The second episode of Rehaai was extremely powerful, yet nauseating at the same time. It begins with Akber (Danish Taimour) worrying about little Kulsoom and telling his parents about the atrocity Chacha disgusting and Vasim Bhai are about to commit. His parents say ‘zulm ki inteha hoti hai’ and are justifiably enraged.

We then see an angry Shamim going to Kulsoom’s father’s house and giving him a peace of her mind in front of his friends. She screams in front of everyone telling them the truth that he sold his daughter. I wanted to strangle him when he tries to defend his despicable actions by saying “be-aulad bhateeje pe rehem agaya tha to beti dedi.” My bloody foot!! Beti pe rehem nahi aya inhe. After she leaves, he of course goes to see Vasim and tells him he was humiliated by his mother in front of his friends and has decided against the marriage. He will also somehow return the money owed.  Clearly he knew that if he went to Vasim with this bluff, Vasim would handle it and that’s exactly what happened. Vasim apologizes for his mother’s actions and then goes yells at her. I have never seen such an ill-mannered son ever before! His mother is left questioning her upbringing of her son.

On the Shehnaz front, her sister, instead of supporting her, is bad mouthing her mother-in-law and tells Shehnaz that she should have stopped going to the doctors and hakeems long time ago and went to that peer baba—another huge issue corrupting our society in my opinion. Shehnaz goes home and is rude to her mother in law telling her that she is probably happy about all of this and will probably attend the nikah happily. Shamim is disgusted and reminds Shehnaz that she was only 11 when her parents married her off to Vasim’s father (Adnan Jilani).  There is no way she can do that to another little girl and right now her sympathies are with Kulsoom and the priority is to save her. We see the tortured flashbacks of Shamim’s own wedding. The next morning Vasim again tries to convince his mother to go his nikaah with Kulsoom and she again tells him to have mercy on her. He leaves in a rage. At the nikaah we see that Kulsoom has no idea what is and is about to happen to her. She is still calling Vasim ‘Vasim Bhai’ and wonders why Tai Ammi and Apa aren’t there. She happily tells her friends she will be going to live with Tai Ammi now. At home, Shehnaz is crying at her life and Shamin is blaming herself for all of this since she couldn’t stop it.

After the nikaah when Vasim brings Kulsoom home (this is where my nausea began), for that night she is saved by Tai Amma. But the next morning when Shamim goes out to get groceries and Kulsoom is left with Shehnaz, Vasim takes advantage of that. You can see the guilt in even Shehnaz’s eyes of what just happened…and what just happened was nothing less than child rape.  Kulsoom is horrified and wants to go back to her father’s house. She has nightmares that night and ends up running back to her father the next morning. Fathers are supposed to protect their daughters, but little does she know that he has no mercy on her and tells to go back to Vasim’s house and apologizes to Vasim about what Kulsoom just did. Tai Amma takes her back to her house after telling her father off again. Episode 2 ends there.

I thought this episode was going to be more horrifying than it actually was (especially after the nikaah). But even with that I could not watch it without getting sick to my stomach. I think this is an extremely powerful drama but I also think it should have been written by a more seasoned and veteran writer. Farhat Ishteaaq is a brilliant writer of romance. It is one thing to make a drama from a novel; it is another to have a novelist write for the big screen, and that too for a subject like this. In what world does an 11 year ask another 11 year ‘kaisa lag raha hai?”? Even if these kids are 12 or 13, I feel like the writer is trying to incorporate the ‘fairy tale’ romance, even if it is for only 3 seconds. Because Kulsoom replies with ‘bohut acha’ without even knowing what is happening. Another thing is all the guests are there and they are happy…no one is saying anything against this atrocity and barbarism.   I do realize that in some sectors of the society all of this is very normal, but still those 3 seconds were extremely disturbing for me.  The other thing is that Shehnaz is supposed to be going through hell since her husband is marrying a child, for a child. So why are her clothes, hair, and make-up always perfect? Since this is supposed to be based on reality, I don’t think that those who are actually going through this would have the time, money, or mind frame to always be perfectly made up. I definitely think that had a more seasoned writer been approached, all of this would have been thought through. I understand the fascination HUM TV has with Farhat Ishteaaq and Umera Ahmed, but if you are going present such a controversial topic than you need to get people who are capable of telling such stories…especially if they are based on reality.

