The main event of this week’s episode should have been Natasha and Mikaal‘s engagement but just like everything else in these to sister’s lives it got sidelined in their intense rivalry. Amina Shaikh looked stunning in a beautiful white suite that is now going to haunt my dreams till I possess it, but it still was not enough to make her feel romantic about Mikaal. Vassey Chaudhry and Amina have the most fantastic on screen chemistry despite the now more than obvious lack compatibility between their characters.  Vassey looked so cute trying to flirt with a studiedly casual Zaib that I began to hope he breaks up with her and finds someone better. Paradoxically one of the funniest parts of today’s episode was when Mikaal admits his mother actually thinks Zaib forced the whole issue. Mikaal loves Zaib or at least is very attracted to her but not as blindly as his mother supposes. After, perhaps the most vicious of Zaib and Natasha’s confrontations to date Mikaal actually voices his fears that if Zaib can behave like this with her own sister how will she treats his bluntly spoken mother. Despite Zaib’s reassurances to the contrary I am not convinced that Mikaal’s mother will not fall victim to these two sisters kashmakash .This is more than borne out by the way Natasha calls Mikaal’s mother to “say goodbye “before she leaves for the States.

Natasha has managed to get a visiting visa for the States and instead of being humbled or grateful in anyway jumps around like a child on a bouncy castle telling everyone about her good luck. There were a number of confrontations this episode and not just between the two sisters. Muneeze finally confronts Zaib about how she found out about Rayaan’s divorce. Zaib is full of bravado and refuses to acknowledge her mistake, later she declares that she does not give care about Muneeze’s opinion: it’s not as if she is going to marry her brother …is it?  Famous last words, anyone…? Dilaver also manages to confront his Chacha at Zaib’s instigation and is badly beaten for his trouble. Dilaver’s mother finally sends Zaib and her advice packing but what was the most telling was the Zaib’s annoyance at having to listen to not only the Dilaver’s mother but Mikaal’s too.

Mira Sethi was so funny in her dreams of America: maids, cars and big houses …what a shock she will get. Mira was very good in this episode and carried her part really well. Natasha’s greatest problem is how she is how easily swayed she is, otherwise till now she seems to be the better person of these two sisters. Embarrassing it might have been to listen to her boast about how Bilal was in her power for his family; it is a rather accurate assessment of their relationship so far. Bilal is quite besotted by her but all she is interested in is side issues and petty politics. She and Bilal always look so cute together. Adeel Hassan was allowed a five minute appearance again and I am getting tired of waiting . I just hope I have not been fooled by the promos and this is just a guest appearance …that would be entirely too disappointing.

A word to those who think Bilal’s Mother is the ultimate in what a good mother in law should be, I am beginning to disagree. She brought up her children well and is full of good advice for them but she has not done a terribly good job of choosing daughter in laws for her sons. “Bhai ko kaboo mein rakna hai tho bhabi sey banna key rakho “is her advice to Muneeze, who politely mumbles about having tried that with Mahjabeen.  Simply finding someone attractive should not be the only criteria for choosing a life partner and I think this point is well made in this drama. Character and personality should also count for something. Mahjabeen seems like a total nightmare, even the acquaintance of a few minutes left a bad taste in the mouth. She managed to criticize and bad mouth everyone and everything in front of Natasha, while Rayaan and Bilal sat like gentlemen and took it. Natasha is hardly the ideal daughter in law either and if the promos are to be believed, Zaib is going to make it a charm by being the third difficult daughter in law. That is the problem with easy going people, they never set appropriate boundaries and then find themselves the victims of those with less scruples. Needless to say Shamim Hilali is just an amazing actress who is doing a wonderful job.

There was a lot going on this episode but for some reason I did not feel as if the story moved on that much. I hope the narrative picks up soon, otherwise this was an interesting episode.. If I have one complaint it was with all those conversations between Zaib and Mikaal in the car it is getting confusing as to when they are happening with in the time frame of the drama.

 Written  By -Sadaf