Dania is a woman of many secrets, a few of which we discovered this week, but she doesn’t give them away. It is evident that she’s managed to manipulate the men in her life to her advantage but as they say even the best-laid plans of mice and men often go astray, in this case we can change the men to a woman and Bunty, of course, is our mouse!
“Sauda kar liya hai maine tumhara baap say.” With these lines Bunty is well on his way to a new life and new adventures. Even though I’m not quite taken by his character, his innocent ways do tend to make an impression like “Apnay ghar mein koi choori karta hai” or “Khana-wana to dain gi na,” and it doesn’t stop here, there’s “Woh aap kay abba hain” included in Bunty’s verbal diarrhea too! His surprise at Dania’s material possessions was a bit too dramatic for my liking, here I found Saba Qamar did a good job with a curt nod and a bemusing smile, like a woman who’s born into this world and not bought and paid for.
The next morning opens with a rather apt observation from Mrs. P: “Kutton ko khana do.” Cut to Bunty walking down the staircase and asking for breakfast. A starkly different world from the one he comes from and his addition might possibly be like that of another dog in the Patel household. On a side note, I am very impressed by Qutub and the khansama who have yet to gossip about the household’s newest member. As many of you pointed out last week we are well on our way to Dania re-living her innocence through Bunty or so it seems.
With Bunty somewhat settled in, it’s time for his transformation just like Dania’s all those years back. Here, I couldn’t help but think of Sawera Nadeem in Diya Jalay after she is married to Asif Raza Mir’s character. Transformations are essential to the narrative structure of our dramas and it is not surprising it figures prominently in this story, and one that was done very well. Not in your face but rather cut through with flashbacks and voila we are presented a new Bunty, all suited, booted, new and improved. I must say, Bunty cleans up well! What I didn’t get was the need to show Bunty going crazy in his bedroom after dinner. Kya koi gareeb hai to iska matlab hai ki usay exposure nahi hai ya phir woh paisa aanay par apnay hoosh-o-hafaz kho daita hai? And why is being Westernised always considered synonymous to a loss of/in innocence?
Speaking of flashbacks, I like how Patel keeps figuring into Dania and Bunty’s conversations. For instance, when Bunty talks about his father, Dania cannot help but recollect her own conversations with Patel. This sequence was shot very well (it was easy to watch!). As the couple talk about Dania’s parents and their choices and Patel’s children and their actions one cannot help but wonder how deep are the wounds. I’ll confess I like the flashbacks, they have more meaning, are coherent within the narrative, and give us a profound insight into Lady D and her nazariya. Even though Patel is dead, he is still alive for Dania more so than any other man in her life – Amir, Chauhan, HS, or even Bunty.
As we draw to a close everything seems to have fallen into place. No barking dogs, no disturbed sleep, instalment paid to Bunty’s abbu, but we have one melodramatic surprise in store for us! It is finally revealed to Bunty who the tasveer walay dada really is. It’s surprising for the amount of comfort Dania shares with Patel, she hates to admit he’s her husband to a young boy. It’s not like she had a problem saying it to HS (handsome stranger for those of you who forgot!), Chauhan, or Amir, yet here she’s obviously embarrassed and angry to do so in front of Bunty.
All in all a slow episode but one that did dwell on Dania’s past allowing us a picture of who she was and how it’s shaped the woman she is today. I wasn’t as happy about the staircase this week but I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of it. As for the costumes nothing impressed me very much other than Saba Qamar’s vintage-inspired lace top (which she worked really well with the hair). Very chic! As I conclude I cannot help but wonder who will begin to dekho khwaab’s and whose khwaab’s will be shattered?
Until next week, shaba khair and raab rakha!
RB (Tweet me!)
