Just when I started criticizing this play for too much talking and too little action, things started getting very interesting and these two episodes had their fair share of twists, in fact I am not even sure where to start this review from. Since I felt for Shafique more than any other character I am going to start from him. Shafique’s struggle to fit in the society and to get the love of his life is proving to be futile. Just when his friend tells him that he does not belong with the transgender persons since he was man enough to earn a living through other means as well, Najma finds out Shafique’s ugly secret. Shafique’s worst nightmare comes true when Najma walks in and catches him dressed up like a woman with a painted face. A very dejected and depressed Shafique runs back to Sakina to find some solace in his own house initially Sakina turns him away on Anjay’s advice but later on he manages to get in. he is not the least bit provoked by Anjay’s presence in the house and just wants to shut himself out from the ugly world in which he had been trying to subsist for such a long time. The Shafique-Sakina scene where he cries his heart out was extremely touching. I could not help but think how people like Shafique must feel, no matter how hard he tries to fit in, the fact is that he will always be an outcast. Shafique’s biggest fear was that someone may find out about his identity crisis and of all the people in the world it was Najma who found out…she is bound to tell everyone. It does not take Najma long to share what she saw with her sister and Anjay.
Sakina’s character has come a long way too, she finally confronted Najma and told her sister all about what Najma has been up to. But does Najma care? Most certainly not! The financial crisis forces Sakina to work at Milli’s house but soon Anjay offers a better deal and she decides to sell drugs for him. So, this is how simple women like Najma get into such hideous acts. She needs money and this is the easiest way to earn it, as much as she would not want to do all this. The scene when Najma makes her first “transaction” and the way she reacts afterwards was very beautifully done. Sami Khan and Nimra Bucha both have proved that they are very mature actors and also that acting is about so much more than just glitz and glam.
The “peer” tells Rafique to stay away from everyone around him, even Anjay. In my opinion he said so because he is insecure and thinks that Anjay may not give him the money, so he would much rather have Rafique bring the money directly to him. I simply hate the Anjay character, he is responsible for ruining everyone’s life and he does not have an ounce of sympathy for anyone. I could never have imagined that one man could do so much harm to so many people just because he values nothing in life except monetary gains. Greed is the root of all evil, no doubt. Mohib Mirza is doing a commendable job and it is always a treat watching him perform. Even with all that Rafique does I can’t help but feel sorry for him. Faisal Qureshi is one of those rare actors who would fit in perfectly in any character at all. The main reason for feeling sorry for Rafique maybe Faisal Qureshi’s acting, he seems more a victim than an evil character.
Arham’s life is spinning out of control, excessive use of drugs does not allow him to think clearly and he vows to kill Milli if she comes back but his mother suggests it would be better if he divorces her, that way she would be out of his life for good. I have a bad feeling he may just end up doing that since Milli decided she should go back to Arham and set things right. I found her decision a little hard to digest, since it came right after Arham accuses her of using black magic to get his mother out of their lives. Kareema has started to annoy me now; I wish she would give up.
I may have been put off by too much talking in the past few episodes but I still believe that this play has many superb acting performances to its credit and it is an eye opener in every sense of the word. I truly appreciate the efforts of the entire team for making a play that focuses on many social evils in our society.
Author: Fatima Awan.
