This episode couldn’t have been more perfect; all the tracks in the story were wrapped up beautifully in a logical manner and it kept me glued (literally) to my television screen. Just like the serial as a whole this episode too was engaging right till the last second and even though it was the last episode I couldn’t help but wish I could see more of Haya and Haadi. I must say that this last episode belonged to Haadi (Imran Abbas). Anyone who hasn’t watched this episode must keep a box of tissues handy while watching it because it is sure to make you cry!

Like any other person with some serious issues like the one’s Rameez had, Rameez’s present behavior could be traced back to his childhood too. Now we know why Rameez always insisted that it was very important for him that the person who is married to him should be his alone and why he reacted the way he did once he found out that Haya loved Haadi. Haadi regained the faith he had lost in himself when Aroosa died on the operation table by saving Haya and even more so because of the trust Haya had in him. Haya and Haadi need each other more than ever now and there couldn’t have been a more perfect time for the two to be together. Right till the end the writer and the director made sure that the viewers could not guess whether Haya will survive or not. I am glad that no one died in this episode because that would have been too convenient and sad!

Alvida can most definitely be termed as an ultimate entertainment package. This drama gave us a story we looked forward to every week and characters which were in no way perfect but very interesting and left a lot of room for the viewers to interpret them in different ways. Shehzad Kashmiri’s direction was top notch throughout. I am very certain that he chopped down a lot of detail to make the screen play more enticing. Nowadays when every second director and producer banks on filler episodes to keep the drama on air for a longer period of time especially when it is likely to get a positive response by the viewers, Shehzad Kashmiri, Momina Duraid, Hamayun Saeed and Shehzad Naseeb did their viewers a huge favor by putting entertainment first. Samira Fazal proved yet again that she can still give us dramas which are in no way heavy duty, do not contain lectures on morality and ethics, have no big lessons to offer but can still be extremely relatable with their believable characters and by showing things which some people out there can benefit from. Alvida for me was the story of a few people who made some very wrong decisions in life and the whole story revolved around how they dealt with the situations that followed.

I must say that our hero Imran Abbas is back with a bang in Pakistani dramas. Although Haadi’s character wasn’t very deep or complicated but Haadi had a story to tell just like all the other characters in the play and Imran Abbas most certainly told that story effortlessly and made the character very likeable. Like always he managed to bring out the best in his character. Sanam Jung’s polished performance proved that when confidence meets talent you can’t help but appreciate the outcome. The undeniable chemistry between these two remarkable actors made this play a treat to watch. Sarah Khan’s brilliant performance as Farisa made us hate the character but love the actress for giving the best performance of her career. Zahid Ahmed’s brilliant portrayal of Rameez’s character made him the star of the show. The episodes in which Rameez was given more screen time belonged to Zahid Ahmed alone. He deserves an award for his exceptional acting. There were times when I felt that Naveen Waqar wasn’t really comfortable playing Uroosa’s character but there were also times when she couldn’t have been better playing that role. If I had to find the weakest link in the play it would be Naveen Waqar. Side characters play a very important role in making a drama a success or a failure and I must say that Haris Waheed made the perfect debut playing Saim’s character to perfection – a man who we thought was harmless until he was out to take revenge! Lubna Aslam and Mahmood Aslam played the cool yet very sensible parents flawlessly. The actor playing Haya’s father and the one playing the annoying Khala also played their parts well. Danish Nawaz and Huma Rehan also fit perfectly in their roles as Faiz and Kaukab. Danish Nawaz impressed and surprised me with his performance because this was the first time that we saw him playing a negative character. I have always loved Sahir Ali Bagga’s compositions and Alvida’s OST was another one of those tunes. Shafqat Amanat Ali sung the OST beautifully and a big thanks to Imran Raza for the beautiful lyrics.

I would like to thank everyone who was involved with this project in any way for keeping us hooked to our television screens for 20 weeks. Alvida ended at a time when we were still enjoying it to the maximum and looking forward to more, which is a big accomplishment too! Thank you team Alvida for giving us a reason to miss this play on Wednesday nights and for wholesome entertainment. It isn’t easy bidding farewell to Alvida.

A big thank you to all the lovely readers who took time out every week to read the reviews and participated in the discussions – it wouldn’t have been the same without you all. You make the drama watching and review writing experience more fun.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts about this last episode, I will look forward to your feedback.

Fatima Awan

Haya is back and Farisa did everything in her power to make sure that she does not stay in “her” house for very long. Farisa knows only too well that Haadi is not the least bit interested in her and that he understands her better than anyone else in the house. This episode had its high and low points. The high points were the conversations between Farisa/Saim and Haya/Ramiz and the low points were the never ending cat fights between Farisa and Haya. Everything that was shown in tonight’s episode needed to be shown but I must say that I did not enjoy this latest installment as much as the previous few episodes. There were a lot of questions popping up in my mind while watching tonight’s episode which made a few things rather difficult to relate to. Yes! the marriage took place in haste but Maami should’ve had the time to buy at least some clothes for Farisa. The fact that Farisa had absolutely nothing to wear was very unrealistic. There was however nothing unrealistic about Farisa’s shopping spree! This is the life she wanted and she was not going to wait to make the most of it. Farisa went and bought the same pairs of shoes because Haya had the same pair too because the poor girl does not have a personality of her own!! It also seems like Farisa is losing interest in Saadi fast.

Haya might have been complaining about her Taya and Tayee with Farisa in the past but she is not a negative person at all, nor is she someone who would hurt someone on purpose or play games to get her way. Haya is clueless as to why her best friend who is also her cousin has taken an about turn. Farisa left Haya speechless every time there was a confrontation between the two because Haya does not know how to deal with the situations which Farisa keeps on putting her into. I did not enjoy the cat fights at all but I also understand that they were shown for a reason. Haya will move to her father’s house in the next episode because of the situation in Haadi’s house.

The chance meeting between Farisa and Saim was the highlight of tonight’s episode. I am glad that Saim was shown for one last time before he went to the US and the things he said to Farisa were surely music to my ears. Saim knows Farisa more than anyone else because Farisa used to share all her “dreams” with him. He knows why Farisa “trapped” Haadi into getting married to her. His parting words showed that he knew what Haadi had gotten himself into.

The conversation between Haya and Ramiz was very well written. It confirmed that Haya has started relying on Ramiz for emotional support but thinks of him as nothing more than a friend. Ramiz, on the other hand keeps on reminding Haya just how important it is to value someone who loves you. Haya’s comment that you can’t make someone love you was spot on but something tells me that Ramiz is not going to give up this easily.

I must say that Haadi and Farisa’s forced marriage is sticking out like a sore thumb. I am still finding it very hard to believe that Farisa could make a fool out of everyone this easily or perhaps I am just too mad that this marriage which is not supposed to work took place. It would have been so much better if we were shown the circumstances that led to the nikkah other than Farisa creating those misunderstandings. Haadi is quite sure that he can go back to being friends with Haya the way he was before because after all this time Haya must have realized that her feelings for him were nothing more than an infatuation.

Haya’s meeting with her father and her conversations with everyone in tonight’s episode went to show that Haya has changed a great deal. She is more mature now and she values relationships more than she ever did before. We saw Haya complaining about how her father had abandoned her before but tonight when she was with her father it seemed like she was home.

This episode was strictly okay, some of the scenes were too long for my liking. The only alluring thing about the next episode’s preview was that it suggested that we will get to see Haya and Haadi spending some time together.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

The “zabardast kisam ki ghalt fehmi” turned into an undeniable reality in tonight’s episode. I felt a bit rushed while watching the first half of the episode and the way Haadi was pushed into getting married to Farisa was somewhat unconvincing. Haadi’s mother kept on believing Farisa even though Haadi’s father was continuously trying very hard to knock some sense into her. Oh well! The marriage was bound to happen but I was hoping that it would be done in a slightly more realistic manner. A man like Haadi won’t get married to someone he does not even like only to please his mother and relatives. If Farisa somehow managed to convince Haadi a little even that he “needed” her in his life it would have been far more plausible.

