“Shadi kabhi bhi is tarah nahi kurni chahyeh ke kuch ke liye bhoj. Kuch ke liye tamasha aur kuch ke liye hasrat bun jaye.”

 Don’t these four lines describe the kind of marriage most girls dream of having nowadays? Most of the people who can afford it and those like Ayza and Hammad’s family who cannot afford it too become a part of the rat race because of their children. Asghari and Amna had to be only two people who talked sense all through these two episodes. The men did not think they would have much of a say so mostly they decided to keep quiet and rest of the family members gladly followed Ayza and Hammad’s lead. Although Aima is a very sensible girl but somehow personally I am not enjoying the stark difference in the personality of the two sisters, probably because we have had an overdose of sisters who are complete contrasts in the past one year. I would have liked it better if the story was about Ayza alone and it showed how a woman can change everything about a household (and not always in a good way!).

I have to say that I really enjoyed the way Hammad changed overnight, every little change in Hammad’s personality made me chuckle because I have seen many such men around me. The way Hammad changes his priorities and does not even bother asking or even informing his mother was no exaggeration at all. Hammad takes everything in his own hands from the wedding cards to the changes in the function and gives the excuse “ab hamei dosto aur rishtedaron ke samne sharmindgi nahi ho gi” and Rafia buys it too. Am I the only one who felt like this line seemed like one of the funny –sarcastic-lame jokes that we hear at the end of Ufone advertisements?

I must give due credit to the director for doing a great job of showing the wedding functions, the details shown were totally in line with the story. Usually there is a lot of hullabaloo about marriage functions in dramas but they are never shown properly because of obvious reasons. Hamnah’s In Laws also expect a grand wedding like that of Hammad and I am thinking that this is only the beginning of the series of problems that Rafia is going to face due to the changes Hammad has decided to made in their lifestyle in general too and not just the wedding function. Honestly speaking, I was not expecting Rafia to be as understanding as she is being till now. Could it be because of all the things that her bahu brought with her? It was very evident that Ayza was out to impress her In Laws and she succeeded too. I really liked it when Asghari said, ‘agur unhu ne apni aukat se unchi chalang lagai hai tu iska yeh matlab tu nahi ke hum bhi thapar maar maar ke apna muu laal kur lei”

The Ayza/Hammad track definitely kept me hooked through these two episodes because I found all the happening extremely relatable. The Aima/Hashim track on the other hand seemed to be quite repetitive and the contrast factor did not appeal to me much. Although Aima told Hashim loud and clear that her parents could not afford to buy her a car but he is still expecting one…all I can say is that shame on him and every man like him! Sadly there are many such men in our society who openly ask their wives to be or their families for things and later on boast about it too.

All the actors did a wonderful job in these two episodes but there were times when I felt like Amina Sheikh wasn’t very well-suited for the role. Samina Ahmed and Ayesha Khan(senior) both are spot on as Asghari and Akbari. Some of the scenes were more predictable than usual, I could actually tell what response someone is going to give to someone and when someone is going to hang up the phone, on what note the conversation will end etc. Overall, I enjoyed these two episodes much more than any of the previous episodes mainly because I found the changes in Hammad very relatable and interesting, Umera Ahmed most definitely has great observation and she has penned down these characters perfectly.

Fatima Awan.

This play surely sheds light on a social evil that is highly rampant in our society and is very widely accepted in the name of status symbol; the social evil I am referring to is dowry. The way Ayza gives her parents a long list of all the valuables she wants in her dowry was actually something very relatable because I have seen many girls around me who consider dowry their birth right and like Ayza’s mother points out if the parents do not fulfill the unreasonable wish lists the children consider them ‘gunahgaar’. Ayza has been very smart till now, having direct communication with Hammad has yielded the desired results and now Hammad too feels like it is obligatory for him to have a grand wedding. This is another aspect of the play that is very real, there are many men who do change their standards overnight after they get engaged or soon after they get married. The things that were unthinkable for their mothers and sisters become easily acceptable when it comes to their new wives. Rafia is losing her son fast at the hands of the bahu she dearly loves and feels proud of and honestly speaking she still has no idea what is coming her way!

There are two things I found very interesting in these two episodes. The first was that although Akbari has spoiled Ayza so much but the truth is that she is not willing to spend a penny on her marriage, everything that she says to her son is only to blackmail him into given into her demands. When she finds out that Ayza will take Guddu with her, she instantly talks to Rafia because she knew only too well that she won’t allow it and that way Ayza will get another servant and she will get to keep Guddu!! The second interesting thing that I noticed was the way everyone blames other people for someone’s actions. For instance Akbari blames Asghari for convincing Rafia to talk to Amna about the servant issue, Akbari blames Amna for Ayza’s father’s limited budget, Rafia thinks that Ayza is a very nice girl and it is Akbari who wants a grand wedding and there are so many other examples.

Aima does not like it at all when everyone gives (undue) credit to Ayza for the cooking and rightly so too. The differences between the two sisters became more apparent in these two episodes.

There are two things that seemed somewhat awkward to me. They made it sound like the set that Ayza chose was very heavy but it did not sound like that to me, I think all middle class families give this much gold to their daughter-in-laws. Secondly how could a diamond ring which Hammad has brought for Ayza be equivalent to the property that Rafia will have to sell now?

These two episodes focused on Ayza more than Aima and the issues that were discussed by the family members were more or less the same as the ones in the previous two episodes. The only new development had to be the change in Hammad’s behavior towards his family, which we could all see coming!

Although, everything about Mirat-ul-Uroos till now has been very relatable but I have to say that the screenplay is not engaging enough and the story till now has been very predictable, which takes the excitement away. There is not even one character in the play that stands out and makes you take notice and no outstanding dialogues that give you goose bumps. Honestly speaking I expected much more from an Umera Ahmed play. Missing a couple of episodes would mean you haven’t missed much, so for now the drama definitely lacks the must-watch factor.

Fatima Awan.

