Last week’s episode ended on a disturbing note and this week began on one. Shamim Hilali’s character has died. She was helped along to the next world by her younger daughter in law. Last week Natasha threw a screaming hissy fit literally outside her mother in law’s deathbed. So while Rayaan, Muneeza and Bilal mourn their mother, Natasha sits at her parent’s house in a sulk. I had hoped that perhaps this would be a turning point or some great moment of self-realisation for this character but I was wrong. Not only is there no change in her attitude but as usual she faces absolutely no consequence for her actions. Bilal is as usual in a forgiving mood and brings her home while Zaib decides to take all the blame for the incident on her head. If Rayaan finds Zaib’s behaviour irritating I find it almost unbearable. As I said last week Zaib is one of Natasha’s enablers and is limiting any chance her younger sister might have of growth or maturity. I feel this whole story is beginning to drag a bit. Much as I love the acting, direction and dialogue it seems that situation after situation occurs in which Natasha manages to do and say the most offensive things possible but again and again she is immediately forgiven and brought back into the family circle.

The one time Zaib speaks severely to Natasha she immediately sees sense and puts her own selfish ideas to one side and acts respectfully. After Bilal brings Natasha home there is a confrontation between Rayaan and Natasha, which has the ridiculous outcome of inducing her labour pains. I have yet to see such a situation arise in real life especially in a normal, healthy pregnancy but ok, it IS a drama after all. Of course Rayaan is wracked with guilt and of course Natasha takes full advantage: refusing her in laws any access to the baby till Zaib speaks to her.

Through this entire fiasco I cannot understand Durdana’s behaviour. She know her daughter is entirely in the wrong yet apart from the few tiresome words of scolding which are her standard repertoire she does nothing and claims not to understand who is at fault . While I can understand it is very difficult to force her adult daughter to do anything the least she could do was reassure her in laws by visiting and then perhaps withdrawing from or at least refusing to speak to her errant daughter. On the contrary she seems to be Natasha’s greatest supporter. If there was any doubt we now all realise who Natasha actually takes after. The girl’s father is also missing in action and I wonder at the relationship these ‘liberal’ parents actually have with their daughters.

Unsurprisingly the whole situation is taking its toll on Zaib and Rayaan’s relationship to the point where Rayaan is beginning to take out his frustration on his wife. I wonder what everyone thinks of Rayaan dialogue that he has never understood the concept of “turning the other Cheek” when someone does you harm. All religions warn us against revenge and Islamic tradition specifically invites us to return a bad deed with good. So what should a sensible person do? I am reminded of Gandhi Ji saying if we all took an eye for an eye it ends with us all being blind but do these words of wisdom mean we should allow the aggressor full freedom ?  Personally I feel the most empathy for Muneese and Rayaan out of all the characters Samira Fazal has introduced us to. Both are suffering needlessly because of the selfish attitude of these two sisters. Yes Zaib is being selfish, her main concern is her relationship to Natasha rather than her husband …. Not a good priority in the long run. That brings up another ethical dilemma: who should be Zaib’s priority?

Written  By -Sadaf