk about this? Is there a special mahurat?
Mohini tells Maithili she's answering back her husband?! Mohini darling, she learned that from you!
Samrat doesn't want to talk in front of the entire family.
Dilsher tells him his mother doesn't have a problem interfering in his matters, so she should not mind if Dilsher interferes in theirs. After all, we are family.
Mohini manages to get in another taunt at that one ... she doesn't believe in hiding matters behind closed doors.
This woman doesn't miss a single chance!
And Maithili broaches the taboo topic of adoption ... encouraged by kind words by Danveer and another nod from Paro. She's done all the required homework, adoption agency, family background, even identified a little baby girl who resembles her husband.
As expected, Maithili throws the mother of all tantrums ...
Of all the men, only Danveer and Dilsher looked actually concerned ... Rudra, Samrat and Sumer were pretty blank.
Mohini spews major venom ... this is not gonna happen, I'll cut off your tongue before you can dare say this again.
Danveer remonstrates ... or tries to.
Paro makes an instant attempt to rush to Maithili's support ... held back by Rudra's hold on her wrist.
Maithili tries desperately again ... and takes Paro's example ... Rudra is furious, his hold tightens on her wrist ... how did she let out information about herself?
Rudra banna, you were supposed to think up a cover story, remember?! Dilsher's face also shows worry. But Paro is only worried about Maithili.
Samrat's turn to get a taunt ... are you wearing bangles? Your wife is speaking nonsense and you're quiet ... she has you twisted round her little finger. Why did I bring this manhoos into the haveli ...
So Mohini's idea of an ideal DIL is one who doesn't speak, doesn't think, doesn't have a mind of her own and definitely doesn't go against her MIL.
Paro has had enough ... if this doesn't get Samrat or anyone else to defend Maithili, nothing will.
Mohini wonders viciously ... what happened today that the two DILs found their tongues? How dare they?
Paro tries to tell her, just think about it, that's all she's asking, she will be a very good mother.
Mohini gets in the lowest blow of all ... Maithili won't be a good mother, and that's why God decided to leave her childless.
Leaving Maithili to close her eyes in unutterable hurt ... for a God fearing simple woman like her, this thought have have entered her own mind too, and tortured her ... that was unbearably vicious!
Samrat STILL doesn't speak ... even Sunehri looks upset at that one, as do Danveer and Dilsher.
Paro steps up ... not true, if God shuts a door, he opens a window ... if He made mothers and fathers without children, he made children without parents ... so they can find each other ...
Samrat looks up at that one ...
Even Sumer looks contemplative at that one ... Danveer thoughtful ... as is Rudra ...
Paro continues ... and for that, He made some very special people, who are capable of giving love to those even not their own blood ... like my Maamisa ..
Mohini has had enough ... enough lecturing from you ...
But Paro isn't done yet ... and says so ...
Ouch! That was taking the attack into the enemy camp ... till now, Mohini was actually managing to control her rage at Paro ... everyone at the table sits up at this unexpected attack ... and Mohini is baffled and shocked.
(Noticed Rudra sit up and start to move here ...)
And Paro gives the biggest example our scriptures give us about adoption ... Krishna bhagwan and Yashoda maiyya ... children are God's gift, don't call them dirt ...
And Mohini has finally had enough ... this girl is able to stand up to her, something no one else has had the audacity to so, and even quote all the scriptures back at her to justify her stand ... Mohini takes recourse to what she's been itching to do ... thwack!
Except the slap falls not on Paro's cheek ... but Rudra's.
Precap ... Paro tries to heal Rudra's cut, the one he took for her ... and lands up closer than she expected.
After ages, a detailed update ... felt good to analyse all the small nuances of the episode. The first PaRud scene left a lot unspoken, a lot dangling in the air... they should carry that forward next week. It was not that Paro did not believe Rudra at all, it was that she didn't want to believe, didn't want to listen ... much like her feelings about the Thakur. She is certain about the Thakur's innocence ... yet Rudra's points about the missing girls must prickle her at the back of her mind. She is intelligent enough to know he is speaking sense ... when she allows herself to think about what he said, she might raise the topic with him again herself.
