So you know when you were a little child and would sometimes go through your things and pick up something which was nice but not toooo nice, something you like but not enough to not want to part with and decide to gift it to a friend/cousin who you are off to visit. Grab some coloured paper, one fold, two fold and all wrapped. The recipient likes the gift, oohs and aahs a bit, you are both happy – and the gift is forgotten soon. No? Maybe that was just weird me then. Point being – there are dramas which do not blow you away, probably do not stay with you very long – but they are a decent, pleasurable surprise that viewers enjoy for the most part. You like them while they are on air, can see everything is not perfect but then is not bad either. Tumhare Hain, in my opinion, fits that description like a glove.

My overview for the first half of the drama introduced the four main characters and how they meet and how some of them drift apart. I had imagined the drama to then focus on the marriages of the two main couples and while that remained to be the basic idea, Rayan and Aania’s paths crossed again. The whole buildup to the point where they finally meet, fight against their emotions and then give in – I knew it would happen inevitably. I figured the drama would then take either of the two very obvious paths – Rayan and Aania together or they go back to their own respective spouses. What I did not anticipate was actually being interested and drawn into the whole story, the way it was presented and the way the four main performers actually did justice to their characters.

Am I going to ignore how right/wrong/understandable/unforgivable it was for Rayan and Aania to be drawn towards each other again? Yes, I am. I’ll let that be their problem and Kamil and Zoya’s problems, haha. But seriously, while this could have been a drama about only an extramarital affair, I like actually how the story built up the scenario where Rayan and Aania knew each other before they got married, how they ‘tried’ to make their marriages work and how they decide to tell their respective spouses the truth. What somehow did not manage to click with me was the conviction in the realisation of what propels them to make their final decision. The repetitive ‘we have hurt good people’ was not good enough for me for surely they knew that would happen when they set upon the paths they had chosen. It made a bit more sense when Kamil and Zoya actually walked out and Rayan and Aania were left free to be together – but did not want to.

I think I knew where the story was headed in the last two episodes but still those two episodes were presented in such a way that there was still some room for speculation. I was not too impressed with Aania’s ‘ tum nay mujhay pyar karna sikhaya magar Kamil nay pyar nibhana sikhaya’ but yes, Rayan’s helplessness at realising he was about to lose his best friend forever was a tad more relatable. I also liked how the gap of three months was shown where Rayan and Aania had time to be in touch again but chose not to.

Besides the main story, I feel what appealed to me in this drama was the portrayal of other relationships too. The way Rayan’s father was disapproving of Zoya and how she managed to win his affection. How Rayan’s mother was not portrayed as a typical mother in law. I also liked how Rayan went to his father in the last episode. Zoya’s father seemed to have not totally forgiven her before he passed away which is why she saw a father figure in Rayan’s father and gave it her all. Zoya’s mother is one character I did not think highly of for she somehow ‘tricked’ Rayan into marrying Zoya and vice versa and also the tears that seemed to be the deciding factor for any of Zoya’s life decisions were very annoying. I was glad that Zoya finally asked her mother to cut her some slack and not push her into making decisions which would only further complicate her life. And – I liked how the male actors weeped much more than the female ones for a change – ha!

What I also found quite interesting was Zoya and Kamil’s relationship. Mutual friendship and respect and a glimpse of the kind of people they are. Where Rayan and Aania betrayed their trust, the two remained civil and Zoya’s visit to Kamil in the hospital and the mall meeting was very interestingly done. Where Rayan and Aania screamed discomfort and secrets when the four met, Zoya and Kamil seemed to share a pretty warm and comfortable relationship. Hats off to Rabab Hashim, Sara Khan, Agha Ali and Ahmed Hassan for portraying those emotions really well. While I felt Agha Ali and Ahmed Hassan faltered in their acting in moments such as the time when Rayan and Aania met in the park in the last episode and I could not quite gauge Rayan’s true feelings and Kamil’s overemotional declarations of love or the overly casual bromance with Rayan seemed a bit too forced at times but only at times which is why I am happy enough to think maybe that is what Kamil is all about.

I think of the four main characters, Zoya was probably my favorite. It was nice to see a character that seemed quite in touch with reality. Yes she eloped with Daniyal thinking he was her true love, wallowed in remorse and even self pity for a short while, was cajoled into a marriage at the time when she was quite vulnerable and not thinking clearly and then tried her best to make it work but was not stuck in the past nor self pity nor did she offer unnecessary apologies or tantrums. I liked how she stood her ground when she realized Rayan had betrayed her trust but also found the end quite in line with her character.

Like I mentioned in the overview as well, the simple treatment to this drama was definitely a plus. The focus on simple, everyday outfits, meal times, houses – somehow that really draws me in and makes me relate to the drama much more and Tumhare Hain did that perfectly. The story was not very new I know – but I am not complaining. Would I recommend this drama? Yes, if you have time off to binge watch something that you might want to forward a few episodes in but nothing too heavy duty or addictive or if you are not pressed for choices – then go for it 

I can also not help resist adding that these two gave me some very serious hair goals – if there is such a thing, lol!

For those of you who watched this drama, what did you think? I will not say whether it should have ended this way or not – but for me, the ending worked. I still have that niggle of suspicion that Aania and Rayan might still have had some feelings for each other and that part was not very clearly given closure but hey, where I am all praises for this drama being so closely linked to reality – I can not expect every loophole to be promptly dealt with and closed so will let it go at that. Did you enjoy watching Tumhare Hain -would love to hear your thoughts 

Kunwal Javid

P.S. Any recommendations of a drama on air that I may be missing – besides the very popular ones. I am on the brink (just about) to check out Bholi Bano. I know, I know – help!

So the pace of this episode was decent, ending at the point we had begun to predict a while ago. It seems inevitable that Zainy and Ahmer will end up together – now how long that union stays and how it ends is another matter.

Following Sherry’s confrontation with Zainy last week, both of them seem to be sulking with a shrewd, ‘all sensors on’ Nigar Apa being their avid audience. Sherry is apparently going away to Germany for a month. His conversation with Zainy in the garden made me laugh and shake my head. Really Sherry? Botany 101? Is that your romantic bye bye to the love of your life? Maybe Zainy is rubbing off on me a bit but Sherry does seem a bit bland. Sure, he is solid and dependable and that is important but with the impression we are given of Zainy’s ‘genes’ I think what Zainy wants is excitement and not dependability, hence the reason Ahmer is so much more attractive to her than Sherry.

Ahmer has woken from his coma with a guilty conscience. We learn he and Bina ‘broke up’ prior to the accident and while Ahmer was in the hospital the producers visited and informed Mina that Ahmer will be replaced in the drama/movie he was acting in earlier. With his world falling apart around him and his mother thinking ‘kissi ki aah lag gayi’ and that kissi although unspoken seems to be pointing at Zainy, loud and clear. They have all wronged Zainy they now realize. Phuppo’s statement left me aghast though. I thought it was genuine love for Zainy she felt but I suppose she was not aloof or immune to Zainy’s Abba’s riches and says to her sister in law that had Ahmer married Zainy he would have had ‘rupaya, paisa and his own production house!’. Shame on you Phuppo!

If Mehtaab so strongly felt that shaadi was the solution to Zainy’s problem then she really should not have opted for Sherry for the very reasons she cites to Zainy about how delicate and fragile this whole net of relationships is and because she knows very well how deeply in love Zainy still is with Ahmer. There was a time when Zainy adored Sherry and now we see her grimacing when he rings her and cutting him short. Yes I fault Zainy for being ungrateful and bratty when she talks back to her parents and her attention seeking dramatic antics. But I do believe she is being bullied into this marriage and she very clearly says to her mother that she can not forget Ahmer and yes now she is engaged she could accept it and move on but we know Zainy is not that strong. I figured it would only be a matter of time when she gives in when Ahmer reaches out to her and that did turn out to be the case.

Using his mother to ring Zainy under the pretense that Phuppo is unwell, Zainy shows up and sees Ahmer. Where Sherry is quiet and dependable, Ahmer is all dramatic and passionate and his ‘meri aankhon mein dekho’ and ‘tum meri ho’ is supposedly what Zainy yearns to hear and although she flounces off then, Ahmer does tell his mother that she will come back. Another insight into Zainy’s father’s personality – he was junooni, as is Zainy, as is Ahmer. Ahmer’s words, not mine! I did say earlier that Ahmer is a male version of Zainy and it was amusing to hear him utter the same words. Further insight into her father’s personality comes in the conversation Nigar has with her father when she says that Zainy’s biological father also suffered from depression and she feels it is a disease that has been passed onto Zainy and could be further passed onto her- and Sherry’s – children.

Novera. Walking talking information channel. I wondered at the purpose of Novera’s role in this drama I am fast learning what her purpose is! She ‘informs’ Nigar about Zainy’s depression and her therapy sessions and conveniently ‘informs’ Ahmer about Zainy’s whereabouts when she goes to Lahore. The smiles exchanged between Ahmer and Zainy at the end of the episode make it quite clear that she has forgiven him and will go back to him now.

I found Ahmer’s sudden realization of how he has wronged Zainy and how he is in love with her a bit hard to believe. What he said about how he thought she would not go anywhere and he thought ‘mera haq hai uss par’ made me think it fed his ego to have her pine after him. Whether it is Bina ditching him or believing that his accident and downfall is a result of having hurt Zainy’s innocent heart, or whatever, he does seem to be hell bent on having Zainy back in his life. And has left no stone unturned to make sure Zainy knows it.