Acting wise everyone is superb! I see a lot of ‘Nani’ from Sheher-e-Zaat in Samina Peerzada’s character, but I also don’t think anyone else could have done justice to this role the way she did. Saeed and Noman Ejaz have out done themselves. They accomplished the audience comtempt towards them in the first 5 minutes of their scenes. Child star Yashaal is great and Maria Wasti is as always, in her character. ..Powerful performances were given by everyone.

Direction wise this had Mehreen Jabbar written all over it. The extremely well timed flashbacks, the scene and frame changes, everything was brilliant. No one else could have directed this so sensitively and brilliantly.

Till next time…

Sheeba Khan.

The first 5 minutes of Rehaai’s first episode very powerful. Rehaai started out with Samina Peerzada (Shamim) looking at some jewelry and  having a flashback to a 10-11 year old girl on a swing asking her mother if Bhabi was right and that she really is getting married. That is the first time my heart stopped in that episode and I think it was only minute 4.  That set the track in motion for the remaining episode.  Rehaai is about child marriages (or child molestation in my opinion). It’s the story of Shamim who was married off when she was 10-11 years old. She now has a grown son Vaseem (Noman Ejaz) and a daughter in law Shehnaz (Maria Wasti). Vaseem and Shehnaz have been married for over 5 years yet still don’t have kids and now Vaseem is adamant on marrying again for kids. Vaseem is not only rude, obnoxious, and illiterate; he verbally and physically abuses his wife for not giving him an heir. Medically, they both are apparently fine though. Shamim is shown to be a very loving and supporting mother in law (finally) who keeps telling her son to have patience in Allah’s wisdom.

In the mix are Chacha Inayat (Munawwar Saeed) and his 11-12 year old daughter Kulsum (Yashaal). Chacha Inayat in my opinion is the root of all of Vaseem’s jahalat and badtameezi. He coerces Vaseem into thinking that he needs to marry a much younger girl so she will ‘give him a child every year.’  He even uses himself as an example by telling Vaseem that when When Kulsoom was born he was 56 and Kulsoom’s (unfortunate) mother was only 13. (I’ll discuss my contempt and disgust for this a little later).  Chacha Inayat also coerces Vaseem into agreeing to marry his daughter Kulsoom, to which even Vaseem says no since she is just a child. Later however, he agrees and when he asks his chacha when they can get married, that’s when he drops the 35,000 rupees bomb. Apparently Kulsoom’s disgusting father owes someone thousands of rupees and tells Vaseem in no certain terms will he marry his daughter off without paying off his debt. Basically he is selling his daughter for what was initially 35,000 rupees but settled at 30,000 rupees.  Needless to say Shamim is infuriated at her son’s decision, but Vaseem is willing to step over his mother’s dead body to marry Kulsum. Disgusting Chacha sends Vaseem to see Kulsoom where he tells her about their upcoming marriage. When Kulsoom confronts her father he sugar coats it by saying that since she loves her Tai Amma and Shehnaz Apa so much, he’s marrying her off to ‘Vaseem Bhai’ so she can live with them forever. Poor child has no idea about the physical and emotional torture she is about to be put through and is just happy that she will be living with Tai Ammi.  First episode ends there.

As I said above, the first episode was really powerful, yet at the same time extremely disturbing. Acting wise, you can’t get better than Samina Peerzada. She needs no words to describe her acting and neither does Munawar Saeed.  Noman Ejaz is very effective as the jaahil and badtameez person. Maria Wasti was ok…her role in the first episode (in my opinion) was definitely needed but it wasn’t anything extraordinary. I really liked how for the first time the mother in law was shown in a positive and supporting role towards a bahu who hasn’t been able to conceive yet. At the same time though, Shamim seemed too refined for that role. Her mannerisms and dialogue delivery was not in sync with the environment the characters live in. In fact until I saw Chacha Inayat, I wondered how her son could end up like that.  But then when uses terms like “hud-har***m” in front of an 11-12 year old, and that too to describe that child’s father, you are back in that environment.  Mehreen Jabbar’s direction was brilliant…especially the swing and the doll scenes. 

