This was a very interesting episode, what I enjoyed the most about this latest episode was the way it made me fall in love with all the characters. I may have some problems with the newcomers but overall the characterization and the pace of the play till now has been quite fascinating. I am not sure which character I am enjoying the most Bari Apa, with all her jaho jalal, Firdous and her cute insecure ways, Farman’s farmabardari which is really something out of the ordinary, Ghazanfar’s no nonsense attitude or Shakeel and his middle class majburis. The relationship between all these characters is even more interesting than the characters themselves. Bari Apa and Farman, Bari Apa and Ghazanfar, Firdous and Ghazanfar, Firdous and Riffat, Riffat and Shakeel …. the interaction between all of them is a treat to watch. Hats off to Samira Fazal for a job extremely well-done and kudos to the senior actors in particular for making the characters come alive on screen in such an impeccable manner. I am sure most of us could not even have imagined Nauman Ijaz in this kind of a role since we have always seen him playing totally different characters; all the other actors also are very well-suited for their respective roles.
Firdous sings her way through victory thinking that it was Adeel’s love for his mother that was the reason behind him refusing Sharmeen’s proposal when actually it was Sharmeen who requested him to do her this favor. Just when Firdous was ready to accept the proposal things took a turn for good at least for her! Ghazanfar ‘s attitude when he says no to Bari Apa and the way Zubeida keeps on referring to the past once again pointed to the fact that she is still living in the past and behaves as if Ghazanfar owes her in some odd way. Ghazanfar on the other hand has obviously moved on but Firdous is not convinced that the love between the two is the sort which exists between a husband and wife. She feels that her husband still treats her the way he treated her back in the days when he was engaged to her sister. The way Firdous blurts out everything to her mother and everyone else who comes along shows that she is not the kind of person who would keep things in her heart. It was actually good to know that Firdous knows exactly what her bari apa is up to when she says to her mother how her sister’s tone changes when she talks to her husband and everything else. I really enjoyed it when Zubeida tells Ghazanfar, “Meinay ap se ap ke betay ka hath manga tha mashwarara nahi”….the dialogue just pierced through me because it said so much about Zubeida’s personality.
The confrontation between the two sisters when the entire family gathers at Zubeida’s house to sort things out was truly a delight to watch, that is one scene that I am definitely going to watch again. The way Zubeida feels that she still has some kind of a control on Ghazanafar just amazes me, how could she tell Firdous that she would be out of her house if she wanted it that way…could it be that deep down Ghazanfar still has a soft spot for Zubeida? Or is it only her wishful thinking? Until now Ghazanfar has shown absolutely no interest in Zubeida. Farman’s reaction to the confrontation was rather odd, the man just does not react to anything, and all he wants is his wife’s well being. The way he bears with all the insults makes it look like he is Zubeida’s PA, who is supposed to put up with the boss’ tantrums. Farman could have made an adorable husband had his wife reciprocated his feelings. All the poor man needs is a chain around his neck and he would be the perfect slave!
We did not get to see much of Ayesha Khan today except for the one scene when Farman goes to her house and she asks him to leave. Somehow I can’t help but wonder that is it just his wife that Farman wants to please or he is generally a people pleaser? or maybe he is the kind of person who likes to play the hero (in his own odd way of course!).
My favorite two scenes from today’s episode had to be the Firdous-Zubeida confrontation and the way Firdous reacts to Adeel saying no to the proposal. For me the weakest link in this play sadly are the three newcomers, their non desi Urdu accents are extremely difficult to relate to, they sound like they have been raised in some foreign country and are working on learning the Urdu language. The scene where Sharmeen tells her father that she felt guilty and was willing to get married to Adeel made no sense to me because the entire family has no clue that all this was Sharmeen’s doing, Adeel said no to the proposal so what difference does it make if she is willing to marry him. Apart from these few things, this episode for me was the best one so far…really looking forward to the next installment.
Author: Fatima Awan.
