Originally posted by: cappacuino5
I know I promised to share my views yesterday but it’s been a crazy few weeks. Anyway I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all discussions on the thread.
I felt that the episode had too much of Zoya and Qudsiya. We all waited eagerly for a week to see Ayet and the side characters ended up taking most of the screen space. The director could have easily shortened their screen time.
That being said, I would like to begin with the breakfast scene. If we look closely, we see Basit nodding at Ayesha as a form of greeting and when Ayesha did the same, Basit seemed perplexed, like he was expecting a more exuberant response. This moment made me feel that Basit has started picking up cues from Ayesha’s behaviour.
Moreover, Basit also derives validation from her. When he passed on that croissant to her and the moments thereafter, it seemed like he was waiting for her to appreciate his efforts and initiate conversation and when she doesn’t do either, he leaves annoyed, which shows how much of this relationship his wife initially carried on her shoulders.
Ayesha on the other hand is seen giving him a very weird look. I believe it wasn’t one of pity but rather a look that screamed I don’t know what to do with you. She is indeed mothering him because she doesn’t know better. Ever since the raised hand and the car scene where Basit disregarded Ayesha’s feelings she has built walls around her heart and nothing convinces her that Basit is genuinely interested in both her and improving their relationship. She is indeed finding it challenging to navigate this relationship without Sadia’s help.
Basit on the other hand has grown by leaps and bounds ever since Sadia passed away. He’s genuinely interested in initiating conversations, understanding Ayesha and even subtly wooing her. Ayesha remains oblivious to all his efforts.
The breakfast scene was in stark contrast to the comfort shared in the previous episode. This makes me think that either this was bad writing or maybe the director wants to portray a hot and cold relationship at present. Is this also an indication that no consummation has occurred as of now? I think so.
Did anybody notice that Basit looked perturbed that Ayesha wasn’t home when he called Karim? He seemed agitated to not know her whereabouts and kept calling her till she picked up. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when did picked the call. I wonder what was going on in his mind in that moment? He sure is growing possessive of her and maybe even protective. I was right when I said in the previous episode that he would be displaying all of these emotions, she’s the only family he’s left with and he would be guarding her.
Also Ayesha is the worst liar I have seen in the longest time. She could have simply said that she was out visiting her mom, so as to add an element of truth in the lie to make it believable. But she outrightly lied underestimating Basit’s spying skills 🕵️♀️ The man runs a million dollar company alone, give him some credit.
Despite knowing that he was being lied to, Basit brought Ayesha flowers, which was the sweetest thing ever 🥰 I wish Fahad would have left before that, then we would have gotten a full blown romantic scene. The bed scene too deserves a special mention 🤩 The way he softly asked her to sit next to him and then smoothly leaned towards her were the highlight of the episode. Alas Ayesha was flustered not because of their proximity but because of her lies.
I’m not impressed with this track simply because Ayesha confiding in Fahad reflects poor writing. He may be easy going but he’s also Basit’s best friend whose loyalty lies with Basit first and foremost. Also when did she become this close with Fahad? It would be much more believable had Ayesha confided in another (male) friend of hers perhaps a childhood one or a cousin (considering how cousin marriages are permitted in the culture).
Knowing Basit’s history she should not have hidden something so grave from him. I understand her intention. Basit never had a high opinion of her family and that when you’re infatuated (wouldn’t call it love at this point) with someone you want to present your best in front of them but something like this couldn’t have been hidden for too long. She panicked and kept on lying.
I would give credit to Basit here, despite knowing she was lying, he was calm, softly asked even cajoled Ayesha into telling him about the issue. His concern about her mother was genuine. He repeatedly tried to know the truth from multiple sources and this is why he could never be compared to Ashar from Humsafar who also threw his wife out. In fact, he went from calling giving Bano a job a “jhanjhat” to referring to himself as a brother to her.
Basit has done nothing to deserve this dishonesty. He simply wants to be included in on the issue. He maybe rough around the edges but he is trying with everyone- Ayesha, Bano and Fahad. Basit craves acceptance more than anything else and these lies are making him feel isolated.
Fahad as his best friend should have known better. I would blame him more than I would blame Ayesha, she’s new to his life but Fahad has been with Basit throughout and knows his issues better than anyone. He should have convinced Ayesha to talk to Basit or should have told Basit that there’s some issue with Ayesha and her family but she’s hesitant to speak out, so be patient. This would have helped calm things down but no he outrightly lied which went against everything his character stood for.
As for Qudsiya, she got what she deserved. Something tells me that Zoya may have gotten married out of her own will but it’s not going to be smooth sailing for her. I think Basit would play some role in helping her settle in. Also Qudsia will go to her one and only son very soon for help 😂
Lovely review as always, your takes are such a delight to read! The thing with this track is, for the first time, Ayet is showing cracks and we want to see the show focus fully on this right now. Sadiq family and their troubles can wait. As you said, we wait for an entire week, and then if we have like a few dewdrops worth of Ayet scenes and Ayet story development, it becomes very annoying and tests our patience sorely. I am hoping whatever this track is going to shape up to be, let it happen over one or two episodes, and as Fierylioness mentioned, we want to see them back under the same roof, quickly. If there is too much attention given to Zoya at this point, it will be very trying for us and make us feel annoyed about Zoya as well. Hopefully, the makers understand this.
I love this line that you wrote: "how much of this relationship his wife initially carried on her shoulders"...that is the nail being hit right on the head. Loved your breakdown of Ayet's dynamics at present.
That breakfast scene was so elusive, you could really have a hundred interpretations of what was going through the mind of either at that moment. There was one moment when Ayesha sort of half smiles and looks down as Basit looks at her...I felt like maybe he had kissed her last night or something...which is why perhaps she had come down for breakfast so dressed up (dangling earrings and all)..but whatever warmth she had found in him last night was missing in his behaviour towards her in the morning and so when he gets up, she looks disappointed. But yes, you are so right about the hot and cold thing about their interactions.
Ayesha's lies were really unnecessary. I mean, considering how possessive Basit is becoming about her, he would have reacted in an extreme way even if Ayesha had done nothing to be suspicious about. The kitchen scene in ep 16 had already laid the foundation for that.
One thing about the car conversation, I felt when he said "iss jhanjhat main mein bhi nahi parna chahta tha".. I felt he was talking about getting married and that he had never wanted to get married but now that he is, he is trying to deal with it.
Thanks for hitting me up with the post...would have missed out otherwise. ❤️
Anupamaa
