;

In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour’d rage ;

Henry V

Khirad may have been a little lonely in the last episode after all playing happy families with an estranged husband and very sick daughter cannot be easy. I have this fantasy in my head that if left to their own devices these two would have made it up , there anger melting slowly but surely. Khirad resolve had melted quite a bit ; last episode she made Asher tea and offered to cook dinner. However the reality of the situation is that they do not live in a vacuum, Sara is beside herself with rage and disappointment and immediately contacts Farida with the news that Khirad is back. At first Farida can barely credit Asher with that much independence of thought or subterfuge but like the best poker players she wants to bluff it out and see what she can get away with. Farida is such a wonderfully relentless evil character, who feels not aborting her own grandchild was an oversight on her part and is not for one minute guilty at causing her own son so much pain. Atiqa Odho made her if anything more palatable and did not allow her to disintegrate into a caricature either.

This episode belongs to Khirad, if anyone had missed the memo about this being Khirad’s story they should have got it now. When Asher asks her about Hareem’s delivery ,Khirad refuses to gain his sympathy or accuse him of letting her down. Mahirah was simply fabulous in the confrontation scene with Farida, without that intensity it would all fallen flat. Khirad tells Afsheen she is not expecting a reconciliation, she actually reassures Batoola Khala about the job loss and explains her decision to leave Hareem with Asher . Hareem and Hareem alone is her focus. At this point I am reminded of Kashaf Baji from ZGH who had a much better life but was convinced the world was out to get her. The reason I make this comparison was the spate of articles put up by so called liberals calling Khirad’s character regressive and Kashaf’s a symbol of modern independent womanhood. Khirad had literally decided never to depend on Asher again. She is impressed with him as a father but still finds him lacking as a husband.” He did not protect me, he was weak” she tells Farida while Khirad defends her daughter like a tigress from Sara and her mother in law.

Asher is sinking further and further into a state of confusion. He expects Khirad to manipulate him, to play games, to show some part of what he has convinced himself is her conniving nature. He overhears Khirad’s conversation with Afsheen and far from being reassuring him it awakens more unease and perhaps a little disappointment in him. Farida has lost her son; the game is up, barring the details. Asher refuses to hear the allegations his mother keeps repeating against Khirad, breaking a glass because he cannot bear to listen. There is no doubt Asher is already softening towards Khirad despite his denials.

Poor old Sara, ( fantastic acting from Naveen Waqar)if only she would listen to her mother and move on. It feels as if this is less about Asher himself than her own ego: how could anyone prefer that backward woman over her? next week sees the return of Khizar (AAAARGHHH).