Some things are too great, too vast to be captured by the meaning of a single word or a single phrase, but sometimes a look or a glance is enough. The look Salman gives Falak when she sits waiting for him, dejectedly rolling that terrible bottle of acid, said everything. No greeting or salaam for her this woman, with whom he had shared every intimacy of life; just a rather annoyed inquiry as to why she had gone to see Tabinda? If you have seen a statue , a truly beautiful one such as those which line the great Museums of Rome and Paris you would recognize that pitiless gaze encased in the smoothest white stone.This was an incredibly moving and deep episode,and perhaps with a few minor caveats , the best so far.
How beautiful Falak looked as she dressed to kill in her lovely green sari and a bottle of acid in her hands Her voice reasoning out an evil act she was prepared to commit in her desperation to gain back Salman’s attention What an amazing scene, her confrontation with Tabinda was.No raised voices, no accusations, no negotiations just the knowledge of absolute defeat on Falak’s part and the slightly contemptuous look of indifference on Tabinda’s face. Was there just a touch of pity in Tabinda’s eyes as she watched Falak’s wordless exit. I cannot praise Nadia Afghan enough, she seems ideal for this part , a woman who has more than mere looks to support her through the difficulties of this life .A women with confidence and intelligence, One thing I am grateful for is that there were no long sermons in this episode ,with such a spiritual theme ,it would have been easy to slide into long scenes of rhetoric.But the director has very wisely chosen to show rather than tell in this episode.
When Falak comes home after remembering the damning words of the fakir she takes of the beautiful earrings Salman gifted her not so long ago and tries to wipe of the the blood red lipstick she wore to emphasize her beauty .She takes a shower fully clothed as if she can wash away the foolishness of the past and the misery of the present. Full marks to Mahira Khan for doing justice to this very difficult episode .If I have one complaint it is the scene where she notices the rags tied to the tree , that didn’t work for me.in fact I found that part the least convincing and possibly irritating. Those who have read the novelette tell me the faqir’s words are an integral part of the story but as the truism goes: what works in a book might not work on the screen.You are welcome to disagree with me gentle reader . Even the scene with Hina Bayat, when she discusses the role of a woman. It could have been tedious but it was sincere and easy to watch. By the time here nervous breakdown is over and she is not eating breakfast with her mother , the viewer knows the change has come .she doesn’t react hysterically or angrily to Salman’s callous avoidance of her but accepts with quiet dignity that this is a test, an azmaishs, she brought on herself.They say when you hit rock bottom the only way is up,and after this I suspect Falak will become better both physically and spiritually.
This episode may have been about Falak’s awakening but it was also very much about Salman too. His character mirrors so much of Falak’s own behavior toward her old friend Hamza, it would make me smile if it were not so cruel.It’s such a cliche to say hat’s off , so I’m going to say instead a round of applause please for Mikaal Zulfikaar who alone could make Salman’s character work. Anyone else and this character would have come off as entirely villainous or less harsh than he needs to be. He has lent Salman’s role a subtle charm his character may not deserve .Mikaal seems to excel at playing La Belle Dame Sans Merci. It’s not just his undeniable good looks but that studied nonchalance, that absolute sangfroid in the face of Falaks mounting hysteria. Falak’s situation is such a nuisance for Salman,not a big deal as he complains to his parents.He really cannot see her pain.
From what I hear this is more of a short story written by Umera Ahmed rather than a novel and at some points in past episodes there has been a very slight drag factor, but not in this episode. I can only be grateful to such writers for giving such meaningful stories and characters that provoke us to think rather than lulling us into a numbing sleep of sureties and conventions.
On a lighter note, I had to smile, no let me admit it, laugh,after Salman’s conversation with Tabinda. He has exhausted her already; she seems to see right through him. She has probably met Men like him before and seems totally unimpressed. I’m reminded of when Falak called Salman and he was too busy watching sports to answer her. I loved her line about Men being irritated by the very women they have promised before Allah and his Prophet (SAW) to honor as their wives.
I think there are probably a great many lessons to be learned from this story but the one I picked up from this episode in particular was that human beings may be cruel to one another ,they may devalue and make a mockery of their relationships and promises to one another but Allah , the eternal never turns from us, Allah values us even if we have no value.
Written by Sadaf ~
