Mirza Hakim and Zeenat Begum Arrive...Conspiracy Against Twins Afoot...Ignorant Ruqaiyya Prefers Zeenat over Jodha as DaiMa!!!
Friends,
This track is getting more and more interesting, as we go along. Since yesterday, we have been hearing a lot about the mysterious Zeenat who is appointed as Dai by Ruqaiyya for Hussein and who repeatedly tries to kill the twins. There was a lot of speculation as to who Zeenat might be and who the hand behind her might be. Many of us felt that Zeenat may be a pawn of SD and his father.
Today, the curtain lifted on Zeenat Begum (not a maid) and her husband, Mirza Qasim. They have arrived all the way from Lahore to congratulate Jalal on the birth of his sons. There's a happy family reunion and Ruqaiyya jumps at the opportunity to request Zeenat Bhabhijaan to be Hussein's Dai Ma. Little does she know that the couple has come to seek revenge against Jalal by killing his sons. Zeenat wastes no time in trying to get rid of Hussein. This is better than the Atifa track, where we had to endure her doing nothing for many days. Zeenat is better looking too.
The episode opens with Hussein crying. Ruqaiyya is unable to calm him or make him sleep. Some begums tell her that Hussein knows that she is not his real mother; Jodha is. Ruqaiyya is upset with their remarks and shows them out.
The hakima comes to check the children. Jodha announces in front of everyone that she would prefer to bring her child herself and does not need the services of any dai ma. She notices that Hussein is crying in Ruqaiyya's lap. She takes him into her arms and he stops crying immediately. Jodha offers to help in taking care of him also. Ruqaiyya refuses pointblank and takes back Hussein. Without any compunction, she states that she has the sole right to decide about Hussein and that she would never let Jodha have any rights over him as a mother, not even as a dai ma. Ruqaiyya then turns haughtily towards Gulbadan Begum and asks her to arrange for a good dai ma.
Most Shocking Scene
This was perhaps the most shocking scene so far this week, at least. Not because of Ruqaiyya's behavior. She cannot be expected to behave any better. Today, she just outdid herself. She insulted both Jodha and Jalal. By stating that she wanted a new dai ma for Hussein every six months, she made it clear that she didn't want Hussein to think of any other woman as his mother ever. This was a clear allusion to Jalal's relationship with Maham.
Though it is good to be careful, it doesn't pay to be haughty, esp towards the emperor in the DEK. No doubt, Maham had misused her position as dai ma to Jalal. But Ruqaiyya could have made her insecurity about the dai ma clearer, without being insulting to Jalal.
No, I was not shocked by Ruqaiyya's behavior at all. I am shocked by the calmness with which Jalal, his mother and aunt and Salima Begum took the affront to Jodha (and Jalal). Surely one of them could have tried to convince her otherwise. No one did. At last, when she swept out of the room with Hussein, someone should have come and consoled Jodha. No one did. She just stood there, rooted to the spot, hurt deeply but unable to say anything to anyone.
Being a mother, Jodha cannot help thinking about Hussein and whether Ruqaiyya is taking care of him, as she should.
Most Beautiful Scene
Jalal walks in and the three of them - Jalal, Jodha and Hasan - seem so happy just to be with each other. :) It was a wonderfully precious moment.
Mirza Qasim and Wife Arrive
Humayun's step-brother Kamran had apparently fought many a pitched battle against Humayun and even plotted to kill his own brother. At last, the ever patient Humayun decided to blind him.
Mirza Qasim is Kamran's son, and, unknown to Jalal, has come to kill his heirs, using his beautiful wife Zeenat.
He is received warmly by Man Singh and later in the court by Jalal and the royal family. His wife Zeenat Begum looks like a beautiful, well-bred woman, who is supposed to look after children extraordinarily well.
As soon as Ruqaiyya sees Zeenat, she zeroes in on her as the dai ma for Hussein. The other senior ladies of the harem, who are smitten by Zeenat agree at once. Jalal is a bit worried and unsure about Zeenat as the dai ma for his son. But Ruqaiyya prevails as usual. And in the end, Jalal does give his consent, albeit reluctantly.
Zeenat - The Dai Ma
Zeenat agrees most easily to Ruqaiyya's request to be the dai ma for Hussein. Almost immediately, she tries to kill him by throwing him from the window. She is stopped in just the nick of time by Ruqaiyya, who inquires casually why Zeenat is standing near the window.
The Conspiracy
The CVs seem to have learnt a good deal from the Atifa track. This time, they are showing everything as clearly as daylight. No suspense or fudging facts. :)
The two conspirators - Mirza Qasim and his wife Zeenat - recount their brief history so that everyone is clear about who they are, from where they have come and what their mission in Agra is. Thank you, CVs.
Mirza Qasim and his wife, Zeenat, elaborate on their mission - they are here to kill Jalal's twins and extract revenge for his father blinding Qasim's father. Zeenat mentions how Ruqaiyya has made her task easier by appointing her as the dai for Hussein.
This plot does not seem to have anything to do with SD or his father. ???
Jodha is also, for once, alert to the possibility of someone attacking the children. And she is, therefore, on her guard. Like Jalal, she too is not keen on Zeenat acting as the dai for Hussein but keeps her views to herself. Gulbadan Begum apprises her about Mirza Qasim's background and tells her that Mirza Qasim is quite different from his father, Kamran. Jodha remains unconvinced.
Additional Scene
There was an additional scene of SD and his father grumbling about the abolition of jaziya, leading to reduction in their salary and the increasing clout of Hindus in the court with their coterie. It remains to be seen if this discussion led to SD using Zeenat as a pawn or if this group has nothing to do with Mirza Qasim's conspiracy.
Additional Scene
There was an additional scene of SD and his father grumbling about the abolition of jaziya, leading to reduction in their salary and the increasing clout of Hindus in the court with their coterie. It remains to be seen if this discussion led to SD using Zeenat as a pawn or if this group has nothing to do with Mirza Qasim's conspiracy.
Precap
Zeenat starts to make her move. She tries to poison Hussein by pouring some ark/poison in his mouth. Javeda sees her and asks her what she is doing.
Troubling News
Earlier I had thought that this is Ruqaiyya's downfall track. Not sure now. One, they are still harping on Maham's curse. Second and this point is important. The CVs seem to have introduced the Mirza Qasim angle to reduce the gravity of the allegations leveled against Ruqaiya Begum. So she may still get off lightly. :(
You all are welcome to share your views, and discuss the episode...
This article has been posted under the Jodha-Akbar section of history_geek's BLOG.***Important***
history_geek has updated the historical information related to this track here.>
Historical Update - Jodha Akbar - Mirza Qasim, Sharif-ud-din and Twins-Ruqayya Track
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