Sanjha you’re an absolute sweetheart! I already liked you for your naiveté and charm, but today you stole my heart. First, when you asked Laiq, the Seth’s servant, about the bruise on his forehead, while the Seth was left waiting for a response to his query, later when you asked him about his family, and finally when you refused to meet Dr. Ammar, just because it might land Laiq into trouble. It is this belief in humanity that has stood Sanjha in good stead and helps her out of sticky situations. The fact that even after having suffered through so much, she can still empathize with another person’s minor injuries, refuse to pander to the Seth to wreak revenge on Mumtaz or hurt Weeda, says a lot for the quiet dignity this young girl from the Thar brings with her.
Sanjha has to be one of the most empowered female leads in recent times. Unlike others, for instance, Maham in Mere Qatil Mere Dildar or Sobia in Dil To Bhatkey Ga, both educated, big city girls, with families to rely on for emotional support, Sanjha is an uneducated girl from a small village, with no family, and to top it all off a victim of human trafficking. Nonetheless, unlike her well-to-do urban counterparts, she does not resort to nefarious means to get her objectives. Rather, relying on her own agency she manages to wriggle out of all kinds of sticky situations, while retaining her honor and dignity in the process. The irony is inescapable: Sanjha, ostensibly a prostitute, has better moral values than the so-called shareef girls.
This episode was much better as compared to last week’s as the narrative picked up pace. Weeda, still in shock after his mother’s death, found it hard to concentrate on his coursework and blew up on his classmate Narmeen. Dr. Ammar contacted the Seth’s wife and convinced her to help him rescue Sanjha. Seeing this as a way to regain her husband’s attention, she agrees. The episode ended on a cliffhanger, with an imminent clash between the Seth and Dr. Ammar An interesting point today was when Dr. Ammar tells his mother of his feelings for Sanjha. In a very realistic portrayal, Shabana is hesitant at accepting this burgeoning relationship. Truly, it is easy to offer advice and “help” other people solve problems, but a whole different matter when those problems find their way to our homes.
Thank you Samiraji for a fabulously nuanced story ….
Written by SZ~ [email protected]
