I was compelled to write a review of this week’s episode of Maat mainly because the dialogues and the issues portrayed on the screen were so close to my own heart – these are some of the things that I have noticed so many couples face after marriage and most of the times, I have noticed that parents mishandle such peeves completely, leading to more problems in the future.

I will not comment on the technicalities of the episode, as the direction and the script both came across strongly here. What I will delve into is the following:

Adjustment phase

Most parents and parents-in-law mistakenly assume that after two months, or even six months, the newly-wed bride will take over the husband’s responsibilities of meals, etc and see to the house. Most women do take over such responsibilities but in reality, it takes an average wife up to at least TWO YEARS before she has gotten used to the way things are done at her in-laws’. Yes, it does take that much time. In the beginning (read, six months to one year) most of them are at a loss as to where to start and what to do. The routine is so set at the in-laws’ they feel hesitant about “breaking in”. Despite all my rants and raves about Saman, I felt sorry that she too is being subjected to the same old, same old. (“Do maheenay ho gayen hein; kaam karna shuru nahin kiya”).

MIL-DIL relations

How many times do you tell a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law to sort out their issues themselves without involving the son, the wife’s mother and the household masi? Really, I am surprised to find even educated households where the MIL will discuss every single fault of the DIL with everyone except the DIL herself. In this episode, we find the Khala complaining about Saman to everyone except her. Ladies, just talk out and solve your problems themselves.

Eating out

Oh boy, is this issue in every household or what! Why is eating out such a huge issue? I see most couples eating out simply because they enjoy the privacy they cannot get in a joint family system. But this emphasis on eating out being bad for your health and affecting your budget is something almost every MIL harps about. I say: both the individuals who just got married are adults! Let them assume responsibility for their own selves. Nagging will not bring about any change.

Mother-son relationship after marriage

I have lost count of the number of times I have read in self-help columns that mothers should NEVER involve their sons when they have an issue with their DIL. NEVER! Yet, I see mothers-in-law doing this all the time. Interestingly, as far as I have seen, most of the sons do not even convey to their wives what their mothers have said. Hence, the effort just goes down the drain.

Basically, a couple must be treated as adults after marriage, even if they seem childish. Parents sometimes do not know when to let go, and it was very evident in today’s episode that both the mothers were simply doing what is called “interfering” in most households. Give a couple time and space, and they will eventually assume responsibility for their budgets, household chores, etc. Nag them and they will soon start searching for a different house.

Something tells me Umera Ahmed did not really intend the episode to convey the meaning at least I derived out of it.

Written by Drama Buff ([email protected])

PS: I was disgusted at the bedroom scene. Was it really necessary to show this level of physical closeness? I don’t think so!