I am beyond speechless. Even though I had known what was the end of Maat (thanks to the novel), and I certainly had in mind a very negative review to write later, I was totally bowled over with the excellent, intense performance of everyone as this serial finally concluded.
The episode started with Faisal callously handing a divorce to Aiman and announcing his intention to re-marry Saman, assuring the former that this was what Hadeed wanted as well. For once, Aiman did stand up for herself. Aamina Shaikh’s performance was top-notch as she uttered all the words we have wanted her to utter for the past 24 episodes. Ironically, she saw Faisal’s reality too late – after giving up 26 years of her best years to make a home for Faisal and Hadeed, she did realize that Faisal and Saman were indeed suited to each other. They deserved no one but each other – as selfish and as self-centered they both were. Good for you, Aiman! You realized the truth late but then, better late than never.
Aiman left the house with dignity, spent a few hard days, and then Hadeed came looking for her. Hadeed! Noor Hassan was another surprise in this episode. I have often felt that he needs more acting experience in order to put across a wider range of emotions. But in yesterday’s finale, he too stood out as he put down Saman and Faisal, gave them a talking-to and finally, disowned them. I think he got too much into the emotions part and got the English mixed up – but then, that only added to the anger he was expressing. He then went to Aiman and brought her to his home. That was another powerful, intense scene as Aiman breaks down yet again, and then when she has calmed down, Hadeed explains to her how Faisal and Saman had played him as well – spreading untruths about Aiman and trying to make him go against her.
And finally, we find out who was defeated in this entire saga – Faisal AND Saman. The final phone conversation between the two sisters was as intense as it could get. When Aiman says, “Main tumhein nahin milnay doon gi” I heaved a sigh of relief. She has learned her lesson the hard way, BUT she has learned. She has learned that she relied on all the wrong relations, as Hadeed told her. She got her reward for all the years she spend on Hadeed, but Saman and Faisal got absolutely nothing.
It was definitely an awesome ending – it did make up for all the teeth-clenching moments we all have spent throughout the previous 24 weeks, watching Saman trampling over all and sundry, and Aiman being the doormat. I will say a few things, however, which I felt could have been added in order to improve the drama serial as a whole:
1) Saman’s life with Aazar could have been shown more negatively. How did Saman fare being the second fiddle?
2) What happened to Sualiha and the kids? It was never shown. I was hoping one scene would at least show Aazar being confronted by his grown kids. Aazar apparently never got any negative repercussions in life for his role in Saman and Faisal’s rift.
In short, I wanted to see the payback coming in more than one episode. But then, as the official Facebook page of Umera Ahmed says, there are sometimes no happy endings in life. For Aiman, this really was the best she could get – we have already shredded her “spirit of sacrifice” to bits, AND wondered WHY she did not go for a life of her own while she had a chance? But then, most of the things about her character were explained in this episode and I think, for an Umera Ahmed serial, the ending was as satisfactory as it could get.
I would like to congratulate the entire production team as well as the cast for this drama serial – we may not have been the greatest fans, BUT it gave us plenty to talk about and think.
Now, I am looking forward to Mataa-e-Jaan from next week!
Written by Drama Buff ([email protected])
