Ohkay so, the story & the direction is one thing but another thing that is working for me the most in this drama is the pace. I love how the director so far has succeeded in keeping all the episodes quite happening. The way the story has been developing in each & every episode is making it a very interesting watch. I like how things are not being dragged & every episode brings a lot of changes with it.

We got to see how Mansoor was struggling in his marriage with Muneeza. Mansoor has been an ideal husband & a very good father, he never faltered in fulfilling his responsibilities but seems like Muneeza got a little too comfortable in her life that she forgot that she had some duties towards her husband too. Muneeza & Ambar are very much alike, they both are stubborn & love to have things their way, but one thing that sets Ambar apart is the kindness in her heart & how she puts her privileges to good use. Muneeza on the other hand is quite self-absorbed, which is why she has started taking Mansoor for granted & she doesn’t even realize it. For the first time we saw that Mansoor started drawing some comparisons between his wife & his secretary who gave him the utmost attention, which actually suggested that things were about to fall apart & Muneeza was not doing anything to help the situation further!

Things have been quite rocky between Shahista & Kamal too. On the surface, they might seem like a perfect couple, living a life of luxury but only Shahista knows what she is going through because the remembrance of her lost child hasn’t allowed her to move forward & accept her kids because she is still stuck in the past. Shahista till date hasn’t forgotten about Shaheer & that is why, she decided to hire someone to find him.

Rakshi saw how a single phone call from Mansoor was enough to put an end to her misery, may be that’s why she got a little more attentive towards Mansoor as she wanted to compensate & reciprocate the kindness he has extended towards her so far & that is what gave Mansoor an edge to draw a comparison between Muneeza & Rakshi. Muneeza can’t stand Rakshi & that is why she flipped out the moment she found out that Mansoor has not only hired her but has been spending time with her. Shabana used that card to get back at Muneeza because till date, Shabana assumed that Muneeza & Mansoor had a perfect relationship, but when she spotted Mansoor with Rakshi, she realized that Muneeza’s position wasn’t as strong as Shabana always thought it was.

I like the fact that just when things start to settle, the director introduces new set of characters. This time around, we got to see Roshaan, Mansoor’s son who came back from abroad after completing his studies. Then we also got to see Fatima & her kids. Fatima has raised 3 children out of which 2 are the twins that Zarka gave birth to, that made an appearance in this episode. Both the siblings shared a typical sibling moment with each other where the brother teased his sister & she was mad at him. I enjoyed watching the new entries & I must say, I am really really happy that finally Fatima’s character has made an entry again in the story, which definitely tells that things are going to get a lot more interesting.

So, Ambar once again told Haroon Kamal how she can’t stand him & how she doesn’t like his attention or his company. May be that’s why we saw what Haroon Kamal did by planting a seed in Mansoor’s mind that he should get married to his secretary for the sake of business. Haroon Kamal is someone who always believes in getting back at the person who insults him & he always settles the score in a very odd way, so this is what made me feel that he told Mansoor to get married to Rakshi because he knew that this way, Ambar will suffer emotionally & that will give him immense pleasure of ruining her perfect little life where she has been a center of everyone’s attention, especially her father’s. Haroon Kamal understood that Ambar was a tough cookie to crack, so that is why he targeted her Achilles heel & targeted that relationship which he knew would hurt & affect her the most.

Even though Mansoor was thinking on those lines, but a little bit of push from Haroon Kamal was enough for him to wage a war against Muneeza, that is why, the moment Muneeza tried to confront him, Mansoor told her that she was just a liability in his life, nothing more nothing less. It seems that even Rakshi has started to spend time with Mansoor & may be she has given him some kind of hope, because of which he gave Muneeza such a harsh reaction when she spoke against Rakshi.

Overall, this episode was quite happening too. In this particular episode, I liked how there wasn’t a continuity between the scenes, even though everything seemed a little haphazard, that is what kept things quite interesting. A lot of things were happening at all the fronts & everyone was dealing with one thing or another, which made the episode quite engaging. I must say, the director has tackled this script brilliantly so far & I am sure things are going to stay the same till the drama will last. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Thora Sa Aasmaan.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Well! This was an interesting episode to watch with Bari Sahab struggling to accept Zainab as a sacrificial lamb and trying everything she can to avoid this marriage from taking place. She pays Sikander a visit and offers him more than double the amount of villages he demanded but that he take the condition of Zainab and Dilawar’s marriage back. Knowing how greedy Sikander is I was a bit surprised he did not seem to at least consider the offer but then true to form, he explains to his son later that with Zainab wed to Dilawar Bari Sahab hamaray neechay lag jaye gee and that seemingly gives him far more satisfaction than numerous amount of villages and land in his name.