Was Paro justified in speaking so much in Maithili's support? Normally I don't like the righteous bahus interfering in something not their concern, but here it was a bit different. Maithili needed Paro's support. This is something Paro feels deeply about, because it's a very personal belief for her ... being an adopted child herself, and having received so much love from people completely unrelated to her by blood. And poor Maithili has no support ... neither from her spineless husband, nor from her sympathetic FIL ... Paro stood silently and watched while Mausam kaaki went on and on ... despite Maithili's pleas to just give the idea of adoption a thought, Mohini refused pointblank ... but when she started insulting Maithili herself, that was when Paro really couldn't take it any longer.
Paro apologised for using relationships to hurt Rudra ... but Rudra turned around and did the same to Paro, using her sister to hurt her. Or so Paro thinks ...
Does Rudra have real information on this? Or is he hitting out in the dark? It makes sense that this would be the fate of the missing girls, but till he can get Paro actual proof of this, why would she believe him?
Or is she afraid to believe him, afraid to even think that the possibility might be true? After all, what he says is true ... how is it the girls never return for festivals, never even send a letter or a message after marriage?
She doesn't want to think about this. Her jeeja is fine, she's happy ...
How can she say this? Does she have any proof?
She doesn't want to hear it ... what she doesn't know, can't hurt her. She'd rather lash out at him instead ... he's saying this only to hurt her, to get back at her because she hurt him. How could he say this about her sister ... she takes back her apology, her words, her sympathy ... she was wrong to feel sorry for him, because he is a jallad. A man of stone, who cannot understand the power and the meaning of relationships. Alone ... and he always will be.
That was a low blow ... but Rudra has no time to reflect on it ... more urgent to stop her rushing out in full view of the workers.
Maithili waits eagerly for Samrat ... after Paro's pep talk, she's decided to take the bull by the horns tonight. Samrat is a wuss, he doesn't want to listen. But Maithili is determined this time ... drawing strength from baby Kanha.
SN - love the mirror work on the walls ... saw the identical work on the walls of the Lake Palace in Udaipur.
Dinner time ... Sunehri exults happily about the beautiful dupatta her special bhabhisa made for her. Rudra listens, notes, absorbs. Mohini lets loose a small taunt.
Rudra still annoyed with Paro, refuses her pouring food for him. Paro gently tells him it's ann ka apmaan, he quietly allows her to pour it.
What a contrast from Laila, who said the same thing, and he didn't bother a jot.
Mohini launches into latest version of nasty MIL from hell ... she has a major problem with Samrat getting kadas for his wife. Samrat is a major wuss ... why can't he speak up?! Grrr ...
And Maithili takes the bit between her teeth with an encouraging nod from Paro ...
Samrat senses danger, and like the wuss he is, wants her to keep quiet. So how and when exactly is Maithili to talk about this? Is there a special mahurat?
Mohini tells Maithili she's answering back her husband?! Mohini darling, she learned that from you!
Samrat doesn't want to talk in front of the entire family.
Dilsher tells him his mother doesn't have a problem interfering in his matters, so she should not mind if Dilsher interferes in theirs. After all, we are family.
Mohini manages to get in another taunt at that one ... she doesn't believe in hiding matters behind closed doors.
This woman doesn't miss a single chance!
And Maithili broaches the taboo topic of adoption ... encouraged by kind words by Danveer and another nod from Paro. She's done all the required homework, adoption agency, family background, even identified a little baby girl who resembles her husband.
As expected, Maithili throws the mother of all tantrums ...
Of all the men, only Danveer and Dilsher looked actually concerned ... Rudra, Samrat and Sumer were pretty blank.
Mohini spews major venom ... this is not gonna happen, I'll cut off your tongue before you can dare say this again.