Now, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room…child molestation/marriages.  I absolutely think this is an issue that strongly needs to be dealt with and taken care of.  I wanted to vomit when Chacha Inayat was selling his daughter to Vaseem…it was absolutely abhorring. However, I don’t think it should have been so in your face.  Even though this was only the first episode and really not too much was shown, even what was shown was absolutely not appropriate for prime time. There should be an adult censor system for such dramas.  More than that, I am actually scared for the child star Yashal’s real life. I can’t imagine or understand how and why her parents let her do this role. The society that we live in has shown repeatedly what can happen when you have such suggestive roles. I can’t imagine what this girl went through in school or public.  I think had ‘Team Rehaai’ wanted to really talk about such injustice, it could have been done in much more subdued way and should have.  At such points people really should ask themselves if they would let their own kids do such roles. If the answer is no, then that should be the answer for every child and they should find a different way to discuss this problem. I was not at all comfortable watching this. Especially the scene where Kulsoom is bringing Chai to “Vaseem Bhai” and is completely oblivious of the fact that she is now looked upon as a prospect…absolutely sickening! I honestly don’t know what HUM TV is trying to do with showing such ‘in your face’ scenes and unfortunately it has become a trend in all of Momaina Duraid’s home productions.  They are becoming too bold and too open while hiding behind the terms ‘Social injustice.’

Sheeba Khan.

So finally Rehaai ended last night and along with Kulsoom’s literal rehaai, Shamim and Shehnaz also were freed from Vasim’s verbal and physical abuse.  These two finally got a Vasim who cares for them and the three girls and is genuinely trying to right all the wrong he has done in the last few years.

The last episode started out with a visibly disturbed, yet at peace, Vasim. He had asked Kulsoom for forgiveness in the last episode and divorced her so she could be free to marry Akmal as soon as her iddat is over.  He goes to see Akmal and tell him everything.  Tells him to man up and declare his love for Kulsoom…if he backs out, will have to answer to Vasim.  Thankfully after some hesitation, Akmal also convinces his mother. Shamim finally seems happy and content and supports her son 100%. Vasim also seems to have developed the fatherly love and bond with his daughters, especially Rabi, which was nice to see.  In this episode, Vasim also gets artificial legs so he can walk.  He is also very encouraging when Shehnaz is crying because she is going to lose the 3 girls that she raised as her own.  Vasim tells her that the girls will stay with them. He is not going to let them go with Kulsoom.  Shamim also asks Kulsoom for this sacrifice and Kulsoom does grants that wish. She tells Shehnaz that even though she gave birth to the girls, Shehnaz is the one who raised them.  The bond between Kulsoom and Shehnaz is one that I have never seen before. It was fabulously written and if more women actually did develop such a relationship, the world and households would be a much better place to live in! After Kulsoom and Akmal finally get married, Vasim talks to his mother about going to Kashf Foundation for help with the business. He can take care of dealing with the outside markets in different cities and the accounts. Again, we see a relieved Shamim who finally has a son she can be proud of.  Thanks to Kashf, he also gets his store back… Rehana Baji is also there…over enthusiastic as always.  At the end of the episode, 8 years have passed and Shehnaz’s sister is over talking about her son Pervaiz just getting a job. She then gets to her main point asks for Rabi’s hand for her 22 year old son Parvaiz. Shehnaz and Shamim are shocked and somewhat disgusted since Rabi is only 13. They adamantly say no due to Rabi’s age and Shehnaz scares them a little by telling them to ask Vasim. After all, he has 3 girls and he might actually want this to happen to make it easy on himself.  She even mentions this in front of Rabi who comes to say salaam and Rabi leaves angrily and goes to confront her father about Khala talking about her marriage. She tells him in no certain terms will she get married at this age as she want to go to medical school and become a doctor. The episode ends with Vasim telling her to not worry at all…she will study as much as she wants and he will not get her married at that age.  He gets happy at the thought of his daughter becoming a doctor. Shamim is in the background watching this and the scene ends with everyone content and happy.  I really would have enjoyed it much more had Vasim been in that conversation and berated Shehnaz’s sister for even mentioning this. It would have been great to hear him say that he will not repeat do to Rabi what he did to Kulsoom. I honestly believe that would have been a better end, but again, there are many scenes in this drama that I wish were written differently.