Now that Zainy seems to be clear on what she wants and since Ahmer and his family want the same I guess she will be married off to him with Mehtaab and Abba giving in and Sherry putting a ‘pathar on his heart’ and stepping back. The thing with this play is that everyone is giving a good performance but nobody truly stands out. Agha Ali fits comfortably and convincingly into his dependable guy role whereas Munib Butt is actually pretty alright as the hot headed, junooni guy bent on winning back his junooni soul mate. I did cringe when Sherry laughed and said ‘sharma gayee’ when Zainy was short with him. I thought this guy knew her inside out – Sherry is turning out to be Mr. Not So Perfect.

Next week’s episode’s promo shows that Zainy has not wasted any time in letting her parents know what she wants now that Ahmer has her back, so to speak. Bring on the tantrums! How many of you watched this latest episode? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Oh my! A lot of us wondered why Mehtaab was so quiet about her past and now that the truth has begun to unravel, I am not surprised she was so mum about it. I do however think that there is more to the story and will not write off Mehtaab as the villain just yet but what an interesting twist for once if she really was the one at fault here. Sure did not see that coming!

Ahmer, with his ‘let me take your til and put it in my pocket’ and ‘hide your khushboo from the world’ is deep deeeeeep in love with Zainy. Please do not hate me for ridiculing those ‘romantic’ lines for I am a romantic at heart and fall for all the brooding, ‘eyes that speak volumes’ and even sigh at times at the age old ‘mein tumharay beghair nahin reh sakta’ but this til and khushboo business had to top the ‘Cheesy Lines Under The Guise of Romance’ charts!! And even though Munib Butt did not look very convincing saying those lines and seemed on the verge of laughing himself, it seems to work though for although Zainy keeps telling Ahmer that she can not be with him, she still loves him and is often lost in thought thinking about the moments she has spent with him.

Nigar and Novera – what a combo! Novera is like the match that would set the ticking bomb that is Nigar off – she just needs to find the right moment to say what she has to say and then let all hell break loose! I found it hilarious when Zainy says Novera has a crush on Sherry and when she tells her off for telling her for the umpteenth time how lucky she is was so spot on. I wonder why Nigar has not sat Novera down for a 1 to 1 for Novera sure as hell looks like she’s ready to spill the beans and then some! Nigar is not immune to Zainy’s aloofness and disinterest in the whole wedding preparations and does not mince words sharing her thoughts with Sherry. Zainy has decided that she can not play with her parents’ ‘izzat’ anymore and will marry Sherry thinking this is the right thing to do.

Ah, the bombshell! I am still wary of this latest development. Phuppo and Tayi’s conversation seems to suggest that Mehtaab had wronged her first husband and he kept quiet and forbid his family to talk about what happened. Ahmer listens in on the conversation and upon a search through his dead Chachu’s briefcase he finds a brown envelope which seems to hold a lot of answers. So did Mehtaab leave Zainy’s father for Yusuf Kamdar? Really?! I thought the whole ‘besharam aap, nahin besharam aap’ might end with Mehtaab slapping Zainy but it did not come to that. The look Yusuf gave Mehtaab and Zainy though seemed to suggest there may be some truth in what Zainy is accusing her mother of but we will have to wait and see. I thought it odd that Mehtaab stepped out when Yusuf asked her to. Why could she not have finished off her conversation with Zainy on a proper note rather than running off when Yusuf called her? I wonder what Zainy’s father had written in that letter? Was it something that he did that made Mehtaab leave him and then marry Yusuf or did she actually leave him for Yusuf? Somehow I find it hard to believe that Mehtaab and Yusuf were romantically involved while Mehtaab was married To Zainy’s father and I think there is more to this than what we have been told so far but then who knows? I suppose the story will unfold eventually.

Zainy had been accepting, although disinterested with her upcoming marriage to Sherry but it seems that now armed with this ‘truth’ she will not marry him as she clearly says to her mother. Next week’s promo shows Phuppo and Tayi’s appearance at Zainy’s house ‘demanding’ her hand in marriage and Mehtaab saying she would rather kill her daughter than agree to this marriage. Umm, ok. Just as this drama seems to settle into a sluggish pace, something comes up and the pace picks up again. I had not expected this twist in Mehtaab’s character and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

I know some of us do not seem to like Munib Butt’s acting but I have not seen him in any other play and to me, he seems perfect as the impulsive, immature Ahmer. I love how Seher Afzal has portrayed her character where she feels she is the one being wronged and ‘judged’ and where she is not evil but we see what a confused, spoilt girl she is. The claustrophobic intricate web of relations does seem to raise its head in every other episode, such as Yusuf’s comment in this episode about Zainy now being not only a daughter but daughter in law as well so she should be extra careful about maintaining the ‘izzat’ of this house – uggh – but yet this drama has more to offer in terms of story, pace and acting and keeps my interest alive.

Seems like Zainy will get her way and marry Ahmer and I saw a photo somewhere on Facebook of Novera in bridal clothes and sitting with Sherry so seems like she may get her Prince Charming too. But what then? What did you all make of this episode? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

There is something about this play that when you sit down to watch it, you do not feel any scene is being dragged and each episode keeps the viewers’ interest alive. The storyline, although nothing extraordinary yet is different and the acting of the main leads and the supporting characters alike draws you in.

Zainy’s dramatic departure from the house she grew up left everyone dealing with different emotions. Abba disappointed and angry, Nigar Apa outraged, Sherry broken hearted and Mehtaab devastated. Whereas in Zainy’s susraal, Phuppo is disapproving of how events played out and we see later Ahmer also blaming Zainy for her rash behaviour. It does not take long for Zainy to start missing her family and realizing life is not a bed of roses. Taayi has become the typical evil saas trying to cause trouble and Ahmer is his usual greedy immature self. I spent the past four episodes and well even the episodes before that really trying to gauge what Ahmer and Co feel for Zainy and I am still confused but will touch upon that later in this review.

We see Zainy struggling to adapt to changes in Ahmer’s personality and making ends meet. She realizes she has hurt her family’s feelings but Yusuf Kamdar seems to want nothing to do with her. She seems to be torn between feeling righteous to have left behind her father’s ‘murderers’ and also missing her mother for when Mehtaab has her books delivered to her and later the provident fund cheque sent her reaction upon checking the envelope to see if there is a letter inside or a glimpse of her mother as she drives away made me feel for her. However, before Mehtaab sends the cheque Ahmer starts feeling that he should begin to make amends with Zainy’s family so that they welcome her and extend financial support which basically means financial support for Ahmer. I know Ahmer is jobless, greedy and immature but I am left wondering is that why he married her then – eyeing Yusuf Kamdar’s wealth?! I would not be surprised if that were the case.

Anyways, Novera – the ever loyal,constantly- in -Zainy’s- face -and -house friend, who could not tell Zainy enough how lucky she was, has managed to wrap the formidable Nigar Apa round her little finger. I have to say – I really do not like Novera’s character. Novera seems to be sitting on her high horse judging Zainy from behind her hijab and holier than thou attitude and while I could be alright with that for Zainy truly has pulled quite a crazy act and Novera apparently was the sensible, obedient daughter – but her little antic of gloating over the wedding card in front of Zainy and telling her that her family despises her now seems to be in bad taste. I am never sure what these girls aim to achieve when they desperately want to get married to a man who is very clearly deeply in love with another woman. Nevertheless, Novera is Mrs Sherry now and Nigar Apa feeling she has done the right thing for her brother heads back to Canada.

I am glad Yusuf does not blame Mehtaab for Zainy’s behaviour. Our dramas do the whole ‘tumhari aulaad ki harkaatein’ and ‘tumhari tarbiyat’ to death and it was really nice to see Yusuf not go down that road. He is angry at Zainy but I feel his anger is justified for he has really treated her as his own and she basically spat in his face and walked out. I kept thinking Mehtaab was a bit silly to try the Sherry-Zainy idea out knowing very well how this could impact the whole household if it went wrong which it did in the end. But then I suppose she knew, or well thought she knew Zainy and Sherry very well and believed it would be the perfect match. I felt for Mehtaab now and Sania Saeed’s portrayal of a broken, depressed woman is so spot on. Especially during the scenes when Nigar minces no words in her ‘I told you so’ rants and Mehtaab says nothing in her own defense.

Turns out Mehtaab has cancer – and it has now reached its final stages. In the earlier episodes when Mehtaab approached Sherry about Zainy and with the animosity of sorts between her and Nigar, I had thought that while Mehtaab did not have anything against Sherry or Nigar she also did not have any emotional attachment with either. But I found I was wrong during the scenes between Sherry and Mehtaab after Zainy’s ‘love story’ with Ahmer begins and my thoughts were further confirmed now also when Sherry takes care of Mehtaab, coaxing her to eat and not be depressed and how she calls him baitaay. Even though he calls her baji she was a mother figure to him and the scene when Sherry confronts Mehtaab about her illness was done so emotionally it made me cry. Agha Ali acted so well, his tears seemed like those of a child realizing he is about to lose his mother.