Danveer remonstrates ... or tries to.
Paro makes an instant attempt to rush to Maithili's support ... held back by Rudra's hold on her wrist.
Maithili tries desperately again ... and takes Paro's example ... Rudra is furious, his hold tightens on her wrist ... how did she let out information about herself?
Rudra banna, you were supposed to think up a cover story, remember?! Dilsher's face also shows worry. But Paro is only worried about Maithili.
Samrat's turn to get a taunt ... are you wearing bangles? Your wife is speaking nonsense and you're quiet ... she has you twisted round her little finger. Why did I bring this manhoos into the haveli ...
So Mohini's idea of an ideal DIL is one who doesn't speak, doesn't think, doesn't have a mind of her own and definitely doesn't go against her MIL.
Paro has had enough ... if this doesn't get Samrat or anyone else to defend Maithili, nothing will.
Mohini wonders viciously ... what happened today that the two DILs found their tongues? How dare they?
Paro tries to tell her, just think about it, that's all she's asking, she will be a very good mother.
Mohini gets in the lowest blow of all ... Maithili won't be a good mother, and that's why God decided to leave her childless.
Leaving Maithili to close her eyes in unutterable hurt ... for a God fearing simple woman like her, this thought have have entered her own mind too, and tortured her ... that was unbearably vicious!
Samrat STILL doesn't speak ... even Sunehri looks upset at that one, as do Danveer and Dilsher.
Paro steps up ... not true, if God shuts a door, he opens a window ... if He made mothers and fathers without children, he made children without parents ... so they can find each other ...
Samrat looks up at that one ...
Even Sumer looks contemplative at that one ... Danveer thoughtful ... as is Rudra ...
Paro continues ... and for that, He made some very special people, who are capable of giving love to those even not their own blood ... like my Maamisa ..
Mohini has had enough ... enough lecturing from you ...
But Paro isn't done yet ... and says so ...
Ouch! That was taking the attack into the enemy camp ... till now, Mohini was actually managing to control her rage at Paro ... everyone at the table sits up at this unexpected attack ... and Mohini is baffled and shocked.
(Noticed Rudra sit up and start to move here ...)
And Paro gives the biggest example our scriptures give us about adoption ... Krishna bhagwan and Yashoda maiyya ... children are God's gift, don't call them dirt ...
And Mohini has finally had enough ... this girl is able to stand up to her, something no one else has had the audacity to so, and even quote all the scriptures back at her to justify her stand ... Mohini takes recourse to what she's been itching to do ... thwack!
Except the slap falls not on Paro's cheek ... but Rudra's.
Precap ... Paro tries to heal Rudra's cut, the one he took for her ... and lands up closer than she expected.
After ages, a detailed update ... felt good to analyse all the small nuances of the episode. The first PaRud scene left a lot unspoken, a lot dangling in the air... they should carry that forward next week. It was not that Paro did not believe Rudra at all, it was that she didn't want to believe, didn't want to listen ... much like her feelings about the Thakur. She is certain about the Thakur's innocence ... yet Rudra's points about the missing girls must prickle her at the back of her mind. She is intelligent enough to know he is speaking sense ... when she allows herself to think about what he said, she might raise the topic with him again herself.
Was Paro justified in speaking so much in Maithili's support? Normally I don't like the righteous bahus interfering in something not their concern, but here it was a bit different. Maithili needed Paro's support. This is something Paro feels deeply about, because it's a very personal belief for her ... being an adopted child herself, and having received so much love from people completely unrelated to her by blood. And poor Maithili has no support ... neither from her spineless husband, nor from her sympathetic FIL ... Paro stood silently and watched while Mausam kaaki went on and on ... despite Maithili's pleas to just give the idea of adoption a thought, Mohini refused pointblank ... but when she started insulting Maithili herself, that was when Paro really couldn't take it any longer.
