Goonj is only three episodes in, but it’s already doing a great job showing the real struggles women face in different walks of life.
The recent episode of Goonj focused on Zarnab, who’s a victim of workplace harassment from her colleague Nabeel. He’s been making uncomfortable remarks and trying to bring her down in subtle but damaging ways. When Zarnab gets promoted, instead of accepting it, Nabeel is clearly bothered. He tells her that she only got the promotion because she’s a woman and was close to the boss. On top of that, he starts spreading fake stories around the office, creating false scenarios and hinting that there’s something going on between him and Zarnab – just to damage her reputation and character. The teaser for the next episode shows Zarnab finally deciding to speak up and file a harassment complaint – and that’s where things might start getting even more complicated.
Goonj shows us why girls like Zarnab fear speaking up – and when they do, what they have to face.
1. “No one will believe me.”
Most of the time, the harasser is well-connected or friendly with others at work. Zarnab has been facing constant verbal harassment from Nabeel. His remarks make her uncomfortable, but they’re subtle – directly targeted, and never in front of others. That’s the thing with verbal harassment: there’s no proof, no witnesses. And when the harasser is on seemingly good terms with others in the office, like Nabeel is, it becomes even harder for someone like Zarnab to speak up. People might just brush it off or say she “misunderstood.”
2. Fear of backlash and further damage.
Once a girl like Zarnab decides to speak up, the fear doesn’t end – it grows. What if Nabeel turns more aggressive after the complaint? For many women, this fear of backlash is very real and enough to make them stay silent.
3. “What if I become the problem?”
In the episode, we already see Nabeel spreading false stories about Zarnab after her promotion – trying to make it look like she got ahead because of her closeness to the boss. This is a classic example of a smear campaign. The person who files the complaint ends up looking like the one with the agenda. And the harasser walks away looking clean.
4. Fear of being labelled or mocked
When women like Zarnab speak up, they often get labelled as “too sensitive” or “attention-seeking.” In many workplaces, people say things like, “Mazak mein bol diya tha, itna bhi serious kya le liya?” or “Yeh toh feminist ban rahi hai.” These labels are used to silence women and make them doubt their own experience.
5. Blaming the victim instead of the harasser
Zarnab was asked by her boss to stay late in the office to deliver on a deadline. Now, if she says Nabeel made her feel uncomfortable during that time, many people will question: “Why did she stay?” This is victim blaming, and it happens all the time. Instead of holding the harasser accountable, people start questioning the girl’s choices and actions.
6. Fear of career damage
Zarnab has worked hard and earned her promotion. But now that she’s planning to file a complaint, she might risk being seen as “trouble.” Many women worry that after speaking up, their careers will slow down, promotions will stop, or they’ll be bypassed on important opportunities. That fear alone is often enough to make them back off.
7. “Maybe it’s better to stay quiet.”
At the end of the day, many women are told – directly or indirectly – that harassment is just part of worklife. Changing the system feels impossible, so they’re expected to just “adjust” or “ignore it.” Speaking up seems harder than staying silent. And that’s exactly what Goonj might show us – why this silence exists, and the price of speaking up.
In workplaces like Zarnab’s, where female employees can be expected to stay back late or even do an overnight to deliver urgent assignments, there must be proper safety measures in place. It’s not enough to leave things to chance – employers need to take responsibility. In Zarnab’s case, there was no security. Ahmed had to leave due to a family emergency, and she was left alone with Nabeel, a colleague who had already been making her feel uncomfortable. Things could have gone very wrong, and there was no system in place to prevent it. No supervisor, no camera monitoring, no basic safety protocols.
When something does go wrong in such cases, the blame often falls on the woman. Check the comments section of Goonj’s YouTube episode where audiences are questioning why Zarnab pulled an overnighter. Isn’t it just like the head of police investigating the “Motorway Incident” asking a woman why she drove onto the motorway late night?
Here are some comments from Goonj’s latest YouTube episode that back this up!
One user commented, “Why will a girl stay alone in the office? I’m sorry to say, but ignoring the realities of life is not feminism.”
Another wrote, “Although the topic is sexual harassment in the office, some social norms haven’t been discussed. A girl staying alone in the office is always seen in the wrong light at any workplace. How has this not been shown as an insecure situation?”
Someone else added, “She shouldn’t be in the office this late, and the promotion announcement is terrible.”
One viewer questioned, “Mujhe samajh nahi aa rahi, aik larki raat ko kaise akeli office mein ruk sakti hai?”
Another said, “Kya aurat ka poori raat ghar se baahir rukna acha hai? Bilkul bhi nahi. Apni izzat apne haath mein hoti hai, kisi ko baat karne ka mauqa hi nahi dena chahiye.”
Victim blaming is not going away any time soon. Not yet anyway. But hopefully, dramas like Goonj will help raise awareness and direct the questions at the perpetrators and facilitators of abuse and harassment rather than the victim.
The real questions to ask?
Why wasn’t the workplace equipped to keep her safe? Why does another employee like Ahmed have to be present to save Zarnab from possible predators?
Like Zarnab, many women are expected to perform professionally while quietly managing unsafe environments. Employers can’t expect the best productivity from their employees without guaranteeing their basic safety. It’s time workplace policies reflect the real challenges women face.
Watch Goonj every Monday evening on HUM TV to follow the story.
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Goonj is written by Qarb e Abbas and directed by Wajahat Rauf. It is produced by Showcase Communications & MD Productions. It stars Komal Meer, Mirza Gohar Rasheed, Feroz Kadri, Khaled Anam, Srha Asghar, Michelle Mumtaz, Ali Safina, and more.