On a whole, I think the last episode was the best one script wise.  My favorite scene that I didn’t mention above is the one where chacha disgusting comes with his fake sympathies and tears to take Kulsoom back after hearing Vasim divorced her. Vasim sees right through him and tells him off saying Kulsoom isn’t going anywhere with him; she will complete her iddat at his house, after which he will get her married to Akmal.  He asks him where his tears and sympathy was when he sold Kulsoom to him. Where was he when she had no food to eat?  He berates him knowing that the only reason he is there is because his daughter is now self-sufficient and that is why he is there to take her back…to live off of her money.  This really was my absolute favorite scene because you could see how genuine Vasim was and how he saw through chacha disgusting c ompletely.

Let’s discuss the script. Rehaai started off with child marriages and ended with women and how important it is for them to be financially independent.  How they need to be educated and if not then they at least need to be skilled in some sort of a trade. These are fantastic topics and we need more stories on this. However, in my opinion Rehaai got lost somewhere in the middle. There are storylines that made no sense to me. For example, why did the audience need to see the birthing scene of Kulsoom’s first child? Why would Farhat Ishteeaq writ that in her script, and why would HUM TV, Duraid Productions, and Mehreen Jabbar as the director go along with it? Everyone knows labor is no piece of cake and that it is one of the most painful experiences a woman goes through…so why was it necessary to actually show such a bold scene? What was team Rehaai trying to prove?  Living in the US, I expect this from western TV, but not from Pakistani Television…especially since it was completely unnecessary!

Another storyline that made no sense to me was the Noor Jahan one. What was the point? I could perhaps see it if Vasim had realized how his first 2 wives were and how he was treated to so well by them in contrast to how Noor Jahan treated him, and gone back to his family and apologized. But none of that happened. She divorced him, took his money and left, never to be seen again and he went off to another form of life of crime. Again, what was the writer’s purpose in that story line? Why is there such a need to extend episodes even if it is rubbish and baseless stories? We were told these were real stories that were related to the writer by Kashf Foundation. Really? Vasim has an affair with her for about 4-5 years and the mohalle wale say nothing to Noor Jahan and her mother? Why do these things need to be exaggerated to a point that they just don’t  make sense and why do the entire teams of these dramas go along with it? 

Another thing (and I mentioned this in my first two reviews) is the use of an 11 year old girl. I just want to ask Mumaina Duraid if she is comfortable asking her own daughter (who is around the same age) to act in such a role…and if so, why didn’t she have her own daughter play the younger Kulsoom? How was the script explained to that girl and what she is supposed to be going through in those scenes with Noman Ejaz? It was absolutely tasteless!  Again, Farhat Ishteaaq is a fabulous writer, but she was not fit to write this script. She excels in the last episode because writing romance and fiction is what she is good at, hence the flawless episode. It was a good attempt, but a veteran writer should have been approached for this in my opinion because that would have made all the difference. 

Having said all of the above there are certain things that no one can be faulted for and one of them is acting. All the actors did absolute justice to their roles in every episode and every scene. Whether it’s Samina Peerzada, Maria Wasti, Noman Ejaz, Munawwar Saeed, Danish Taimour, or Sana…even the kids were fabulous. Everyone fit their roles perfectly and they all get 10/10 for it. They were all fantastic! Direction wise, Mehreen Jabbar was great as always…I was surprised that she chose to direct this, but she did make a weak script look good. The still shots and the flashbacks in the beginning of Shamim’s own childhood were absolutely fabulous.

To end this, I hope people do learn a lesson from this…I hope education really is given more importance and I hope men and women both realize that women need to have a skill to survive in this world. They can’t always depend on men as we have seen. They need to be able to survive on their own when put in that position and they need to able to take care of themselves and their kids if and when the time comes.

Sheeba Khan

So we take a time leap in episode 6…it’s been at least 4-5 years since the last episode as Kulsoom now has 3 girls and oldest (Rabi) seems to be about 4. Vasim has been having an open affair with Noor Jahan (NJ) for all these years and NJ’s mother seems to be content, whereas I am thoroughly appalled at her. Chacha disgusting sold his daughter to Vasim for 30K rupees, but a nikaah was involved (although the legitimacy of that nikah is debatabl). Khala disgusting is knowingly and willingly letting her grown, divorced daughter (with a son) have an illegitimate relationship and that too in her own house…and all fo this for money and expensive things. I shudder to think what would have happened had Chacha disgusting married Khala disgusting!