After watching the latest two episodes, all I can say is that I think the real story is going to start only after the two odd couples get married. Although everything that happened in these episodes reflected perfectly all that happens in houses where children are about to get married but I have to say that for now the show lacks the must watch factor and there hardly anything novel about the story of the setting for now. All the actors are very well suited in their roles. Mikaal Zulfiqar in particular is absolutely brilliant in every role he opts for and it is plain to see that acting comes very naturally to him. Ahsan Khan is equally convincing as the careless, lazy and immature Hashim. Hammad isn’t the mama’s boy that he appears to be and that is actually good to know because the character seems more real and interesting now. It seems like Hammad instantly fell for Ayza and Ayza really seemed interested in him too. Akbari’s demands are met quite soon and the stage is all set for marriage.

It was further proven in these latest episodes that Ayza had been spoiled to the core by Akbari, she is self-centered, manipulative and irresponsible. Her character may have seemed interesting in the first two episodes but now that we know that there is absolutely nothing about Ayza that is even remotely nice, it is just plain disappointing and the character obviously is not the least bit likeable. Girls like Ayza who have never been told right from wrong and are used to having things their way and getting just about everything they want without ever trying to work hard for it learn their lessons the hard way. What good is a life without rules to guide you? Actually it is much easier to raise children the way Akbari did and much difficult to teach them discipline. What I cannot understand is that how can Askari expect Ayza to be any different when she knows her sister so well? When Ayza demands to visit her to be In Laws’ house, even though Rafia pretends to be very comfortable with the idea in front of Akbari but she discusses with Askari just how inappropriate that is and how disappointed she is in Ayza. Even then Askari does not reconsider the proposal maybe because she is too nice! But still this was highly unbelievable. I guess when you go looking for rishtas outside the family you tend to be more critical but when it comes to your own relatives you tend to be more relaxed and positive.

Rafia kept on raving about her new bahu and gives her credit for everything that goes right in their lives. The women in both houses want a lavish wedding ceremony even if it means using all the savings, the men disagree but there isn’t much they can do about it. This is something I have seen happening quite often actually; most of the women do tend to get carried away when it comes to getting their kids married. And the men don’t have much of a say

Hashim finally gets a job thanks to a sifarish and starts complaining soon afterwards. It is evident that Aima is the mature one in the relationship. I am looking forward to how things turn out once Hammad and Ayza start communicating, I can foresee Ayza dictating everything to Hammad.

I must mention something here that was initially observed by a fellow reviewer and I have to say that I totally agree with him. Has someone else noticed that there seems to be so much “khana peena” in our plays lately. Take these two episodes for instance, the second episode ended on the dinner table and the third one started with daadi asking Ayza for tea. Then we saw Ayza’s parents having tea. Later Rafia, Asghari and her son were having tea and fruits. Hashim and Aima had their conversation over a cup of tea. Half of the time is either spent in the kitchen making food and the other half consuming it. And I must say that this whole “khana peena” affair has been taken to a whole new level in Zindagi Gulzar Hai from the ever-present biscuits on Sir Ibrar’s table, to the biryanis that Zaroon’s family devour and the cereals and fruits that Zaroon and family snack on! Don’t the artists get lunch or snack breaks or they have to consume the food they need to during the shoots? Silly question I know but all the food in some of the plays is actually proving to be slightly distracting and unnecessary too. Am I the only one who feels this way? Do share you thoughts about all the ‘khana peena” in our plays and all the munching on fruits, rice, snacks and especially tea we see in our dramas!

Fatima Awan.

This latest episode had nothing new to offer and I think that it is about time that Mirat-ul-Uroos came to an end! The dialogues and the happenings are getting very repetitive and there isn’t much to look forward to. The story picked up momentum in the previous few episodes but now we are at a standstill. I think the viewers know very well now that Ayza is fazool kharch so there is no point in repeating it over and over again since they have touched upon all the different aspects of her fazool kharch nature.

Faraan decided to take a stand against the engagement function and his reaction was not taken well by anyone. Even his father thought that there was nothing wrong with the idea of having a function but Faraan rightly believes that one thing leads to another so it was better that there was no confusion regarding his opinion on the issue. Akbari retaliated by leaving Nasir’s house and moving in with Ayza – I am waiting to find out how Hammad will react to this decision. Ayza is expecting again and making the most of it! Hammad’s conversation with his parents about him not being able to give kharcha and his father’s reaction had to be the best part of the episode. Indeed, some things cannot be bought with money!

Ayza and Akbari like always were on the same page as far as the engagement celebrations were concerned and Ayza even had the guts to talk to Ayza about the issue. I really liked the way Aima told Ayza off in a very apt way, she was right; surely Ayza should not be worried about keeping ties with family and all since she has done everything in her power to keep Hammad away from his own family. Hammad is not a child of course and he is just as much at fault as is Ayza. If he cannot understand what his parents are going through because of his selfish attitude then it would be wrong to expect Ayza to look out for his parents. Hammad does not agree with anything Ayza has to say but he still does not have the guts to stand up to her and not just that, he also follows his lead like he doesn’t have a mind of his own.

Faraan should get engaged and finally married to Hamna now; they will actually make a good match since they think on the same lines. When and how that is going to happen, I am waiting to find out and also I am wondering if Amna will be comfortable with the idea. She did say to Aima that she did not want her son to get married to a girl who was divorced. Aima’s biggest concern right now is to get her son in a good school and Askari believes that he shouldn’t necessarily go to a big school. Aima did not disagree with her but it seemed like she wanted to put him in a good school. I hope this “issue” is not dragged further like the car! This was the 27^th episode and I have started wondering now, how many more to go? Did you watch this episode? Do you think it is time to wrap things up. Why are our dramas stretched unnecessarily? Doesn’t anyone out there care about what the viewers want?

Fatima Awan

I was hoping that Hashim, Ayza or Akbari will have a change of heart in this episode or will in some way start thinking on different lines but none of that happened. All of them seem to be happy with the way they are and are doing quite well also! Ayza still gets to have things her way, no matter what. Hashim also fails to take a stand and continues blaming his parents rather than valuing them. Today’s episode’s main focus was Fahad’s birthday and Faraan’s engagement. It was another relatable episode that was very well executed too but I am getting tired of the same message being repeated over and over again.

