Sahi ya galat…? Right or wrong…? Who’s to decide?
There is a tried and tested trope in Pakistani dramas, from ever since I can remember, which goes something like that very famous Western: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Whether or not our dramas are in direct correlation with/to Hollywood Westerns (you’d be surprised!), they certainly are in keeping with black and white compartmentalization of characters, stories, and emotions.
Mausam is one such story of right and wrong. No, I’m not complaining, I’ve enjoyed the ride so far and I probably will lap up whatever conclusion HUM TV dishes our way (do any of us have a choice?!). The reason I bring this up is because I see the plot headed to its typical fairytale conclusion: our knight in shining armour aka Hashir; the scheming, evil step-sister aka Shazia; and our damsel in distress aka Saman. Scheming as Shazia is, I wonder if she’s the only villain around. There’s always Faisal to pass the blame in this love game!
So, let’s start with the question that’s been at the tip of my tongue ever since I saw this episode: Is Saman really a Romaisa 2.0?
Time and again, she’s seen Shazia and Faisal sneaking behind her back, she’s been warned by her mother, by Hashir, hell, even her intuition tells her something is up, then, why the stupidity, Saman? Why? Kya waqai aap ko khabar nahi thi. See what I did there? No, arre OST sun lo.
For the amount of fuss being made about Shazia and Faisal together, its surprising that we suddenly see them meeting in parks (and boy if those benches could talk we’d be hearing one story too many!), going on long drives, and even having ice creams together (Humsafar really has had an impact!). These fun and frolics of the illicit kind aside, I’m still not convinced that Shazia is out to ruin Saman’s “married” life. After all, isn’t a “happily married” Faisal in Shazia’s best interests?
Given that she’s indulging in behaviour unbefitting a sali towards her jijaji, I wonder what she wants more: to punish Saman or to acquire Hashir. Whatever her intentions, her actions are far from justified, yet, they certainly make her character more conflicted. As I said last week, I find Shazia’s moments of introspection rather telling. Like a betrayed lover she’s replayed sequence after sequence of the events that led her to her current state. She’s even accepted she’ll never be the Saman Hashir wants. Kitni badkismet mohabbat hai meri indeed.
Iss badkismet mohabbat ka doosra shikaar, Hashir, bhi utna hi pareshaan hai. If Shazia spends time lamenting her fate, Hashir does much of the same in hopes of finally achieving some form of peace. I have to say, as much as I’ve spent time hating on Hashir’s mother, this week Auntji stole the show. From the moment she walks in on Hashir contemplating his next move, Mummji has something on her mind” “Kya sooch rahe thay? Mujhe batao shayad mein tumhari kuch maddad mar sakoon.” They say that help comes in mysterious ways, shayad Khuda’Talah ka nizam hi aaisa hai. This short but very poignant scene between an estranged mother and her son, who happen to have come a long way since the first episode, was simply perfect. Way to bring the story back to their relationship, something I thought was being lost in the larger narrative.
“Paisay mien bahut takat hoti hai, Hahsir, har cheez ka mol laga daita hai.” Ji bilkul bahut zyada takat. Seeing Mummyji giving advise and not the kind a mother usually gives her children gave me some insight into her past, her life, and her experiences. A woman who paid off her husband to safeguard her son and his future, a woman who sacrificed her own happiness for that of her son could only give him pieces of her own experience: unfulfilled, broken, and painful.
It looks like Hashir is all set for a qurbaani, kyunki sabsay keemti shay aapna aap hota hai. Since when did Mummji become Patel from Bunty I Love You?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT9ROv84n3U
As this series unfolds, I see what HUM TV does right. It takes the morose, painful, and mundane and transforms it into something beautiful and (for lack of a better word) poetic. I know, I know, I have given HUM TV a hard time this year what with one dud after another, but I also must acknowledge that my first drama as a reviewer was a HUM TV production, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, so, I hope Mausam won’t disappoint me as it reaches its climax.
As we wait and wonder what happens next I’ll leave you with some food for thought: Kitni khushkismet hai Saman aur badkismet mein. Shazia bibi, kuch haad tak kismet apnay haath mein hoti hai.
Aglay haftay tak,
Khuda Haifz aur Rab Rakha
RB (Tweet me!)