The best part of this episode had to be Haya’s return. Haya’s meeting with Kaukab was really well done and the way Haya reacted to Haadi’s wedding was spot-on too. I was hoping that Haya would mention that she talked to Farisa after Aroosa’s death but she “forgot” to mention it to her that Aroosa had died. I am sure we will be watching many more confrontations between Haya and Farisa in the upcoming episodes and hopefully Haadi will be able figure out that Farisa did not sacrifice anything for him and Saadi but she did everything because she wanted a better future. Farisa got what she wanted and Haya is no match for her. Farisa is conniving and selfish but Haya is straight forward and honest. When Haadi questioned Farisa about the call she made to Rawalpindi his expressions clearly stated that he did not trust what Farisa was saying. The only reason Haadi walked out of the room at that time was because he did not want to create a scene and not because he believed the explanation Farisa gave him. Imran Abbas’ acting was absolutely flawless in tonight’s episode. The expressions on his face when he saw Haya and when he confronted Farisa said more than any words could. Imran Abbas has definitely brought out the best in Haadi character which is sensible and mature therefore I am finding it very hard to digest the fact that Haadi let his mother push him into tying the knot.

Ramis and Haya have turned from colleagues to friends in these five months. Ramis continued to remind Haya that she was much more to him than just a friend and the way Haya kept on telling him to keep his feelings locked up was shown flawlessly. Sanam Jung’s body language, expressions and dialogue delivery were picture perfect in tonight’s episode. All of her expressions were very natural and spontaneous. Ramis and Haya’s scenes were very nicely written, directed and acted out. Zahid Ahmed and Sanam Jung have a great on screen chemistry and I am definitely looking forward to finding out how the relationship between their characters develops.

I am sure after watching this latest installment everyone hates Farisa! The way she plotted and lied to have her way without ever thinking about the consequences showed that she can do anything to get what she wants even if it means breaking someone’s heart. Farisa is greedy and self-centered without a doubt but another characteristic of her personality that stands out for me more than any other is her immaturity and ignorance. How can she possibly think that forcefully entering someone’s life will guarantee happiness? People like Farisa think that they can manipulate their way into everything but they do not stop for a second to think what will become of their life and future when the manipulation doesn’t work and when people start seeing them for who they are! In my opinion Farisa needs a reality check and I am quite sure that we will see her regretting everything she did at some point. Sara Khan is very well-suited for this role; she has portrayed Farisa’s confidence in herself and her tactics faultlessly. I definitely do not agree with the way Haadi’s mother sealed his fate tonight but I absolutely love the way Lubna Aslam manages to nail every single character given to her till date. Mahmood Aslam was also brilliant as usual, his acting and character both are commendable but he needs to tone down on the make-up.

Alvida has its flaws especially when it comes to the narrative but it always gives you something to look forward to. It is free of clichés till now and the story is no longer predictable either. There is no zalim samaj and it doesn’t have those done to death dialogues which we hear in our dramas all the time which is definitely a plus.

Do share your thoughts about this episode, I will be looking forward to your feedback:)

Fatima Awan

Farisa’s loyalties completely changed after witnessing first hand just how rich Haadi’s father actually is! Haadi has gone from being Haadi Bhai to Haadi, something which Saim noticed right away. Farisa is willing to skip her semester and has “camped” at Haadi’s house because she can see that there is a way for her to make a place in that house. I must say that I am surprised that Farisa did not think on these lines instantly after Aroosa’s death. We saw Aroosa getting annoyed with the responsibility of taking care of the baby in the last episode and it was only after operating the locker that she decided that she had to get married to Haadi in order to have the “bright” future she always dreamed of. Haya was the biggest hurdle in her way after Aroosa’s death and now that she is not around this was a perfect opportunity for Farisa to make her way into Haadi’s house, Farisa always knew just how rich Haadi’s father was therefore I am surprised that the idea only clicked with her when she opened the locker. It was good to see Haadi’s mother volunteering to take care of the baby because she realized that Farisa had to give her attention to her studies. Farisa does not want to wait for Saim to get rich especially now when she knows that Haadi is “available” and the opportunity couldn’t have been more perfect.

This drama shows what a big part fate plays in our lives and I find the turn of events especially in Haadi and Farisa’s lives quite convincing as well. Haya’s track was much more interesting in tonight’s episode but I must admit that I am finding it awfully hard to believe that Haya’s Taya is okay with Haya being away from home for so long without any trace. I understand that the situation is not in his control but the fact that he is not worrying sick about Haya is very hard to digest. I wish we would have seen him showing his concern about Haya for a few seconds in every episode to make the situation more relatable. Haadi’s feelings on the other hand are easy to relate to. He missed Haya and is desperate to find her but he is unlucky because he has started trusting Farisa. Haadi thinks that Farisa will help him find Haya and Haya thinks that Farisa wants nothing but the best for her. The fact that Farisa did not even inform Haya about Aroosa’s death went to show just how desperate and selfish she is. Is Haya really living with one of her distant relatives or did she just say that to Ramiz because she didn’t want to tell him that she is living in the hostel? The way Ramiz and Haya’s track has been covered is very convincing. Haya is gradually warming up to Ramiz and Ramiz seems like someone who will not give up easily. Ramiz’s dialogue ” you’re the first and I also hope you’re the last ” went to show that he wants a future with Haya but it seems most unlikely at the moment. Haya’s loneliness however will probably be the main reason for her to get closer to Ramiz. The scene at the office when Haya’s reacts after checking her result online was one of my favorite scenes from tonight’s episode. Haya was in a situation where she needed to share her happiness with someone and Ramiz knew that only too well. Whatever information we got about Ramiz’s family tonight showed that Haya has much in common with him, both of them did not really have a real family to call their own – or at least they thought so. Haya’s guilt pangs and memories of time spent with Haadi were a very good addition to tonight’s episode as well.

The way Haadi reacted to Farisa’s declaration of love was also shown really well; I would give full marks to all the people involved for making all these scenes a complete success – the writer, director and the actors. Also, the manner in which Haadi showed his indifference towards whatever Farisa said to Saim showed he just did not care about Farisa at all. The conversation afterwards in which Farisa asks him to talk to him because she did not have anyone to talk was very nicely written too; it reflected Farisa’s desperation and Haadi’s lack of interest really well.

I love the way the director has used white to enhance the beauty of different scenes. The white flowers and candles stood out on the night of Aroosa and Haadi’s wedding and tonight too they looked beautiful in the scene when Saim visits Farisa.

I must say that Sara Khan has come a long way, she was absolutely flawless as Farisa today. Imran Abbas and Sanam Jung have been brilliant throughout the drama too therefore I am expecting nothing but the best from them. Zahid Ahmed has portrayed Ramiz’s character really well, it would have been so much better if we didn’t know what was coming ahead because so far Ramiz comes across as a nice person. I must give the director credit for keeping the scenes short and to the point and I have to say that until now the script has been written very well too. I thoroughly enjoyed all the conversations in tonight’s episode, they made me relate to the situations and the characters. I just wish that Haya’s Taya would worry about her more often!

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

Most of us had already guessed the main twists in the story primarily due to the detailed promos that leave very little to the imagination but I must say that even though I knew how the story would unfold I enjoyed tonight’s episode nevertheless. The timeline was just as confusing in this episode as well as it was in the last one but the fact that I can relate to most of the characters in the play and I find them interesting definitely has to be the reason why I was able to overlook some of the glitches in tonight’s episode.

