I really enjoyed today’s episode of Ashk, compelling it has always been but today it was emotionally engaging as well. For some time now I have been mystified as to the motivations and reactions of the characters, it seemed like a puzzle with some missing pieces. However this episode has come together nicely and made me excited for the rest of the story. Madiha is acting true to form and like so many insecure women playing turf wars. Nothing is supposed to keep Rohail and her psychopathic self apart; so now not only is Zaibu a villain but Rohails mother and their entire Khandan is in a conspiracy against Madiha. What surprised me was Rohail actually listened, when so often he is shown to be defensive about his mother. Last week I had laughed at the promos of the scene between Rohail and Zaibu but I take it all back now. Zaibu begging Rohail not to divorce her and their whole conversation was very well done. Finally Rohail seemed to be making sense, why should he keep Zaibu in his Nikkah when he hates her and continue a bad relationship with Madiha? I felt so sorry for the admittedly stupid Zaibu that I began to cry too. One thing that has helped redeem Zaibu’s character is that she has not offered excuses for her previous shameful behaviour but just asks Rohail to forgive her. In the later scenes with Bedi Singh and Chinky she does not blame Rohail and says that a wife like her probably deserves a husband like Rohail.  I am not sure if that is true but at least Zaibu’s character has learned something.

One thing I must commend about Ashk is its respectful portrayal of minorities. We as Muslim’s may not take the “Moon bolla Bhai “and Rakhi seriously but Hindus and Sikhs do. Syed Yorgic and Imraan Bukhari have done a pretty good job. One caveat I do have with Chinky is why a grown man kicks an empty beer can around  an Istanbul street in what looks like subzero temperatures. I suppose this was a devise to let Zaibu and Chinky Bhaiya have a conversation without Zaibu actually seeking him out. Both Chinky and Bedi Singh think Zaibu is foolish to leave Rohail and “visit ‘Pakistan. Bedi Singh has now completely turned against Madiha, claiming the latter has changed. I am still trying to understand how, as she seemed pretty crazy before too: drunk dialing Rohail on his wedding night.While Chinky ( that name!!) thinks Zaibu is going to spend her life pining for Rohai,l who is never going to come back and adds a his own sob story about his mother and philandering Father. It’s a testament to how much Zaibu has matured that she ignores both of their arguments and decides to follow through with the grand bargain she seems to have made with Rohail , as in if she leaves for Pakistan he will not divorce her.

Fawad is doing great as Rohail and he is the reason we all hang on when the serial went seriously downhill a few episodes back. You can just feel what a difficult situation his character is in. I personally would not want to be on the receiving end of such cold yet smoldering anger, I really wanted to go and hide behind the sofa. However Justified Rohail might feel, I think his reaction is out of proportion, especially his involvement with Madiha. For my own sanity I usually ignore the scenes in rural Pakistan but as the rest of the episode was shaping up so good I decided to dip my toe in the water and actually watch. I have nothing against the actors who are all doing a good job individually but I just find that whole track annoying. Mehru is proving to be a worse wife than Zaibu (thank you Chauhdry Saab). Her entire character is Na kabiley bardash tand the same goes for the nauseating Ajjo Dinga track. Those well worn dialogues of Larkiyon ke baap etc…. give me a break lady you make Machiavelli look like a simpleton. Anyway suffice to say storm clouds are hovering there too. Bechara Bilal is all I can say.

Overall a good episode ,yes there were a few flaws like the beer can scene and Rohails poor mother in another snow storm but they were more than outweighed by the good stuff. Good lighting, actual sensible conversations, good acting and dare I say it enough empathy for the characters to actually root for them. I really want to read Zaibus diary, but I suspect Rohail is going to have to read it before long….

Written by Sadaf~