I found it ironic that Mohini asked Samrat if he was wearing bangles, why he was being so spineless ... she should be happy he's silent now, because I have a feeling the day he does gather a spine to speak, it will be for his wife, not against. But the way he stood quietly while his wife was being insulted, was disgusting.
Also, there is never and never will be a RIGHT time and a RIGHT person to broach this topic with a person like Mohini. In such situations, when the MIL rides roughshod over the wishes of her son, her DIL, even her own husband, it is often only an outsider who can bring up the subject and carry the fight forward. This happens often in real life ... the DIL recruiting a family friend to speak to her MIL for her and broach the subject. Outsiders are sometimes seen as more objective and balanced ... of course, not in this case
The actress playing Maithili was very good today. It seems only the ladies in the house have any spine to stand against Mohini, all the men are useless!
was waiting for your take, dia.. good to see it.
ReplyDeletethere should have been one or two dialogues from the papa at least.. even if kaki rides roughshod over them, she would only be proved a bigger hypocrite.
one of the things i hate is this convos with twenty shots of everyone's dumbstruck expressions.. but this time, the expressions told a story. sunehri was very clear in her sympathy for bhabhi and fear of butting into mom's rant.. sum-air was fairly unconcerned, until mom started hurling insults.. showed him to be of the rough-outside, good-inside sort, similar to rudra. maybe.
mohini flying off the handlle was expected.. but the ultra long dialogues and thunder lightning bg music was overkill. gave me flashbacks of the DABH of olden times. my kids were counting the times thunder came.. totally distracted me from the scene at hand.
yes, DIL wanted to adopt. why dint she talk to FIL first? he has always been on her side! that first son (samrat?) has ONE expression throughout. i'm sure all the audience wanted him to speak up.. but he was pretty sure in his disapproval of the idea.
I saw the first scene differently.. when she flittered out after calling him a rock, he ran after her and caught her.. first instinct for rudy will always be so.. but he dint have anything to say to her, so he pulled an excuse out of thin air :)
(yeah, me, too found some time to write after a hectic few weeks!)
and i loved the way rudy's grip slipped when he heard the taunts about her DIL.. maybe he was having flashbacks? really liked the time they took to closeup on the grip slackening.
Delete--and the way paro wrenched free and ran to her new jeeja.
Delete(little question.. how come no one calls him rudra banna although the family has been calling him that for many days?)
First scene ... hmm, you could be right ... Rudra always pulls her back, and then thinks of a reason to keep her back. He did the same when Mohini told Sunehri to take Paro to her room.
DeleteIs that why he's not allowing his heart to rule his head about her innocence? Because that means he will have to let her go?
I agree about the expressions on everyone's faces .. the only one with one expression was Samrat, the rest had changing expressions as the scene progressed, and all of them were upset at Mohini's direct attack on Maithili's mothering skills, that was a horrible thing to say. Even Sumer looked more contemplative than angry with Paro ...
Me too ... liked the closeups ... first of Rudra restraining Paro when she wanted to go to Maithili ... his hold tightening when Maithili revealed what Paro had let slip of her history ... and then finally letting her go when Mohini's attack became too vicious ... as though realising that Maithili needed the support? Or his own flashbacks of how Mohini taunted his mother? Or taunts him about his mother till date? Both he and Dilsher never answer Mohini's taunts about Rudra's mom, she gets away with them time and again ... but they both step up to protect Paro from her. Is that because they both think Rudra's mom is guilty of everything Mohini accuses her of doing?
Mohini was spitting venom all through ... ugly rage.
Dia, long update indeed!! Thanks:)
ReplyDeleteI think the next track can possibly be finding Nandini, so that Paro can see the fact. Rudra has to come up with strong proof. As of now he has realized, that Paro is strong enough to stand and support what is right. This haveli track has made to see each of them more than what they had prejudiced. When the villagers abandoned Paro, that time too she was shown processing what Rudra told about the girls being sent to other side.So it will come up again.