Mehtaab’s death was an unexpected twist in the story. I am glad though that Zainy was able to go see her mother. Her last words to her daughter seem to prove her innocence when she says ‘jab aap ko mera sach pata chalay tau khud par kaabu rakhyay ga’.  I really want to know now what Mehtaab’s true story is. The flashbacks Phuppo has and the conversations Phuppo and Taayi have shown a negative side to Mehtaab but Mehtaabs character itself and her last words beg to paint a different picture. Also Naani’s conversation and then handing Mehtaab’s diary to Zainy will probably finally tell us what the truth is. I could not believe Ahmer was not allowing Zainy to go see her dead mother’s face one last time. Taayi has been mostly a negative character, yet she too seemed moved by Zainy’s despair and implored Ahmer to let her go.

Zainy seems to be drifting from home to college to umm, even Hyderabad. Although her attitude seems less than sensible I can almost relate to how she is feeling lost now. She is determined to know her mother’s true story now and is trying to find answers from any place possible. The highlight of this latest episode for me had to be how Yusuf Kamdar told off Mehtaab’s brother and said he would come bring his daughter home. This man has truly proven (so far at least) that he had always believed Zainy to be his own. Like he would get angry with Nigar, he was angry with Zainy as would any father have been but when he realized she needed help and especially with Mehtaab gone and her last words haunting him, Abba steps up and goes to Hyderabad to bring back Zainy.

Sherry’s axing the tree seemed a bit extreme but then I suppose that is his personality. An introverted, emotional but not openly so kind of person, he does not know how to deal with or express his grief and anger and is taking it out on a (poor) tree. There is one thing I keep noticing – Zainy wants to reach out to Sherry but she keeps referring to him as bhai and I feel for her that she has always loved and known him as a brother, the one person who shared the same ‘parents’ and love and security that she had known and she wants to be able to share her grief with him. Sherry torn between his own grief and anger seemingly wants nothing to do with Zainy.

I have come to the conclusion so far that Ahmer and Co are greedy and must have some underlying agenda of their own especially Ahmer and Taayi such as Yusuf’s wealth but I do not believe they hate Zainy or wish anything bad on her. They seemed visibly shaken by Mehtaab’s death and there was no gloating or mean comments over her death as you often see with the evil in laws in dramas. Ahmer seems to care for Zainy in his own twisted way but I am still unsure whether he would feel the same if Zainy did not also seem to be a sonay ka anda. Zainy feels she has suffered enough for her doings and should be forgiven by all and while I agree she has been ungrateful, reckless and brought all this upon herself, a part of me hopes that she realizes how rash and thoughtless she has been and is able to break free of Ahmer and focus on making a life for herself again with Yusuf’s support – if only for Mehtaab’s sake.

I would assume that Yusuf will now take Zainy under his wing and give her some security again but will she leave Ahmer? For till now he has not done anything which is reason enough for her to stop loving him and leave him. Or will he show a different side to his character which will make her leave him. Novera seems to have only one mission in life and in her bubble of piety and self righteousness she believes she is justified and that is to keep Zainy away from the house she grew up in so she may not get close to Sherry again. Even if Sherry does not end up with Zainy, I really do not want to see with him Novera.

I know 23 episodes have gone by but I am still enjoying this drama. I do believe however that it should be wrapped up within the next few episodes once Mehtaab’s story has been disclosed. I can not say I will miss Mehtaab’s character immensely for although Sania Saeed has done a good job as Mehtaab, her character did not have that much of an impact. I thoroughly enjoyed Nadeem’s acting as the man stepping up to take care of Zainy and to honor his dead wife’s last wish. Agha Ali, Seher Afzal and Munib Butt have all portrayed their characters perfectly and I love the chemistry between these three especially in the graveyard scene when not a word was uttered but yet so much was said. I am curious to see how the writer intends to end this drama – whether Zainy will be forgiven when she repents and will end up with Sherry or she will carry on along the road to self destruction although I do find that unlikely since Yusuf Kamdar has so determinedly stepped in to rescue her.

Have you all enjoyed these episodes as much as I have? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

I think I might be on to something here. Seriously. A career in psychiatry. If the psychiatrists and diagnoses in our dramas are anything to go by – I think I may do a better job than most of the ‘top’ psychiatrists in the city! Unsunni, Sangat, Kisay Chahoon and now Tum Yaad Aye. Zainy is getting therapy done and apparently she is depressed! Depressed, ha! Spoilt and ‘na shukri’ as Mamoo correctly puts it is what she is! Ab apni diagnosis ka bill kis ko bhaijoon?!

Anyways, my career can wait a while. Back to Zainy & Co. Mehtaab shaken by Zainy’s suicide attempt vows to give Zainy whatever she wants – in this case, Ahmer. She goes to her old house and speaks to Tayyi who very clearly tells her that she and Ahmer have no such intentions of taking Zainy into their fold. Poor Mehtaab, it was clearly very difficult for her to go back to that house and additionally to ask for the rishta of her own daughter but she felt she needed to do that for Zainy’s sake. However, she does not share with Zainy what really transpired at Ahmer’s house. I thought we may finally learn Mehtaab’s ‘story’ but all we get to know is that the house in which Ahmer lives is really Zainy’s biological father’s house.

Zainy seems to think all is well with her and Ahmer but is given a rude awakening when she sees him and Beena on tv. Her screaming on the phone was cringe worthy but I am fast learning it was definitely in line with her character. Okay, I may understand feeling cheated in love and upset but why lash out at her mother now? Especially since they have given in and given their blessings for this match, grudgingly but given nonetheless. Ab Ahmer is a fellow brat like Zainy then how are Mehtaab, abba and Sherry to blame?!

Sherry’s comment to Zainy about her being like a bander hanging out the car window made me laugh. That scene was very odd I thought and I noticed the same again when Zainy is coming back from her phuppo’s house. The impression is given of a moving car but it seems more like a boat sailing and the background playing separately especially as there was that moment when Sherry was driving and a lorry was coming at him from the window and he swerved the wheel directly in the direction of the lorry which would definitely have resulted in a crash! No, I do not normally notice such minute details but the whole effect was so poor that having established Zainy as a bander hanging out the window my attention was then diverted to the background instead and that was when I noticed the lorry.

Now that Zainy knows what Ahmer really is, he can not care less and does not put up any show. Zainy is wallowing away in self pity, correction depression and I wondered at the whole typing scenario Abba put Zainy up to. However, when he catches her trying to pop pills again I really liked his conversation with her. I liked how he explained to her that things happen in life and he felt he has raised her to be a strong individual. Now that is a separate debate whether he really had raised her that way for he and Sherry had pampered her a lot and kept her quite hidden from the outside world. That does not clear Zainy of the blame of being immature and ungrateful though. I do not get this constant ‘why is everyone so bad to me’ whine. She even said it to Abba in that conversation. He tries to make her see there is more to life than letting one event drown you and encourages her to focus her thoughts and energy elsewhere and she takes on running and sports.

Which lands her at Ahmer’s house with that racket. That whole scene was a little overly dramatic but I still thought alright at least she has perked up and will hopefully begin to rid herself of Ahmer and any feelings she has for him. Alas. Zainy walks out triumphant with the house documents (which we later learn Mehtaab returns – what a fuss over nothing!). When Ahmer runs after her and she spits out how she hates him I thought how unconvincing she sounded but I suppose that is what we were meant to feel for even Ahmer says to her that he can still see she loves him.

So Zainy knows Sherry loves her. And brat that she is, she made a spectacle of him by using him to make Ahmer jealous. How does this girl’s mind work? I thought after the eye opening conversation with Abba and the racket scene she was ready to move ahead. But she has sunk to ‘I will show him I can get married first’ and dragging Sherry into the whole mess. I like how Sherry tells her off and puts her in her place at times but maybe they all need a much more firm hand with her. Pyar, reasoning, everything seems to fail with this girl! I really felt for her parents and Sherry because they really are trying to help her out in every way they can but to no avail. I even gasped when Mehtaab grabbed her arm and glared at her when she discovered the pills. Behind the ‘aap baitay’ , seems like even Mehtaab is beginning to lose patience now.

Zainy agrees to get married but on the condition that is engaged next week. It is quite obvious that she wants the engagement so that Ahmer can know she is engaged. Is she thinking that will make him want to come back to her? Phuppo and Mina apparently are not evil as I thought they may be. They were however aware of Ahmer’s nature and Beena’s existence and although Mina did warn Ahmer to stay away from Zainy, how much could they really do?

Next week’s preview shows Ahmer back in Zainy’s life. Is it just me or does anyone else think that he may try to get close to Zainy to get back at her for that racket she smacked on his face – or have I been watching too many dramas? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

I was glad to see on ARY’s facebook page that this is the second last episode of the drama. Surprising as it is that it has managed to hold our interest past the 25 episode mark, it definitely is time for it to wrap up before the viewers begin to feel it is dragging. Today’s episode showed the characters’ lives move forward and not entirely how I may have predicted.

If Novera spent even half as much time working on her own marriage than she did worrying and trying to poke her nose into Zainy’s marriage, she could have possibly made things work for herself and Sherry. Her smiling face when she offers to take Zainy shopping sent alarm bells ringing in my head and true to form, she did not disappoint as we learn she rang Ahmer to come and take Zainy home. Zainy is pregnant and Novera takes it upon herself to inform Ahmer. ‘Shauhar tailormade nahin miltay. Mera shauhar tumharay leeyay utra tha, lekin mila mujhay’. How interesting. True, Zainy herself did not wish to be with Sherry but if Novera realized he really was not meant to be hers, then why ‘sawaar’ herself on Sherry’s head?!

