This episode was like a poem, a sonnet to that first rush of emotion we call love .I have never taken drugs but this episode had me high, high as a kite. I think the enchantment of all those scenes of intimacy was partly Farhat Ishtiaq’s incredibly heart touching dialogues and partly Sarmad and his dop . The camera angles, the lighting made us think we were part of Asher and Khirad’s world and their union was as important to us as our own relationships. I am sure many of us found some fleeting reflection of our own lives in the Asher and Khirad connection. When Khirad offers Asher that glass of juice while he tends to his plants, the play of light and shadow across Mahirah’s face, Fawad’s expressions when Khirad explains her “lie” and of course that fabulous almost telepathic connection they share at awful Sara’s awful party …simply priceless.There is a lot of romance but it is thoroughly laced with substance. Both characters are again being defined. Asher is shown as caring, nurturing and protective of those he regards as in his circle whether they are shade loving plants or his young bride, Khirad. At first I thought I had misunderstood his reactions during Sara’s party because he tells Khirad how lucky she is that latter had given her so much individual attention, later on I realized he had been trying to spare Khirad’s feelings. With Sara however he is very straightforward, warning her that such behavior would never be tolerated. Two parties in two episodes: one in which Khirad is admired and accepted and the second in which she is pointed out as unfashionable and stupid.I love the way Khirad never complains, she never uses her influence with Asher or Baseerat to win her battles, and in fact she never competes. I remember in later episodes wishing she would explain everything to Asher but she never did; only threatening Farida with exposure in order to protect Hareem.Her honesty, her strength and dignity are what makes her beautiful not just Mahirah’s undeniable good looks. My favourite scene, if it is possible to have one out of all of these perfect ones supplied to us ,has to be when Khirad is packing and Asher runs off saying she will have to find another budhi rooh to marry if he is late . The way Khirad runs after him seemed so spontaneous and real, I couldn’t help but smile.

How could any review of this episode be complete without mentioning the most important event, Asher and Khirad’s acknowledgment of their feelings for one another? “ tum mujhey kissi naikee key badley milli ho”, how is a girl supposed to with stand that, she would need a heart of stone. Khirad may not say “I love you” but Asher is more thansure of her attachment and says it for her. Fawad carried this entire scene making it one of the many Iconic scenes in this serial. These and so many other dialogues spoken by our Asher would make my blood literally boil and quite possibly evaporate with anger when he forgets how much he trusted Khirad . At this point Khirad’s hesitance is annoying but later I realized it was still less caution than she should have exercised.

I could carry on page after page in a soliloquy of sheer viewing pleasure but I will calm down and let our commenters add their own thoughts. The scene at Sara’s party requires an essay in itself for all the nuance and detail packed into it. Khirad’s choice of clothes, how she wore a traditional white outfit while Sara and her ‘cool’ friends wore casual black, western clothes. The looks exchanged by Asher and Khirad, the way Asher’s eyes followed his bride wherever Sara was taking her and how he picked up on the fact that she was being manipulated from the get go. Brilliantly done with little or no dialogue between our leads: we know it is Asher and Khirad ,party of two, against the world . I will leave the Zardey ki Daig Scene to our commentors :)

written by Sadaf