Fahad’s lavish birthday party and the way Ayza treats her In Laws during the ceremony creates more cracks in the relationship between the two families. It was very evident that Ayza did not want to invite Hammad’s family to the function to begin with because she was very sure that they won’t be happy to see the celebrations. Well, I have to say that her assessment was very right. Hammad’s parents are shocked to see his lifestyle and could not help but wonder that why their son did not have more money to spare for them – a very valid question I would say. Ayza is a true replica of Akbari in every way – selfish and stubborn, what a bad combination.

I really enjoyed Faraan and Akbari’s conversations today despite of the fact that there were times when I felt that Faraan was being a little too blunt. We found out more about Akbari’s past life in today’s episode. She seems to have lived a very comfortable life despite of her selfish behavior and that is exactly the reason why she still wants her own way no matter what the circumstances.

Aima’s attitude towards Ayza was spot on today. She gave Ayza a piece of her mind and there wasn’t much that she could stay in return. Ayza’s father also puts his foot down and asks her to change her attitude towards her in laws. I am glad that he did that but the promo for the next episode suggests that there is absolutely no change in Ayza’s behavior at all. Ayza accuses Aima of ulterior motives, which was nothing new really because she has been saying all this for quite some time now.

Aima finally talks to Faraan about Hamnah and I am very sure now that these two will end up getting married. That is something I want to see happening. The promo of the next episode suggests that Nawaz breaks off the engagement himself – good riddance I would say! But I also got the feeling that Akbari will hold Faraan or his parents responsible for the broken engagement. I have started wondering now that how many more episodes to go because Ayza and Hashim show no signs of changing and the drama cannot possibly end until they do. I have to say that the fazool kharchi factor, although very relatable but has been done to death now and I want to hear and watch something new.

Fatima Awan

This was yet another engaging and meaningful episode of Mirat-ul-Uroos. Time flies away a little too quickly when you are watching this play and at this point I simply love the pace of the show. I also like the way the characters are so well etched out; sometimes the reactions and happenings can be very predictable but I have come to the conclusion that it isn’t always something bad for the characters to be predictable. The reason I am saying this is that it really really makes me extremely happy everytime Aima tells Hashim openly in loud and clear words that he should not rely on her in any way financially. She never softens up as far as her principles about financial matters and the role Hashim is supposed to play in the family is concerned. She really made me proud today when she told him right in the face that she was there to share his burden but he should not think that she will completely relieve him of his duties. Hashim and Hammad both have been complete disappointments. Hammad’s guilt pangs every now and then never seem to affect his behavior in any way…anything that Ayza says goes even though he may not agree with her ever. Hashim on the other hand had the guts to tell Aima that he was considering leaving the job since Aima was working now and maybe she could do some overtime…seriously when will this man learn? He is what we call a total loser and I wonder when is he going to change, seems like there is no hope for him in the near future.

One thing I am very happy about is that Wajahat is out looking for a job. He has a sound health and a lot of experience so why not? There is nothing wrong with working until your health allows it and nowadays older people continue working even after their retirement which I am sure helps them in so many ways. Every person needs to feel useful and someone who has earned all his life must not feel good looking towards his children for money especially when the children are like Hashim and Hammad.

Rafia did seem to feel a little ashamed when Hashim gave her the money and told her that Aima contributed too but she did not feel bad enough to actually apologize to Aima or even say something nice to her, maybe because she could not muster up the courage to do so. I couldn’t help but feel for Zain; of course he is careless and I also agree that going abroad is not going to solve his problems, but I did feel like Hammad shouldn’t have let him down the way he did and the way Aima just dropped the bomb on him did not seem very fair. The way Ayza looked at Zain when he was talking to Hammad went to show that there is no place in Ayza’s heart for Hammad’s family at all. Aima on the other hand is doing everything in her power for her in laws and I am pretty sure that it will pay off in the end. I am waiting to see Hashim change more than anything else.

Akbari’s dialogue about Durr-e-Shehwar and Guddu’s remark about her being Shandana was hilarious; it brought back memories and was spot on! Akbari comparing herself to Durr-e-Shehwar, how ironic is that!! I have a feeling that Hamnah and Farhan will end up getting married but I also cannot see Nasir taking a stand in front of Akbari or his brother…can’t wait to find out how the story unfolds.

I have to say that Mirat-ul-Uroos has proved to be a very subtle and sincere effort by the entire team to bring forward some very important problems that are part of every second household and it does not only highlight problems but also gives solutions. No doubt family is a very strong unit and a few wise people in a family who put in their honest effort can help other family members overcome any kind of problems. I missed Asghari in today’s episode but thoroughly enjoyed it nevertheless. This latest installment was flawless from the beginning to the end and I am definitely looking forward to next week’s episode.

Fatima Awan

Finally Aima decided to help her in laws out with the financial problems that they have been facing because Hammad has not been able to help them out. Hammad’s father is a wise man who can tell that they should not expect Hammad to help them out in the future too. Ayza’s next “farmaish” is that Hammad should cut down on the financial help to his parents and the question is if Hammd would be man enough to not listen to his wife and do what he really wants to do. Hammad clearly does not feel good about leaving his family in the lurch but at the same time he has the choice of giving his parents money without telling Ayza. He lied to his parents in order to please Ayza so why can’t he do the same now? Hammad seems like one of those men who think that their wife might walk away if they do anything to displease her. Such men have no idea though that if they stand up to their wife only once, the wives really would know better than to dictate their terms and conditions to their husband. Coming back to Aima, I think her decision to do a part time job was very wise because if she does a full time job Hashim is most likely to leave his own job because she will be earning enough to support his parents then. Also the decision to do a part time job was totally in line with Ayza’s character because that way she will be able to spend quality time with her in laws too; that is something that is very important to her. Aima’s character seems more real when she shares with her mother every now and then the way she feels about Ayza and her selfish attitude. She is not one of those holier than thou sisters who will never complaint no matter what happens.

Aima’s mother once again offers financial help but she refuses for the right reasons. There is certainly a change in Hashim’s attitude; he would not settle for anything less than a 50,000 Rs. salary before but now he has decided to work for someone who is paying him 15000 only. Rafia’s reaction when she heard about Hashim’s salary was actually quite predictable; she ran to the jai Namaz and back to the bed in a few seconds! Rafia has certainly changed her attitude towards Hammad and Ayza but it seems like her attitude towards Aima will only change once she starts earning. Rafia is still materialistic, whether she admits it or not and whoever gives her a good sum of money will get respect from her.

