Ready for another foray into the alternate universe that is ASHK? . Despite all its previous flaws this is the one serial I cannot bear to miss an episode of and am always counting the days till Tuesday, So once more into the breach dear friends,once more…Human beings are notoriously capricious and defiant of logic but the characters in Ashk have shown us new levels of willful self destruction. Zaibu ,for no reason apparent to God or Man, has suddenly decided to work at Bedi Singh’s restaurant,to which an unwitting Rohail has been invited for an accidentally on purpose meeting. The most telling part of this whole scenario was that he specifically told Bedi he did not want to meet Madiha there. When he sees Zaibu he is annoyed but not enough to leave, in fact he sits down despite his discomfort at her presence and is in the process of quite nicely telling her to not do so much and just look after his mother when his unofficial stalker Madiha walks in.

So now you have the mind boggling scene of a husband looking guilty for sitting next to his wife while the “other woman” stalks angrily off. I was so hoping he would not follow her but what are my wishes but bubbles to be popped ? Last week I had been feeling some kind of sympathy for Madiha’ but at this point it has evaporated like snow in the sun. We were all expecting her to happily mess up in this weeks episode but surprisingly it’s Zaibu who helps her out. Rohail’s mother is in a lot of pain and has to be taken to the hospital but when Zaibu calls to ask for his help ,Madiha refuses to inform him. I would have thought that this would be the beginning of a turning point in the story but Zaibu covers for Madiha and begs to be allowed to stay a part of her husband’s life. Three guesses what Madiha says in reply? As Rohail’s Mother says ” Allah kissee ka mohtaj na karey”

Madiha’s behavior is borderline psychotic and you begin to understand why apne Rohail was not interested in her from the beginning. There is the scariest scene of her waiting for Rohail in the darkness outside his mother’s apartment ,which I think was supposed to evoke some kind of sympathy for her attraction to Rohail but only succeeded in frightening me. Fawad looks fed up to the back teeth with all these crazy women and all my sympathy would be with his character, but the scenes of him casually moving in and out of Madiha’s bedroom make me nauseous .Still I have to understand that Rohail’s character is pretty Westernized , he is not shy of drinking and at this point he really feels betrayed by his wife.  As usual the whole show is Fawad’s ,even in baggy sweats and a rumpled tee shirt he keeps us glued to the screen . having said that could we have him back in a suite ,please. I have noticed everyone in this drama, including the unbearable ones in Pakistan is very unforgiving. No wonder Mehru never tried to explain her situation to her Father and I think Zaibu ‘s lack of communication with Rohail is just another symptom of that. He probably would not believe or understand her explanations

I know everyone hates her but I really feel sorry for Zaibu , I really think she has been punished enough,well maybe almost enough.When Rohail openly tells her to cover for him because he may not come back from Madiha’s that evening , I thought that was a conversation no wife should have . Oh and whoever told her that hairstyle at the hospital wasOK ,was not her friend. I think Neelam is doing a fairly good job with this hard edged character. It is as if the Author hates her, the poor girl is just allowed no moment of grace.

You may ask , what about the events in rural Pakistan and I reply that for my own sanity the less said the better. Just know that Dinga is regretting his behavior and Ajjo is going through some kind of ‘Gode bhariy’ rasam. Next week’s preview looks action packed with a demanding looking Madiha and a desperate Zaibu begging  an incredibly fed up Rohail not to divorce her so laissez les bon temps rouler,. (let the good times roll… )Oh , and I hope you guys kept your eyes open long enough to notice Zaibu is writing a diary and we all know what that means in drama land … someone is going to read it… probably when events have reached Def Con two..

Written By Sadaf~