This weeks episode, a little slow by comparison, lays the foundation of future suspicions and portends the storms that will rip through this seemingly peaceful quartets lives. Starting with a genuine apology tendered by Ali, to a dinner meeting of the three couples, staring Sania’s jewellery in a supporting role ( swiftly stolen from the ball), moving on to Rumi’s school admissions and ending with Sania’s decision to work – sounds like one heck of a ride no?
Truth be told, um, not so much. Some repetition could have been done without.
Ali, clearly cast as the bad guy despite attempts to soften him up doesn’t seem to work for me. I think he needs more of an inner life. You see the attempts at humanizing him but I suppose his patriarchal genes, quick temper and authoritarian upbringing – strongly backed by his mother -win out in the end. You would assume that someone once bitten, would be twice shy about risking his entire bank balance and wife’s jewelry to boot, but hey, alpha male Ali wants to conquer the world.
Thankfully, Sania is no doormat and stands up for herself. Her refusal to part with her jewelry (rightly so – aren’t we all taught to cling on to all that gold till death or a new bahu do us part?) is actually backed by her wise counsel, so her decision to work (possibly egged on by Sherish – which btw boggles the mind – really you don’t think she has enough on her plate?) comes as a reflection of thought rather than a knee-jerk reaction to the hubby’s, well, huffing.
Though I suppose someone has to be the close- minded-quick-to-jump-to-conclusions- kind – and no, am not talking about Atif and Mahum. Mahum is up to her sly underhanded ways trying to drum up photographic evidence and innuendo, which keeps the gossipy couple busy, creating mountains out of mole hills.
What stood out for me today on is how often we perceive people’s intentions through the prism of our own thoughts hence Ali’s belief that Sania would acquiesce, Atif-Mahum’s overactive imaginations, ‘Sham and Seher’s take that Mahum’s behavior was driven by jealousy and ‘Sham’s blunt confrontation with Sania about her curt behavior as a result of either envy or regret. It makes me wonder how this will play out in hindsight.
The performances are stellar as always and I have to say the chemistry between Sanam and Adeel was crackling. However, Sanam needs to dial down her curtness a tad else to avoid visions of Kashaf hangover. Also, the actresses playing Mahum (name anyone?) seems to really be enjoying herself so full marks for bitchiness.
Alright team Shak, time for plot twists to begin, we are eagerly awaiting them.
MM (aka A musing Muslim)
