Episode on Saturday, August 9, 2008

Sanyo remembers Arjun's words, about Prithvi who has vowed not to het married ever and has sacrificed all luxuries, plus never to participate in celebrations ever again. Sanyo cries alone in her room of the hut.
What Sanyo! Ambica Ma comes to her room and taunts her, the rope has burnt, but you’re audacity doesn’t stop. You have sores on your feet but still Prithvi has not gone from your tongue.
In the fire of love water cannot even extinguish it, tells Sanyo.
Its okay Rajkumari, I will show you the result, she warns her. Ambica Ma takes a bowl of salt from the servant. She takes a fistful in her hands.
Sanyo sees her, Ambica ma is cruel and throws the salt on her feet, she finishes the entire bowl.
Sanyo is in severe pain she bares it, Prithvi, she says as Ambica Ma puts some more salt, again she takes Prithvi's name
This is your madness, if your father had given full authority of you to me, then I even have the capacity to kill you, she warns Sanyo. Ambica leaves the room.
Sanyo is left to cry and bear the pain.

No mother, Prithvi says, I cannot come, and rejects her request.
What kind of oath have you taken? You will stay away from pleasure, and sacrifice the kingdom's luxuries. For just one person you will abandon the whole world? What is so special about Sanyogita anyways? She is making you ruin yourself and your kingdom?
Nothing will happen to Prithvi because of Sanyogita, you know that. Now about my responsibilities of the kingdom and my kingship, I will never allow it to be jeopardized till my last breath.
Regarding this, why have you rejected breaking the earthen pot? Mother asks him.
Because I vowed not participate or celebrate in any festivals, is Prithvi's blunt answer.
This not about the civilian’s happiness, this is regarding your own decisions you make for yourself. You know very well that every year and this year too, the "matka" competition will have teams from different kingdoms. Every year in the competition only Dhilli team wins, only because of you. But today you are not present to play. First time Dhilli will lose in front of everyone, all because of you, mother scolds Prithvi. Dhilli will lose its self esteem and credibility.
But my friends will be there to play.
Okay then tells mother, if you can leave your dignity of Dhilli so easily with your friends and keep quiet, then after today I will not tell you anything. Mother leaves the room. Prithvi is left alone to think.

At the ground the teams are gathered around, the earthen pot hangs up above them on the rope and marigold. The drums are beaten loudly. The Guru asks for Rajmata's permission to start the competition.
No Guruji Prithvi will come now. Everybody is seated Chand, Pundir, Pratha and mother, they wait for Prithvi to come.
Pratha taps her mother's shoulders and tells her he will not come.
I know he will come, replies mother confidently to her daughter.
He will not come at all mother.
Mother tells Pundir to tell the referee to start the "muquabla".
Pundir gestures to start the game.
The referee nods his head, today the 4 teams are present in front of you! Dhilli team are in orange dress, politician Jagdeep's team is in red colour. Now first the eastern team will try to break the earthen pot!
The eastern team with blue colour dress arrange themselves, the pot hangs high, everybody watches. One after the other they climb on top of themselves. Two men try to climb on top but their efforts are wasted, they both fall, so does the entire team, they have lost. Pundir grins, so does Pratha. Mir and Chitra also are amused.
Next the western team in violet colour also climb up, they arrange themselves, two others climb above the first row, before they can get their balance they both fall off also, the entire team collapses, they have lost too. Pundir and Chand grin again. Pratha is happy also. The drums are beaten loudly.
The pot hangs above nobody could break it so far.

Prithvi is in his father’s shrine, he walks back and forth he remembers his mother's words about the kingdom's happiness, not his, and for the first time he will lose in front of everyone. You will lose your self respect also. Prithvi looks at his father's photo and remembers how he took his own oath to sacrifice everything.

Outside on the grounds the earthen pot of Gokulashtami celebrations hangs up in the air. Red dressed team gets prepared to climb, they assemble. Chand watches the acrobats encircle together while a man climbs on top of them. Mir and Chitra watch too.
The man is successful in getting the pot. He easily breaks it and all the milk pours out onto him and the acrobats below. The team celebrates and the man on top raises his hands in the air and jumps down in joy as he made it.
Pundir and Arjun are doubtful and look at each other because this team has finally broken the pot.
The red team celebrates the win.
Mother and Pratha watch.
A new pot is kept, the referee announces, now its Dhilli's turn to break the pot.
Pundir and Chand get up from their seats to make the attempt. Mother is doubtful as Prithvi still has not come. The acrobats encircle themselves for Pundir to climb on top, he makes his way upward.
Pratha watches, her brother still has not come.
Chand, side by side also climbs up on top of Pundir, he reaches with his arms for the pot. He grabs the rope but loses balance.
Mother and Pratha are worried.
Chand again gets his balance back and takes a grip with one hand on the base of the pot. Chand then uses both hands and holds the pot.
Everybody watches the intensity, as Dhilli's pride is on the line. Mother and Pratha smile with relief. Chand then raises his arms and breaks the pot with his head. The milk spills down.
Mother and Pratha are thrilled.
Chand laughs and comes down, so does Pundir. They all jump with joy at the first attempt, it was successful.
Now the new pot has been tied the height will be increased next time. The Dhilli team rejoices, the drums are sounded loudly.
The referee announces now that the eastern and western teams have lost, they are out of the competition. Now it’s between Dhilli and the southern team. Till now Dhilli has always taken the trophy, but now it looks like the southern team have trained hard and looks like they will win this time. In the southern team one person named Narsimha has shown his sport to us.
Mother is worried about the southern team.
The referee tells them to tie the pot even higher. The pot is raised to a greater height, everybody watches the troop as he pulls the rope.
Pundir and Chand look up at the pot. Pundir says this height is too much.
Chand is doubtful that we may not be able to break it, in place of Prithvi.
Pundir hasn't lost hope he puts his hand on Chand's shoulder, we must try at least.

