I think I just met the Devil today. It was not a meeting I asked or hoped for but useful none the less. I have to thank Sarmad Khoosat and Umeraa Ahmed for arranging this unwanted, unnerving encounter in today’s episode of Sheher e zaat. There are so many dramas, so many films I have seen that it is rather hard to impress any image on my admittedly jaded mind; but the conversation between Tabinda and Salman in the cool evening of their garden is not one easily forgotten.What should have been a pleasant exchange between a couple very much in love seemed instead an indictment of Salman’s behavior . The saddest part being that he seemed so completely ignorant of any nuance in Tabinda’s words.What kind of a woman are you ?” he asks playfully, she replies quite seriously “Qayamat “(the end of the world or judgement day). I cannot praise Nadia Afghan enough, how did she manages to create that feeling of subtle menace and apprehensions in what were just a few casual phrases. How often have we heard those words in song and film and passed them by like wild flowers growing on the side of the road? But here they have taken on a different meaning altogether.

For any other drama last week’s episode would have been more than good, but SEZ has spoiled us into expecting a certain level of excellence which I am happy to say has returned this week. Falak is still going through her “azmaish” but has reached a new depth of self understanding She visits her naani often and even goes to a the wedding of the daughter of the annoying, poor relative whom she used to avoid.As she silently compares her own wedding to the simpler one she is attending. She comes to a realization that despite all the money spent and preparation made for her wedding none of it had made her life a success. This has become a common theme in  not only Pakistan but throughout the Diaspora of Pakistani communities living abroad, There is much emphasis on a well planned and exciting wedding and no thought or effort given to the actual marriage itself.

Salman’s Mother pays an unwelcome visit to the ‘newly weds’. I really love the line where Tabinda says “now don’t tell me I have put a magic spell on your son” because that is so often how we excuse the bad behavior of Men in particular.’ He is obsessed ‘ ‘ she has some strange hold on him’ are the cliches we often use to avoid laying any responsibility at their door. This episode illustrates so clearly that the Devil needs no great subterfuge to enter our hearts and minds just those little open gates our nafs leaves unlocked. Reason becomes our greatest enemy because we all have an excuse. Salman felt Falak was not concerned enough about him; instead of taking his commitment to his marriage seriously he let his disappointments grow. Instead of communicating or trying to connect with his wife he let another women enter his consciousness .Salman is terribly impressed with Tabinda’s eloquence and her perceptive little quips but Falak can see that Tabinda ‘s words are like a dagger to the heart. I am actually glad Falak is not shown to berate or belittle Tabinda and accepts both her own and Salman’s part in the failure of their relationship.

One person I keep forgetting to praise in this whole drama is Mikaal. He has played his character so seamlessly that I have to keep reminding myself the poor man is only acting and not get too angry with him. He has even managed to make his relationship with Tabinda’s character look plausible .Hina Bayat is someone I must also commend. She is a wonderful actress who hardly needs my praise, but what a great job she has done with this role. This is not the ordinary parent /child relationship, we see Mehrunissa growing with her child. All she wants is what is best for Falak and yet she cannot understand the transformation her daughter is undergoing. She not only suffers for her daughter but is blamed by her own Mother and then more subtly challenged by Falak too. Yet she never comes across as bitter or angry.Just a loving mother confused by the challenges life keeps throwing at her.

After she learns of Tabinda’s pregnancy, Falak very reluctantly signs the papers for Khulla (a type of divorce in Islam initiated by the woman).I am glad they showed her unwillingness because divorce should never be taken easily.  If we met the Devil today, I think we also met an angel .Falak meets a strange woman by the sea shore who disappears in matter of moments. Before she goes she asks Falak what she truly wants. Mahira was amazing she had me in tears, her expression was so helpless, her hair blowing in the wind,she cut a hopeless figure.  I want Allah to look at me , “mujh pey Allah nazar daley’ even though she feels herself unworthy to ask for anything . The woman reminds her that when a Mother and child are separated, the Mother is even more desperate to be united with her offspring than the child, There is a hadeeth that says Allah has divided his love and mercy into seventy parts, one part he has given to the world and the rest he keeps for himself That one small part is all the love we show each other in this world but the rest, the greatest part of love and mercy Allah alone can show us.

Written by Sadaf~