Aroosa’s exit from the show was very touching. All the scenes that led to the final tragedy and especially the scene after her death in which Haadi comes out of the Operation Theatre was spot on. Not a single word was exchanged between any of the actors involved but their expressions said a thousand words. I felt for Haadi, I could not help but cry for Aroosa and Taya’s character managed to impress me yet again. It is an absolute pleasure to watch a positive man in charge for a change. He is not too soft and not too strict, he puts his foot down when he thinks that he needs to tell Haadi where he is going wrong but he also understands how Haadi feels. The story moved forward in a very convincing manner as far as Haadi’s track was concerned. Haadi held himself responsible for his wife’s death because he was the one operating on her when she passed away. I must give Imran Abbas full marks for giving those perfect expressions which help you read the mind of the character. Haadi felt like a “culprit” when Aroosa’s father said that he chose to save the baby’s life. Haadi’s reaction to that comment and the expression on his face showed that he was convinced that he really was guilty of making the wrong decision .

While things moved forward at a very fast pace in Aroosa and Haadi’s life, it seemed like not more than a day had passed since the last episode in Haya’s life when this episode opened. It looked like Haya had just left Kaukab’s house when she called her Tayee but on the other side her Tayee told Haya about Aroosa’s condition like she was in the last trimester and just seconds later we saw Aroosa being rushed to the hospital because it was time for the baby to arrive. If we look at Aroosa and Haadi’s life then at least 6 months had elapsed since the last episode. Haya has moved to the hostel in all this time and she has found herself a job. She chooses to be in touch with her family only when she wishes to do so. Haya does not want to know what is happening in Haadi and Aroosa’s life and the only way to do this is to have very little contact with her Taya and Tayee. Haya’s track was somewhat confusing. Haya’s Taya called Faiez even though Haya left their house six months back and he knew that she was staying at the hostel now. He was obviously desperate to get in touch with her but that phone call did not make much sense. If he called to get a contact number it would have been much better instead of asking for Haya as if she was still living with Kaukab and Faiez. Ramiz is Haya’s colleague who would really like to get attention from her but Haya wants to keep her distance for obvious reasons.

Nothing has changed between Farisa and Saim in these six months or so! They were still fighting and making up. I am very impressed by the way Sara Khan has portrayed her character. The lust in her eyes when she opens the locker said more about her character than anything else she has done till now! Farisa apparently respects Haadi bhai a lot, watching her stand up for him in front of Khala was like watching a totally different side of Farisa’s character. The responsibility of taking care of the baby was left to Farisa since she was free from college but Haadi’s parents really should start looking for a full time maid!! I hate to see girls of the family or family friends being “used” for looking after the house or the baby if the lady of the house is not around or in this case dead. What happened to hiring maids? No one ever even thinks on those lines.

The preview of the next episode showed that Haadi missed Haya and wants to get in touch with her. Farisa will still be around taking care of the baby in the next episode. I hope that the timeline is less confusing in the upcoming episodes and both the tracks move forward at the same pace. Will Haya move on and warm up to Ramiz? Are Farisa and Haadi “bhai” destined to be together?? I am waiting to find out.

I must say that I really enjoyed tonight’s episode even though it was quite predictable. The brilliant performances by all the actors and especially by Imran Abbas and Sara Khan deserve a special mention. Mehmood Aslam has completely won me over as Taya Abu. There wasn’t much of Sanam Jung in this episode, I hope that Haadi and Haya’s paths meet at some point SOON!

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

Tonight Haadi and Aroosa’s track was definitely more pleasent than whatever transpired in Haya’s life especially the part that involved Faiez. After watching Chup Raho anything close to a husband cheating on his wife like this and that too with someone who is so close to her is very repulsive. Faiez reminded me of Numair when all I want to do is to forget Chup Raho and all the characters in it! The way the track was handled gave the viewers more of an insight into Haya’s character but the ugly turn it took was not pleasant to see at all. Haya was naive enough to think that she could continue living in someone’s house for an indefinite period of time. Kaukab might be her childhood friend but only someone who is incapable of thinking ahead would think that they can start a whole new life living in someone’s house. Haya’s reaction when she heard that Haadi and Aroosa had gone on a honeymoon went to show that she could not bear to even hear that these two were happy together which is why going back to that house was not an option. I was surprised when Haya told Kaukab where exactly Haadi and Aroosa had gone for the honeymoon because she hung up before her Taya could give her the details about where they had gone. Was she assuming things since she knew that they had gone to Europe? I have no idea!

The timeline was confusing all through tonight’s episode; when Haya talked to her Taya it seemed like she had been living with her friend for quite some time but when we saw Farisa and Saim’s scene in the library it looked like the next day. Later on when she talked to her Taya again after Faiez accused her of hitting on him I couldn’t help but wonder how much time had elapsed since Aroosa was expecting by then. Haya’s feelings for Haadi were portrayed really well and any confusion regarding Haadi’s feelings for Haya were cleared as well in tonight’s episode. Haadi was clearly worried for Haya in the last episode, now that he knows that she is fine, he is happy with Aroosa. I was expecting Haadi to go after Haya but he did not feel the need to do that. Haya’s Tayee also does not want Haya to come back because she knows what turn things will take if Haya is back in the house. Taya’s concern for Haya was heart-warming. It was good to see that Haya has one person in her life who truly cares for her.

Haadi and Aroosa’s perfect life together and their conversations made it look like their time together was limited. Aroosa’s high blood pressure might cause a serious risk to her and the baby and that is when Aroosa will probably make an exit from this drama and Haya and Haadi’s track will start. Although the Faiez and Haya track was covered very convincingly but even then it left a bad taste in my mouth. It would have been far better if Haya did not trust Faiez in the first place and left the house. Haya decided to stay on even after everything that happened, which just did not quite go in line with Haya’s personality. She is impulsive and emotional and people like her do not think too much before walking out of a situation like this. After hearing that Haadi and Aroosa were going to be parents soon, she obviously did not want to go back home but checking in a hotel until she made up her mind about what she wanted to do next would have been far more logical.

Some conversations in this episodes worked for me while others did not work at all. I think Faiez’s plotting and planning should not have been given so much screen time, Haya should have walked out when he came to her room. I have definitely warmed up to Haadi and Aroosa. Naveen Waqar acted really well in tonight’s episode and she really was glowing! No one plays the die-hard romantic better than Imran Abbas, so no complaints there. Danish Nawaz was very convincing as Faiez and Sanam Jung was absolutely brilliant yet again. Sanam Jung has nailed her character; her body language and dialogue delivery is picture perfect. Mehmood Aslam has done complete justice to his role and his character is very likeable too. I am sure he will have a very important role to play in the future too. The preview of the next episode showed that something big is going to happen in Haadi and Aroosa’s life. I am guessing that Aroosa’s character will die very soon.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

This was another fast-paced and very well-directed episode of Alvida. The story is moving forward in a very convincing manner till now therefore I am finding it very easy to connect to all the happenings. If the story continues to unfold with this momentum then Alvida could be one of the most engaging dramas of the season. All the tracks are being covered intelligently without adding unnecessary details.

Farisa and Khala Jaan managed to brew up a storm just like they were expected to. Even Haya’s father decided to stand up to his brother and wanted his daughter back in his house until Haadi reminded him that he was not in a position to “own” Haya like that. The start to Haadi’s married life has not been ideal in any way. Haadi and Aroosa have been unable to enjoy any quality time together because Haadi was too worried about Haya to think about anything else. While Aroosa understands what Haadi might be going through but there are times when she wonders if Haadi made a hasty decision. The scene in which Aroosa finds the recording in Haya’s room was executed impressively. Haadi’s reaction, the way he openly asks Aroosa about her feelings and the manner in which she gives him an honest reply made me see the spark between these two which I have been missing till now. One reason for that could also be that Haya is no longer in the house and there were no scenes of Haya and Haadi together! Aroosa is very level-headed but she is not like those holier-than-thou dimwitted characters we see on screen which is definitely refreshing. Haadi is a mature person who wanted a companion who could be a pillar of support for him and one who would be at the same level as him. He clearly wanted a sensible friend in his wife more than anything else. One thing that stood out for me today was that when it comes to Haya, Haadi does not share much with Aroosa.

