Of all the gaalis in all the world, she walks into mine.
That’s probably what ‘Sham is thinking as Seher begins to get more involved in Sania’s life. Seher true to form marches back to Sania’s to apologize for ‘Sham’s interference and convinces her to take a breather and a midnight stroll. Sania and Seher’s interactions have a natural ease and a degree of self-awareness which leaves room for honesty in their dealings – Sania’s quick turnaround to say sorry for her hurtful words, and Seher’s realization that “mujhe shayad fursat nei bohut nosy banna diya hai”. Though it begs the question that if Seher made the choice to be at home, why does she keep driving home the point to Sania about working? But kudos for pushing Sania to think about herself.
Sameera Fazal deftly addresses how most women get so overwhelmed and sucked into their domestic duties – taking care of kids, home, in-laws, laundry that they have no time for themselves and then justify that with platitudes of being busy and happy. Any thought of oneself is laced with guilt and self-loathing.
Their midnight conversation about broken engagements, hurt fiancées, and childlessness was layered with meaning that perhaps Seher can’t fathom for now. All this while, hell (read saas) breaks loose at home. Instead of reaching out and dialing Sania’s cell, she calls and complains to her son. Taking a midnight walk of her own she ends up at the hospital again – cue Sania’s guilt and self-loathing.
Seher and Sham have a rerun in the hospital and this time they leave with good news. Seher as the chakkars indicated, is now preggers. So much for my hope of having the childless issue dealt with any depth. This feels like an easy resolution even though I am happy for the couple – more so than Mahum and Atif’s fake glee. Thanks to Sham’s unwise confessional, the couple is back in nosy fashion complete with pole-vaulting to conclusions of Sham’s affair with his ex-fiancée.
Ali’s gives up luxurious abode in South Africa to return to set up business back home. A shout out to the director for the telling scene with flustered Sania oscillating between Rumi and saas. This finally did the job of showing her as fairly overwhelmed and timed with Ali’s entrance made her seem (to him) a tad irresponsible.
Ali’s sudden appearance has Rumi clinging to his mother, and running far away from his father despite Ali’s paternal expectations and he rebukes Sania for Rumi’s bad behavior. This time, I thought Sania was spot on trying to get Rumi to accept his dad and advising Ali to spend more time with Rumi. Ali and Sania’s relationship built on trust and understanding, though strained by the pressures on both of them, is quite sweet. Her comment on her kharche – silk saris, heere ka haar were self-depreciating and taken in that wry spirit by Ali.
Each character has their secrets and insecurities etched out in the flesh. Sania burdened shoulders heavy with responsibilities, and the hurt of rejection, Ali strained with pressures of debt, work and an invalid mother, Seher’s culpability for inadvertently hurting ‘Sham’s ex-fiancée and inability to bear a child (though happily that should take a back seat). ‘Sham with some level of guilt about his broken engagement and suspicion of his manhood (which should now be in the same back seat) and Mahum and Atif with their brewing personal and office politics as well as trying to be one step ahead of the Joneses.
It’s an interesting mix alright striking the right chord by all the actors.This latest offering has its fair share of surprises – some expected, some not. Either way, they move the plot steadily along.
Even though Sania, ‘Sham and Ammi try to stay as level headed and out of the way as possible, by sheer dint of location (and plot) are forced to be in each other’s presence. Sania learns of Seher’s pregnancy and Ammi knows of Ali’s return. Looks like the stage is set for the couples to meet and greet. Onward and upward as they say….looking forward to the next installment.
MM (aka A musing Muslim)