I am not sure if Sherry knew Novera rang Ahmer or had asked her to ring him but he was definitely on Team Novera when he spoke to Yusuf later about how the right thing for Zainy to do is to go back to Ahmer. Yusuf has always been very encouraging to the extent of being borderline pushy when it comes to Zainy’s education but I do not think he was wrong to say that they could have waited a few days and let Zainy give her exams. But then later, when Zainy says to Ahmer that giving CSS is her father’s dream, he was not entirely off the mark when he said she had not come to his house to fulfil her father’s dreams. While I find he is wrong to forbid her to meet her father, I do think Zainy’s stance about her exams, education and career is a bit off since these were things she had not discussed and come to a mutual agreement with Ahmer about before marriage and yes, we may say women have the right to do with that they want even if they are married but my personal opinion and the way our society is, makes me think that for Zainy to be so firm about giving these exams and the way she argues with Ahmer rather than rationally discussing it with him, when it was not something they had both mutually agreed on before is a bit out of line. Especially when she justifies it as something that her father wanted to do – the very father she yelled at and gave no respect to in front of Ahmer. (Ambien) But then Ahmer reacts to her attitude by going out of control and that just makes things worse. Anyhow, what Ahmer also said to her about how she could be a bit calm when he is angry and vice versa makes sense but probably not for these two for they are like two peas in a pod as far as maturity, anger and sense is concerned.

With Novera riling Ahmer up, he emotionally blackmails her into telling Yusuf she will not be meeting him again. His reply to her was very sweet and emotional. It was probably what she needed to hear and we see Zainy moving on with her life with Ahmer. We see a different side to Ahmer now where he thinks nothing of using his wife’s beauty to his advantage like when he tries to convince her to act in the Ruby Soap commercial. ‘ Meray dil ki awaz Ruby Soap’ what a tagline, LOL! No wonder Zainy said no, although the reasons she cited were obviously different! Aslam Sleazeball/Sb tells Zainy that Ahmer has committed on her behalf to act in his upcoming serial and has also taken an advance off him. He sends Ahmer away on the pretence of checking out a location for a shoot and while Ahmer later swears he did not know of Aslam’s intentions, I am still unclear about the advance. Did he commit and take the advance or was that also a fabrication on Aslam’s part?

Even though Sherry is hell bent on making sure Zainy stays with Ahmer and does not speak to her but when she reaches out for his help, he appears and takes her home. She asks to be taken to Yusuf’s house, saying she wants nothing to do with Ahmer but he drops her back at Ahmer’s house and tells her ‘ Tum ek guzray huay pal mein jeenay wali larki ho. Yeh jang tumhari hai jo tumhein he larna hoga. Apni iss laraayi ko doosron par masalat na karo’. I feel Sherry is being harsh for Zainy is clearly miserable and feels she has made a mistake so just because she is pregnant now, Sherry is letting his own feelings for her overrule what is actually probably better for Zainy. Sigh, a glitch in angel Sherry’s character. Zainy is immature, makes nonsensical and impulsive decisions but after how Ahmer treated her when he locked her in her room and then this incident at Aslam’s house I would think Sherry should have let her gone to Yusuf’s house and his own feelings for her are overshadowing and clouding his judgement for what may be better for Zainy.

Ahmer – yet again earnest, yet again declaring his undying love, yet again asks for another chance. And Zainy relents. Time passes, Zainy’s baby arrives and we see Yusuf is unwell and confined to a wheelchair. Novera, the ever ‘tactful’ Novera feels he can not recover from whatever illness seems to have overcome Yusuf. Ahmer seems to quite busy with his production business but not doing so well for he is unable to pay all the household expenses. Whatever happened to Zainy’s CSS result? When he promises her that she and the baby are his responsibility, is that when it was decided Zainy would give up her pursuit of her career? I may be digressing here but seriously why did Phuppo never get married and have a family of her own? She is nice looking, a reasonable and sensible woman – did she not deserve more in life than to pick up after her crazy brothers and their crazy offspring?!

I have really enjoyed this drama so far and I like the twists and turns and unexpected events the writer has thrown our way, which has kept this drama interesting. Seher Afzal as with every episode has acted really well in this episode and Muneeb Butt (yes I know a lot of us are not fans) – but he has fit well into the character of Ahmer. The OST and the visuals give a very ‘slow’ look to the drama but after the first few episodes, the drama has been anything but slow.Next week’s preview shows that Beena is back (or maybe she had never really left) and we see Zainy with Yusuf and then a much older Zainy meeting an older Sherry. So I suppose Sherry and Zainy do not end up together now at least – maybe in their ‘barhappa’? Looking forward to the last episode and seeing how this all ends. Any guesses as to whether Sherry and Zainy end up together – ever?! Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Well! What a happening and fast paced episode this was! My emotions were like a ping pong ball flitting between sympathy, dislike, anger, awe – you name it and sometimes contradicting emotions for the same person! Although Yusuf is going all out to help Zainy feel welcome in his home again, he would time and again tell her that she must not do anything that would upset Ahmer. Sherry, however feels that Yusuf is encouraging Zainy to act against her husband’s wishes and that if ‘Baji hoti iss situation mein tau Zainy ko kabhi encourage na kartein’. I have to say Sherry’s conversations with Yusuf are interesting for I mostly can not tell whether it is anger or his own feelings which he is scared of or Zainy’s best interests at heart that makes him say all the things he says to his father. Nonetheless, no matter what he thinks or says – in the end it is what Yusuf decides that happens and Sherry accepts.

Novera’s prolonged stay in Islamabad somehow gave the impression that things were not right between her and Sherry in the last episode. Let me rephrase that – for things have never been right between the two, but somehow we were given the impression that there was some mystery shrouded in her absence – but apparently there is nothing of the sort. Novera returns and is besides herself with anger and indignation to find Zainy visiting again and that nobody thought to mention this ‘development’ to her. Just in those couple of moments I felt for Novera when  Sherry is short with her on the phone and she returns saying she felt the ‘udaasi’ in his voice. But her antics later on in the episode quickly crushed any little sympathy I had for her. Yes I know she has brought this all upon herself. She wriggled her way into Zainy’s home and marriage by being Nigaar Apa’s chamchi and I snorted when she even used the ‘what will Apa say’ card about Zainy’s return. Sherry’s love for Zainy was no secret to her and her insecurity and pettiness makes her act out in ways that by no means bring her closer to Sherry. I thoroughly enjoyed the standoff between Novera and Zainy in this episode too and yes, Zainy has been immature, ungrateful, rude etc and I do not know why but I loved when she said to Novera – ‘jaisi bhi – but hoon iss ghar ki beti’! And also how she was confident about her own ‘place’ in Yusuf’s house – if only she had been that sure and confident about all this earlier then she would not have been swayed by Ahmer. Ah well, spilt milk and all that!

However unreasonable we may think Ahmer is being by forbidding Zainy to visit her father’s house, it is a decision she made when she walked out on them. And while he could relent by letting her visit her father, I can not say I fault him for not wanting her to go to the same house that Sherry lives in, given that he knows Sherry is/was deeply in love with her and was engaged to be married to her. Whether he is wrong or right to tell her not to go to her parents’ house, Zainy is not right to be going behind his back – in my opinion. She has every right to go visit her father but then she should tell Ahmer, argue over it, be firm – whatever mode she chooses but not sneak behind his back. Ever since their marriage I have truly wondered at their relationship. The lovestruck Zainy and desperate Ahmer seem to have faded away but it has not even transformed into a comfortable, loving relationship either. Ahmer at times seems genuinely to care for Zainy and Zainy – I do not know what she feels for him.

Anyhows, this all blows up in Zainy’s face when Novera brings it all out in the open in front of Ahmer. I liked how Sherry did not interfere between Ahmer and Zainy’s conversation but then had a go at Novera later, LOL! Novera – what a piece of work this woman is! You know in my previous couple of reviews I had said that Ahmer would have to do something seriously despicable to have Zainy dislike him and well Ahmer physically manhandled her, tore up her admit card AND locked her in her room! Matlab, road to redemption par aana bhi chahay, he would not even be able to find his way on to it! Where would he start! I am confused though as to how Yusuf finds out – did Zainy call him? And how in the world did Zainy escape – for that window was broken but it had bars across it I believe? I know Zainy is stick thin but still!

I have to say – I truly enjoyed the faceoff between Ahmer and Sherry. Sherry has always been the quiet, broody character and to see him stand up to Ahmer and threaten him – ‘oonchi awaaz mein humein bhi baat karnay aati hai Ahmer ‘– was really a treat to watch. Ahmer showed how low he can stoop – I am sure he can stoop lower but khair – when he said Zainy’s character was faulty. Yes, Zainy has been a brat and she makes these silly choices but I did feel for her when she sat at her mother’s grave and said ‘mein kahan jaoon’.