Haya’s relationship with her Taya and the way he covers up for her was really sweet. Haadi figured out what was going on immediately which was also a pleasant surprise! If this was any other play Haadi would have worried sick for Haya for the next two episodes or so! Haadi shared the news with Maryam which was another short but very touching scene in this episode. Apart from Farisa all the other family members that Haya is surrounded with are her well-wishers which is also a positive sign. Saim knows just how wicked Farisa is and he does not feel the need to make her feel good about what she does. He continuously keeps on holding her accountable for her actions in his own way but Farisa never takes anything he says seriosly.

Haya left the house so that she could be away from Haadi but she knows only too well that this is not going to be easy. All the interactions between Haya, Kokab and Faiez were shown in a way that I immediately warmed up to both these characters. Although Kokab and Faiez both gave very positive vibes in the beginning but Faiez apparently has other plans! The scene in which Faiez asks Haya to serve her lunch was also very well-written and directed. This is how we should be shown these things. That scene was subtle but the viewers got the hint immediately.

Overall this was a very engaging episode which gave me absolutely nothing to complain about. All the actors are doing complete justice to their characters but Sanam Jung is definitely the star of the show. She has improved a lot and I can see that she will be going a long way. Imran Abbas and Shahzad Kashmiri make a wonderful team, Shahzad Kashmiri brings out the best in Imran Abbas. I must applaud the director for doing a commendable job till now; every single scene is very well-thought-out and until now Samira Fazal has not given me anything to complain about either. Alvida definitely has a lot going for it.

The preview of the next episode was startling, I really don’t want to see more sick-minded men on screen but I guess we won’t have to put up with Faiez for long because Haya is in touch with his Taya so she can go back any time! I hate to sound paranoid but I want Haya to be this intelligent throughout the play, don’t turn into Rameen please!

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

This was the best episode of Alvida so far; every scene was beautifully directed and I could totally relate to everything that went on in Haya’s life except for the last part of course which was too sudden and shocking! The wedding ceremony was beautifully covered with short and to-the-point scenes and attention to detail. I never thought that brown color could look so good on a Mehndi function but it did. Haya’s attempts to miss the Mehndi and then making sure that she sits with her back towards the stage were details that made the viewers relate to how difficult this was for Haya and how hard she was trying to be “brave”! Farisa’s insecurities got the best of her and she decided to share her “true feelings” with Haya who was shocked to hear all that coming from her best friend. Saim reminded Farisa that this was a very difficult time in Haya’s life therefore she should be there with her but Farisa was too scared of “losing” Saim therefore she decided to leave Haya alone at the most difficult juncture of her life. Haya’s character is shaping up to be interesting. Haya might be a teenager who likes to get what she wants but she also knows when it is time to make an exit from someone’s life. Farisa is an insecure girl who might accuse Haya of being self-obsessed but she is quite self-centered herself.

When Haya decided to flee the house and she actually had a plan to go ahead with her decision I was really surprised. Was she planning to leave the house any way after Haadi got married? Because no one could have made these arrangements in such a short span of time. Naveen Waqar looked beautiful as a bride and the scene in which Haya walks in Haadi’s room to talk to Aroosa was a visual treat. The decor of the room was very different from what we usually see in our dramas and the candles in the background looked very pretty. Haadi’s reaction and his conversation with Haya showed how different he is from Haya. He is mature enough to handle the most difficult situations without losing his grip, Haya on the other hand lets her emotions guide her.

Aroosa is very sure that Haya will get over Haadi soon enough and things will be back to normal. Haadi knows Haya more than anyone else and he thinks that Haya might never come back. Aroosa kept her cool after finding out about Haya’s feelings for Haadi, she knew that she had to handle the situation wisely. Imran Abbas and Sanam Jung were flawless all through tonight’s episode just like the previous one. The chemistry between these two actors coupled with their brilliant performances made their scenes an absolute treat to watch. There were times however when I felt like Naveen Waqar could have delivered her dialogues more convincingly especially when she told Haadi that everything was going to be okay on the night of their wedding. Sara Khan’s performance has not given me anything to complain about so far, she fits perfectly in her role. Sanam Jung looked adorable in every single scene. She has beautiful eyes and she knows how to put them to good use!

I watched the episode online therefore I missed the preview of the next episode. Will Haadi go and talk to Haya so that he can bring her back? I am definitely waiting to find out. Alvida is definitely a good play to watch on a week day but I am not attaching any high hopes to the drama yet – once bitten twice shy!!

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

Wah! What an episode! I would give full marks to the writer, director and all the actors involved for giving us an episode that was entertaining to the core. It was fast paced, thrilling and very interesting. Call me a sadist but I enjoyed every bit of what Farisa went through, she deserved just that! Right till the end she was very sure that all the money she had “collected” was going to guarantee a bright future for her with Saim but Saim gave her a reality check by telling her that she should buy a bungalow in Defence to make herself happy because he did not want her money. I am glad that Saim was not after the money but he wanted to give Farisa a taste of her own medicine. Haadi’s decision was not an emotional one at all, he gave Farisa ample time to think things through but she kept on pushing her luck because she thought she had nothing to lose and that she could play the “Rameez card”! Haadi finally realized that the best way to stay connected to his dead wife and to show respect to her was by loving their child. Imran Abbas portrayed all the emotions that Haadi was going through flawlessly. Haadi was satisfied with his decision because he knew that Farisa did not want to live with him. The fact that he gave Farisa full liberty to take whatever she wanted and he was willing to take responsibility for this divorce instead of telling everyone about Farisa’s affair went to show that he did not want to cause any harm to Farisa. Haadi was not taking revenge when he divorced Farisa, he was merely doing what was good for everyone and the way the whole thing was shown was beyond impressive. The past three episodes helped build up this climax and when it happened everything fell perfectly into place! I must say that Alvida is Samira Fazal at her best.

Farisa’s “exit” from Haadi’s house and his life was hilarious! She was always naive and even now her “statements” proved that she was still as foolish as ever. When she said everyone in the house was a psycho, it sounded rather ironic but I am sure all of us could totally relate to why someone like Farisa would think that she is the only normal person around! Even when Farisa made a big scene Haadi did not react probably because he was too happy that it was finally coming to an end!

The final scene between Farisa and Saim was one which I will remember for a very long time, not only because that is exactly what Farisa deserved but also because of the brilliant acting by Sara Khan and the actor playing Saim. I must say that both of them outdid themselves in that particular scene and the dialogues were music to my ears – simple, short but meaningful and just what we wanted to hear!

I must thank the director once again for sparing us the discomfort of watching unnecessary violence on screen. It would have been even better had Haya not hurt Rameez with that knife accidently. Haya decided to start afresh when she found out that she was expecting Rameez’s child because she did not want her baby to grow up without both parents but the news of Haadi’s divorce changed everything. Even when Haya asked Rameez to trust her he did not believe her for a second. I can’t seem to praise Zahid Ahmed’s acting enough. Rameez’s character is a very tough one to translate on screen but Zahid Ahmed has been superb throughout. I have never felt that he was going overboard, I am sure anyone else would have done just that because it is very difficult to keep a balance when you’re playing the character of a mad man! Sanam Jung has been equally convincing as the girl who is very scared of her husband but wants to find some way to make her marriage work. The credit for shooting all these perfect scenes of course goes to the director Shehzad Kashmiri, who has kept everything very decent and to the point.