Vasim is wasting all of his money on NJ and Khala disgusting, while his own family (2 wives, 3 daughters, and a mother) are left with little or nothing. He comes home every few weeks and wants his kids hidden away. As Shamim is getting ready to sell her earrings and other household stuff, we hear lines like “pata nahi hum auratein in mardon ki itni mohtaaj kyoon hoti hain?”  Vasim wants to marry NJ, but Khala disgusting will not allow it until he signs over his store to her.  I’m sorry but this entire storyline is completely unnecessary, not to mention the acting of Nosheen Shah as NJ and Khala disgusting. The writer will really have to justify this story line and it better be something other than the entirely predictable scenario in which NJ shows her true colors, Vasim is left without his store, and money, and at the mercy of his two wives and mother.

On the Akmal front, he seems to be doing really well for himself. His father has passed away, and Akmal is still completing his education while taking care of not just his family, but also Vasim’s.  He is also using his own money to run Vasim’s store. He convinces Shamim to let Kulsoom complete her education and starts tutoring her again.  While Akmal is tutoring Kulsoom Vasim comes home seems drunk actually) and starts being abusive to everyone including Akmal.  He then leaves telling them that he is marrying NJ. Episode 6 ends there.

Episode 7 starts out with Vasim complaining to NJ about Kulsoom studying. She clearly showing the background she comes from) suggests that Akmal and Kulsoom are both young and good looking and are clearly having an affair (takes one to think like that) behind Vasim’s back making a fool out of him. Vasim at first says no and he knows Akmal since he was 10, but NJ is quite convincing and has him believing her.

There is a death in Shehnaz’s sister’s in laws and Shehnaz and Shamim go to Hyderabad for condolences, hesitantly leaving Kulsoom alone with the 3 girls. Shazi gets a fever and faints. Kulsoom goes out and calls Vasim’s cell but NJ picks up and doesn’t let her talk to Vasim even after hearing Shazi fainted. NJ hangs up and we find Akmal was standing right behind her (that wasn’t predicable at all). He takes Shazi to the doctor and brings her home. Meanwhile when Vasi wonders who was on the phone NJ doesn’t tell him what happened and even suggests that Kulsoom was calling from Akmal’s phone. Vasim goes home to find Akmal and Kulsoom alone and all hell breaks. Shamim and Shehnaz also show up at that time.  Vasim starts strangling Akmal and even ends up hitting his mother and Shehnaz.  He tells Akmal to give the keys to the shop to him. Akmal throws it at him and leaves. When Shehnaz hears Vasim’s accusations she has had enough and thrown Vasim out telling him to never come back. (This by the way was one of the 2 saving graces of this episode).

Vasim tells NJ what happened and she does the “I told you so’ scene. She also asks “waise teri biwi ko sharm nahi ayi us se chakkar chelate hue?” Hello Pot, my name is Kettle! In the morning Khala disgusting reminds Vasim that there will be no nikah until his store is in NJ’s name as Haq Mehr. Vasim goes to Chaha disgusting (why is he still alive is beyond me) and wants him to be the peacemaker between him and his mother. Tells him about the non-existent affair between Kulsoom and Akmal and Chacha disgusting believes him. What else can we expect from someone who sells his 11 year old daughter?

Meanwhile Akmal is now getting into a small business with a friend. His mother is still mad at what happened and says “kabhi kabhi to dil chahta hai ke us Shamim ko khari khari duna doon.” Umm, she just did like 7 minutes ago…did the writer forget or was there an issue with editing?

Shamim has now decided that the women will work and take care of themselves so they don’t have to depend on anyone. Chacha disgusting shows up and starts yelling at Kulsoom. Shamim (and this is the other saving grace of the episode) tells him off like there is no tomorrow and tells him to never come there again. She also tells him to tell Vasim that she will break his legs if she ever sees him near her house, uttering “aisa beta hone se beher hai Insaan be aulad rahe.” She has said this before also and I’m offended on behalf of men like Akmal. Why couldn’t the writer compare Vasim and Akmal and instead of going to the extremes say something like ‘Beta ho to Akmal jaisa, warna na ho…?’  There was a great chance to show a son in a positive light, yet it passed.

Episode 7 ends with Vasim’s 3^rd marriage to NJ as he has finally transferred the store in NJ’s name.