‘Pyaar tau tum nay kabhi kiya he nahin Zainy, kia hota tau tumharay leeyay duniya say larta. Kis haq se mein awaaz doon.’ Aww! Sherry was upset when Zainy left him for Ahmer but he took the rejection gracefully although he was not impressed with how Zainy had been rude to Yusuf and Mehtaab. His anger really kicked in when he saw what a toll it took on Mehtaab. He loves Zainy though, but is married and so is Zainy and it is so true that Zainy never loved him – at least not in the way he loves her. Gosh, I feel like I am writing about those romantic novels I would read, haha! Yes, ideally we would say he is married and should move on, etc – but kia karein, I truly want Sherry to be happy and if Novera was a sweet girl I would hope the marriage works but it seems that things will only worsen for she has taken Zainy’s return very badly and is resorting to petty little tantrums now. She is constantly comparing herself to Zainy and how Yusuf should feel the same for her, a disillusion he is very happy to crush with his ‘sorry baita but aap mein Zainy jaisi qaabliyat he nahin’ which really did make me laugh. From Novera’s point of view, he probably came across as mean but well she does ask for it I think!

I was surprised to see Sherry siding with Novera over Zainy being made to go back to Ahmer. True, Yusuf sounded a bit out of line saying her exam was more important than her marriage but then he reasoned that if she is unhappy and has made a mistake then by no means does she need to live with that mistake for the rest of her life. I am glad he is sensible and open minded about it. Novera harping from her high horse about how quarrels are common between a couple would probably not be as convincing if Sherry had treated her that way.

At this point, the thing that bothers me is if Zainy suddenly falls in love with Sherry. She wants his love and friendship back but there is the constant ‘bhai’ factor and with this being the 25th episode and the end seemingly near I will not be able to stomach a sudden, undying passionate love for Sherry. Agha Ali has really outdone himself in this drama. We ooh-ed and aah-ed over Asher in Humsafar – well, at least I did but Agha Ali has portrayed Sherry so well that he gives Asher stiff competition and more than Zainy, I want Sherry to get his happy ending, whatever that may be! Each episode has a few well written dialogues that really make me pause and say ah! The writer, Naila Ansari is new to me and I do not know of any of her other plays but she done a good job with this drama. Also, Big Bang productions I have noticed of late have these distinctive features (not necessarily good) that stand out such as the constant daylight glare in Mera Yaar Miladay, the awkward closeups in Socha Na Tha to name a few – but as far as I can recall this play has thankfully been kept clear of such gimmicks.

Although I feel it is time for the drama to begin wrapping up, I did thoroughly enjoy today’s episode. How many of you felt the same? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Hmm so 24 episodes down and we finally learn Mehtaab’s story. Her first husband was apparently going to go ahead with marrying another woman, a singer and although it is unclear whether he actually did marry her or not but Mehtaab did not marry Yusuf till a year after her first husband’s death. As Zainy says that ‘zehn par paray parday hatt gaye’ but there are still a few questions in my mind such as what was in the letter her father had penned then? Had he fabricated a story that Zainy ended up believing or was it only half the story? Or was the letter even from her father in the first place?

Yusuf and Sherry’s conversations are interesting. I have to admire how Yusuf has stepped up to fulfil his role as a father after Mehtaab’s death and to not let Zainy feel she is alone. Sherry was always Zainy’s saviour but with Mehtaab’s death, his heart seems to have hardened against Zainy. He accuses his father of ‘spoiling’ Zainy again and feels she is responsible for Mehtaab’s death for causing her all the grief and pain that she did. When Yusuf tells him to let things go, his ‘puraani baat ussay dekhtay he nayee ho jaati hai’ made me wonder whether he was referring to the love he felt for Zainy or the anger over Mehtaab’s death that resurfaces when he sees her but the last scene where we hear his thoughts out loud make it very clear that he is still in love with Zainy.

Ahmer has taken a rigid stance against Zainy’s family. He was all for trying to make amends when he was hoping to see some cash somewhere but I suppose Mehtaab’s provident fund was ample enough to do away with that urge. Where he shares contentedly his feelings over his family’s gathering, he flares up when Zainy mentions hers. Pehlay they were all her father’s ‘qaatil’ now they are all minus Mehtaab – Mehtaab’s qaatil. Sigh. However much I do not like Ahmer spewing venom and standing in the way of Zainy and her ‘other’ family – I feel he does have a point with regards to the relationship with Sherry. No, I am not siding with dhakiyanoos Ahmer but his ‘bhai kaunsa wala – jiss say shaadi honay wali thi’ did hit a bit too close to home. Yes, cousins are often ‘bhai’ before marriage but the oscillating between Sherry bhai and then the conversations about honeymoon with Abba in tow and then flashbacks in this episode regarding ‘bad omens’ left me all confused – Ahmer tau phir Ahmer hai!

Where Ahmer is all loud, emotional and outspoken, Sherry is just as quiet, introverted and unwilling to share his thoughts with others. He spends hours in Mehtaab’s room, looking at her things and lost in old memories. Abba worries and feels he should move on but Novera took things a bit far by taking matters into her own hands and instructing Liaqat chacha to box up Mehtaab’s belongings and give them to the poor. Whether it was time to give away Mehtaab’s things or not – it was not her call to make, despite her ‘yeh mera bhi ghar hai’ squeaky speech. Yusuf, Mehtaab and Sherry all put together do not feel as angry and righteous about what Zainy has done than this Novera alone does. True, her actions are spurned by her fear of losing Sherry to Zainy but then she has always known he loves Zainy and she was well aware of that when she married him. Also, why has Sherry suddenly returned from Islamabad? Why the secrecy over why Novera has not come back? Is she coming back?!

Zainy’s mission to now mend the ‘bridge’ between both families seems quite idealistic. In my opinion, there is nothing really to mend. Mehtaab is gone, her ex husband is gone, Abba has forgiven Zainy – all she really needs is Ahmer to stop forbidding her to meet her family and how she plans to change that I do not know. When she walked back into her home I did think for a moment maybe she would be able to strengthen Sherry and Novera’s relationship and change Ahmer’s way of thinking and remain happy with him but upon learning that Novera is absent from the scene – I wonder if Zainy is destined to end up with Sherry. Sherry is angry and refusing to speak to Zainy but his wishy washy ‘ I hate you Zainy’ at the end was anything but convincing.

Zainy has won Abba over and I do not think it will be long when she will be able to win Sherry over again. What really holds my interest at this point is wondering where does this all go from here? Ahmer’s greed and disrespect for Zainy’s family and his insecurity over Sherry ‘bhai’ can not possibly disappear overnight? While it is nice to see Zainy have Yusuf’s support and love again and flourish in that love, what kind of future does she have in that household with Novera around? She is frustrated with Ahmer but she does not hate him as yet and although he is stubborn, he does show concern for her at times such as when he asked her what was wrong as he felt she had been crying etc? I am glad more screen time has been given to Sherry’s character again as I feel Agha Ali has fit into this role so well and his scenes are a treat to watch. The chemistry and unspoken feelings between him and Seher Afzal have been done so well especially in the graveyard last episode and when Zainy returns to her house in this one. I really like this aspect of Yusuf’s character where he is there for Zainy but even though he detests Ahmer and Co he still does not try to poison her or lead her astray as he says she should tell her husband where she is going etc. I love how the director has not tried to include any unnecessary characters and Phuppo and Taayi are not given more screen time than necessary so that the focus does remain on the main characters.

I suppose the drama will be wrapped up within the next couple of episodes which will be good because I would hate for it to be dragged out now. What did you all make of this episode? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

So you know how on Facebook there is this relationship status ‘It’s complicated’ ? Well, I would wonder what that really means and wrote it off as an ‘attention seeking’ status. But nahin, this drama has enlightened me! Zainy loves Ahmer, then wants him dead and then pines for him, then hits him, then screams I hate you, then gets engaged to another, then remembers Ahmer loves mithai so must deliver mithai ! Ahmer – seemed to love Zainy, is in love with Beena, thinks about Zainy, chases after Beena. He does not give Zainy any ghaas and Beena does not give Ahmer any ghaas. Moral: got to be a bit more generous about giving ghaas and life would be less complicated! Uggh!

Mehtaab is happy that her daughter will finally be ‘apnay ghar ki’. That line has been used in many a script but never has it been more apt than in this case for Zainy really will end up in her very own home again. Nigaar Apa has returned for the wedding celebrations and seems to be genuinely happy over this rishta. I suppose for her, Sherry’s happiness is the most important and if this is what he wants then Nigaar is happy for him. I did begin to get that claustrophobic feeling again that I got in the earlier episodes with Nigaar referring to Baji as Sherry’s saas and then Zainy being Abba’s bahu now instead of daughter. Oh well!

Anyways, whether Zainy did feel like she did not truly belong to Abba’s family or not is one matter but her friend Novera sure as hell does keep harping on about how yeh laug are so great, so generous to accept Zainy ‘despite everything’. The yeh laug keeps coming up as if they are separate from Zainy and not her family. It appears that Nigaar knows nothing of Zainy’s love for Ahmer and her suicide attempt and probably Novera will end up blurting it out which she almost did.

So our conspiracy theory over Phuppo’s motives fell flat. She genuinely does care for Zainy and wanted to connect with her dead brother’s child. We learn from Taayi and Phuppo’s conversation that Ahmer not only resembles Zainy’s father but also has his nature, specifically the trait of making sure he does what he wants and then not being happy about it. Makes me wonder if he married Mehtaab against his family’s wishes or that he genuinely wanted to marry her and then later was not faithful to her or happy with her. Wish Mehtaab would spill the beans already. All that emphasis on how she has given her all to build this new life for herself and Zainy may have more of an impact if she gave a bit more insight into her past – or maybe not.