Samart is really a wuss. I'm still confused, whether he didn't want Maithili to speak because of Mohini or he's against that idea...Hopefully the former. But he should have protested when Mohini went on and on...She spits venom ... as you said once he develops spine he'll move out of that haveli...Danveer has already warned Mohini that her children will go against her and she'll be left alone because of her greed..
Yesterday Sunheri and Sumer were also ok in whatever little shown. I agree with you the actor Maithili was good in her expressions and voice modulation.
Paro standing for Maithili inspite of being a captive herself...I think it's for Rudra to realise her strength and strong convictions that she never hesitates to stand for. Hope he gets the clue and act on it. Totally disappointed by the male members of the family...After the slap, I think that scene will end there. So for the growth of spine in other members we have to wait.
Over all it was a well enacted episode.
I think next track is Rudra being thrown out from the BSD ... according to the new TC article. Something has to happen for Paro to see Rudra's side of the story, but if she does realise that Thakur is guilty, isn't that too soon? And even if she does, she can't help, because she really does not know anything more than what she says.
DeleteThe only thing Nandini's reappearance will accomplish is to prove Rudra right about the missing girls. Then what? Will Rudra and Paro join hands to try to prove Thakur's guilt? Will Paro help him to try to find proof?
Or will the BSD story go into the background and it become more family drama? Hope not :(
Agree with you that the confrontation with Mohini was to drive home to Rudra that Paro will stand up for what she believes is right ... and if she is not saying anything against the Thakur, it's because she genuinely does not know anything.
Also agree ... Samrat will turn one day ... Danveer's prophecy will come true ... all Mohini's children will go against her one by one.
Dia forgot to ask why are you not going to post this in IF?? Many enjoy reading your takes there.
ReplyDeleteI got too late, and now I'm lazy to post it there :) Don't have time for replies this weekend.
DeleteAn apt title Dia. Except it was not only Maithili and Paro standing up for adoption. The epi also showed Rudra taking a stand against Mohini's treatment. If Paro provided Maithili the confidence to stand up for herself, then Rudra has provided the spineless Samrat a lesson on duties/obligations of a husband towards his wife. Let's see if Samrat proves to be an able student or remains a total wuss!
ReplyDeleteI saw it more as Rudra protecting his witness, more than supporting Paro or going against Mohini. He only got involved because Paro was going to be assaulted and his protective instincts took over. He did not want Paro or himself embroiled in the family matters, he tried stopping Paro from speaking up too.
Delete-U
I think it was neither ... or both ... whichever way you look at it. It was Rudra protecting Paro, because he knew she had overstepped her boundaries, and that Mohini was almost bursting with fury and was bound to retaliate. He wouldn't have bothered otherwise ... he stayed silent while Mohini was abusing Maithili. I don't think it was about interfering in family matters, I think its that he genuinely doesn't care. As a human being, he might have felt bad for Maithili ...a little ... but not his business, he won't interfere. That is Samrat's job, and Danveer's ... both men failed, but that doesn't mean he will take over their responsibility.
DeleteBut Paro is his responsibility, in all ways ... if there is an attack on her, he is alert. I noticed when Paro said, I'm not done yet, he started to rise ... am sure he was ready from that moment to step in.
Every time Mohini has attacked Paro, he has stepped in to protect her. Is it just protecting his witness, or is his protectiveness becoming more personal? Probably the latter, but that is something Rudra is not going to accept for a long time yet. He didn't NEED to stop Paro picking up his shoes, but he did. He protected her from the sugar in tea question, but that could be taken as protecting their cover story, so I won't put too much store in that. He destroyed Sumer's camera ... that again is more to protect Paro's face being shown outside the haveli ... which is exactly what Sumer was supposed to do with the pics. So it's been mixed motives.
But here, protecting Paro from Mohini's wrath was almost entirely personal. He wasn't taking a stand for or against adoption, he was just letting Mohini know, that whatever the problem, you don't lift a finger on this girl.
Agreed U, that is what we the audience will see it as since we are privy to "witness protection" by Rudra. However, for thos family members who are not in the know, it would be interpreted as otherwise.
