Starting off on a rather slow note, with many a hiccup in its initial episodes, Yahan Pyar Nahin Hai is shaping up to be an interesting story. Having successfully set up the context of Saim and Halima’s dysfunctional marriage, today’s episode revolved around Shumaila’s ensconcing herself into the household, and focused on the growing attraction between Saim and Shumaila even as the two ladies of the household, Halima and her mother-in-law, remained blissfully oblivious to the sparks between the two.
Saim is one heck of a complexed and insecure man, for whom professional success and material wealth have not been able to cure his childhood fear of being found lacking. Hailing from a lower-middle class/middle-class family, he has worked very hard to escape his less than elitist background. Now that he has scaled the peak of professional success, his marriage to the unsophisticated Halima is a constant thorn in his side. No matter how hard she tries, she can never measure up to the impossible standards set by Saim. Hence his initial interest in the seemingly more compatible Zunaira. But, as Saim’s response to Zunaira’s rejection of his proposal illustrated, this is a man with an inflated ego, needing constant reassurance he is always right and is special. This is where we see Shumaila stepping in. In sharp contrast to high school grad Halima, Shumaila is studying to be a doctor. Her ostensible sophistication (they share a similar choice in Western films), her overt gratitude, her flattery, her over-eagerness to please him, and attempts to gain his attention act as a palliative to Saim’s massive ego, which has received a massive blow after Zunaira’s rejection.
Halima, on the other hand appears completely unaware of the going-ons between her cousin and husband. Having gotten rid of Zunaira, the only person who was willing to help her, she is back to again being the doormat wife and docile bahu, manipulated by the self-serving advice of her mother-in-law. Rather than questioning Saim’s mellowed behavior, Halima seems to be in a dream world of her own where she sees Saim softening towards her.
In an otherwise very nuanced story, I cannot help but question Halima’s simple-mindedness. Are wives really that blind to the reasons behind their husband’s mood swings? Unsophisticated as she might be, is Halima really not seeing the chemistry project unfolding in front of her eyes? As for Saim, given his insecurities and complexes, his roving eye, and his obvious unhappiness with Halima, surely he was not just twiddling his thumbs all these years waiting for Zunaira to show up. There have to have been other women in the interim – why have we not heard any reference to his past affairs? How could his mother and wife not know anything?
Caught right in between the troubled husband and wife is Shumaila. An immature girl, clearly not having learnt anything from her past experiences, she is playing with fire again. Watching her today, it seemed like she wasn’t consciously trying to wreck her sister’s life, but more like weaving a romantic fantasy around the suave and rich Saim, where there is no place for Halima. From the precaps it seems that Shumaila’s fantasy will get a jolt when Halima finally catches on and her brother Sabih steps in to the picture.
Overall, I enjoyed the mellow pace and the gradual buildup to the explosion expected next week. Faiza Iftikhar’s story is paced well, and I like the way Fahim Burney is narrating it onscreen. Saba Qamar is exceptional as is Junaid Khan as Saim. Fabulously as he is doing, after having seeing Junaid in back to back abusive husband roles, I only hope that he is able to steer clear of being stereotyped, playing the same role again and again. Mawra has really impressed me as Shumaila. Humaira Zaheer is fantastic as the good, but only as long as things go my way, saas. So, yes, enjoyed this episode, and looking forward to more next week.
Written by SZ~ [email protected]
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