Zainy seemed to be happy about her engagement to Sherry. But I did feel a bit sympathetic when she voices her uncertainties to Mehtaab about how she is being unfair to Sherry and Mehtaab shushes her. Zainy has been bullied into this rishta and true Mehtaab, Naani and Abba think they are doing what is best for her but Zainy is clearly still in love with Ahmer and for now is going along with this marriage for her mother’s sake. Having said that though, I am disgusted with her behaviour when she goes to Ahmer’s house with the mithai and the ‘Ahmer ko zaroor khilaye ga, ussay meetha boht pasand hai’. If she has accepted to marry Sherry then why not do everyone and mostly herself a favour and stay away from Ahmer and Co.

Seems like that is not going to happen. Despite her plea to Novera to pray that ‘Ahmer ka naam meray dil se mitt jaye’ (yawn, puke!), seems like the name was tattooed rather than just written for Ahmer’s accident clearly distresses Zainy. She lies to Sherry about why she is upset which he finds out later when he sees Mina at the hospital. He does confront Zainy but lets her off with this being the first and last lie between them. Ah Sherry, I fear there is a lot more than little white lies coming your way and most of it not nice!

As with the previous episodes, all the actors and actresses played out their characters flawlessly. Erum Akhtar as Nigaar is brilliant and even though she seems to mean well at this point, she does seem like a bomb ticking and waiting to explode. Next week’s episode preview shows that Novera and her mum have jinxed everything with Ahmer regaining consciousness and maybe the same tattoo artist got to his heart too for he has now decided Zainy is his and he loves her. All I can say is marry these two confused brats off to each other already and Sherry, my condolences!

How many of you are beginning to get exasperated with Zainy and Ahmer? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Kunwal Javid

So. ‘Baitay’ ka psychological issue nahin hai. Baitay’s issue is genetic. Baitay’s first cousin and lurrve interest is basically a male version of Baitay. Both Baitay and Ahmer are selfish, scheming brats and it does not make a difference who raised Baitay – for Baitay is genetics kay haathon majboor!

Zainy’s constant ‘I am so bad, I am so sorry I have been so bad’ and then the next instant taking decisions and steps just so that she may hurt Ahmer and make him jealous are beginning to get quite annoying. I was surprised when Sherry actually did ‘pop the question’ so to speak for I thought Zainy’s supposed new rishta would be dragged out while Sherry hid his feelings but it was good to see him ask her outright to marry him. Ab the proposal and the whole conversation that followed was another issue. Ahmer ka jhoota?! What in the world was that? I mean, I get yes she was in love with Ahmer so her heart has ‘belonged’ to another and Sherry would not be her first love and all that but then that can be rephrased in a thousand different ways – but Ahmer ka jhoota?!! Eeek! I don’t know but that dialogue just seemed so odd, it left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe because mein bhi kissi ka jhoota paani nahin peeti! Haha. Just kidding – I am a mum of fussy eaters – that should explain it all.

So now Naani, Mamoo, Mehtaab, Abba all have one agenda – Zainy’s marriage to Sherry. The mahram-non mahram conversation was i-don’t-know-what! I could not believe she did not know the difference until Naani says to her that she has gained so much worldly knowledge over the years but has not spent time on Islamic education. But still! I do not understand how everyone is suddenly celebrating the baat pakki though for I did not see Zainy give her consent. However, it appears that Sherry and Zainy are now ‘engaged to be married’.

Abba, Mehtab, Sherry, Zainy and Novera (is that her name?) are all away on a holiday now. It is nice to see a different side to Abba as even Sherry points out that he has become more interesting. Or well, interesting for he was not interesting at all earlier. He is however less rigid and seems to have taken an easier approach to life. Sherry too tries his hand at romance – and falls flat on his face! The whole ‘chaand zameen par a gaya’ is suchhhhhhh a ghissi pitti line, probably also because when I think of ‘chaand’ I think of big round face – does not sound like a romantic compliment to me but then maybe the comparison is with the beauty and light of the moon. I can not help thinking though that Zainy makes for a very grumpy and sulky chaand. Zainy does not seem impressed by Sherry’s line either and makes an excuse and walks away.

Ahmer’s wedding preparations are under way. Beena was willing to take her own life a few episodes ago in the name of Ahmer and now with the wedding near it seems as if she pulled an ‘Ahmer’ on him by lying about whether she is in Islamabad or Lahore. Does Ahmer think of Zainy when he is driving because the thought of her made him smile fondly or because he is laughing at her? He does not seem to care for her then why the lingering look when he sees her during the shooting of his film?

Novera’s well meaning warning to Ahmer backfires and he ends up rushing to Zainy and she is now on cloud nine thinking he has feelings for her. I can not believe she wanted to use Sherry again saying she wants Ahmer to see how she looks alongside Sherry. I know that people in lurrve do silly things and she is still in love with Ahmer and is trying everything behind the guise of ‘I hate him’ to make him turn around and declare his love for her but to drag Sherry into this game of cat and mouse she and Ahmer are playing? How unfair is that!

I had mentioned earlier that I wanted to see more of Agha Ali and I am glad he had more screen time today but I hope for his sake that his character has more to offer than just Zainy’s rebound, carrying his heart in his hands. Seher Afzal as Zainy is brilliant. For someone who is quite new to the industry, I find her acting natural and she is able to portray the selfish and confused nature of Zainy very well. I have thought of this a couple of times and have not been sure how to word it properly but I quite like the contrast of Zainy’s two families. Sherry and Co are dependable, serious, and okay maybe boring people whereas Ahmer and Co are loud, to an extent fickle and colourful. Although not a fan of Zainy’s personality I would like to believe though that belonging to both families she has sort of part inherited and part ‘learnt’ both types of behaviour making her the way she is. Yes I know, I am still toying with the idea of my career in psychiatry!

It does appear as if Zainy will pull every crazy antic to get Ahmer’s attention, not caring whose feelings she trods on along the way. If this is the path she is taking then she will apparently end up alone and hurt and I just hope she is not presented Sherry on a silver platter then for her to take! If nothing else, I would have thought what Mehtaab says to Zainy would knock some sense into her about how she has worked very hard for them to be where they are now in a safe, secure household and she must not mess it all up. Zainy herself seems to realize it when she says to Sherry that if things do not work out between them then where would she go? But then she is back to her crazy antics later again. This woman makes no sense in this drama except for one statement which she has uttered a few times and I totally agree – she does not deserve someone like Sherry! No siree!

How do you all feel about this episode and Zainy’s continued craziness? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

‘Baitay aap pareshan na hon’, ‘baitay aap araam karein’ – ‘baitay’ needs a good chamaat in my opinion!! Okay, okay, if she did get slapped then I would go on about how our dramas should quit showing grown women getting slapped or physically abused but I am sure you get my point!
I had wondered if Ahmer was truly in love with Zainy and even though there were references to his flirtatious nature in Mina’s conversations, but the way he spoke to Zainy and the mehndi scene, his dismay when she said she had to leave made me think there really was something between them. Ahmer’s ego has been bruised by the way Yusuf Kamdar addressed him and he wants nothing to do with Zainy now.

Zainy also learns Ahmer has been planning to marry a colleague Bina (Aimen Khan) from his showbiz world. Bina’s outburst and fainting spell was so ridiculous I thought. I do not understand whether Zainy’s friend (Moomal Khalid) has a bigger role to play further along the play. She is a decent actress in her own right and right now her contribution to the whole drama seems very minimal. Maybe she will be paired with Sherry?

‘Mujhay Ahmer kay baghair jeena nahin aata’ – what? And how has she managed all these years? And really – how long has she known Ahmer anyway? Zainy appears to me to be a brat and a half, treading on the feelings of the people who have always cared for her and running after the one person that is giving her an attitude. Growing up she has only had Yusuf Kamdar, her mother and Sherry around her. Nigar does visit but not often so I do not understand this ‘nobody loves me’ mantra Zainy has going on all the time. I understand the desire to know the people who were related to her dead father, to know her roots but to doubt the sincerity and sentiments of Yusuf and Mehtaab is absurd.

Up until the previous episode, I blamed Zainy for her attitude. True, Yusuf has been overprotective and maybe Mehtaab has tried to make Zainy put a lid on her feelings at times for the ‘benefit of the family’ but they truly loved her. However, Mehtaab’s outburst in front of Yusuf also made me see them a bit more clearly. Yusuf has always wanted the best for Zainy, no doubt, but he has been a bit excessive in his own way. Making her focus just on her studies, all the hoo haa over her going to a friend’s birthday party in the earlier episodes and not needing a mobile phone or laptop in this day and age is a bit out of the ordinary. She has been so sheltered by him and Sherry that she does not know how to react to anything new. However, Mehtaab’s new stance is also at the other end of the spectrum. ‘Give Zainy whatever she wants be it Ahmer’ and blaming herself and her husband for Zainy’s state was uncalled for. Mehtaab is shaken by Zainy’s suicide attempt and where I understand her sudden reaction to give in to Zainy’s demand based on her fear that she could have lost Zainy forever, I do not understand this ‘self blame’ and how Zainy is suddenly a victim of inferiority all her life. Zainy is ungrateful, spoilt and immature but I feel that sometimes even though parents are doing their utter best to do right by their child, it may not be the best approach and that in turn has an effect on the ‘child’s nature as they grow up.

