So, this episode showed us Jazib’s path to recovery and Tabaan’s mein beqasoor hoon falling on deaf ears. Tabaan’s fate has been sealed and she is to be married off as soon as possible.
Although Mujahid had till now been shown to be a stern man, he nonetheless (until this episode) came across as a loving father. In the scene where Shakeel makes a huge fuss over Tabaan standing outside the gate, I like how she stood her ground. Mujahid does not have much to say which I found a bit strange and ‘resolves’ the matter by announcing that Tabaan will not step outside the gate. Matter resolved (sigh). I was taken aback when later Tabaan slapped Shakeel. I really did not see that coming and even more so, when Mujahid slaps Tabaan. A few readers commented last week, that there are quite a few scenes of physical abuse in the novel and that made me watch this episode with quite a wary mind.
Meanwhile, whilst dominoes of thappars is being played at Tabaan’s household, Jazib begins physiotherapy and begins to walk again, albeit with the help of a stick. He seems to be contrite and sorry when he kept apologizing to his parents in the last episode but we realize that was only temporary (if that).
Chachi’s plea to Shakeel to not cause a fasaad made me laugh. So rich coming from her when she is the ultimate fasaad hunter! Mujahid has come up with the perfect solution to the whole fiasco – Tabaan ki shaadi. Waisay I love (sarcasm) how that is the solution in all the dramas nowadays. Larka peechay parha hai, shaadi karwa do jaldi se, kissi se bhi. Larki ko koi pasand hai, shaadi karwa do kissi se bhi minus the pasand. Larki nay cheenk maari – shaadi karwa do. Okay, maybe not.
Like always, Tabaan is not told anything but her seemingly new love of hanging around in the kitchen seems to be keeping her well informed – when she overhears the ‘Aunty’ speaking to her mother and Taayi about what Shakeel told her and then now of Mujahid’s plan to get her married. I was surprised at Tabaan’s (non) reaction to the decision of her fate. I expected a bit more from her since we are shown she is a confident girl who is not afraid to speak her mind but I suppose the slap from her father has shocked and subdued her.
Jazib so did not seem to be the romantic intense hero and rather an old majnu (and not a very brainy one but then I guess majnu was not the most rational person alive) when he walks off in the direction of Tabaan’s house in his pyjamas and with his stick. When Tabaan’s mother says to Taayi that she did not see the vehshat in Mujahid’s eyes and that woh kisi bhi rah chaltay kay haath thamma dain gay I was like haan haan tau Jazib abhi he guzra hai bahar, ussi kay haath thamma dain!
I do not understand the reason for Shakeel’s interest in Tabaan. He was beside himself with anger when she slapped him so I wonder is it revenge that makes him insist his mother speak for his rishta. But if so, he would have just said that to her. His line about how bahu aap ki marzi ki ho ya meri, hashr tau uss ka hona he hai was funny. While Taayi and Myeda have such a lovely bond with Mujahid’s family, Chachi and her good for nothing son are just as awful. I have to say, Sakina Summo and Ali Safina played their parts really well as the trouble making, despicable duo today.
I wish Tabaan’s mother had more of a backbone and could stand up for her daughter for nobody seems to tell Chachi off for yelling all the time, so her mother could at least defend her. Yes, she and Taayi are meant to be mild natured but it is depressing how they just take the back seat as Mujahid runs the show. I find Tabaan’s interest in wanting to know what Jazib looks like easy to relate to and with Jazib not looking like he is going to back off, I suppose the two will meet and things will begin to go downhill. Well, further downhill!
I watched the OST yesterday and it seems like quite a bit of violence and rona dhona is to follow. When Usna Shah was gearing up for tears in the scene she slaps Shakeel, I thought no,no, please no…a weeping (read gasping) Usna has been done to death and I can not take any more. Although we were saved from it today –Allah say kuch aur he maang laiti – I am not sure what is to follow.
There is nothing about the play or the storyline that seems to be new. But then, most of the dramas on air or at least the ones I am watching do not seem to be showing anything new and what really sets one apart from the other are the cast, direction and production values and I can not really complain about either of these in Ab Kar Meri Rafugari. I guess it all boils down to now how interesting the story remains.
Are many of you following this play? What did you think of today’s episode? Please share your thoughts!