It was good to see Haya finally sharing her secret with her family and Tayee’s advice and support in particular was a breath of fresh air. I can now see Haadi and Haya together raising their children and having a happy ending!

The preview of the next episode showed that Rameez will react just the way one would expect anyone like him to react in this situation. His worst fears have come true and he will go all out to “fix” the damage! I doubt that anyone will get shot because we are clearly headed towards a very good ending that will guaranteed happiness for Haya and Haadi. I would hate to see this drama ending on a tragic note.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

Ohkay so, it was an interesting episode of Alvida & I enjoyed watching it because the story is transitioning into another phase where Farissa & Rameez are going to form ties in order to get back at Haadi & Haya, which I am sure would not be anything short of a roller-coaster ride.

The whole plan of spending time with Haadi & Farissa was made by Rameez just so that he could rub it on Haadi’s face as to how happy he is with Haya. Rameez might not be a very intelligent person but when it comes to his wife, he has read her enough to know that she will not go against him because he has left quite an impression on her. Rameez has seen that no matter how easily he intimidates her, Haya always takes it with a smile on her face & doesn’t say much because he thinks she is embarrassed enough, that is why he seemed so confident about making Haya do things so that he could send a message loud & clear to Haadi as to how he was ruling his wife. For now, Rameez surely is underestimating the extent Haya can go to because he thinks she has nowhere to go & has no place to return to.

For a change, it was good to see Haadi’s mother not acting like a typical mother-in-law & blaming Farissa for the rift that she & Haadi have had. Even though she herself has seen the transition of Farissa from a polite girl to someone who doesn’t pay heed to anything & anyone, I liked the fact that Haadi’s mother was blaming her own son because she wants him to tackle the situation with maturity. Yes, she is unaware of what Farissa has done to infuriate Haadi but it was good to see her reminding her son about his responsibilities & teaching him to be patient to make things work.

When the episode began, I kind of had a hard time into believing that they were showing us the events of a single day because not only they changed their dresses but the flow between the scenes was missing too. Haadi saw & met Haya in person just when Haya came but his mother called him to mention that Haya & Rameez had come to meet him, more like she was informing him for the first time & not only that, he was in a pretty bad mood & he even let Haya know that too but the very next moment he was acting like nothing has happened & it was a new day for him. It was interesting to see Haya finding the truth on her own but as an outsider; she couldn’t do much as she didn’t have enough reasons to form an opinion about what was actually going on. Yes, she did understand that Haadi was in a bad shape but just because they both have vowed to not rely on each other, Haya couldn’t force him to tell her everything.

No matter what Rameez thinks, Haadi knows Haya a little too well that is the reason he immediately found out that something was odd about the way Haya was behaving. Haadi knows her & that is why he could not only feel but see that Rameez was trying to turn her into someone she’s not & she can never be. Even though Haadi wants Haya to settle down in her life but just because of Rameez, he isn’t ready to just easily let everything slide off his mind. He has sensed that something is definitely wrong which is why even though he wants to maintain a distance, he won’t sit quietly & watch Haya suffer. I actually found the whole scenario very convincing & it was done perfectly where all of them were trying to send out a message of some sort to one another. Rameez wanted to showcase how perfect of a husband he is & wanted to rub it on Haadi’s face that Rameez has Haadi’s Haya wrapped around his finger, whereas Haya was trying to show that everything was normal & she loves the way Rameez treats her. Haadi was trying hard to contain himself but he couldn’t & Farissa was just analysing the whole situation as she wanted something to use against Haadi.

The moment Rameez spoke to Farissa, he didn’t know that he will get a lot more information than he was looking for. Farissa loves to victimize herself & now after the way she has been insulted, she wants to make sure she gets back at Haadi & luckily, she has found a perfect pawn to use at a right time. She knows her way & that is why, the moment she sensed that Rameez had an idea about Haya’s feelings for Haadi, she took the opportunity to plant a seed in his mind that too very subtly. I think Zahid Ahmed was phenomenal in that scene especially where he went from being someone who was carrying a facade of a happy-go-lucky person to someone who thinks that he has found a true friend who can understand & relate to him. Rameez really thought he found a shoulder that he was looking for to rely on but he is too naive to know that Farissa wasn’t being sympathetic towards him & is just using him. Too bad that he can’t see that because he is so engrossed in his one-sided love & rage.

One thing that I found interesting was the way Farissa once again flipped. Until now we haven’t been able to understand whether Saim is sincere or not but in this episode, he really & genuinely seemed concerned for Farrisa & it looked like he really wants her to be with him but too bad, Farissa has found a new adventure that she was looking for because of which she is ready to leave Saim in the lurch once again. Now that Farissa knows that she has a backup plan & she now has Saim as an option to scurry to, she is ready to bring Haadi down because he has bruised her ego & she isn’t someone who’d quietly walk away. She wants to make sure she insults Haadi way more than he has insulted her & now when she has gotten a green signal from Rameez, she wants to kill two birds with one stone. Even though the whole situation is quite interesting, I really don’t want to see Farissa running things once again. I’d be happier to see how Haadi & Haya will tackle the situation. I was relieved to see Haadi once again giving Haya the edge she actually needs at this point of time, not in a sense that she has an option to go back to Haadi but just a peace in her mind that she can rescue herself from Rameez because he is not a normal person to be with.

Overall, it was a very interesting episode with some top-notch acting by all the actors but Zahid Ahmed deserves a special mention for portraying Rameez’s character to perfection. Sanam Jung also did a good job too as someone who has so much to say but is holding herself back as she is too scared of the consequences. Imran Abbas has been flawless as Haadi & Sara Khan has given a perfect face to the character of Farissa. I must say I had a giggle when in the opening scene; Rameez & Haya’s drive was a smooth sail & lasted only for 3 – 4 seconds because the way Hum TV dramatized it in preview for this episode was really a bad attempt into keeping all the viewers hooked. I find it very annoying that they tried to show that incident as something that will take the story forward whereas it wasn’t even a proper scene. Similar thing happened within this episode too where they showed that Rameez & Haya almost had an accident but nothing of that sort happened. I really don’t think they need to do all this to keep the viewers engaged, even in the middle of episode or even by the end of it, because those who’ve made it through the these 18 episodes are definitely going to continue to watch it right till the end. Please share your thoughts about tonight’s episode & let us know what do you think about Farissa & Rameez’s partnership?

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

ps: Covering for my dear friend Fatima Awan this time, but please like always keep an eye on the comment section for her say. :)

Farisa gives the phrase “aik tu chori upur se zeena zori” a whole new meaning! The way she confronted her mother and father in law when they tried to lay down the rules for her was height of “dheetai”! There is no word in English dictionary which explains Farisa’s behavior therefore using these one-of-a-kind words from our dear language would explain Farisa’s behavior way better than any other! I must say that Sara Khan has outdone herself in this play and I have to applaud the director for directing this play very intelligently. I am glad that we were not shown any unnecessary violence in tonight’s episode but the director and actors managed to get the message across loud and clear. Imran Abbas portrayed the other side of Haadi’s character which he probably didn’t even know existed perfectly. The fact that Haadi was willing to take some responsibility for what Farisa had done was definitely refreshing and also I did not expect him to confront Farisa in private! Haadi did not blame Farisa altogether, he did not tell his parents what had happened and he is willing to forget everything too even though his rage is getting the best of him at the moment. Things between Haadi and Farisa had changed a lot in the past few episodes and it was clear from Haadi’s conversation with his friend in tonight’s episode that he wanted to work to make his marriage better but Farisa had already moved on! Farisa thought she could get away with it but she clearly did not.

