Muhabbat ek fish tank hai. A fish tank lovingly tended to and the fishes talked to by Romiasa. Finally she found someone with her own compatibility seeing as she has the combined IQ of all the fish put together.
A fish tank in which our piscine Nabeel swims along precariously eyeing his predatory family. ( Sadaf, you are truly a peer Baba you called it ages ago) Waleed and Hasan’s plans have hit a snag and are still fuming in the watery shadows. Though, this drama is really a test of how much repetition you can stand – I am hanging on by a thin thread unless something bites.
Speaking of fishy business, Hamna is contemplating leaving Hasan who has gotten what seems to be his last and final warning on his questionable behaiour. Waleed is um, well reading comic books and fuming and both are a dagger short of revolt.
Zeeshan and Rabia have moved on from discussing her most expensive gift to discussing Nabeel’s most expensive purchase – Romaisa. Rabia tries to bait Zeeshan with a new line to diss her bhabi and her gharelu ways while Zeeshan reels her in. Oh dear, Adeel ke dil mein phir hamdardi jag gayi….
Though I have to say, my ears perked up with the “Bengali Massi” dialogue but maybe that’s just my interest in and lack of exposure to stratification and prickly histories of regional dynamics. Feel free to enlighten or rip me a new one in the comments.
Nabeel’s family’s mooching ways now extend to his other property. Romaisa is back to bottom feeder status practically replacing the help-cooking, ironing, taking care of the kids. Yawn. Wash, rinse and repeat. Saas is cracking the whip and making sure the bahu is on her toes – much to Nabeel’s annoyance who calls his mother out on her bahu as non-paid help behavior.
Have you noticed how all the women are the ones brewing trouble and the men are rapping the woman on their knuckles? Whether its Zeeshan and Rabia, Nabeel’s parents or Nabeel’s stern talking to his mother? Oh, wait sorry, Umera Ahmed drama, carry on.
Romaisa who finally thinks she has an in with her in-laws, is confounded when Nabeel calls her budhoo! In my script doctor head, I was taking the story to a place where perhaps he thinks he’s made a mistake, lets her be the one that gets away and reverts to his old self with comfort of knowing there are plenty of other fish in the sea – but alas! I got a cold splash of reality.
I have to say, that Mikaal was the sole reason I was lured in and didn’t yawn too many times. His defense of his wife’s right to be farig (subliminal message to hubby: be inspired!) and calling his family out on their slimy ways had the right notes of irritation and mildly veiled threat. Mikaal has really gotten so good! He’s playing to his strengths and infusing some nuance into not such a nice guy to know. I’m not hook, line and sinker yet but staying afloat. For now.
In other news, when my mother complains about my chai making abilities I am going to show her the scene of Romaisa making chai… with teabags! The horror! Tut, tut even in Pakistani plays these days….
MM (aka A musing Muslim)