Charlie Chaplin ka desi bhai informs Jahanzeb about the latest developments and his thoughts later Kaash Allah mujhay ek mauka day day, mein tumharay saaray khwaab pooray karoon ga Zainab makes me wonder if this is an impulsive, emotional moment or whether the sacrifice Zainab has agreed to make has managed to awaken love in Jahanzeb’s heart. Bari Sahab’s teary eyes and expressions show her inner conflict where she is wracked with guilt and grief to be throwing Zainab in the mouth of wolves in exchange for her son’s life. She has loved Zainab with all her heart and does now too, but it is a tough decision to make. Zainab has made it easier for her by offering herself to accept the terms Sikander has set forth.

Alisha and Shahzeb were given very little screen time thankfully, with Alisha throwing her two cents in and Zainab ka number send karo had me laughing. Like really? To quote Bari Sahab from the earlier episodes, kaun kurri hai yeh, kithun chuk laya hai?!! Anyways, Bari Sahab tells Sikander to have Jahanzeb released before the nikkah and that got me thinking whether Bari Sahab has something up her sleeve. My hopes are pretty much crushed when she says to Jahanzeb that she can not go against this decision and there is nothing she can do.

Jahanzeb’s conversation with Zainab was emotional. Jahanzeb’s accusation tu mujh se pyar nahin karti, sirf apni zid poori kar rahi hai was interesting. You know this is what stood out to me in today’s episode. Where emotions such as pride, dignity, revenge are the driving forces in these people’s lives. Not once does Jahanzeb say anything along the lines of how he feels about Zainab but that his pride can not take that she live such a life in exchange for his. How Zainab says there is no other way for she can not take back her word. How Bari Sahab proudly declares that Jahanzeb was right to kill Sajjad to avenge his daughter’s honor. These people have a code of life which they firmly believe in and logic takes a back seat to any of these emotions when taking a decision.

I can not help wonder how Mannat fits in all this. When Bari Sahab earlier had Mannat wed to Sikander, true she did it in the hope of having relations between the families improve but she has known Sikander forever and you would think a shrewd woman like her would not agree to such a proposal when clearly Mannat would be better off elsewhere? Surely she could see it was a gamble at best. The way Bari Sahab is suffering at the thought of handing Zainab over to Sikander and his family, did she not feel any apprehension earlier. I agree, there had been no bloodshed then either but still she could have agreed to assign some land to Sikander if she wanted to improve relations, not offer her only grandchild as a peace token! But then as was highlighted in one of the earlier episodes, lands and property to Bari Sahab and Sikander held much more meaning than just a piece of land and was more a play of ego and power and respect. Sigh.

Jahanzeb has made it clear that he will not allow this marriage to take place. Wonder how he can prevent that from happening? The ending scene of this episode although seemed like a dream come true for Zainab makes me think whether it was just that – a dream? In which case I will personally go hand over Zainab to Sikander and Dilawar myself, aargh! Asma Abbas today as always was flawless as Bari Sahab and I was struck how apt the casting had been done in the scene when Jahanzeb returns from jail with Shahzeb and Mannat greets him. They did look like father and daughter in that scene. The scene between Jahanzeb and Zainab was interesting but I kept waiting for Jahanzeb to burst out that he loves Zainab – but alas, he did not. Nayyar Ejaz as Sikander is also truly convincing as the greedy, crafty old man that is portraying. Interested to see how Bari Sahab will be able to wriggle herself and her loved ones out of this mess. Any ideas – would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Remember our board game? Maami’s intervention, Shariq’s wedding, Naimat Chacha tracking Zoya down – no game. Then Shariq formally asks for Zoya’s hand in marriage – six! Zoya’s parents are agreeable to the idea – double six! Zoya confesses to her mother that she is in love with Shariq – triple six – except that leads you back to square one, doesn’t it for Naimat Chacha opposes the marriage and announces if Zoya remarries she must give Sameer up. Shame! Anyways, after his wife’s grief and resentment all comes pouring out it opens Naimat Chacha’s eyes and he agrees to the marriage and steps back.

