Hope you are all holding onto the tissues and/or glycerin because you will need one or the other.

Zeeshan is recovering from his gunshot wound, while his family hovers around him for a good three weeks. Or in drama land three minutes. How thoughtful and kind of them to show up to show off their concern. Back at home, he is forgotten and lays languishing in bed in a foul foul mood.

Shouldn’t pain killers make you more mellow and sedate? Clearly humdard(i) ka tonic also needs to be added to his medicine mix. Also to add insult to his injury, he has been pushed onto Romaisa’s never ending list of duties.

Well this at least serves two purposes – first it makes him aware of his family’s matlabi and indifferent ways and second it he gets to experience of Romaisa’s bedside manner and nurse skills. This episode succeeded a little better than last time to drum up some sympathy for Romaisa.

The scene when she is accused of being manhoos was handled particularly well with her walking away with the realization that Zeeshan is alive. Her lifeless eyes and tone on being told about her place in this household by the help no less, and with her conversation with her friend actually had some nice dialogues –Mujhe ab khud appne aap pe taraas nahin ata.., Biwi hoon unki magar mera koi haq nahin…Iss haqeekat ki duniya mein jiya nahin jata..for Sanam Jung to shine.

She may have questionable intelligence but at least she showed some understanding that money – the lack or abundance of- doesn’t solve your problems. But when will she learn that speaking up and asking for your right actually does?

Forcing Zeeshan and Romaisa and that cute little pudding Maham together, brings about a certain tension and unease in all of them. Zeeshan’s irritation and annoyance at his family’s indifference boils over into barbs at Romaisa and even Maham but his good heart and humdardi will shine through.

Soon let’s hope so that we have some silver linings in this dark depressing drama.

MM (aka A musing Muslim)