Kunwal Javid
In a rather unexpected turn of events Saadatmand raises a question that seemed out of character for him at the moment but in retrospect it isn’t. He belongs to the working class that’s very religious and very affected by things like who is the father of the woman he is about to marry. Saadatmand tells nano that he can not marry a woman with questionable past. He knows who her mother is but her father is unknwon. Basically he implied that Asma is a bastard. That combined with the humiliation of being called a maid again and again by Salar’s fiance Maria and her mother totally broke Asma. To make things even worse for her Maria and her mother claim that Asma was trying to steal their precious jewels and no one comes to Asma’s rescue. If you think that is the end of her misery I’d like you to think again, for when she finally puts herself together and tries to be a part of the celebrations with a smile on her face Salar’s mother in law to be reminds her again that imam zamin rasm should be done by someone who is family not a maid and yet again everyone who claimed Asma was a sister or a daughter to them quietly watched her embarrassment. 
Watching her suffer has made Sheheryar uncomfortable too. What he thinks is just a soft corner for Asma is much more than that and people around him might see that before he does. Overall the story is pacing well but there is A LOT of eavesdropping in this play. Most of the story so far has revovled around people eavesdropping here and there and that’s the only method how the plot is developing. Acting wise Hina Altaf is a one woman show here and even though Madiha Rizvi doesn’t get enough screen time but she does justice to the time she actually gets. How did you like this episode of Aatish?
Azra Mansoor assays the role of lady of the house really well she is kind and wise and basically everything you expect a granny figure to be. Ammi lives with her son Saad (Aqeel Abbas) and daughter in law Nazia (Madiha Rizvi) Anna bee and her grand son Hadi. Asma is portrayed as a very immature and childish character but then again that could be Asma’s coping mechanism for dealing with her past trauma. Asma regards Saad as her elder brother and Saad Bhai also considers her a part of the family which is why he is always invested in her studies. He keeps encouraging Asma to study and make something of her life but Asma finds it hard to focus on her studies and that’s what Asma’s days revolve around working, taking care of the family and struggling with studies. Unlike Ammi, Saad and Hadi Nazia treats Asma mostly like a maid. Things go a little berserk in the family when Naureen Appa (Saba Hameed) who is Ammi’s eldest daughter comes home from America. Naureen’s husband died because of which she had to raise her two sons Salar and Sheheryar (Azfer Rehman) alone. It is established that Naureen lead a tough life alone in a foreign land and raised the two boys to be successful independent men. The reason behind this visit to Pakistan is Naureen’s intention of getting her elder son Salar married to her late husband’s niece Maria. Salar is portrayed to be a very elder brotherly figure who is an obedient son and very affectionate towards everyone on the contrary Sheheryar is the mischievous young-ling who still needs a lot of growing up to do. 
When the two adult kids Asma and Shehryar meet the results are naturally disastrous. They avail every opportunity of making each other miserable. It is evident that they have started forming an attachment that both of them are unaware of. Because of Naureen’s and her son’s arrival Ammi appoints her house help’s son Saadatmand for extra help. Naureen suggests the idea that since Asma is so pivotal to this household she should be married to someone like Saadatmand who lives and works in this very house so Asma wouldn’t have to leave Ammi ever. Asma is not a huge fan of the idea and for the first time she has started acknowledging her place in this family which is noting more than that of a maid. The plot looks predictable so far but we await to see how and when both Asma and Shehryar will realize that despite the differences between them they have both formed a bond like nothing they have experienced before. Overall the story isn’t something new so it would be a challenge for the entire team to make this drama stand out from the rest of the same genre. Most of the times in Pakistani dramas the portrayal of Pakistani American nationals isn’t convincing enough same is the problem with this drama. I understand that the budget and time factors limit the amount of detail that can be worked on in such projects but it’d be nice to see such portrayals done right once in a while. Saba Hameed, Azra Mansoor, Madiha Rizvi, Hina Altaf and even Saadatmand are doing a great job at assaying their roles. On the other hand Azfer Rehman’s portrayal of Shehryar seems a bit forced same is true for the actors playing Salar and Hadi. The soundtrack as mentioned earlier is top notch. I have previously seen Hina in serious roles and this role is the exact opposite of what she has done previously but she surely is nailing it. It’s a good start despite some flaws and we are intrigued to see where this journey takes us. How’d you find the first two episodes of’Aaatish’? 