But then Zoya is adamant that her whole family must know about Shariq’s first wife. She has no qualms about being his second wife though for when Shariq’s mother rings her and asks her the reason for her initial refusal and wants to know if Saba was the reason her prompt ‘no no’ made me cringe. True, Shariq and Saba’s marriage is not exactly shaadi of the year but well she is his first wife and I do not know, it would have made me like Zoya a bit more if she was shown to give some thought to Saba and how she is to fit in all this but heck no, all Zoya really thinks about is Zoya herself. I am honestly a bit confused – are we meant to like Zoya? I have never felt so detached and unfeeling about a female lead in a drama before – well none that I can recall right now! All Shariq has ever seen Zoya do is sit, cry or run off to the train station – and that has made this hugely successful and confident man fall hook, line and sinker for Zoya and have her inertia and faarighness rub off on him too?! When she weeps to Shariq keh shadi nahin ho sakti I thought oh man! And then when everyone finally agrees to the marriage she is weeping again ‘I can not lie, I can not forget Azmeer’. If this was meant to be an emotional or touching moment, which I imagine it may have been it fell flat because Zoya’s constant gloom and misery is becoming so stifling that it would have been nice to see her say something positive for a change!

Shariq’s emotional speech broke through any hostility and barriers in Zoya’s household and even Naimat Chacha finally gives his blessing. The conversation between Saba and Shariq was awkward to watch. Shariq’s mother pressured Shariq into the marriage and well, he did marry Saba – where does he plan to fit her in all this? Saba’s excitement over having Zoya to talk to and Sameer to play with was horrifyingly similar to the thoughts of a child excited over the prospect of a mother figure rather than sautan coming! And how does Shariq plan to juggle two marriages?! I am unable to manage two dishes on the stove – while bhunning the chicken, I end up burning the onions in the other one then how does he imagine to manage two wives within the same house and feel he has been fair to both. (Yes, I know I just compared marriage to cooking but oh well!). Yes, I know the marriage between Saba and Shariq is anything but a marriage but well she is his wife and if she is just an inconvenience I would still like to think that he has more consideration and more in mind for her than just another person living in his house.

Saba is shown to be ecstatic over Zoya’s arrival but we see her give into a pensive moment or two and I wonder what is brewing there? Will she begin to feel jealousy now and will Zoya and Shariq mil kar help her recover from her childhood trauma? Why isn’t Maami coming to check on Saba now – I have a feeling she will show up now that Zoya is back.

Interestingly, in today’s episode what I found the most riveting was not Saba’s track (which has taken a back seat for a while anyway) or Shariq and Zoya’s track (yawn) but the scene between Naila and Shahnawaz. When I saw the tears streaming down Naila’s face when her mother in law has her emotional breakdown I wondered if her heart had softened. But she is spitting venom when she taunts Shahnawaz over his ‘grief’ over letting Zoya go. Shahnawaz had lied to his father about being the one not able to impregnate his wife so that nobody would be able to point any fingers at Naila. Can I just say that I wince each time the word kammi is used in this type of conversation. Even if the spouse does not want to hurt the other, to lay the responsibility at the feet of that person with that word just sounds so distasteful to me. It was truly nice to see this side of Shahnawaz though and it was different to see how a man can take this upon himself so as to not have anyone treat his wife less or force him to be unfair to her by remarrying. Normally it is the man who taunts the wife in our dramas and it was really interesting to see Naila do the same for I am sure this is not too far from reality either. Naila is shocked and then thoroughly ashamed of herself. I wonder if Shahnawaz will forgive her for her insensitivity or whether her true colors have made him dislike her now. More than Saba, Shariq and Zoya I am interested to see the outcome of Naila-Shahnawaz – now what does this tell you about the state of this drama, ha!

It was actually a relief to see Sana Javed smiling in the last few scenes of this episode and I hope she has shrugged off her lethargy for good. Seems like she has passed it off to Sameer for kia say kia ho gaya hai but Sameer has just remained in that annoying cushion thing without a single cry or wriggle! Shariq residence seems to be one big happy family – but is it? Intezaar for next week – surprisingly (not!) I am not counting the minutes till then! Glad to know with the comments last week that I am not the only one who tunes into this drama – would love to hear your thoughts on this episode!