I’m sorry this review is not very positive but, seriously episodes 6 and 7 were highly predictable and very unimpressive. Rehaai started out very strong and even with extremely nauseating scenes, was commendable. However now it has just become another run of the mill story where women are victimized. I’m really happy that women empowerment through education and work is being shown, and had the focus been on that instead of the unnecessary storyline of Vasim and NJ, it would have been better. There was no need to show that ‘aurat ki dushman aurat hi hoti hai.’ Nosheen Shah did not at all impress as NJ. I found her to be extremely unbearable. Samina Peerzada excelled in her role though along with Danish Taimour.  I do feel like Rehaai has become more about Shamim’s struggles than anyone else’s. Maria Wasti was only there for 2 scenes I believe. Munawwar Saeed was wasted in this episode. Why did Vasim go to Chacha disgusting to make peace with his mother is beyond my understanding. Even Vasim knows how much his mother hates him, so why did he think she would listen to him? Farhat Ishteaq has proved to be a great novelist, but episodes 6 and 7 prove that this should have been written by a strong writer who has already written for television. Not whose novels have been made into dramas.

It is very early though so maybe it’ll get better.

My apologies for the delay, but this review will cover episodes 4 and 5. Rehaai seems to be moving in a pretty steady pace. In episode 4 we see Shehnaz at her Baji’s and she realizes that Shamim was right….she should never have listened to her sister and killed Kulsoom’s baby. When Shamim comes to get her, she readily leaves saying Vasim’s house was at least lesser of the two hells as her brother in law is a complete jerk and her sister is a hypocrit. There is a very important line that Shehnaz says to her baji in this episode…”agar karamat wale baba jee mein itna asar hota to woh pehle apni zindagi sanwaarte.” It is very important for people (mainly women) to understand this. Allah is the only one that will help us and of course only through HIM are his Messengers and Walis. But no pious person will ever do a ‘chilla’ to abort someone’s child. Women need to realize that all of this is not only crap, but against Islam and humanity in general. Shehnaz is finally brought home by Shamim and she apologizes to Kulsoom and Vasim. Vasim is a jerk as always.

We also get an official introduction to the Kashf Foundation in episode 4. I really like the stark contrast between Vasim’s family and Akmal’s. Akmal’s father is sick and can no longer work. Nasrin Baji introduces Kashf Foundation to Shakira and her husband and gives her example of how they helped her so much. After a little hesitancy, Shakira’s husband agrees to let her work (Shukar hai) and we see the positive effects of that in episode 5.

Episode 4 ends with Kulsoom expecting again and calling Shamim from the bathroom in pain and episode 5 starts with Shamim taking care of a very sick and weak Kulsoom.  While waiting, oh how I wish I could slap him when he says stuff like “mere bête ko kuch nahi hona chahiye.” Kulsoom finally gives birth to a baby girl that Vasim doesn’t even look at for about 15 days. I was really disturbed to see the look of pain on Kulsoom’s face when she sees the baby girl…as if thinking ‘what if her daughter’s future is also like hers.’ Once the baby is home Shehnaz completely redeems herself for her prior act. She genuinely loves the baby and cares for Kulsoom…to the extent that we see her giving the baby the bottle while half asleep letting Kulsoom rest. She tells Shamim that after seeing what Kulsoom went through with the baby, she no longer hates her. She actually sympathizes with her because when Vasim is abusive towards her, she at least knows what is happening, but Kulsoom doesn’t even know what torture she is going through. Even when Vasim slaps her, Shehnaz is there to comfort her. You can finally see the chemistry between Maria Wasti and Saaniya and it is fantastic

Vasim is thoroughly upset about not having a boy and so enter his future 3^rd wife…Noor Jahan. Nosheen Shah plays the extremely flirty and divorced Noor Jahan who has a son. She manages to get free suits for her and her mother and Vasim also starts to call her. He completely forgets that he already has two wives and a daughter. I guess Nosheen Shah is on a negative-character-role-spree these days. Didn’t like her in Mera Pehla Pyar and already don’t like her as Noor Jahan.

On the Akmal front, looks like bechare ki pitai hone wali hai ‘bhai’ se. He is getting a little too close to Kulsoom and now baby Rabia (such a lovely name waise). I’m hoping Vasim divorces Kulsoom so she can happily marry Akmal. Danish Taimour is doing a great job as Akmal. I just wish he would put on less make up then the women in the drama.

Episode 5 ends with Kulsoom coming back from the doctor after learning she is expecting again. Vasim is adamant this time it must be a girl. Why someone cannot tell him that Vasim himself is responsible for the baby’s gender is beyond me. Perhaps Kashf Foundation can also educate the jaahil men and women on the fact that the father is responsible for the gender of the baby, not the mother.