Prithvi is still looking at his father’s portrait, he remembers when he told him that he should always give first preference to his kingdom. When you will actually sit on the throne then you will understand it.

The “matka” full of milk, hangs above. The teammates of Dhilli ask where is our Maharaj? Yes where has our Maharaj gone, asks the rest of the team? Pundir and Chand join the team.
Mother watches.
Pundir and Chand climb up as the rest of the team line around under the hanging pot.
Mir and Chitra watch.
Prithvi comes out of nowhere and starts to climb up on top of Pundir and Chand.
Pratha also watches them.
Prithvi is dressed in white as he makes his way up the acrobats, Chand acknowledges him and looks up at his face.
Prithvi manages his way to the top without losing balance, but he cannot reach the pot as it is too high. The rest of them at the bottom stand straight and push him upward so he can reach. Prithvi raises one arm and tries to pull the pot.
Mother and Pratha both smile.
Prithvi gets hold of the pot with both hands.
Mother is delighted.
Mir also laughs.
Prithvi has a good grip of the pot.
Mother and Pratha are excited now.
Prithvi finally breaks the earthen pot with his head and all the milk pours down.
Pratha gives a cheer, mother is happy.
Prithvi allows the milk to pour down on the acrobats below him. He lets go of the ropes and does ‘namaskar’ to the public, he raises his hands up and looks into the crowd below him.
All cheer there is a rush of people all around, watching him.
Prithvi glances at his mother and looks at the crowd again he smiles.
The acrobats below slowly descend with Pundir raising his hand too. They go down slowly, finally Prithvi comes to the ground also, he raises his arms. Pratha looks at her mother.
All rejoice, Pundir and Chand take Prithvi on their shoulders, they rejoice.
The Dhilli team also cheer everybody dances. Prithvi is given his sword, he holds the sword high in the air the drums are beaten loudly.
Mir gets up from his seat.
Mother acknowledges Prithvi and smiles back at him. The broken earthen pot that is hanging on the ropes suddenly falls down and hits Prithvi. Prithvi's sword wounds one of the acrobats, Mir has also come in between and falls on top of the acrobat. Prithvi and Chand help the wounded man and Prithvi tells Chand to take him to the vaid. Go!
Chand takes him away.
Pundir is near Mir and shouts I knew that something bad would happen and you being here is our biggest mistake, if you have any shame you would leave this place immediately. And anyhow your brother is waiting for you to come back.
Prithvi leaves the grounds.

Good news Sultan! T Khan enters Ghori's quarters, Roshan Ali has done our work for us!
What? What are you saying? So fast?
Yes your highness. Prithvi was obligated to his responsibilities, by taking this opportunity Roshan Ali has entered the palace. Your highness he was able to acquire the map that has all the information about where all the weapons are kept in Dhilli. First thing he will go and do is destroy all of Prithvi's ammunition and weapons!
"Bahut kub","bahut kub" Roshan Ali "bahut kub", Ghori gives a chuckle and takes out his knife from his waist band.

At the palace in Dhilli the vaid tends to the wounded acrobat. Prithvi, Pundir and Chand are present so is Mir.
What is it Vaidji Prithvi asks? Will he be okay?
Pundir looks at the man.
There is no danger to his life Maharaj says the vaid, but the wound is deep. It will take some time for it to heal.
The acrobat is awake and listening to the conversation as he lays on the bed in the palace, oh vaidji this wound is nothing. Vaidji this is Prithviraj Chauhan's sword! He says with pain, it is in my chest and I am proud of it. The deeper I feel the wound of pride the more good it is he smiles. I will never forget it all my life that once I met Prithviraj Chauhan he says proudly.
Prithvi smiles at him and does Shhhhh! Don't talk more you have to rest.
Thank-you Maharaj you have brought an ordinary man like me into your palace.