Kunwal Javid

Subah tum say mulaqaat huee aur sham mein tumhari maa say – LOL! The constant assumption by everyone that Mehwish is Faisal’s mother is actually beginning to feel funny now. Mehwish’s obvious recoil at the words and empty stare seem to have become her standard response to such statements. What I find interesting is how everyone seems to be mentally marking Mehwish off as the evil one and labeling Faisal as the bechara who was snared into this marriage. True, Mehwish did marry a younger man and that too her daughter’s ex fiancé but how come nobody ever says Faisal married an older woman and that too his ex fiance’s mother in the same judgmental tone. Interesting – except that this is such a real portrayal of this aspect of our society.

Moving forward, the not so happy trio that is Mehwish,Zara and Faisal has begun to come out of itself and they are introduced to new faces. Mehwish has unwittingly thrown a vulnerable, lonely, ignored Faisal into the concerned arms of Amber and her mother. Amber’s mother while initially came off as a friendly neighbour looking out for a younger new neighbour seems to have become a serious case of elfy glue! If something ends up brewing between Faisal and Amber which seems to be a likely scenario and if her mother is horrified I shall have serious issues with her mental state! The constant bulawas’ and insistence to stay and have chai (haye, those endless cups of chai in this drama!!) or eat or chat and commenting that poor guy lives all alone – seriously what is she thinking?

Aap ki khushiyon ki keemat aap kay bachon nay adda ki hai. Okay, I have tried to give Mehwish a chance here. Since the day I started watching this drama and as event after event unfolded I had my own opinions but a small part of me gave Mehwish the benefit of the doubt, a possibility for her to redeem herself somehow. Mehwish tries to use the ‘I am a mother,wife,daughter etc but I am also a person first’ card and while I use that card to be able to sneak off for a power nap or have my tea in peace without the kids tearing each other apart – I somehow can not stomach her using that line to marry her daughter’s ex fiancé! Zara’s statement although a bit dramatic since her brother really did not have to commit suicide – yet is not far from the truth. I may not be a fan of her plan of action now but it does shed light on how a child views whatever her mother has done. Anyways, if we were to let bygones be bygones, then moving forward Mehwish is doing absolutely nothing to make Faisal, Zara or any of us warm up to her. Her wedding to Faisal and the circumstances etc be left behind how about the havoc she is wreaking now.

Zara’s wedding has become her top most priority. Every woman worries about her daughter’s wedding, fair enough. But Zara is still in college and Mehwish claims to have big dreams for her, wanting to see her educated, confident and able to make her own decisions but hey, u turn – Mehwish knows what’s best for Zara and at this very moment that is her marriage. Okay before Zara’s father died, yes there were talks of having Zara’s wedding date fixed but then considering how Mehwish resents how she was forced into a marriage, would you not think she would not bring that upon her own daughter. Also, this obsession of Zara’s wedding seems to be fueled more by the desire to have Zara married and out of the house so Faisal can move back in rather than Zara’s actual welfare!

The moment Mehwish sees Faisal talking to Amber was probably the only time I really felt Mehwish’s personality come through. I said in my earlier reviews that something was off with Mehwish and I think I felt that way because although Mehwish had taken a controversial step in her life I still wanted to be able to form an opinion about her, to see aspects of her personality aside from the new marriage. And the past couple of episodes had begun to show us how jealousy had begun to rear its ugly head but Mehwish scoffing at the new neighbours and slapping Zara and lashing out at Zara and Faisal coupled with how she is dealing with Zara’s marriage leaves no doubt in my mind of the kind of person Mehwish is becoming or maybe has been. Seems like Zara’s plan of revenge is not so far fetched and may happen sooner than later!

The past couple of episodes and preview for the next show how Mehwish is struggling to adapt to society’s perception of her. Faisal will find himself another mum-daughter duo and forgive me for this snide thought but I hope it is not Amber’s mother he falls for while Amber falls for him! What a fitting end to this drama this would be, ha! This guy’s past record he kuch aisa hai. Anyways, I am hoping there is more to this drama now than the seemingly obvious. I found this interesting in the first place due to the fast pace and wild chain of events but I have a feeling the drama will just focus now on how Mehwish will continue to be a negative, insecure character who ends up pushing Faisal away and Zara gloating at her success – the end! I would love to be proven wrong and have some more substance to this drama. I have finally made peace with Mehwish’s character and Maria Wasti’s acting as the insecure woman wallowing in self pity, destroying the few relationships she has left finally hit home with me today. What did you all make of this episode? Would love to hear your thoughts. For those of us watching Besharam, we know what Wahab Sunaraya thinks of his in laws – would love to hear what he makes of Mehwish and her ‘mentally poor’ clan!

Kunwal Javid