Haya’s life is as big a mess as that of Haadi and once again I must give the director due credit for keeping aggression to the minimum. Haya’s response to Rameez’s crazy behavior has been like that of a girl who knows how to handle difficult situations but that doesn’t mean that she is not breaking up inside. Rameez is bent on making sure that Haya does not get any space at all. He wants her to wear and eat what he want and his sarcastic comments make you understand what Haya must be going through. We were all making speculations about the accident but the accident was never shown in this episode. In fact some of the scenes that were shown in the preview of this episode were missing from it. Rameez and Haya might not have a perfect marriage but I must say that both the actors playing the respective roles are doing a commendable job. Sanam Jung has done complete justice to her character throughout the play and Zahid Ahmed is brilliant as Rameez. You also understand why Rameez has so many issues because of the way his character has been written.

Farisa is willing to elope with Saim (with all her jewelry of course!); she was more than ready to do that even before Haadi found out but Saim is giving the viewers and Farisa mixed signals. Saim appears to be genuine but the ending will be completely inappropriate if Saim is willing to marry Farisa therefore I am guessing that he might take her jewelry and leave the country.

I must say that I wasn’t expecting Alvida to be this logical. I find it very convincing and I have no problem understanding the characters at all. Samira Fazal’s scripts are always very enticing but the story and characters usually stop making sense at some point usually after episode 13 but there is no such problem with Alvida therefore I am expecting only the best from Samira Fazal in the future too. I must hand it to Shehzad Kashmiri for keeping things subtle and very decent. This drama would have been completely different in the hands of any other director.

Just like all the previous episodes of Alvida this one too was very engaging and it gave me something to look forward to.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

This episode had a lot of interesting developments to its credit. For a change I am enjoying the twisted characters who are anything but perfect. It is the weaknesses in their characters that have put them in the place they are right now. Haya made a very wrong decision by getting married to someone she did not ever consider more than just a friend thinking that it would make Haadi confess his love for her. Everything that Haadi read in Haya’s diary in the last episode went to show that Haya wanted Haadi to stop this marriage and confess that he could not see her with anyone else but that did not happen and now Haya is married to a man who wants her to be all his although he knows only too well that she never loved him in the first place.

Rameez made just as big a mistake as Haya by getting married to someone who he knew loved someone else but expected her to fall in love with him once they got married. Rameez’s already twisted mind became even more so when he saw Haya and Haadi together. Which was quite normal of course but taking the pictures and “confronting” Haya in the most unusual manner is anything but “normal”! Apparently in Rameez’s head there are “two” Haya’s now, one who loves Haadi and one who loves Rameez, I found that bit really funny! I couldn’t help but wonder how Rameez found out about the note Haya sent in Haadi’s lunch box when she made his lunch since he was insisting that he wanted such a note in his lunch box too. Rameez is all set to make Haya’s life hell and Haya is still waiting for Haadi to come rescue her. The method Haya resorted to in order to ask for help seemed like a desperate attempt which wasn’t likely to bear any results. I can think of much better ways of asking for help like banging on the door for instance! It was good to see Haya playing along with Rameez while he was there, she knew that anything else would have put her life in danger.

Haadi’s attempt to patch things up with Farisa was definitely not my favorite part of the episode. It would have been much better if we saw the bonding between father and son alone and he did not attempt to go back to Farisa because that made it look like he just wanted a woman in his life it didn’t matter who she was. Haadi spending time with Saadi had to be the best part of this episode because it showed that Haadi finally has moved on. Saadi was still 6 months or so old in this episode which was a disappointment and I hope that he grows a little by the time the drama ends. We saw Saim asking Farisa for her time and attention. He wasn’t happy with Haadi moving back in the room unlike before when we saw Saim not reacting much to what Farisa had to say about her life or Haadi. Farisa wants Haadi’s money and she wants to live in his house but she does not want to have a relationship with him and she obviously does not want anything to do with his son.

Tayee’s concern for Haya and the way she knew exactly what was going on in Haya’s mind went to show that she really thought of Haya as her daughter. It was good to see her making that phone call because it would have been very unbelievable if no one got in touch with Haya. I am glad that we finally got to see Mahmood Aslam in this episode.

I must say that Zahid Ahmed was the star of the show today; he completely nailed his character. One thing is for sure that these two marriages are not meant to last, it remains to be seen how they come to an end. I am waiting to see how Haya manages to find her way out of this tricky situation and I am quite sure that we will see the story moving forward soon because until now the drama has maintained a very steady pace. I must appreciate Shehzad Kashmiri’s direction once again which definitely makes the drama more engaging. The scenes are always short and I love the camera work.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

I must say that I am no longer on the fence about this drama but on the contrary I am completely sold! There are some developments in the play which most of us were anticipating because of the twists and turns which the promos of the play had already revealed but the way the story is being taken forward is definitely not easy to predict. I wasn’t expecting Rameez’s character to be this sneaky; I was expecting him to take his anger out on Haya instantly and I was most definitely not expecting him to give Haya and Haadi an opportunity to be alone just so that he could confirm his suspicions and that too after the marriage. Rameez’s reaction however is not difficult to relate to at all, the man has some serious issues and I must say that Samira Fazal is good at crafting such characters. Rameez obviously knew already that Haya and Haadi had feelings for each other that is why he made an excuse to go away and then spy on them. Rameez’s character definitely has my attention now even more than ever because after watching tonight’s episode I am quite sure that we are in for a ride we won’t forget! The fact that Rameez took pictures of Haya and Haadi when they were holding hands went to show that he intends to hold on that moment! He has no intentions of forgetting what his wife was upto behind his back which would mean that he is someone who can harbour a lot of grudge in his heart without letting any of it show. Rameez is clingy and annoying and that ought to be punishment enough for Haya!!

The best part of this episode was that Farisa had absolutely nothing to do with what is about to go wrong with Haya’s life. It is really good to see Farisa not obsessing with Haya but digging a trap for her own self. Saim’s re-entry had to be one of the most intelligent twists in the story otherwise watching Farisa fret over Haadi and Haya for rest of the drama wouldn’t have been appealing at all. Farisa and Saim intend to meet more often now and something big is bound to happen before Saim returns to the US.

I wasn’t expecting Haya to put up with abuse in the given situation therefore I am very happy that Rameez did not reveal anything just yet. Things however changed a great deal in tonight’s episode. The way Haadi pushed Haya away once again will definitely bruise her ego. Haya had just started trusting Haadi once again with her true feelings for him only because Haadi gave her that confidence but now that Haadi has asked her to leave him alone because he knows that there is no point of making Haya feel like he even wants her around Haya will make sure that she stays away from him. Tayee’s advice to Haadi was the primary reason why he decided to tell Haya off, he realized that he could not continue leading Haya on because that would ruin her marriage. Haadi definitely feels a lot more for Haya than he shows but he is a realistic man who puts practical aspects of situations ahead of anything else. Haadi is also convinced that Rameez will keep Haya happy therefore he has absolutely no reason to make Haya feel like he has any kind of feelings for her.

Farisa and Haadi did not have a relationship to begin with but whatever chances there were of these two ever getting closer to one another are completely dead and buried now. Farisa is clearly in love with Saim all over again perhaps because she is getting all the luxuries she needs by being Haadi’s wife and all she needs now is love! Otherwise Farisa is not the kind of woman who would compromise on her lifestyle! Haadi is in the process of falling in and out of love with Haya therefore his priorities lie somewhere else too. This drama truly depicts how a wrong decision regarding marriage made in haste and for all the wrong reasons can ruin so many lives.