Anyhow, Kunwal Javid, PsyD, I am not. Just trying to give Zainy benefit of the doubt and make sense of Mehtaab’s new plan of action. Or maybe Zainy is just an ungrateful brat. Period.

Ahmer seems unmoved by Zainy’s attempted suicide. His expression only changed when Mina reminded him of how he loved his deceased chacha and his ‘ehsaan’ on them and that Zainy is that very chacha’s daughter. Ahmer does go to visit her in the hospital and Zainy, silly silly Zainy, brightens up and thinks all is well. I wonder what game Ahmer is playing now.

I keep getting mixed signals from Phuppo and Co. Phuppo’s reaction at the hospital when Mehtaab asked if she knew anything surprised me. I wonder if it is because she fears that telling the truth would release Yusuf Kamdar’s wrath on them and he seems to be a much more influential person so she does not want any trouble. She did seem genuinely upset and when Mina confronted Ahmer she refers to Zainy as masoom. But then Mehtaab keeps saying how she did not want to remain in touch with her first husband’s family after her second marriage and that she has a sound reason for feeling that way – I am curious what that is.

Agha Ali is such a good actor in my opinion – I feel he does not have much of a role to play in these past few episodes and would like to see him contribute more to the story. I had forgotten to mention Sania Saeed’s ‘hairdo’ in my overview until Fatima Awan reminded me. Mickey mouse ears or a pirate’s hat – take your pick but it really does look odd and seemed even more so in the scene when she has that outburst with Yusuf and bends her head down and what a huge beehive!! She is such a brilliant actress but her appearance in dramas after the break she took is quite an eyesore – first in Aitraaz and now Tum Yaad Aye.

Ahmer seems to at times be totally smitten and at times not caring a dime for Zainy and the sudden switches in his expressions leave me confused and I do not know if that is a good thing or not. Was he really just passing time with Zainy or did he genuinely feel for her but his pride could not take how Yusuf treated him and he is reacting to that?

I am looking forward to see what happens next. Will Ahmer keep up a farce and string Zainy along without her being any the wiser? Or, will he marry her and then make her life miserable by continuing to meet Bina? Please do share your thoughts on this episode of Tum Yaad Aye.

Kunwal Javid

P.S. My brother is getting married next week insha Allah so will not be able to watch or review anything from Thursday to Sunday. Will try to post a review before the following Thursday otherwise will review both episodes together :)

This drama at times seems so normal, run of the mill and you sit back comfortably as if driving down a traffic less road and then a twist comes up like a speed breaker and jolts you out of your reverie. We were left wondering last week what all the fuss about Mehtaab leaving her first husband for Yusuf Kamdar was all about and although I have to admit I have come out none the wiser at the end of this episode, Zainy seems to have taken matters into her own hands and ended up where she wanted to be all along.

Phuppo and Co arrive at Yusuf Kamdar’s house to ‘formally’ ask for Zainy’s hand in marriage. Although with Ahmer walking in rolling up his sleeves phadda style seemed hardly polite! As expected, Mehtaab is indignant they would have the nerve to show up and make such a demand and asks them to leave. I was not surprised to see Zainy come back and say she is ready to leave with Ahmer but the fact that she had already done the nikkah with him had me taken aback. Appears I was not the only one for even Taayi and Phuppo were not aware of this development. It was sad to see how Zainy was all spite and venom when she left her home. I found it odd how Sherry missed out on all the hungama and showed up only after Zainy had left.

It was a relief to see Yusuf and Sherry not blame Mehtab for Zainy’s actions. Nigar however is a different story and all I could hear beneath her rants was ‘I told you so’ and then she delivered the beti baji ki bhaagi hai tau roag hum kyun paalein? which just further proved how she had never accepted Zainy as one of them. I liked Sherry’s conversation with Nigar, how he was not just pining for a lost love but was genuinely upset that Zainy had turned her back on them and walked out on them when they had always considered her as one of their own. ‘She was our doll. Uss ko dekh kar hum jeetay thay, who hasti thi tau hum hastay thay, takleef ussay hoti thi tau hum rotay thay’. Well, doll nay laat maar di and did not think anything of all the people she hurt in the process. I watched this episode just before I left to pick the kids from school and as I sat parked outside school I glimpsed upon  my daughter’s library book lying in the car ‘ Naughty Amelia Jane’ and I thought why hello Zainy what are you doing here?!

I have mixed feelings about Mehtaab and Yusuf Kamdar. In the constant ping pong of emotions between ‘Ahmer loves Zainy, Ahmer loves Zainy not’ I have gotten all confused myself keeping track of when exactly Mehtaab opposed this relationship and when she herself okayed it. I did feel though that after Zainy’s suicide attempt and Ahmer’s coldness, Mehtaab was right to take matters in her own hands for being a parent you need to draw the line between giving into your child’s demands and knowing when something is clearly not right for them and step up. If marriage really was the only solution then I would not question it except that it really should not have been with Sherry. Mehtaab may have felt he was the best choice for Zainy but this was really too close to home. Literally. Whatever Mehtaab feared, did happen and although Sherry and Yusuf are being very supportive and are treating her with the relation they have with her and not as Zainy’s mother, it could still have gone all horribly wrong. Mehtaab herself feels ashamed by Zainy’s actions and it was sad to see her ask for Sherry’s forgiveness.

Much as I find Zainy bratty, I can not help but laugh and even approve of how she deals with Novera. She is seriously one hell of an annoying friend squirming her way into Zainy’s family. On another note, did anyone else find the dress Nigar was holding for Zainy’s wedding much nicer than the one Zainy ended up wearing? Mehtaab’s comment about support system seemed very odd to me but then there are things in this drama with regards to relationships and customs that seem odd so will let it go but what was the conversation between Phuppo and Taayi all about regarding valima expenses? Why was Mehtaab expected to pay for the valima anyway? Taayi is seriously shameless and Phuppo seems to be the only sane one amongst the lot.

I found Zainy’s ‘sharam karo who baray hain’ and ‘Sherry bhai ka kia kasoor’ very lame I am sorry to say after she all but spat on the people who had given her nothing but unconditional love all her life. It is not her parents’ fault that they could not keep up with her and Ahmer’s on and off confused romance and if she really had decided to walk out then the way it was staged was tasteless.

I was so glad Sherry asked Mehtaab the question that had been burning in my mind too – was there any truth to the accusations Zainy had hurled at Mehtaab and Yusuf? Mehtaab’s answer did not enlighten me however – did anyone else make more sense out of it? Please do share if you did. I did find it funny though when she said that her and Yusuf’s personalities were not the sort that people would give their lives over. Haha.When Mehtaab rose from her bed with her beehive higher than ever I thought she was going back to work but she goes to Zainy’s college to get a glimpse of her daughter. I like how Yusuf knew where she had been and comforted her in the end.

I found myself watching Nigar’s reactions the most in this episode. Erum Akhtar’s acting was spot on when she spoke to Sherry and her expressions aptly switched from being pained to see her brother hurt and anger at Zainy’s shallowness and the underlying ‘I told you so’. I rarely comment on any individual’s acting in this drama because each actor and actress fits so well into their characters that I really do see beyond the actors and believe it is the characters on screen. Next week’s preview shows trouble brewing between Ahmer and Zainy (that was quick?!) and Zainy missing her family. Wonder if Novera will make her move now? What did you all think of these developments? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

A Big Bang Entertainment (hang on – don’t run off just yet!) production, Tum Yaad Aye has been on air for quite a few weeks now. Written by Naila Ansari and directed by Aabis Raza, Tum Yaad Aye airs on ARY Digital every Thursday at 9pm.
I began watching Tum Yaad Aye when it first aired and the first few episodes did not blow me away but then I binge watched a few of them together and it has caught my interest. There are a few things which bothered me about the play and I will mention them as I write.

So Tum Yaad Aye is the story of Zainab, mostly known as Zainy (Seher Afzal) and her two ‘families’. We are first introduced to Yusuf Kamdan (Nadeem Baig) who is married to Mehtaab (Sania Saeed). Yusuf has two children from his first marriage, Nigaar (Erum Akhtar) and Sherry (Agha Ali). Through conversations we learn that he married Mehtaab when his first wife died and Mehtaab is not much older than Nigaar and Sherry which is why they refer to her as Baji. Mehtaab has a daughter Zainy from her first marriage.

Yusuf loves Zainy like his own daughter – rather more than his own daughter. Sherry is shown to be the obedient, well behaved son who cares for Zainy and Mehtaab as if they truly are family. Nigaar is married and comes to stay at her father’s house for a while enroute to Canada. Nigaar has never welcomed Mehtaab as her father’s wife and resents her and Zainy’s presence in their lives. Her son Sahir seems to be in love with Zainy and after a few ‘tantrums’ Zainy is engaged to be married to Sahir.

It was around this point that I seemed to lose interest in this drama. I was a bit wary of it from the first few episodes because of ‘weirdness’ of the relationships. If we are to speak from an Islamic point of view then yes, it is as clear as ‘mehram’ and ‘non mehram’ and that is that. But – and I only speak how I feel – the relations that were being moulded into something else seemed too close to comfort for me. Sherry has always thought of Zainy as his younger sister and Mehtaab plants the beginning of something new in his mind. Sahir is told Zainy is his khala and suddenly they are to be engaged. I know, in our culture we call cousins ‘bhai’ and next thing you know you are getting married to one of them and that is alright, but here I felt a bit uncomfortable. Also, Nigaar seemed as if she hated Zainy and suddenly she agrees to accept her as her daughter in law – huh?!

