Asghar’s support for Pakeezah shows how one man can make all the difference in a society that is hugely patriarchal (and misogynistic?) in its perspectives. The fact that Pakeezah was dissuaded from filing her case alone, without her husband, ‘the prime victim’ – according to the Investigating Officer, and Pakeezah’s silent yet shocked expressions at this revelation, spoke volumes about the long, arduous journey ahead of her. But what stood out as a shining example was the sight of Asghar walking alongside his sister – Aik Aur Pakeezah, while navigating dark ground realities, continues to serve up a glimmer of hope – and Asghar is that hope, not just for Pakeezah, but for all of us watching on the other side of the screen.
Here’s how Asghar snatched hope from a story that served up a heavy dose of truth and tragedy in a society that enables, even facilitates, rather than challenges or punishes the perpetrators of Cyber Crime. Just when we thought all was lost, Faraz too, left Pakeezah and her father Aslam attempted to take his own life. Subsequently, Pakeezah decided to not file a case against Yaseen – the tables turned. But all it took was the power of one man and that man was none other than Pakeezah’s brother – ironically, the one we feared might might harm her.
This is how Asghar schooled us, at times defiantly and at times with mere honesty and a deep sense of guilt, to show why brothers in our society need to support rather than shun the women in their house when they are victims of misogyny, cyber crime or merely, punished for exercizing their right to say “NO.”
1. Case kar rahi hai Yaseen Malik par. What a ball! Clean bowled — the batsman had no idea. Well bowling, Pakeezah, well bowling!
It was poetry in motion when the script employed the same commentary that, once uplifting to hear from Pakeezah, turned into a haunting memory and once again, a war cry as Asghar revealed the news to his family.
Asghar celebrates Pakeezah’s courage and also acknowledges that among all of them in the family, she was after all, the one who was brave enough to stand up to Yaseen, her perpetrator. Asghar’s battle cry like commentary not only celebrated his sister, the same one he would once feel ashamed of losing to in cricket but also acknowledged that she had after all, won the game with this winning stroke – an action perhaps, her brothers (and even father) should have taken earlier – ghairat means to support your sister.
2. Main toh cricket khelte huye bhi darta tha usse jeetne se, ke woh larki hokar jeet jayegi aur mai mard hokar haar jaunga. Lekin sach yeh hai, hum sab usse haar gaye.
Larkion se haar jaana is considered an act of great shame – traditionally, men are taunted in society with a signature statement – you lost from a girl? – Larki se har gaye? Asghar seems to have flipped the script by showing us, there is no ghairat in winning from a girl, in fact, we should be proud of her strength and own her wins. And in speaking out for Pakeezah, he gave voice to everything he was feeling inside – the need to flee, hide from the public, move to a new place… reminder – this is not ghairat
3. Jab Pakeezah reh sakti hai tau main kyun nahi reh sakta? … Pakeezah tau nahi na bhaagi yahan se, main pata nahi kyun bhaaga?
Ghairat is not in abandoning your sister in her toughest moments, but letting her know you stand by her, you’re in this together with her and you’ll see it through. Asghar seems to have come full circle and his thoughts hopefully resonated with many who struggle to do the same, but might need to find the courage that Asghar mirrored in the recent episode.
4. Humaari Pakeezah… Faraz bhi nahi tha, bilkul akela kardia humaari Pakeezah ko…
When Asghar mentioned this, humaari Pakeezah, he owned his sister once more. The words, though simple, said so much more. How families, male and female members disown their very own when they go through the trauma of cyber crime, a leaked video – a vindictive game to name and shame these girls in public perhaps causes these victims of cyber crime to spiral into a life of misery and hopelessness as much if not more than the crime itself. When Asghar says “Humaari Pakeezah” he negates everything society does to disown the person who needs us most at the time – their family is the only safe place they have, and that is taken away from them – ghairat means to stand by, not shun the victim.
5. Asghar tumhe sharam nahi aayi? Aayi na, buhat sharam. Jab main ne dekha kay humaari Pakeezah akeli khari hai dunya kay saamne, adaalat gayi hai insaaf maangne.
“I told her to file the case, I will sit beside her, I convinced her. She was going to leave everything and walk away because of Abu.” – Asghar.
Ghairat has just reclaimed its definition and all it took was one male character onscreen to say it – to tell us that honour, ghairat, bahaduri, courage means standing by those who have been wronged, protecting your sister not by silencing her but by encouraging her to speak out and standing by her when she does it. Ghairat does not mean silencing the wronged, but giving them a voice.
When Pakeezah answered the Investigating Officer on his question to Asghar – Who are you? ‘He is my brother,’ she responded. The passion and pride in her voice, the one time she allowed her face to show expression, elation, a glimmer of hope, was this very moment.
And that’s how significant is the ‘ghairat’ of a man. Use it wisely, just like Asghar, lest it leave you and walk away – like it has for so many more brothers in our society who struggle with the meaning and context of it.
Drop us a comment if you have something to add for Aik Aur Pakeezah’s latest episode.
When Private Lives Matter – Imad Wasim and His Second Marriage
Follow us on Instagram here
Written by Bee Gul and directed by Kashif Nisar, the drama stars Sehar Khan in the titular role alongside Nameer Khan, Amna Ilyas, Gohar Rasheed, Hina Bayat, Nadia Afgan, Davar Mahfooz, Umer Darr and Noor Ul Hassan. The drama is presented by GEO Entertainment in collaboration with Kashf Foundation, with production backed by Kashf Foundation
Comments 3