Bismil is mirroring the trauma a family undergoes when faced with the event of a father marrying for the second time, with his first marriage and children still in his life. While Tauqeer’s journey; from comfortably married at middle-age to suddenly in love with his office assistant (also at middle-age) has drawn many frowns and nods at relatability, unleashing the latent rage of women who might have been wronged, or seen someone who was, and perhaps, a few masked smiles from men(?), it is Reham’s struggle that’s super relatable, moving and very true to life.
Reham’s initial shock and rage as she learns of her husband’s betrayal, soon turns into sadness, despair and now, an impulse move at crisis management as she seeks to save face and whatever is left of her social image for the sake of her son Moosa, his prospective in-laws, and family.
It is imperative to mention that minus the one scene earlier in the narrative where Savera Nadeem’s character let loose on Masooma for wearing her clothes (her reaction called out as a tad tasteless and perhaps, un-Reham like, for she hasn’t shown these overtly aggressive tendencies earlier or later, thank Goodness for that), Reham’s response to the news of her husband’s secretive second marriage has tugged at the heart strings.
Savera’s portrayal of the character has been nothing short of precision. The role, scripted by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Aehsun Talish, takes note of the sensitivities involved when a woman undergoes a shock reveal, and how she is coping with it, from treating her grown-up son as her confidante and sole support system, to not divulging the news to anyone else, to now, planning how to rid her husband of the second wife, checks all the emotional markers many women experience in her position.
Is Reham in a state of denial still?
Her plan to get Masooma’s parents into the city and speed up wedding preps for Moosa to maybe help Tauqeer forget about his new wife gradually, is how a lot of women react. They assume that their husband, who has been theirs for over a decade, with whom they share a child, or children – family, merely strayed for a moment and will come back to them and their family, once he is over the overnight romance spell.
However, Tauqeer (like many other real life men), seems to be quite fixated on Masooma and is gathering more courage as he treads the juggling act, between first wife and second. If anything, he seems to be growing in disregard for his family.
Rethinking her earlier premises
Reham implores Moosa that she must rethink what she said earlier, and perhaps, they just have to make peace with the fact that Tauqeer is going to be married to Masooma forever, in fact, even suggesting to him that they come out with the news as a family. This from Reham, who initially feared the social backlash, is a leap forward as she tells Moosa, one must change with the times, that is the only way forward.
Reham’s survival instincts have set in as she attempts one coping mechanism after another to make things work at home.
Which brings us to the next question, especially as we see time and again, that Moosa keeps referring to ending his life as the only possible course of action.
Should she confide in anyone other than Moosa?
Should Reham confide in someone other than her son? Moosa is, after all, Tauqeer’s son too. And his perpetual mention of taking his life shows he has his own share of trauma attached to his father’s decision. The fact that he has not confided in his fiancé yet and is hiding the truth from her, points to his sense of shame and discomfort regarding his father’s decision. His reaction, again, aptly mirrors how children in his position feel about their parents’ situation.
Although Moosa might be her most trusted confidante for sure, perhaps Reham needs to speak to someone who is not directly involved in the situation? It might not lighten her burden but might help her navigate her feelings and future choices with a practical approach, something Moosa might not provide for her.
Having said that, Reham’s journey though not over yet, shows the immense courage she and many women in her situation are capable of when faced with a catastrophe such as hers.
The courage of a woman wronged
Reham attempts to come out of her trauma by wanting to move forward eventually and she advises Moosa to do the same. She advocates changing oneself to cope with changing life situations, urging Moosa and herself to start life on a positive note, by firstly, accepting their situation and not living in denial anymore.
Of course, Moosa still needs more time to come to terms with this approach. Which is why, Reham, though her advice comes from a place of courage, perhaps needs to seek outside help for herself and Moosa in order to know that they are not alone.
But does she have such a friend or family member to whom she can turn?
Drop us a comment and tell us what you think Reham should do next.
Catch Up More On Drama Gup With FUCSHIA
Bismil is penned by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Aehsan Talish. It is a project of IDream Entertainment. The cast features Hareem Farooq, Naumaan Ijaz, Savera Nadeem, Saad Qureshi, Asad siddiqui, Behroz Sabzwari, Sheherbano Rehmani, Shaheen Khan and more. Bismil airs every Wednesday and Thursday on 8 PM on ARY Digital.
