'Mohabbat Najaiz Hai Mere Liye.'

This scene. This whole exchange between a banda and his khuda speaks so much about Iqbal as a human. Till now we have seen him being a man on mission to being moved as a person by those around him. But it's the private moments as these which speak of him as a human. As one individual with a web of emotions tied messily within him. These webs are so intricately woven that he treads on many thin lines at the same time.

I've seen him being called as a terrorist on this forum (not in a negative way, it's just the way his character background is) but I never thought of him as one. From the day I've started watching him, I've always connected to him as a human. As someone who came in this place with a simple thought in his mind but did the one thing he was forbidden to do - grow emotions. Despite all his "my mission, my country" chants, he gets touched by the sheer unconditional love that Bebe blindly showers on him and he gets moved by the way this one girl always finds him and never lets him get out of her sight. Despite all his loyalties to his superior back where he came from, little by little he is starting to make this new place his home.

I personally am not too comfortable with this "border paar dushman" angle and hidden spy track because I am a Pakistani. The whole India-Pakistan issue is just not my cup of tea so when the political conspiracy and patriotic acts will kick in, I'll escape from the patli galli like a goli. But till then, God. Iqbal..you have me hooked.

Coming back to this scene, like I said that this scene tells so much of him as an individual. It's such a refreshing break from all the usual run-of-the-mill type of self-confrontations where the guy would chant, "ye nahin ho sakta. ye mujhe kya horaha hai?" and angry punching bag stomping and sweating etc etc. Here Iqbal does what someone with nowhere to turn to goes - straight to the court of the One who rules all. It was so beautiful the way Iqbal straight forwardly confessed that he could love Meher. He could reciprocate all her feelings and make her feel blessed. He could make her feel happy. But he would never give her his faith. This word, "imaan" is such a mesmerizing choice of word here.

Imaan. Faith. It's devotion. It's the first and final aspect which is used to measure a person's loyalty to his Creator.

Tera imaan kitna mazboot hai?

How strong is your faith?

How faithfully can he love her if he's torn between her and his loyalties to his country?

I can never see Iqbal as a guy who came across the border to plant bombs and take innocent lives. That just doesn't feel like him. His mission is more of an espionage. Collect information, silently and leave without being noticed. So, on his side his loyalties stand correct. To his superiors he is just a pawn and he has accepted it.

But big or small, pawn or king, being so faithfully loyal to one's country basically means everyone else comes second. And Iqbal knows it. He can waver all his heart makes him, he can give in to his feelings and reciprocate her advances in the moment all he wants but he knows that in the long term there is no future. Even if he does paint a picture of it, the colors will all fade away in the matter of days. If he does agree to get married to her per everyone's wishes and indeed gets married, his heart which yearns to serve his country and longs for it won't ever rest in peace despite all the love he gets. Some things just don't have an equivalent.

CVs have done a great job in establishing Iqbal as a character. I can really understand his reasoning and logic behind all he does. His moments of weakness and strength both make him a strong character. I am massively curious to know how he shapes up in the future. Hopefully I'll stick around till then.

- Mais.