This was a mellower episode in terms of story but none the less well-crafted and intensely moving. Umaima leaves the house without a sound, taking her girls to visit their grandfather. I have often written that Mr Haseeb may well be the worst father in the world but today I had to agree with Umama’s younger sister at least he never hurt his wife the way Murad has.
Murad knows exactly what he has done and how much he has hurt Umama but like a lot of people he thinks if he pretends nothing bad has happened then no one can confront him. He is actually annoyed that Umama left without his permission. Throughout this episode I was reminded of passages from the Holy Quran about the arrogance and ingratitude of Man and wondered, would life be any different if people actually took those verses to heart. Of course this would not be a Sarmad directed Drama without at least one ‘soulful gazing into a mirror scene ‘and this exactly what Murad does when Deeba takes over Umama’s room. Fahad Mustapha was just perfect, you can see him remembering his life with Umama and asking “who are you? “of the stranger in the mirror
After the wedding Deeba is showing her true colours, talking back to her mother in law and refusing to do any work. I know some people might think Deeba’s words are giving her mother in law the karmic payback she so richly deserves but a lot of what she says is quite reasonable. I loved her line “mein ghar ki malkin ban key aiee hoon, nauker nahin” and when Murad and his mother say they don’t like the maid’s cooking she suggests they hire a master cook or bring Umama back. Umama has been treated as little more than a glorified servant most of her time in that household .The blame lies not just with Murad’s family but with Mr Haseeb who never gave his daughter any support so she lived a life of constant fear and apprehension. After all Deeba does not have any brothers either and but she has strong parental backup. Deeba Baji is quite right a daughter in law is not an unpaid servant.
What a meesni Ms Rehana turned out to be, she was all for helping her mother but one extra request from Deeba Baji and she is off. No one is there to help Murad’s mother face the consequences of her own decision I hope we see a stronger more assertive Umama as her compliant nature has spoiled this family. Everyone is urging Umama to return to Murad’s house so she can be chief cook and bottle washer again while Deeba Baji enjoys life. This is typical “family” advice, “apne ghar jaao” because the women must always bow down to pressure. Mehar Bano looked impossibly young and sad this episode and she had me crying again. My favourite scene had to be when the mother in law was trying to make herself a jam sandwich and gave up. I am not vindictive person but I quite relished this little tableau, especially when Deeba Baji floats in a few minutes later and tells her off again right in front of Murad.
There are some who might suppose Umama’s life has been blighted by the lack of a male child, but I think the writer has given us ample examples to contradict this line of thinking. Rehana is basically infertile but she has adopted Soha and faces none of Umama’s problems and Aqeela herself tells Murad that her late husband doted on his only daughter Deeba. QED Murad and his attitude are the real problem Umama has.
Written by Sadaf
