Aik Aur Pakeezah: Does Society Fear Strong Women More Than The Crimes It Commits In Their Name?
The recent two episodes of Aik Aur Pakeezah albeit a bit slow-paced, managed to pack a punch and some bitter truths that have to be spelt out for us as a society – more like ingrained in our minds, through stories like this one.
Women who are too educated, or who become independent, women who own mobile phones, are trouble and must be put in their place before it’s too late. Akbar and Aslam’s colleague reflect the mindset many in our society adhere to – the lurking fear of an educated, independent woman is real.
Yaseen’s conversation with the IO where he flipped Pakeezah’s actions and words gave us yet another insight into his devious mind. Yaseen had to take revenge for being rejected, for being slapped publicly by Pakeezah and he thought the best way would be to marry her and then make her suffer for life. But when that didn’t work out, plan B was a leaked video – that would do the job even better. This revenge plot is not mere fiction, but mirrors the motivation behind many leaked videos in real life where the victims then spend the rest of their lives in anonymity, ostracized and shamed by society if not killed by their family members (in the name of honour).
Will Pakeezah really agree to an out-of-court settlement? This is one twist that we were not expecting. Is Zubair really that wrong in bringing Noor Bhari with him? Would Saman — and all of us — have wanted him to be that insensitive person who would leave a woman alone? Does Saman doubt him deep down? Is Zubair lying about the nikah nama?
While we love the drama and appreciate the effort in storytelling, the pace feels a bit slow, and just when we want the narrative to move to the next step, it is taking us round in circles.
Pakeezah seeking an out-of-court settlement from Yaseen represents how cases like these are settled in real life. The culprits are often well-to-do, resourceful families with great influence and they are able to bypass the system (and the law), a court ruling against them, by using their influence and money to get rid of the problem.
Is Pakeezah testing Faraz for a reaction? Does she want to see if he is really with her? His decision to go to Dubai has really impacted her. Sadly, she is not communicating with him. But much as we wanted Faraz to support Pakeezah and dismiss the Rs. 10 lac settlement option, he is after all, shaped by the society he lives in. Although he claims that Pakeezah makes all her own choices, he also decided to move to Dubai without discussing it with her. Despite looking out for her and sharing his earnings with her, he feels left out of her life. Is this him (and his conditioning in a male dominated society) trying to assert his right as a husband, that he wants to feel involved in her decisions, yet, not involving her in his? Or maybe he feels overwhelmed by Pakeezah’s courage – not everyone has that, especially not a woman standing alone against all of society.
Akbar represents those men whose perspectives cannot change, and a single experience makes them doubt the actions of every woman who’s educated and independent. Will he eventually change? Or will he murder Pakeezah and Faraz to prevent the case from going public?
We loved how the drama showed the change in Pakeezah’s father. It is refreshing to see Aslam Sahib, a father who thought about the pain of his daughter more than his own pain – when he tells Rubina that he did not let anyone know he had already received the video. It is truly uplifting and great storytelling how the writer has moved three out of four people to support Pakeezah.
Yaseen’ mind is devious. Can the IO see through him? How far will his lies go? Or has the IO capitulated to Yaseen’s tactics of flexing his influence and wealth so that he moves towards an out-of-court settlement?
Saman’s struggle is one that many independent, outspoken women in public might face in their private lives. She fights for the cause of other women and ensures they get their rights in society – here she is, struggling to fight for the very woman who lays claim to her husband. It is after all a challenge even if you are a Saman, but we know her compassion will win in the end, just as she hesitantly reached out to hug Noor Bhari. Imagine her reaction if Zubair cannot produce a talaaq nama?
Aik Aur Pakeezah is urging us to think about our perspectives as a society; on women, their choices and the respnsibility we all have as individuals to support and empower them in our journey together in order to lead more progressive, enlightened lives. Catch our conversation with Kashf Foundation founder, Roshaneh Zafar on Aik Aur Pakeezah, here.
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