At last, the silver lining in this dark cloud – humour in just the right doses.

I love how each episode is the un- layering of another character. This one belonged to Qazi Wajid sahib. He is indeed the silver lining tinkling away with his fauji good humour.

It also helps that these are great lines —Sasural na hua torture chamber hua …POW mat banaa bhaag jana…Ek Mummy kafi nahin thi…Dushmanon ki tadat…

Not only do these lines sparkle but so does Qazi sahib. It reminded me so much of PTV plays of yore and what’s more here’s a father who knows this daughters heart, who doesn’t want to clip her wings and gives her all the support and love that any girl could want. Why then, Laila do you hold back from flying and realizing your dreams when he is the wind beneath your wings?

In other endearing traits, he cooks, listens and will stop for bhutta – Qazi Wajid sahib can I please adopt you?

Laila, meanwhile, struggles to find her place in her home and sasural. See-sawing between trying to please everyone but herself, her little disappointments– Mansoor turning away as she leaves, not listening to her, being completely disinterested- add up.

Her saas’s jibes and her my-son-does-no-wrong demeanor confuse her as much as husband. His  indifferent falling asleep while she reveals her heart’s desires, one who barely acknowledges her presence let alone her conversation, one who ‘forgets’ to mention their honeymoon and then thinks of it as a photography trip. Although hotness alert: Sameer Sohail rocks the clean shaven look.

Though it has to be said that this landscape would inspire anyone.-DOP Naveed Malik clearly is. That strikingly framed shot of Laila against a snow covered barren tree and the long walk and slip in the snow as she tries to conquer her gnawing fears with her he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not game are beautifully composed and visually astute.

Bee Gul’s writing gets better and better and it is clear that along with the subtext there is direct speaking to the audience as Khurram in his heavily buttered monologue to Kuku tells her she is role model for all women. And men Khurram, you could learn a thing of two from her grit and determination but taste in men? I don’t think so.

I must admit however, this episode has perhaps softened me towards him a little – after all any man who can cook and be a personal chef gets some brownie points.Also, now that someone took away his suspenders, please also take away his dance moves. How come Kuku doesn’t see she has a teenager on her hands – even if said immature teen can cook.

Some scenes were stellar – Qazi sahib encouraging his daughter to come home and be herself (Aur tumhe kaisa lagega?) and that cathartic one with Kuku and Mrs Khan and the lopping and chopping off her hair and baggage to boot and the developing camaraderie between Kuku and Mrs. Khan.

However, as I’ve said before, this be-labouring of the subtext is now getting strained. The changing of Laila’s bedroom – too pat, too soon. The scene with Kuku and Mrs Khan and was too forced what with a poodle called Khatarnaak (repeat a poodle which was probably the point but a poodle! Non! Non!) and dialogues like pruning and empty trees and the like and pointing the right way home. Point noted – Mrs Khan will serve as Kuku’s moral (and actual) compass.

Aussi, what is with the bad sound? There is room for silence and it can be well done and I get that you are trying to be experimental but silence does not mean lack of ambient sound. Strong ambient sounds can make the narrative. Mute the ambient sound and it seems like a mistake. Bien?

Still, J’adore ça. Et vous?

MM (aka A musing Muslim)