THE WEEK THAT WAS

Ranjha Ranjha Kardi | Hum TV, Saturdays 8.00pm

Slowly and steadily, Noor Bano (Iqra Aziz) settles in her new home, bonding with her in-laws and husband Bhola (Imran Ashraf in another award-winning performance), even coming to terms with his clueless banter about having children, which would initially drive her up the wall. Maybe she is also falling in love with his limited intellect, realising that what she has now is far, far better than her past as a rag-picker. But little does she know that the past isn’t done with her yet.

Bhola’s uncle (Kashif Mehmood) has employed Sahir (Syed Jibran), the man who broke Noor’s heart earlier, and charmed by Sahir, Bhola’s uncle has plans to invite Sahir home with the intention of marrying his daughter Komal (Ammara Butt) off to him.

Kaisa Hai Naseebaan | ARY, Wednesdays 8.00-10.00 pm

Bruised, battered, beaten up and exploited, Maryum (Ramsha Khan) arrives from Malaysia and explains her terrible marital situation to her parents. But they refuse to come to their senses and urge her to return to Malaysia and go back to her mean, manipulative in-laws. Husband Ahmed (Muneeb Butt) plans to take her back one way or the other, in order to take revenge from her for revealing the truth to her parents.

As Maryum tells her tragic story, he twists all the facts to his advantage, presenting a different picture. He then embarks on a new plan to whisk Maryum off, lying to her family about his mum Musarrat Apa’s (Uzma Gillani) sudden illness, managing to orchestrate a quick exit for a very hesitant Maryum and himself from Pakistan. As soon as they arrive in Malaysia, this time he doesn’t confiscate her mobile phone but instead tears her passport to pieces.

What To Watch Out For

Siskiyaan | Bol TV, Thursdays 8.00pm

Much to everyone’s surprise that she could be so considerate, phuppi jaan (Samina Ahmad) arranges another marriage proposal for the ill-fated Mumtaz (Faryal Mehmood). Phuppi jaan is, of course, clueless about Mumtaz’s gang rape which has left her pregnant. Her mum Khadija (Hina Dilpazeer Khan) and sister Azmi (Maria Wasti) learn about her situation but can hardly help her as doctors advise that the pregnancy is too advanced to be aborted.

Khadija declares to Azmi that, if no miracle happens in regard to Mumtaz, she would kill herself. Soon the house is filled with guests, who have arrived with the proposal insisting that the wedding be held the very next month. The prospective groom (Ali Abbas) instantly falls in love with the distressed Mumtaz, and Khadija approaches an old friend of hers who is a nurse (Anita Camphor) to take some prompt action, that could very possibly be life-threatening for Mumtaz.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 3rd, 2019