I think Rehaai is moving at a steady space but has become a little predictable. Acting wise, everyone does justice to their roles. In episode 3 Saaniya seemed to have extremely blank expressions, but she was outstanding in episodes 4 and 5. No words for Samina Peerzada and Nouman Ejaz’s acting. Mehreen is, as always brilliant in direction and the script was pretty solid in the last 2 episodes…looking forward to episode 6.

I’d like to take a minute here and say that all the comments on this review and the drama are highly appreciated. I do however request that if you are going to criticize the review, director, script or even the actors, please do so respectfully. Thank You.

The third episode of Rehaai was visually more digestible than the first two. We see a scared Kulsoom being protected by the helpless Shamim. We also again see the tortured back flashes of Shamim. Here I must mention how artistically the frames were shifting during those flashbacks and that entire scene…it was as if Shamim was looking directly into her past life and reliving it; not through Kulsoom, but through her own eyes. If you look at Samina Peerzada during that scene and her narrative, you can see her own pain coupled with that of Kulsoom’s.  Especially when she says “Aur Kulsoom ko bhi meri tarha aakhir yeh baat samajh agaye thi ke jahannum se uski ‘rehaai’ ab mumkin  nahi.” Visually, that was the best scene so far and hats off to Samina Peerzada, the editor, and Mehreen for pulling it off so artistically.

The audience sees a new Kulsoom who is apparently now 13 and expecting (yet she seems to be clueless about her own pregnancy). Vasim goes to congratulate Chacha disgusting and thanks him for selling his daughter to him. He is also now being really nice and caring to Kulsoom because he thinks she will give him a son. He even suggests that whereas she can’t go to school, Akmal can come and be her teacher in the evening. In all of the attention Kulsoom is getting, Shehnaz feels ignored and has become extremely evil…to the extent that she plans and kills the unborn baby with the help of her sister and the ‘Shah Jee’ who has done a ‘chilla’ for it (If only the Shah jee could have taken that pill himself)!! After Kulsoom loses the baby, Vasim goes back to be being a jack a** and whereas Shamim knows Shehnaz was behind the miscarriage, she doesn’t tell Vasim. I was actually surprised at how calm Shamim seemed. Shehnaz just killed a baby, yet it seemed as if all she got was a slap on the wrist by Shamim. I don’t understand that.  The episode ends with Vasim finding out Shehnaz gave Kulsoom the pill that killed the baby a nd throws her out.

Like I said above, this was a much more digestible episode and on a whole it was pretty strong. A few things I didn’t get though. First of all, how is this new Kulsoom 13? The girl looks at least 16 if not older. Second, how does Kulsoom not know she is expecting? Vasim even tells her that she will be giving him a boy. How did she think that was going to happen? Even when she loses the baby, she is shown to be clueless? I would think that as soon as Shamim knew Kulsoom was expecting, she would have said something. I’m baffled by this. Third, when Kulsoom miscarries and the doctor asks for Kulsoom’s age, Shamim says she is 14 and the doctor says the girl doesn’t at all look 14. So is the doctor saying its’ ok for a 14 year old to be married and pregnant? If Shamim was going to make up an older number why couldn’t she say 17-18? Lastly, I’m still appalled at how tamed Shamim’s reaction was to Shehnaz killing the baby. I don’t care if the baby wasn’t born yet…it is still horrifying that someone is shown to be so insecure they would kill an unborn baby.  I don’t agree with Vasim strangling Shehnaz when he finds out, but I don’t completely blame him for throwing her out. Now I understand that if that baby was going to be a girl, he would not have done that, but still, she killed an unborn child and I don’t at all feel bad for her. I understand Shehnaz has been wronged and has been physically and emotionally abused by her husband, but that is not Kulsoom’s fault. She had no right to take that anger out on an unborn child. I really wish Shamim’s anger was shown to be stronger since she seems to be so rational, religious, and level-headed.  Aside from these few things, like I said, strong episode.

Acting wise again, everyone excelled except for the older version of Kulsoom. She seems to have a mostly blank expression on her face. Noman Ejaz has delved into his character so strongly that I hate his face as soon as I see it. He is absolutely fabulous and he absolutely deserves the award for best actor!

Well done Team Rehaai!