Hamnah’s wedding is finally over and Aima has been there for her every step of the way. Hamnah finally talked to Ayza about how she felt like she may be going through all of this because she ill treated Aima because she didn’t bring a car. I really wanted to hear that confession/apology from her and I am glad that she came out with it today. Hamnah’s father has faith in Aima and therefore asks her to look after Hamnah; that particular scene was very short but I think it said a great deal about how Aima’s father in law feels about her.

Akbari’s reaction to the news of Hamnah’s divorce was no surprise at all. I couldn’t help but think that it must be people like her who with their twisted thinking make things difficult for others as well. Akbari’s is focusing on getting Farhan engaged to Joey now and I have a feeling that Farhan is not going to comply. We have not seen Joey yet but guessing from what Farhan had to say about her, I have a feeling that she will be a total misfit for the family.  Until now Akbari has managed to get everything she was persistent at getting done…I am waiting to see what happens next.

This was the 22^nd episode and I have to say that usually by this time I just want a play to wrap up but Mirat-ul-Uroos is going strong till now and I could gladly watch a few more episodes. It is almost unbelievable the way this play has grown on me because I found it highly repetitive and not at all engaging in the beginning. I definitely like everything about Mirat-ul-Uroos and eagerly look forward to it every week.

Fatima Awan.

Hammad has finally moved out of the house and he feels guilty about moving out for the wrong reasons more than just moving out. Like always the guilt pangs came and went and failed to change Hammad’s thinking in any way. Like I said in my last review, had Hammad moved out solely because he and his wife needed some space it would have been perfectly okay but to move out because you do not want to help your parents financially is just plain selfish. Ayza is very materialistic and Hammad finds it impossible to put his foot down and take a stand on anything at all. I was actually very shocked and disappointed in him when he told his father that he could not afford to finance them in any way for the next two months. On one hand, he has a luxurious home and is inviting people over for lavish dinners every weekend and on the other he does not have any money to give his parents. Although, he knows only too well that his parents cannot survive without the money he gives them. Hammad’s parents’ reaction was very realistic, the way his mother tells him they can’t do without the money and the manner in which his father politely tells him off…very nicely done.

We saw Aima being the perfect daughter in law and she did not let anything Rafia said change the way she felt about her new family. When Rafia was watching Aima teach Zain, I thought she may finally have a change of heart, well not just yet but I think she will change her opinion about Aima very soon. If Hashim does not get a job, I think it should be okay for Aima to work now until he finds a job because the dynamics in the house have completely changed. Ideally Hashim should lower his standards and take up any job he gets. Hashim is still being immature; asking his friends to find him a job with 50,000 salary, nothing less than that will do. I am glad Aima tries to knock some sense into him as often as she can but nothing Aima says seems to have any affect.

Akbari continued to be the foolish and stubborn person that she is. Her obsession with Guddu is almost funny and I have to say that I have seen many such ladies who trust and depend on their servants more than their own family members. The conversation between Guddu and Daddi was a little too long and somewhat irrelevant as well but I enjoyed it nevertheless! The dialogue about the 8 o’clock drama was so right!! There are times when one longs to watch these plays when they go on air but the load shedding most often does not allow it.

Ayza and Hamnah have surely grown apart and Hamnah is much closer to Aima now. I have to say though that I couldn’t exactly figure out just when Hamnah changed “sides” and also her thinking. It would have been good if we could have heard from her just when she started feeling that Ayza was not as perfect as she thought she was.

I was expecting Hammad to get tired of his wife’s farmaishi program once they moved out of the house but nothing like that seems to be happening anytime soon. We saw him complaining every now and then but he still continued doing whatever Ayza wanted him to. Hiring the servant that his parents had fired was another very unethical thing to do but he didn’t have much to say about that too.

This was a very engaging episode indeed but I want things to move on now…enough of moaning over Hammad’s “betrayal”.

Fatima Awan.

This latest episode focused on how everyone reacted to Hammad’s decision to move out of the house. The way everyone reacted to the news was very realistic indeed and it went to show how children can never fulfill their responsibilities towards their parents, the way parents do for them. Hammad and Ayza are only thinking of their child’s future and how it can be “secured” by moving out of the house. I know it sounds like flawed logic but it is very good reasoning for someone who prefers money over relationships. Ayza is someone who would much rather save her husband’s precious money for her child and has no interest in saving the relationship they have with her in laws. Hammad said it loud and clear that Hashim and Zain were not his kids, therefore, not his responsibility but what about his parents? Are his parents wrong in expecting their son to stand by them in time of need and not walk out on them (literally)? Honestly, generally speaking, I am all for couples living separately but I think that this is not the ideal time for Hammad to move out and also the reason for moving out is very wrong. Rafia goes out of her way to make things easier for Ayza and has never shown her discontent with anything that Ayza and Hammad do. The sole reason Ayza wants to move out is because she wants her husband’s money all for herself and her child. Well, what else one can expect from someone who has been raised by Akbari. Ayza is still young and there is plenty of time for her to change but Akbari just baffles me with her immature and shallow thinking. Ayza and Akbari are alike in so many ways – they only value their own comfort and know about their own needs, they are not much concerned with how their actions affect others.

Hammad clearly feels guilty about his decision but seems to take an about turn when Askari talks t o him about the issue. I totally agree with Askari, it is so wrong when people blame the “bahus” when their sons decide to move out or do anything to make their parents unhappy after they get married. Hammad is pretty much capable of putting his foot down and has a healthy and working brain to tell him right from wrong. Yes, surely Ayza played a vital part in convincing him to move out of the house but he had the option of telling her that he could not just now. It is HIS choice to listen to his wife and not his parents and grandmother.

Even though Rafia holds Ayza wholly responsible for Hammad’s decision to leave the house but she still does not have the guts to say it to her face! On the other hand she puts Aima down every chance she gets. In fact Rafia turns into a villainous character every time she is talking to Aima. The reason she belittles Aima like that is because her husband does not have a job and because Hammad is moving out of the house…that is highly unreasonable.

