Jafaa is aptly mirroring the dilemma of a young girl stuck in a marriage where her husband desperately needs therapy, yet evades it cunningly. The question on viewers’ minds: Why can Zara not see through Hasan? Will she be safe on their honeymoon? How can her parents deal with the situation in a manner that she confides in them, yet not overpower her need to ‘sort out’ her relationship all by herself? And lastly, is Dr. Numair feeling inadequate or not quite the alpha male Moiz expected him to be?
Jafaa is throwing us many questions at the moment, and we hope it will all be unraveled soon, but not without lots of drama, some heartbreak, and hopefully, deeper messages coming through.
Anger Management Debunked
When Hassan sidesteps Zara’s insistence for therapy, one fears for her, yet one can see how Hassan is deeply pained by the prospect of revisiting childhood trauma. Should his dadi have been more responsible and insisted on his therapy? But she too, admits to being scared of his anger – and that is why Jafaa caps off the anger management debate with airtight scripting – everyone who is close to the abuser fears for their safety and therein, begins a cycle of abuse – no one can ensure that the abuser (in this case Hassan), begins therapy.
Abuse Victims Rarely See It Coming
As Hassan smartly talks her into the weekend honeymoon trip, one fears for Zara just like her mother is, and wonders why Zara can’t see it coming. But isn’t that what a partner who’s stuck in an abusive relationship often can’t ‘see coming’? We expect Zara to be an emotionally aware, wise partner and just because she can deliver on her career front, we transpose the same qualities on her relationship, and assume, she will be equally adept at reading between the lines. However, time and again, we have seen real-life abuse victims be outwardly emancipated, financially independent individuals, yet women who continue to suffer an abusive marriage, maybe because they keep hoping against hope that the situation will improve, they want to make it work and, they believe their spouse will truly make it work – this time!
That is Zara’s dilemma, explained in the life cycle of many women who suffer the same life path repeatedly, and yet again, till it becomes a habitual cycle that they can’t disengage from ever.
The Questions On Our Mind
Will Zara be able to escape in time? Can we blame Hassan for fearing therapy? The fact that Hassan is genuinely in love with Zara makes the story even more relatable – he is scared to let go of her, yet too selfish to fix himself. He probably believes he has control over his anger now, and that it will really, never happen again. Jafaa is telling a finely nuanced story, we hope it’s not a trigger for many couples watching. But unfortunately, if it is, then that means the messages are surely hitting home.
What Makes a ‘Manly’ Husband?
Andaleeb telling Dr. Numair about Moiz’s criticism of him was a turning point in their relationship. The self-confident, sure of himself Dr. Numair took a step back and possibly contemplated his ability to stand up to the measure Moiz had just put him through. His reaction also goes to show how a seemingly confident partner might not have all the answers in a relationship. However, we expected Andaleeb to tell off Moiz at that very instant rather than let the conversation linger.
Dr. Numair and Andaleeb need to engage in deeper conversations. Despite their apparent closeness now, they need to add more substance to their relationship and a heart-to-heart won’t hurt, so that their relationship reaches the next level. Additionally, a full-on discussion on what really defines a ‘manly’ husband is a conversation opportunity the drama must not miss, since it has triggered the discussion. On another note, although Dr. Numair and Hassan have nothing in common, a parallel partner comparative study might be interesting – one who is all about women emancipation and independence, and the other, lowkey abusive and controlling, they sure make for a podcast on gen Z relationships!
Caring For Someone’s Mental Wellbeing
Dr. Numair telling Zara that he is there for her if she needs him, was a great message for everyone to keep an eye out for a loved one whom they suspect is going through something, but yet, respecting their privacy and need to speak only when they’re ready.
Parenting Challenges
Parenting in Jafaa shows us that it is hard for parents to let go when they know their daughter might be trapped in an abusive relationship. They too, are untrained in how to approach a highly sensitive situation. On the one hand, parents are often shown to stay completely hands-off and let their daughter deal with it, turning a blind eye to her dilemma, on the other hand, Zara’s parents register their concern so blatantly to her that she is shying away from them, and pretending all is well. Both approaches isolate the victim, in this case, Zara, from her loved ones and people she deems safe for her.
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