But that is just me and I am aware everyone has different opinions, which is fine. Anyways, what got me interested again was how thankfully Sherry’s new love is not given too much attention and the introduction of Zainy’s other family. Normally when a bunch of new characters are introduced after some five episodes of a drama, it throws me off as it did in Mun Mayal. I understand they are introduced as an essential part to the story but I feel so engrossed in the main story that the new characters dilute my interest. Tum Yaad Aye however made me feel differently.

Zainy comes across Mina at her college. Mina works as a librarian and recognizes Zainy and tells her she is her taaya’s daughter. Zainy, intrigued to know more about her biological father goes home with Mina and meets her taayi, phuppo (Aisha Gul) and Mina’s brother Ahmer (Muneeb Butt). With her engagement to Sahir broken, Zainy is ‘free’ again and romance begins to blossom between Ahmer and Zainy. Needless to say Mehtaab and Yusuf do not approve of Zainy meeting with her relatives but they feel they can not impose too many restrictions. The latest episode ended with Mehtaab and Yusuf learning of Zainy’s love for Ahmer and they express their objection to the relationship but Zainy seems to be adamant she will marry Ahmer. I was aghast at her outrageous comment to Mehtaab when she says that Mehtaab herself has gotten married not once but twice and keeps standing in the way of her marriage!

I understand Nigaar’s attitude to Zainy would upset her but I do feel Zainy is a bit unreasonable. She has been so sheltered and pampered all her life otherwise that the slightest things cause her to flare up and be over sensitive. Yusuf and Sherry, the ones Zainy has spent most of her life with have done nothing but shower her with love and pampered her no end. So, for us to feel sympathy for her or for her to lash out at them is a bit out of line. I could understand the curiosity and desire though, for her to know who her father was and to spend time with his relatives especially as they are so welcoming.

Zainy’s upset at the broken engagement seemed to do more with the loss of a house in Canada rather than the engagement itself. Also, she was at loggerheads with Ahmer one second and the next the way they suddenly seemed to be in love and openly expressing it seemed a bit unreal.

I do not seem to understand Sherry. When Mehtaab encourages him to think of Zainy from a marital point of view, he seems to be interested but his interest in her is at times just the way it was before and sometimes we see him ‘wince in pain’ such as when Zainy seems to fall in love with anyone but him! Yusuf Kamdan and Co are portrayed as well off, disciplined people who believe in rules and strictly adhering to them. I suppose that is also one reason Zainy is so attracted to her biological father’s family because they seem to be full of life and the opposite of the people she grew up amongst.

Mina’s conversations with Ahmer and the reference to the endless ‘titlees’ who keep ringing him make us feel that Ahmer is quite a flirt. Mina keeps telling him to stay away from Zainy so it appears she does have Zainy’s best interests at heart. Ahmer was apparently very close to his chacha, Zainy’s father so it would not appear that he would be stringing Zainy along but at this point I am not sure he is truly in love with her. Phuppo seems to be genuinely fond of Zainy too and with the exception of Ahmer and Mina’s mother, the family does not seem to have anything on their mind except to get to know Zainy for she is their ‘blood’.

We still do not know why Mehtaab is not fond of her first husband’s family and why she has not let Zainy mingle with them or why they have not tried to meet her before now. Her father was apparently a producer and Ahmer is an actor so they have an artistic background, something Mehtaab refers to in a disdainful way in one of her conversations.

Seher Afzal has performed really well for a newbie. I am not sure if she has appeared in any other dramas before but this is the first time I have seen her in one. I do find her dressing a bit odd though (those waistcoats!)and initially thought it was because I do not live in Pakistan anymore and also am not very into the latest trends but then realized I have not seen such outfits in any of the other current dramas on air.

See what I mean? Anyways, Agha Ali has only improved with time and I will admit it is a visual treat to watch him in those shalwar kamiz suits haha. Muneeb Butt and Seher look really good together and all the actors and actresses in this play seem to share good chemistry.

Tum Yaad Aye so far is a decent watch and has become interesting after the introduction of the characters from Zainy’s biological family. The story although not extraordinary is different and thankfully free from the typical doosri biwi, saas bahu tracks. It is essentially the story of how a young woman – who is not an angel and has personality flaws- explores different relationships in her life and longs to ‘fit’ in somewhere and I am enjoying it.

Well, it is obvious Yusuf and Mehtaab do not approve of Ahmer so will Zainy rebel and marry him instead? Or is this where Sherry steps in? How many of you have been watching Tum Yaad Aye and would be interested in a weekly review? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid

Ruk jao Zainy, mat jao! Let me see now. 27 episodes of roughly 40 minutes each – it took our ‘shehzada’ (as Mehtaab had called him) Sherry all of those minutes minus the very last 30 seconds of the final minute to utter the words that most of us had hoped (and others wondered whether) he would utter! We were left guessing to the last minute how this drama would end and I will admit the way the events played out in this last episode was convincing to an extent.

Zainy’s CSS result – how long does it take for the result to be announced by the way? She went through an entire pregnancy, initial months of motherhood – before her result was announced. Zainy is seen struggling financially with Ahmer not being able to provide for her and her son Mustafa and she sells jewellery to make ends meet. The CSS result gave her the confidence she needed and finding Ahmer still involved with Bina served as the last straw and she finally walks out on him. Ahmer makes no move to stop her either. It was heartbreaking to see how Abba, such a positive, proactive and encouraging character had become a broken old man. I loved how Zainy seemed to outwardly grow a thick skin to ward off Novera’s constant jibes and gave her all to help Abba regain his strength and will to live again.

Novera is so deeply submerged in her insecurities and jealousies that let alone Zainy and Abba she will not even let her own marriage flourish. Ah, but there is one relationship that she works on and fat lot of good that has done her except well, land her the nikkah nama to Sherry – and that is with Nigaar Apa. I was very surprised at Mr. Novera, oops, Sherry’s attitude in this episode. It almost appears as if Sherry can not look past his personal feelings of hurt and lurrve and rejection to forgive Zainy or at least give her a chance to let her stand on her own feet. He was hostile when she came back but bore with her for he recognized she gave Yusuf what he and Novera were unable to give. But the way Novera sent Mustafa with Ahmer upon Abba’s death and said Sherry has packed up her stuff and she should go back to her ‘own house’ seriously made Sherry lose some major brownie points with me. For all of Zainy’s faults, for all of Sherry’s amazing personality – I was fast losing patience with his firm stance of not letting Zainy return. Tough love it may have been but I felt how Zainy’s departure was forced from their house upon Abba’s death was a bit extreme.

Mehtaab left two things as her legacy in this episode – her words of wisdom when Zainy was beside herself with despair upon Abba’s death ‘aap jo bhi faisla karein us ski zimadaari bhi khud he utthaana’ and secondly – her beehive, LOL! When Zainy went back home and left Mustafa with Taayi I wondered if she left him with her for good. Fast forward nine years and Sherry has aged and comes to a festival (a very empty festival I may say) to hear Zainy speak and their conversation answers our questions. Sherry’s ‘I have 3 sons and 3 daughters’ left me gobsmacked and I thought okay 6 kids and in Canada with no naukar chaakar would have finally made Novera too busy to cause trouble but turns out he only made that up and he has a daughter but Novera has left him and remarried. Zainy also left Ahmer (duh!) but thankfully her son lives with her. I found Sherry’s responses to Zainy’s pertinent questions very lame, I am sorry to say. I find he was too hard on Zainy and this whole ‘her house, my house’ really did do my head in. Yes your husband’s house is supposed to be your house but your parent’s house is not a stranger’s house either!! Novera with her constant obsession of repeatedly sending Zainy back to her own house stemmed from her insecurities but Sherry harping the same tune was very annoying. Yes, his attitude finally made her get up and make something of her life but was that his intention really? He kept telling her to go back to Ahmer – not to stand on her feet and leave him if that was what she felt she needed to do.

Anyways, Sherry finally musters up the courage to ask Zainy to not leave (standing ovation please!) and so all’s well that ends well. Maybe. I had wondered how Novera would fare in all this? Does Sherry leave her for Zainy? How does she end up leaving Ahmer – if at all? So yes the events in this episode seemed to flow in a fairly believable sequence. I have to say I have enjoyed watching this drama and am amazed it stretched across 27 episodes and yes it could have been wrapped up in less episodes but it was all good. Agha Ali has truly impressed me with his acting in this play as has Seher Afzal. How she effortlessly played Zainy, making us frustrated with her and feeling her pain later on. I loved loved loved Abba’s character, although a bit stifling at first, the way he stepped up after Mehtaab’s death was just beautiful and Nadeem Baig did a tremendous job. The dialogues and direction were good too and one thing that truly surprised me was how a Big Bang Production was not very Big Bang-ish and I feel that statement is self explanatory.

I have enjoyed reviewing this play and thank you to all my dear readers who have regularly read my reviews and commented. What has stayed with me at the end of this episode is that biryani that Ahmer and Bina were enthusiastically digging into and thankfully I have made the same for dinner so I am off to satisfy the sudden hunger that brought on, LOL. Team Sherry and all others – what did you think of this last episode? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Kunwal Javid