I am actually looking forward to Hammad leaving the house because that is the only way that he will see Ayza for who she is and hopefully Hashim will take up his responsibilities now. I really felt for Aima today, she has the patience of a saint and deserves to be happy. She has not seen a moment of happiness ever since she got married and even then we never hear her complaining.  Akbari’s decision to hire Guddu back was just plain foolish and it was surprising to see that even her son did not react to it the way one would have expected him to. Some of Akbari’s dialogues in today’s episode were hilarious.

I have to say that I am totally hooked to the play and enjoying the way the story is unfolding. All the actors seem very comfortable in their respective roles now with the exception of Meekaal. His acting seems very unconvincing at times, which is actually surprising because he is such a good actor otherwise.

Fatima Awan.

This was another thought provoking, very relatable and a well directed episode of Mirat-ul-Uroos. To start with I would like to share my favorite dialogues from this latest installment.

“Lekin ab badqismati se hamare mashrey mei murd buhat kum reh gaye hei”…This is so true there are so many men in our society who want to dominate their wives  but are not willing to give them the protection, security and love that they should give them.

“Beti ko ghur mein bitha ke taanay na du, us ka dil bura ho ga”…This dialogue really struck a chord with me, Hamnah may have been very wrong but her father is right too. I liked the way he looks out for his daughter and can tell how she must feel. She was being immature and when children are being that way, the parents have to look out for them and tell them right from wrong or take the decisions for them. After watching everything that transpired with Hamnah, I honestly think it would have been better if her parents did not give in to the pressure and delayed the marriage.

“Insan ka pata tub hi chalta hai jub us se wasta pare tu”

“Khushi ka taaluq cheezon se thori hota hai”…Finally Rafia has realized that you can’t measure someone’s worth by the things they bring for you!

“Tum khudh ko itna bewukt kyun kur dena chhati ho…Tum apni izzat khudh nahi karo gi tu koi nahi kare ga”. Well, everything that Aima said to Hamnah was so true and I am glad it didn’t take Hamnah long to see things for what they are. 

Askari has to be my favorite character in the show and Samina Ahmed is doing such a brilliant job – spot on as usual. Everything that Askari says makes perfect sense and she does it without sounding too preachy, she shares her opinion with everyone without being assertive and that is what I like about her the most. She is like a gentle, caring and wise friend to everyone in the house.

Although it was partially because of Ayza’s constant pressure on Hammad that he decided to move out of the house but I will not hold Ayza wholly responsible for the decision. Hammad has spent a lifetime with his parents and should know better than to get convinced by Ayza. Ayza makes Hammad’s parents sound like greedy and selfish individuals who are only holding on to their son because they want his money and Hammad really should not believe her. He does not even think twice about how his father is going to manage things without him since he did not even give him enough time to plan something. I really think though that Hammad’s father should still be working because nowadays many people continue working even after their retirement.

Yes it is time for Hashim to wake up and smell the coffee!! He is used as a bad example everywhere and gradually he is realizing how irresponsible he has been. He never thought there was anything wrong with asking Aima for a car but now that Hamna is in the same situation, he sees things differently. With Hammad moving out, he will be left with no choice but to take up some of the responsibilities and I am really looking forward to the transformation. I also really appreciate the way Hashim was made to realize his responsibilities in this episode.

I have to say that this episode seemed too short and it ended too quickly, maybe because I found every single minute extremely engaging. Umera Ahmed has done a great job with the script, Anjum Shehzad has directed the play very well and all the actors are doing a great job. Really looking forward to the next installment.

Fatima Awan.

When Hamnah went out of her way to make Aima feel like a lesser human only because she did not have a grand wedding and her husband wasn’t earning enough to spend on Hamnah’s wedding, she had no clue that very soon she will be facing a very tough time in her own In Laws’ house because of this very reason. Although Hamnah’s parents did everything they could or more in order to pleaser her in laws but it was quite apparent right from the onset that Hamnah’s Husband and his mother were very materialistic. The way Hamnah’s Mother-in-law was being nice to Ayza on the wedding and totally ignored Aima went to show that the woman was very shallow. While Aima is trying very hard to be a good wife and Daughter in law in a very hostile environment, Ayza has everything going for her. Rather than trying to make things easier for her sister, Ayza only wants to make her stay in the house more comfortable by making sure that she lives up to the impression that she has made in her new house. Akbari gives Ayza’s parents a never-ending list of gifts which are to be given to every member of Ayza’s new family as part of the celebrations on the arrival of Ayza and Hammad’s son.

The post wedding discussion that took place right after Hamnah’s marriage was very relatable. Everyone shared how they felt about Hamnah’s In Laws and the conversation ended with Ayza’s “expert opinion”. Hashim’s attitude towards Aima today was beyond wrong and he really is turning out to be one of those people who cannot take responsibility for their own actions. I was surprised though that Aima did not see that coming because even before marriage Hashim was very careless.  I know many girls and boys though who know their fiancés or their spouse to be before marriage and think that all of the faults in them will magically go away once they get married. I think what is happening to Aima should serve as a good lesson for many girls out there who think that a man will change after marriage. I really like Aima’s character and feel for her too but it is partially her mistake too, she should not have expected Hashim to turn into a very responsible person solely because they were getting married. Hashim did nothing more than blame Aima for his troubles and treated her like a punching bag today. I really liked Aima’s discussion with Daddi, it is so good to know that there is someone in the house who understands her and with whom she can share things. I found it rather odd when Hashim and Aima were arguing with each other at the top of their voices…that is obviously something that is not possible in a joint family!

Rafia has such a soft heart when it comes to her own daughter but she does not stop to think for a second the effect her stone hearted attitude must be having on Aima. Even when Askari tries to make her realize that she was wrong in holding Aima responsible and for treating Hahsim and Aima as outsiders, she was not convinced at all.

Ayza’s advice to Hammad that he should not share the news about his new job with his parents went to show just how selfish Ayza is. I am waiting to see just how far this attitude of hers will take her because it is so wrong. The episode ended with Hamnah coming back to her parents, yet another car issue that needs to be resolved. Hamnah’s problems will serve as an eye opener for her family members and they will realize what parents go though when In laws demand such things from girls’ parents.