Imran Abbas and Sanam Jung stole the show yet again; every expression and every gesture was spot on! Zahid Ahmed is brilliant as a man who hides more than he reveals about his personality. I love the way every single scene in this episode was shot with perfection. Haya looked like she had seen a ghost when Rameez entered the room dressed up like a groom. Haadi looked terrified at his latest “discovery” as he sat beside Haya in the hospital. I must give the director full marks for ensuring that Haya wore her wedding dress even in the hospital because a change of clothing would have appeared strange.

Taya Abu came to pick Haya from her house and was also there at the hospital but we did not see him again in this episode, it would have been better if we were told that he had to go abroad since it is quite obvious that for some reason Mahmood Aslam could not be there when these episodes were being shot therefore making a good excuse for his character’s disappearance would have been much better than making the viewers feel like he is around but we can’t seem him! Haya’s suitcase when she was leaving for her Taya’s house was a little too big but these little things don’t change the fact that overall this was a very engaging episode which made it very easy for me to relate to the recent developments.

Even though the preview of the next episode suggested something entirely different but I am not expecting Rameez to show his true colors this soon. I really don’t want to witness excessive abuse on screen and I am quite sure too that Shehzad Kashmiri will not put us through that torture. He has kept things very subtle and decent till now and I expect nothing different from him in the future too.

Thank you team Alvida for another entertaining episode which kept me hooked to the TV screen and gave me something to look forward to.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

I must say that Shehzad Kashmiri’s direction has given this drama the edge it needed to stand out in the crowd. The beautifully shot scenes which are perfectly timed actually help understand the characters even better when they don’t say much. The fact that the camera focuses on a character only for as long as it is needed really helps because I have watched many dramas in which a scene loses its significance and does not hold your attention only because the camera stays on a certain character for much longer than needed. Short but significant scenes like the one in which Haya is sitting on the stairs waiting for Haadi but runs to her room when he comes and peeps out of her door to take one look at him, Haadi’s body language and expressions after Farisa asks him to sleep in the other room and so many more went to show that sometimes less is more! The way the actual feelings of the characters were shown in this manner and the feelings which they were faking were conveyed through dialogues was a very nice mix. The essence of those hidden feelings would have been lost if the scenes showing them were not shot the way they had been shot.

It was quite evident in tonight’s episode that Haadi too knows only too well that He and Haya are meant to be together but the odds are against them. Haadi is married and Haya is about to get married – non of that makes sense because Haadi does not love Farisa and Haya has no such feelings for Rameez either but since both of them know that there is no way that both of them can be together therefore they need to move on. Haadi does not even want to admit that he has feelings for Haya because he is married and has a child. Unlike the last episode in this episode we saw Haadi convincing Haya to go ahead with the marriage which meant that Rameez’s hard work was paying off! Haadi is finally convinced that Rameez will keep Haya happy therefore he no longer has a problem with Haya marrying him. Farisa and Saim are getting close to the point that Farisa does not feel the need to work on her relationship with her husband any more. Haadi and Farisa are constantly finding ways to hurt each other.

Haya’s room was beautifully decorated, very esthetically pleasing as usual! It was weird though that someone as liberal as Haya’s Tayee was confining her to a room like that. I wouldn’t have expected someone like Haya to go along with such an idea but apparently she did not have a problem with being a traditional bride.

The highlight of this episode had to be the way Haya and Haadi’s feelings for each other were shown; they found it impossible to let go of each other. Also the manner in which Rameez’s insecurities were highlighted in this episode went to show that he had the sort of connection with Haya that he could understand that all was not good yet he was willing to take the risk. Haya’s conversation with her Tayee showed what she was really feeling but she would never admit her true feelings in front of anyone else except Haadi.

Sanam Jung looked very pretty and acted exceptionally well all through tonight’s episode. Imran Abbas made me feel for Haadi’s character which is actually shaping out to be good! Sara Khan and Zahid Ahmed are performing their roles really well. The scene in which the Khala was checking out how heavy the gold set was made me laugh! Where was Haya’s Taya in this episode?

The preview of the next episode showed that Haya will soon find out that she made a huge mistake by getting married to someone she did not love. Moving on is not that simple and getting married does not solve any problems but it creates more problems. Rameez expects Haya to love him…will she be able to do that when she still has feelings for Haadi?

Overall, this episode of Alvida yet again made it very easy for me to relate to all the characters and I can’t wait to find out how the story unfolds in the upcoming episode. Thank you Samira Fazal, Shehzad Kashmiri and all the actors who are part of this show for keeping us hooked to Alvida till now.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan

I have absolutely no complaints with tonight’s episode. Everything was covered really well in this episode and I absolutely loved the way the characters are developing. Haadi definitely feels a lot more than just care and concern for Haya. He knows that Haya is that special someone who he will never be able to replace and letting her go isn’t easy for him at all. Haya has also picked up on how Haadi is feeling therefore she expects him to take a very active part in her wedding in every way possible. I felt like Haya was only asking Haadi to do the shopping and every other thing for her wedding because she wanted to push him to the point where he will feel the same way Haya felt when he got married. Haya does not even like Rameez in that way that is why she said to Haadi that in this marriage there would definitely be 50 percent love. That 50 percent of course will come from Rameez!

It was good to see Rameez talking to Haya about their skype conversation which Farisa took over and changed the whole course of the conversation. Rameez knows that Haya is not sure even now but he is willing to go ahead with the marriage because he is very desperate to have Haya in his life. The half-hearted approval does not bother Rameez. Rameez’s character is shaping up to be very interesting so far. He appears to be the sort of person who will never judge Haya. His reply to Farisa’s comment about Haya not calling Haadi bhai made it look like he did not have a jealous bone in his body. Haadi on the other hand is having a very difficult time giving the same kind of warm welcome to Rameez. Rameez’s interactions with Haadi came as a pleasant surprise and for once I felt like Rameez was that perfect man every girl would want to marry. Rameez puts Haadi’s choice first not only because he likes his choice but also because Haya gives so much importance to Haadi’s likes and dislikes. Rameez seemed like a perfect family man today who would try his best to be as close to his wife’s family as he can. Rameez’s family however was missing in action yet again but he seemed to make up for their absence. The weakest point in Rameez’s personality however seems to be his inferiority complex. He feels like he does not deserve Haya or perhaps that he is not good enough for her.

Farisa and Saim are getting closer with every passing day and Farisa seems to be turning to Saim for solace every time Haadi puts her down just the way Haadi turns to Haya. It looked like Farisa wanted her marriage to work out now that Haya was out of the way but she is not willing to try hard enough especially when just like Haadi she has a “friend” to turn to. It is most likely that this friendship will lead to something much more. Saim kept on reminding Farisa in a subtle manner how different her life would have been with him because he knew her so well.

I am glad that Saadi is back in the picture. He is still a baby which means that not more than six months have elapsed since Haadi and Farisa got married. The confusion regarding the timeline unfortunately remains a constant. The way Haya reacted when she entered her room made it look like she hadn’t been to that room for years although she was there when she came back to her house after finding out about Aroosa’s death. Haadi has been taking good care of Haya’s things but he did not feel the need to tell Haya that. Rameez might be impressed by Haadi but Haadi does not think very highly of him at all probably because he thinks he is not good enough for Haya.

Haya’s scenes with her tayee were one of the best part of tonight’s episode. It was good to see both of them bond and it looked like this was where Haya belonged. I must say that the conversations in tonight’s episode gave a clear insight into what is actually going on in the minds of the characters. When I was done watching this episode there was absolutely no ambiguity as to where each character stood. All of these characters have come a long way since the first episode and they are still growing. For the first time tonight Rameez and Haya looked good as a couple and Sanam Jung was glowing in the mayon scene. The chemistry between all the actors coupled with some very convincing performances made this episode extra special and I really like the way the story is being taken forward. I hope that it stays this way.

The preview of the next episode looked promising therefore I am definitely looking forward to what Alvida has in store for us.

Do share your thoughts about this latest installment.

