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Abb Aisee hee episode banatey raho gey , Urdu tho kiya main angraizee bhi bholl jaaoongi …. With due apologies to Khalil ur Rahman Qammer Saheb for mangling his dialogue , but this seemed the only way I could express my delight , nay euphoria at such a fabulous episode .

One of the strengths of this serial is the great chemistry between Adnan Malik and Mahira Khan and with so many scenes between them this week how could anyone fail to be happy ? These two not only look fabulous but they act so well that what might look clichéd with another pair of actors takes on air of the sweetest authenticity. I was crying by the end of the episode …And fair warning to Hum TV and Khalil Saheb, if something happens to Shanno I will not be responsible for the violence or property damage that might occur afterwards.

Mahira is just so at home as Shanno, her expressions her body language; all makes this another memorable role. There is more to acting than mere technique, there is a point where the actor has to step over the threshold of reality and actually believe in the character that is written for them leaving all judgment behind. I think this is why I love all of Mahira’s portrayals, she jumps in and acts from her heart and that is what connects a viewer to a character rather than simply watching a precise performance.

I really preferred the Adnan Malik of this week, his handsome face lowered over math equations rather than talking back to his elders. Khelu looks best to me when he upholds the values he espouses. I so welcome the return of the gentleman to our screens. It may seem trite or I have been told “too good to be true” but isn’t that part of the purpose of the Arts; to inspire, to motivate and shape? If only we could see more of this kind of gentlemanly behaviour on and off screen.

Despite the distance, there was plenty of romance in the air. The strangest part for me was that Shanno’s parents let Khalil visit her in the first place, even if they didn’t want a tamasha at the front door. They seem a lot more liberal than most of the people I know. Abb I guess Dr Maqssod will come and dant me for “shucking” (is that a word … maybe not) since the rest of the episode was so perfect I will abide by Dr Saheb’s words and allow for literary license.

Finally we got some sense out of Rasheeda this week , she isn’t angry about losing Abdul Rahman Khaloo though she maybe a little disappointed ,  Sadiq Khalu ,Khalil’s biological father is the real object of her wrath  . Khalu Amin hasn’t got the sense to question his wife further for her exact reasons for calling Sadiq “dhokebaaz”,otherwise the truth would come out soon enough.  Either way no one is willing to go through a quick Nikkah to Shanno just to appease Rasheeda resentments. Shanno’s Tayya and Tayyami reject any suggestion that they would give up one of their sons into a loveless marriage. It was heartening to hear someone actually think about their children’s feelings. Neither Khalu Amin nor Rasheeda seem to care about their innocent daughter’s feelings at all. The saddest part is that Shanno herself accepts this. Despite the beatings and cutting remarks, she still loves her mother and accepts her fate with resilience beyond her years. I wish there were more teenagers like her, but of course these were simpler times …

This episode was a delight to watch and I can only hope the director Ehtashamuddin keeps up these levels of excellence. A good drama does not need lavish sets or gimmicks to make it work. Yes attention has to be paid to the lighting (call me crazy but I want to see the artist’s faces) and some of the mood has to be created with an authentic setting. Similarly makeup, wardrobe and continuity all play a part but they are not greater than the whole. The Scene of Khelu and Shanno sitting on an old bed in a small Punjabi village trying to resolve a math question was flawless because the director, the cast and the writer created such magic that everything else became irrelevant..

written by Sadaf Haider