I am really looking forward to the next installment especially due to the scene between Hashim and Hamza….This drama definitely teaches young people out there some very valuable lessons if someone is paying attention. This episode was directed very well; in fact I think it was the best one so far as far as direction is concerned. All the scenes were short and to the point and there was no repetition whatsoever. Definitely looking forward to more.

Fatima Awan.

Let me start by saying that Mirat-ul-Uroos has completely grown on me and it is proving to be a very realistic play which depicts a lot of sad realities that exist in our society in a very apt manner. I am sure all the mothers, grandmothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and most of all the married couples can relate to this play on some level or the other. Another great thing about this play is that there are no black and white characters, all the characters seem like people from real life and although there was a time when Aima’s sermons and Ayza’s nakhras were getting to me but I am totally into the characters now. Everything has fallen into place and the story is moving forward nicely. Like any other Umera Ahmed play the story, dialogues and characters are such that it seems like you are watching someone’s real life on television. The direction was also excellent in both these episodes and the actors gave me no reason to complaint too.

First of all I want to share with you the few things that I really liked in these two episodes in particular and the entire play in general. I really like the way Aima shares everything with her mother. This is something that I generally find odd; the way married girls run to their parents to share everything so that they will sort out their problems. But Aima only shares things with her mother because they have such a special bond with each other; she never expects her mother to find solutions to her problems or even feel sorry for her. I really like Aima’s I-can-handle-everything-that-comes-my-way attitude towards life. Another very cute part of this play has been the relationship between Zain and daadi, the way Askari makes Zain do all her chores and the conversations they have, are very well done and definitely make me go down the memory lane. I am sure children who have been raised in joint families can relate to the relationship between the two. The way Hammad reacted to everything in these episodes was also very nicely done. Ayza did not scheme and plot to turn Hammad against his family but she is just very “open” about whatever she feels and Hammad is too “impressed” by his wife so he gets “convinced” easily. Rafia’s attitude towards Aima and the way Hamnah feels about her is also one of the very sad realities of our society. The bahu who brought more dowry and whose husband runs the house is respected more even if she dictates her terms and conditions to rest of the family members.

Rafia kept on blaming Aima like the previous episode and she even showed her annoyance with her right on her face. Hashim may be careless and irresponsible but his parents’ attitude also is not helping the situation. Ayza had the guts to call Hashim “biwi ka ghulam”. I could completely relate to the way Amna felt when she heard Hashim and Aima arguing and she asked Aima’s father to give her a car and they also insisted that she should take cash. This is another sad fact of our society, giving your daughter away is not enough; you have to load her with money and goods too.

How many of you enjoyed Akbari’s “yeh mera akhri wakt hai” scene just because she wanted to convince her son that he should marry Faran with Javeria! These two episodes definitely were a complete package in my eyes, the incidents were very relatable, some of the happenings quite educational and it was engaging at the same time. And not to mention the fact that this play isn’t really about sibling rivalry but more about problems that many parents and married couples face. I am definitely no longer on the fence and looking forward to more.

Fatima Awan.

Aima and Hashim finally got married in this episode and the shaky start of their marriage was not surprising at all. Hashim wanted a grand wedding and most of all he can’t seem to get over his obsession with the car. I really liked the way Aima stood up for what she thought was right and was quite happy with a simple wedding. Akbari’s annoyance with everything that goes on in her son’s house made me laugh; Ayesha Khan is doing a commendable job and although I may not agree with Akbari’s thinking but I am enjoying her character now. Hashim’s father’s statement “Billi ko chichray nahi miley” was very true and funny as well. Hashim really needs to grow up and there is definitely a big communication gap between Aima and Hashim. Not to mention the fact that both are poles apart.

Hamnah continued to be selfish and just like her other siblings she has absolutely no regard for what her parents say. While it is important that when two people are engaged they should communicate with each other in order to know each other better and find out if they get along or not but at the same time it creates problems for parents too. Hamnah’s fiancé is constantly dictating to her how he wants things to be and she would much rather listen to him than her parents and grandmother. The only reason Hammad had a grand wedding too was because Ayza kept on telling him how she wanted things to be and everything happened according to Ayza’s wishes. There are times when I feel that Aima is being a little too preachy but I do feel that if more girls and boys start thinking like her, it will put an end of most of the problems that parents face while getting their children married. The way most people think Aima is being unreasonable was very nicely shown and the dialogues “Yehi tu masla ho gaya hai hamare masharay ka Sahi kaam kurne wala ab ajeeb hai” was so true.

I have to agree with one of the readers now who commented earlier on that Ayza’s insecurity was the main reason why she did not want Aima to get married in the same house. Ayza thought Aima’s idea of a simple marriage was “chichorpuna/dikhawa” and felt that by appreciating Ayza her In Laws were putting her down. I was actually surprised when Rafia kept on blaming Aima and Hashim’s engagement for all the bad things that were happening in the house. But I also like the fact that Rafia does not blame Ayza every time Hammad lets her down in any way. I really liked the way Asghari explained to Rafia about rights and duties and how Hammad was not doing them a favor by helping them with the finances. I could not help but wonder though that why can’t Hammad’s father still work somewhere since I have seen many men older than him working even after they get retired.

The entire issue regarding Guddu was also something that should serve as a good warning for some people. And even after everything that happened Akbari kept on blaming Amna’s servant in public, although in her heart she knew that Guddu was the one at fault. I am actually enjoying Akbari’s character now since it is one of a kind and I do know people like that who will do anything to prove themselves right.

Overall these two episodes highlighted a lot of important issues and like always were very relatable. The reasons why this play fails to win one over completely is because of the repetition and also because the picture quality is not that impressive. Everyone acted well in these episodes, so no complaints there. I am looking forward to seeing how Aima manages to resolve the issues with Hashim but at the same time the car issue has been blown out of proportion and it is about time we moved on.

Fatima Awan.

I have seen many plays in which one constantly feels for the bahu and the saas is continuously being unfair to her son’s wife but this is one play that generates feelings that are completely different. While watching both these episodes I felt for Rafia and Asghari more than anyone else. I must say that there are many girls like Ayza who want their husbands all to themselves and do not stop for a second to think about the family they are married in. It is actually good to see a play which for a change focuses on the problems the boys’ parents and family have to put up with after their sons get married. These two episodes focused more on how Ayza has changed things in Hammad’s house and the way Hammad listens to everything his wife says and completely discredits his family because he is the one who is paying the bills. While there were scenes in these episodes which I wanted to fast forward but I must say there were many scenes that were highly relatable, to a surprising extent. For now these relatable happenings and scenes have to be the reason I continue to watch this play.

