Aun Zara seems to be the gift that keeps on giving: another hilarious episode from The Haissem Hussain and Faiza Ifthikhar team. Poor Aun, the minute he thinks he has it made, his plans fall apart. When his family begin asking for details on his so called “romance’ with Zara he finds out she is just like him ekloti i.e. an only child. So now not only will he be an only child, only grandchild and only nephew but an only son in law too, with all the scrutiny he supposes that entails. This shadi must be stopped at all costs and this is where the intellectually challenged Jori of Manzar and Aun come up with a master plan: casting Aun’s family as laalchi Jahaiz mongers in front of Zara’s father. I just loved Osman Khalid Butt’s expressions in this scene. The way he comes in praying, then his sneaky way of speaking to Zara’s father was just brilliant. Needless to say his machinations have the opposite effect and Zara’s reluctant father is completely won over by Aun’s “sincerity towards Zara’ in speaking against his own family.

Meanwhile Zara has just realized that the boy she is marrying is the idiot she met at the mehendi in the first episode. No way is she going to attach herself to him, so she too is plotting to get the wedding cancelled. So far Maya Ali has not disappointed. Zara is an interesting character: sometimes naïve to the point of childishness yet confident enough to give short shrift to her new bridegroom on their wedding night .She is way too busy chewing gum to blush and Aun is just not ready to give anyone attention since he is used to only receiving it .

Though funny, this episode was a little more serious than the rest, moving the plot forward and establishing some seeds of contention between our bewildered couple. My favourite scene had to be Zara ignoring the bridal wardrobe and playing her Gameboy Ds instead. It was kind of refreshing and maybe even a touch of commentary on the new “generation D’ for digital” growing up around us. Smaller families and more time spent connecting on computers rather than interacting with actual humans might be some of the reasons behind Zara and even Aun’s lack of communication skills. Zara cannot tell her father or Grandfather the truth despite their interest only being her happiness, neither can Aun express his need for privacy without it becoming a tamasha for all to watch.

I enjoyed the Mehndi scene, Zara’s expressions were priceless! The sweetest moment had to be when Aun let Zara win the ring in one of the after wedding rasams . So he is not that spoiled after all and may actually sort of, kind of, maybe, but not quite, actually like Zara if she doesn’t annoy him too much. It was nice to see Aun’s Mamma take her bahu’s side while everyone got carried away in the usual Family partisanship that ensues after a wedding. A quick query, this is only the second time I have heard of people wanting to do the Nikkah on the mehndi, Faiza Ifthikar’s written serial Roag. Is there a reason or tradition behind this ? Loved this episode from beginning to end and of course I did not miss Manzar trying to patao Zara’s cute best friend. Nice job by the entire cast, loved the Chacha /chachi this week. That line about all eyes being on the chachi’s ulti kamees is so typical and so funny……. I am still laughing and looking forward to next week.

Any Punjabi translations needed ? please write and we will do our best to answer :)

Written by Sadaf