Fatima Awan

Like every other episode of Alvida this one too had its positives and negatives. I would like to focus on the positives before I discuss the negatives. Alvida definitely has a lot of unconventional scenes to its credit for instance the way Haya confronted Haadi; she said everything that needed to be said and these things are exactly what most of us long to hear in our dramas but our heroines are just not bold enough to express their feelings the way Haya did today. Haya is not being wise while making the biggest and the most important decision of her life but everything that she said to Haadi was spot on. Haadi did not have the right to tell Haya what she should do with her life when he did not even have enough confidence in her to share with her how he felt about Aroosa when he was “best friends” with Haya. Haya kept on repeating “agr aap meri jaga hotey tu parwah bhi nahi krte” because she really wants to prove to Haadi that not caring for someone you have been so close to isn’t as easy as he made it sound like. Also, the way Haya told her father that Rameez was interested in her was anything but conventional but definitely something that was totally in line with her character. Haya has been raised by two very liberal people therefore it did not come a surprise at all when she shared the way Rameez felt about her without any hesitation. It was also a pleasant surprise to see Haadi not falling for the lie which Haya’s father told him. He picked up instantly why Haya’s father wanted to know so much about Rameez and the way he expressed his frustration was also very interesting.

Haya had no intentions of marrying Rameez until she realized that Haadi did not want her to get very close to Rameez. Even when Haya told Haadi for the first time that Rameez had proposed to her and she was going to say yes it was quite evident that she only said that to tick Haadi off even more. Haya’s decision to marry Rameez is definitely more like an attempt to prove to Haadi that he means nothing to her any more. It was almost as if Haya was trying to prove a point and this was her way of getting back at Haadi for what he did more than anything else.

After watching this episode I am quite convinced too that Saim is back so that he can take revenge from Farisa. The fact that Farisa is meeting Saim without informing her husband and trusts him too with all her secrets is going to land her in trouble eventually. Farisa obviously thinks that she is the only one who can destroy people’s lives and no one can do the same to her. Farisa is manipulative and scheming but she is also naive.

All of Haadi’s fears about Rameez appear to be very right because Rameez seems to have an obsessive personality and he does not even want Haya’s parents to talk to his parents. Haadi appeared to be a very sensible man today who was trying to protect a friend -someone he has been very close to all these years. I did not feel like he loved Haya but his friend’s statement certainly suggested something entirely different.

Now for the negatives!

I did not want Farisa to have anything to do with this wedding, she has already caused everyone enough harm it would have been good if Haya made this decision and went ahead with it all on her own. Even if this decision was based on Haya’s immature agenda to make Haadi believe that she had moved on it would have been great but the fact that Farisa has a big part to play in making this first meeting happen didn’t work for me at all. Sometimes I feel like one negative person in Samira Fazal’s plays tends to control everyone’s lives in some way or the other. Had Farisa not “intervened” when Haya was talking to Rameez on skype things would have been much different. Also, Haya being okay with Farisa’s interference and later on accepting her apology was very difficult to digest. And howcome Rameez did not feel the need to talk to Haya about what she said since he was clearly shocked after hearing what she had to say? This is going to be yet another marriage which will take place because “hyper” Farisa could not mind her own business and somehow Haya just did not tell her off! How could Farisa tell Haya that she wouldn’t have married Haadi if she knew she was coming back when she talked to Haya only days before she got married to Haadi and told her it would be better if she didn’t come back. Farisa of course was trying to mend fences with Haya by telling all these stories but my question is why didn’t Haya confront her like she confronted Haadi? She was her best friend and she stabbed her in the back in the worst way possible, surely that calls for a confrontation right?

In the past few episodes all of us have been complaining because Haadi has been acting like he does not understand Haya at all but tonight Haadi was back to knowing Haya like the back of his hand. I had a tough time relating to the situation but then I guess the writer is trying to show that all this time Haadi did know what was going on in Haya’s mind but he was helping her move on by telling her she felt nothing for him and it was only an infatuation.

All the actors gave their best performances in tonight’s episode just like all the others but Sanam Jung stood out more than others. Imran Abbas makes it easy for me to ignore Haadi’s weak points and makes his character likeable. Zahid Ahmed has been very convincing throughout the play and Sara Khan is just as hyper and annoying as Farisa is meant to be! There were a few dialogues which I felt weren’t delivered the way they should have been by Lubna Aslam.

Overall, this was another happening episode of Alvida which gives you a lot to talk about, few things to complain about and something to look forward to! BTW anyone else wondering where Saadi is?

Do share your thoughts about this latest installment.

Fatima Awan

This latest installment of Alvida had some interesting developments to its credit but there are still some things in every episode which make you question whether the most major developments in the future will be convincing enough or not. Until now the major twist in the story was Aroosa’s death and Haadi’s marriage with Farisa. Aroosa’s death was predictable but definitely something we could all relate to but Haadi’s marriage to Farisa was not the least bit convincing. Haya’s growing relationship with Ramiz is being covered in a very believable way; Ramiz has worked very hard to make his way into Haya’s life and Haya also took her time warming up to him but the fact that Haya is keeping her feelings for Haadi secret from Ramiz is unfortunately one thing I cannot seem to connect to at all. Ramiz and Haya are very close, Haya does not want Ramiz to get any wrong ideas so why not just tell him that she likes someone, she does not need to tell him who he is but she can tell him that she needs time to move on. If Haya and Ramiz get married without Haya ever telling him that she loved someone at some point then I will be very disappointed. There was definitely more of Haya and Ramiz in tonight’s episode then that of Haya and Haadi. Ramiz is not going to give up on Haya because it is quite apparent that he is fully convinced that she is the only girl who he would want to marry. Ramiz made is quite clear that he does not even care if Haya does not feel anything close to love for him as long as she does not have feelings for anyone else.

While it was a pleasant surprise to see Haadi dropping off Haya so that she could watch the movie with Ramiz and most importantly watching Haadi cover up for Haya when Farisa exaggerated the entire scenario in front of Haya’s Taya and Tayee, it was also plain to see that Haadi missed Haya in his life and he is not comfortable with Haya spending so much time with Ramiz. When Haadi entered the room and was nostalgic I thought he was thinking about Aroosa but when we were shown a flashback of his conversation with Haya it was like a subtle hint to show the viewers that Haadi was gradually moving on. I could not help wondering how much time had elapsed since Haadi got married to Farisa because Saim left a few days before the wedding but he is already back and can afford to pay a big bill for Farisa. Haadi and Farisa are growing apart with every passing day, while Haadi turns to Haya for solace Farisa relies heavily on shopping! I must say though that for someone who shops all the time Farisa surely does not have much to show for!

All our main leads seem to have grown in some way or the other. Haya has learned to deal with her feelings, Haadi is slowly realizing how important Haya is for him and Farisa is realizing that money cannot buy happiness, that realization does not stop her from shopping of course but her loneliness drove her back to where she started from – Saim! And like a friend in need Saim decided to show up because he is still in love with Farisa although when these two were together it seemed like Saim did not really respect Farisa but now somehow he has learned to “value” her. We know absolutely nothing about what happened with Saim all this time but one thing is for sure that he is back for good. It is definitely good to have Saim back in the picture because it makes the story more interesting.

Sanam Jung has been brilliant as Haya throughout the play till now, Imran Abbas definitely passes as the HS every girl would want to be with and we all love to hate Farisa which means that Sara Khan is doing her part really well. Zahid Ahmed has not given me any reason to complain either, I just wish we didn’t know what his character had in store for us. Some parts of the story have been quite predictable till now but except for a couple of episodes Alvida has been an entertaining show so far. It is nothing out of the ordinary but it definitely keeps giving you something to look forward to.

Do share your thoughts about tonight’s episode.

Fatima Awan