The rifts over the servants in both the houses, was something which I am sure many people can relate to. Aima wanting to quit working once she gets married is how many girls think. Although Aima has decided to leave her job once she gets married because she cannot manage her house and work at the same time but I do feel that she should also not work after marriage if she is going to marry someone like Hashim. Hashim is not the perfect husband-to-be in any way at all. He is the kind of person who would make his wife work so that he can get some easy money. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a woman contributing financially after marriage but I think it should be the woman’s decisions whether she wants to work or not and Hashim does seem rather “greedy”. The way he mentioned the car yet again to his colleague even after Aima told him repeatedly that she was not going to ask her parents for the car goes to show his immature thinking and also that he will happily accept whatever he gets from Aima’s parents. By the way the 70 plus package and the pick and drop facility did remind me of Kashaf!

Although Akbari and Ayza tried their level best to ensure that Aima and Hashim do not get married but the proposal was finalized nevertheless. Hammad hardly ever asks Ayza to show his parents some respect and she is allowed to say whatever she wants to about anyone in the house, even daadi. Not only this but he stands up for his wife every time she asks him too and I have to say that I am really looking forward to the time when he realizes just how unfair he is being to his family. It was rather strange that Asghari let Ayza take Humnah out for shopping because she should have known that they will end up buying very expensive things. It is almost as if Hammad’s wedding has opened new avenues for his siblings and Humnah is making the most of it. Another thing that may have been very relatable for many was Humnah’s reaction when she found out that there maybe a joint wedding. I have seen many girls in particular who do not like this idea very much.

It was good to see Aima being happy about the baby who is on the way and the conversation that the two sisters had went to show that even after everything that Ayza has done, Aima holds nothing against her. At the same time Aima held her ground when Aima tries to talk her out of the marriage and that was another conversation which I really enjoyed.

Another extremely relatable scene for me had to be when Daadi was taking out old clothes out of the trunk to gift to Humanh’s in laws and when she said that they just don’t make these clothes anymore…how many times have I heard that before! Seriously this definitely happens and usually it is the mothers or the grandmothers who take out all their old clothes to give to the bride or her In Laws as if they are a treasure and would be considered a very special gift.

Overall, I found these two episodes interesting because of how real some of the scenes were. It really felt like I had seen all this happening somewhere before, around me. I could have enjoyed the play even more if there was a little less repetition and the focus was more on Aima and Ayza and the scenes with the grown ups and their issues were chopped up. I am especially not enjoying the Amna-Akbari confrontations/problems. Right now I am waiting to see what happens once Hashim and Aima get married because I think Aima will really have to work on Hashim in order to change him in a good way.

Fatima Awan.

Ayza has single handedly managed to brew up a storm and play havoc with everyone’s life. The biggest issue in these two episodes was Ayza’s car getting wrecked and the second biggest issue was Aima’s wedding to Hashim. Also, the problems related to Hamza and Hamnah’s marriage are a direct outcome of Hammad and Ayza’s grand wedding and Hamnah’s parents are right in thinking that this won’t be the first and last wish of Hamza’s parents. What a sad state of affairs. Except for Ayza none of the children take into consideration their parent’s wishes, which puts them in a very difficult situation. Hamnah and Hamza talk to each other so just like Ayza Hamza has managed to convince his fiancé too that they are not asking for much.

Hammad has been doing whatever he could do please Ayza ever since the two started talking to each other and now that they are married Ayza has no problem in showing Hammad and his family just how controlling, dominating and stubborn she is. I was surprised when Akbari asked Ayza to go back to her house, good to know that there is someone who can convince her! At the same time I was terribly disappointed in her when she lied to Hashim’s mother. The blatant lie she told her about Nasir not wanting both the sisters to get married in the same house was very upsetting. How can a grandmother do this to her granddaughter? I really do not understand that how can Aima getting married in the same house be troublesome for Ayza.

I really felt for Rafia in this episode, happiness is short lived and it did not take her long to find out that Ayza is not her good luck charm after all! I must mention something here that I actually liked about Ayza. Every time she overheard something or found out about something, she confronted or asked the person concerned immediately and did not keep it to herself. Even if all of it led to more problems but that is one characteristic of her character that stood out for me. For example when she overhears her Mother in law telling the neighbor that she wanted Hashim and Aima to get married, she immediately asked her Mother in Law about it. Normally in dramas if someone hears something like this, they will pretend they don’t know and confide in the person they trust most or start planning something in their own mind. Second example would be when she saw Anila’s call in Hammad’s phone, she asked him right afterwards. Also, when she found out the truth about her car and decided to leave the house she told everyone that she had found out. This of course is part of her blunt nature but something that I think is different from what we see normally.

One thing was proved today that Hammad is a very good liar! I was actually surprised at the way he immediately covered up for himself when Ayza asked him about Anila and later on how he lied to her about the car. I wonder where the Hammad/Anila track is going; right now it seems quite unnecessary. Mikaal Zulfiqar is a very good actor, he has done wonders in many plays but he does not seem to be giving his best to this particular character; it is definitely not coming easily to him and sometimes the dialogue delivery can be very flat.

Akbari’s double standards were yet another shocking revelation. Ayza is so liberal and Akbari never has a problem with anything she does but when it comes to Aima and Hashim she is constantly judging Aima and her parents. 

The scene where everyone shouts at Zain one by one after the accident was rather odd. Everyone had something to say and they said it one after the other. But that does not change the fact that I actually felt for him and could totally imagine the youngest kid in particular being put through all this.

Overall, these two episodes were strictly okay. Mirat-ul-Uroos has its strengths and weaknesses. The strengths are that it the characters are well etched out and extremely relatable and it is a family drama. For me the biggest weakness of this play besides the predictable track has to be that most of the actors playing the lead do not fit in their roles. All these actors have proved their mettle time and again but in this particular play they seem like misfits. Sometimes very average scripts and characters are made memorable because they are acted out so well and sometimes one is just left wondering. I will however continue watching Mirat ul Uroos because it may not be a perfect package but it is also not the kind of play that can totally be missed once you start watching it.

