So Qabacha’s (finally) here!!! His entry gives insight into a couple of things for me though. One that the writer really has written this in a way that at times, you don’t realize 26 years have actually passed. The ease with which he makes his entry and he and Saaniya recognize each other, doesn’t give the audience the impression that it has been so long. How he meets Aani and Bibi and the respect all of them show each other is very telling of how true to its roots this serial really is. Two, it shows how Saaniya has matured with time and that 26 years actually have passed (and this is what I mean when I keep saying how seamless this script is). This ‘clash’ would not have been so civil back in the day. She would have gone after him with clinched fists for blocking her car on the street. It was great to see Qabacha be so ‘Saaniya Jee” about this the whole thing and then misunderstand Chandni and Serena to be her kids and a tandoor to be her husband :)

With Qabacha’s entry the story also seems to be slowly unfolding. I absolutely wasn’t expecting ke Faraan Uncle had called him in Dubai during his time of need and he had said he was busy and would call back. I didn’t realize how happy (and seemingly more relaxed) Aani would be to see him. Looks like she thinks now that he is back, her husband will finally come out of his depressive state of mind. Watching the equation between Faraan Uncle and Qabacha was very interesting for me as I really didn’t think that relationship was this important. I guess I knew Qabacha’s character was very important, but I didn’t realize he added more than comic relief to the story. By the way the scene at his house when Bibi goes and takes lunch for them was something straight out of a Charlie Chaplin movie. The helpers slipping and sliding, it was all synched very nicely, not to mention comically.  Also, Altamash really is Qabacha’s son with his acting…he seems very robotic though, but is truly hilarious…especially the ‘ahista bolein kyoon zor se bolne se mere sar mein dard hota hai.” Great job to the actors, director, and I guess more to the editor of that particular scene!!

I want to talk about the Zain and Aani scene in the lawn a little. Why does Zain insisting on failing to realize that he actually has wronged Saanya? He keeps saying he doesn’t know why she is upset with him. I’m glad Aani goes off on him by saying he shouldn’t have hidden whatever happened with Zara from Saaniya. If Zara couldn’t have come there, then at least Saanya could have gone to the US. Why Zain thinks he has done nothing wrong is beyond me and I’m anxiously waiting to find out the answers. I also really liked the scene where Saaniya tells him she wants to stay here forever because yahan log ‘apne lagte hain.’ Scenes likes these should be proof for the audience that just because people have been born or grown up abroad, doesn’t mean they don’t have any loyalty to their own countries. I really like how this has (very subtly) been highlighted by the writer. Syra Yousuf in my opinion was very natural in this episode.

The entire younger generation is actually doing a great job. The Yousuf sisters are fantastic. In the last episode I thought Serena was over compensating for something, but in this one, she was back. I was however confused about Zeenia’s passport scene though. I saw it online so maybe something was missing, but why does she hide her own passport and then keep asking where it is? And also, when she does find it, why bring it to the Youth Center? Speaking of which, Sheheryar Munawar’s entry was awesome!! But before this I must talk about Mona. First of all we need more on air time then just 1-2 minutes of Mona. Second, the “hospital jane se pehle insaan ko apni inventory kara leni chahye…do ankhein, eik naak, do kaan…” these lines were hysterical and could only be delivered like that by Salma Hassan. She gives a whole new meaning to the word natural. And now enter Sheheryar Munawar (please tell me I have his name right) who is really a great addition to the team for many reasons J The on-purpose, incoherent ‘coffee bhi milegi aur chai bhi’ answers by Mona showed he is going to be the ‘Asher’ of T2 – NS. Zeenia breezing in and the clash that leads to the passport in the fishtank were superbly played out.

All in all, from Qabacha’s entry to Mona’s ‘medical inventory’ line, this was truly the funniest of the four episodes so far. The actors were, as always, brilliant. The script, direction, and editing was flawless. And I think I have mentioned this before, but it is so refreshing to see a drama that isn’t over the top modern or westernized that you sometimes forget it’s a ‘Pakistani drama.’ It’s also one of the few dramas that the entire family can sit and watch if they choose to without any weird scenes requiring a quick change of the channel. For this, I thank the writer whole heartedly!! Looking forward to episode 5.

Written by Sheeba