Is Fari to be blamed for what happened with Amber and Junaid?
Can she live with the consequences of trying to follow her dream for the rest of her life? The two most important people in her life are affected and both scarred for life while supporting Fari to follow her dream in 22 Qadam. Or is it society and the unfair restrictions we impose on girls that are responsible for what happened to them?
Marriage or Pursuing Our Dreams?
When Amo’s father agrees that she will never play cricket again, when Amo agrees to being married to the same person who walked away from her because she plays cricket, when Amo and her family are ready for her to give up everything just so she can be married, one wonders, why do women have to choose? Why can’t they have bot, marriage and their dream? Who decides? Certainly not them!
When a part of us blames Fari for causing so much heartbreak to Amo, one feels guilty. But what was Fari’s fault really? Persuading everyone to stay back for the night and celebrate an epic victory (one she couldn’t even share with her family), or … pursuing a passion for which she had to fight multiple obstacles along the way, including us, society’s judgements, calling her out for not giving heed to Amo’s dreams of getting married. The same Amo who is an ace batter, yet, is ready to give up that talent, well, because, how will she get married then?
Fari’s only fault was that she slept in. Well, so did Junaid and so did Amo and so did the rest of the team. And for that fault, they had to pay a very heavy price!
Society has worked hard to condition us into thinking Fari is the one at fault, and it has succeeded. Dramas like 22 Qadam have to first turn back the clock, recondition us, and then move forward. That’s how grave the damage is, and it’s been done for decades.
Fari’s Breakdown
It was heart-breaking to see Fari break down gradually, the way she kept saying: “I will not play, I will not dream”. Almost all of us watching her must have recalled at least one moment in time when we had to pay a price for our dreams, for letting go of our dreams…
22 Qadam is a clever script. It takes the viewers on an emotionally thought-provoking journey. Initially, we might have thought that Fari should have been more careful, Fari should have thought about Amu’s situation, Fari should not have asked Junaid to delay his return… but then it begins to dawn upon us that if Fari’s parents had supported her, if Amu’s in-laws were not that close-minded, restrictive and selfish, the girls didn’t have to worry about anything, they could have happily played the match and returned home. In fact, they could have shared the news of their winnings with their family. Junaid’s accident was something planned by Allah. The drama presents one argument (that Fari was to blame maybe), but then soon after, makes us consider another POV through the first argument.
Fari’s Challenge
Yes, Fari should have been more responsible and careful. Her portion of responsibility cannot be denied but did she and everyone else need to pay such a heavy price for following their passion? Girls will be able to pursue their dreams and passions freely, without fear, or in secrecy and thus saved from landing in trouble, or a situation they might regret for the rest of their lives, if they have the support of their family and if society will stop being so judgmental.
Why is Amu bent upon marrying the same guy who had refused to marry her before everyone, is a bit of a mystery? Is this her way of punishing herself or her final attempt at saving her parent’s izzat? Why has she lost hope altogether?
Junaid’s Reaction: Was It Love Or Plain Resentment?
Was Junaid also blaming Fari? It seemed more like an honest but sadly, harsh admission of his true feelings. It was not really complaint or resentment, but just bitterness against everything around him, especially Fari. It was also the first reaction to what he was going through, we are hoping Junaid will slowly come around to talking to Fari. We are hoping he didn’t mean any of what he said.
We are also wondering if Junaid reacted angrily on purpose to drive Fari away? Did he want to save her from the heartbreak and being tied to him after his accident? A thought that will keep us guessing for some time, at least till the next episode. Tell us what you think! It is also a harsh reality that when two people are working in the same field, and one cannot follow his/her dreams as opposed to the other person, it affects their relationship, it is testing for the utmost regard and love they hold for each other.
22 Qadam gave us a heavy and intensely moving episode which gave us ample food for thought. What is the one moment that stood out for you in last night’s episode?