Fatima Awan.

We all know that Mirat-ul-Uroos is essentially the story of two sisters who are poles apart, it is the story of Akbari and Asghari’s grandchildren, but after watching these two episodes it seems like Mirat-ul-Uroos is also a story of three sons in particular who are the apple of their mothers’ eyes and even though they may not be little children anymore but to them their mothers come before everything else and the mothers still look out for them as if they were still kids. It is also the story of how their wives deal with this scenario. Asghari (Samina Ahmed) lives with her son Wajahat, until now we have seen Wajahat’s wife Rafia to be very compromising and has very good ties with Asghari. Like her Mother-in-Law her eldest son Hammad is her pride and joy. Hammad (Mikaal Zulfiqar) does not believe in moving a finger without his mother’s approval and I am waiting to see how he deals with things once Ayza (Amina Sheikh) comes into his life because her presence is definitely bound to change things. Ayza has been brought up by her grandmother Akbari (Ayesha Khan) and although her father and grandmother both think she is perfect in every way, I guess all of us could tell that she is nowhere near that. Ayza is spoiled and very opinionated and finds it difficult to stay in her mother’s house for too long since there are way too many rules for her liking. Nasir’s wife has tons of drama coming her way since Ayza and Akbari are there to stay. Ayza has daadi wrapped around her little finger and she likes to have things her way. She plays the “my parents don’t love me enough’ card to perfection.

Ayza’s sister Aima (Mehwish Hayat) is not like her in any way, she is sweet and subdued, so Ayza and Aima would be another one of those sisters who are completely opposite to each other. Aima and Hashim ( Ahsan Khan, who may just be the male version of Ayza!) like each other and all Hashim needs is a job in order to go ahead with the proposal.

To be honest, after watching the first episode I was not sure if Mirat-ul-Uroos would be the kind of play that will be engaging enough to keep me looking forward to more because some of the conversations seemed too long but few of  the characters immediately caught my attention. Ayza’s character in particular seemed very interesting right from the get go and held my interest for most part of the first episode. Not to mention that the havoc she is going to play with Hammad’s life would be something to look forward to in particular. Akbari is an equally interesting character, her double standards and know-it-all attitude makes you laugh, Ayesha Khan is one of those actresses who have been around for such a long time and it is a treat watching them on-screen every time. While Asghari is very eager to get Ayza married to Hammad (she obviously does not know her well enough!), Akbari won’t hear of it.

Since Umera Ahmed has written this play, I am looking forward to some mind blowing dialogues that will give us something to reflect upon. I have to say that I was not much impressed with Momal Sheikh’s acting in Aiteraaf but I like her as Hamnah and until now she has done a good job.

In my opinion the best thing about this play is that it is going to be a family drama and there will be something for everyone, the women married in joint families in particular can relate to it. Every exemplary big brother, an elder sister whose flaws everyone around her fails to see, a middle child who has to work very hard to be heard and most importantly the relations the two daadis’ have with the entire family. The downside is that the story is nothing out of the ordinary. We have all seen so many plays about two sisters who are complete opposites and ones about sass-bahu fights too that the script will have to be extraordinary in order to stand out. The second episode was much more engaging than the first one so I am hoping it will only get better. For now, I am still waiting to be thoroughly entertained in a way that the play keeps me glued to my seat.

 Fatima Awan.

There was a great deal of development in the story in this latest episode and all the different tracks seem to be heading towards the conclusion. Each episode of

Mirat-ul-Uroos gives me so much to talk about that I am not very sure where to start from. Hammad finally started getting tired of Ayza’s fazool kharchis and told her how he felt about it every chance he got. Ayza like always thought she knew better and didn’t listen to a word of what Hammad had to say. Hammad also realizes that in the past few years things have changed drastically; he has lost the respect and position he had in his mother’s house and the realization that he was no longer the apple of his mother’s eyes or the respected older brother he once was, was nothing short of a shock for him. He obviously thought that his family would continue having a high opinion of him and let him have a say in what goes around in the house even after everything he did. Hammad’s family has moved on and it was actually great to see that. It was actually very surprising to know that Hammad’s family did not even tell him about his younger brother’s result.

Aima feels envious of her sister after meeting her and wonders if it really does pay off to be selfless and sacrificing. Ayza had been so selfish after her marriage but she still had a wonderful, carefree life whereas Aima had to struggle very hard although her intentions were always good. I have always enjoyed Aima’s conversations with her mother; they always strike as very real to me. It was perfectly natural for Aima to feel that way. Hashim finally seems to have matured and now has a job which everyone is happy with, not only this their family has grown. Aima’s patience and perseverance has paid off and she has made a very special place in the heart of all the members of her new family.

How interesting and apt was the discussion between Hamnah and Rafia about superstitions. I am glad the issue was addressed because since day one Rafia was continuously going on about good and bad omens.

Farhan’s character was a good addition to the story; he is straight forward and definitely takes after his mother and Aima more than Ayza or daddi. I wish though that we didn’t have to listen to the same issues being discussed over and over again. Yet again there was a big controversy in this episode regarding Farhan and Joey’s engagement. Farhan didn’t want a grand function and Joey wanted one. Nawaz and his wife were bent on getting their only daughter engaged to a guy she had nothing in common with and all this time I was left wondering why they were so desperate. They resorted to cheating and lying in order to get the two engaged thanks to Akbari’s advice of course! There was very big change in Nasir’s behavior this time around, he did not let Akbari convince him to do something he did not want to and for once he put his foot down. It was good to see that he had learned his lesson well and was not going to repeat the same mistake which he did when he was marrying Ayza. Akbari is still the same and I don’t think she is ever going to change her ways.

Farhan sees through Joey and suspects already that she may not be very eager to live in Pakistan and the next episode is probably going to be more about Farhan/Joey and Hammad/Ayza.

One thing which I could not help but notice was that almost everyone (the men and the women both) were wearing the same shade of lipstick ;). The makeup artist could have done a better job. Otherwise this episode was very entertaining as usual and I am looking forward to more…25 episodes and still counting!!

Fatima Awan