DeleteHi Dia
ReplyDeleteLoved the update. Really enjoy ready your uptake on the drama that happens on the screen your details are a great help to me to understand what is happening.
Really loving watching Sanaya portraying her character and doing it so well. The chemistry between the lead actors seems to be hitting the right notes, but that is not to say that all the other actors in this show are not doing a brilliant job because they are.
I love the scenes between Paro and Rudra. Paro not giving an inch and Rudra trying to figure out how she ticks. Very intriguing and will be interesting going forward.
Thanks again for all the details you provide in your writings.
Take care
Lin
Lin, thanks! Good to see you here :)
DeleteI agree, all the actors are good, and the chemistry between Paro and Rudra is really beautiful. It's not the IPK type of chemistry, which was more about the physical attraction ... this seems to be a deeper connect, a connection between two incomplete souls, two halves of a whole. In IPK, Khushi got dhak dhak whenever she came close to ASR ... here, Paro, a gentle village girl shows hardly any self-consciousness of the physical closeness, it is as though its natural, meant to be ... she shelters behind him as though he is her natural protector, he holds her hand as though by right, without giving it a second thought.
And there is no manhandling ... I am so happy about that! No roughing up or humiliating the girl in the name of love, or the pain of his 'past' coming out to hurt the one he supposedly loves, because he doesn't want to show his weakness. And yet they are a loggerheads ... this time, both have a reason to hate the other. I hope they keep it this way!
Thank you Dia for posting this take on IF, you are among the very few who gets Paro the character.
ReplyDeleteThere are few things we need to keep in mind that Paro maybe quiet but she has strength of conviction and is compassionate. She always reaches out to those in pain around her, be it little Rudra crying 15 years ago or Maithali suffering the dual pain of being childless and being ridiculed for it by Mohini. Paro had more gumption then the Ranawat men.
Secondly, she has no idea about Thakur's nefarious activities or his deadly intentions. The audience is privy to that information. So, she cannot understand the amount of danger she is in.
Finally, this is the journey of BOTH Rudra and Paro towards realization of truth, forgiveness, healing and ultimately finding love. Both are reeling under misguided beliefs and pain. However, RUDRA WILL ALWAYS BE THE PROTECTOR AND PARVATI THE NURTURER that is their basic nature.
-U
Uma,
DeleteI think that last point is very important ... Paro has no idea about the Thakur's nefarious actitvites ... AND he has always been the picture of an ideal benevolent ruler for his village. He looks after the elderly, he gets one girl of the village married at his expense every year. and even when he talks to the village people, he is humble and unfailingly polite ... expresses his 'aabhaar' and his thanks and his apologies for his imagined failings. He never paints the picture of an autocratic tyrant. In his dealings with Paro, he has always been the fatherly benevolent kind figure. Of course, his wife adores Paro and shows it ... and the Thakur always encourages her. There has never been a scene where Paro could have reason to suspect that his fatherly affection is a front. Even when she refused to leave until Bindi was found, he didn't scold or berate her ... rather, he told her gently and firmly, but affectionately, that HE would take the responsibility for finding Bindi and bringing her back. So Paro has never had any reason to suspect him to be anything other than what he shows. To suspect a father figure like him of being caught in illegal arms dealings, or worse, of trying to kill her, is very difficult ... it will take a lot of proof to convince her.
Paro has been timid and quiet all her life because she always had these people to stand for her and protect her. But along with the love, her thakuran maasa and her maami have also brought her up with a lot of idealism, and she has absorbed their wisdom. She is gentle but righteous by nature, and her compassionate nature was visible from the very first episode, where she gave away her most treasured possession just to bring a smile to the face of a stranger.
RUDRA THE PROTECTOR AND PARO THE NURTURER ... you're spot on ... that is their basic nature. But Paro is also a roop of Shakti, hence she has the hidden strength to stand up for what she believes is right.