The week in rewind – here’s everything you missed (or couldn’t stop talking about)
1. Malika And Raza’s Romance In Pamaal Is Trauma Bonding Explained
While Malika and Raza walk along the dreamy paths of romance interjected with anger, rage, and abusive moments, viewers are left with a feeling of relief – just like Malika’s character – thank goodness all is well between them, and the couple has moved back to a happy equilibrium.
One wonders if this is exactly what abusers and their victims crave – that the relationship swings from one extreme to the other, setting up a cycle of pain and relief, almost as if it was fated to be this way – lovers manifesting intense, passionate outbursts interspersed with equally passionate bursts of love.
Many would call this the perfectly played-out definition of trauma bonding.
Read more about trauma bonding here!
2. Jama Taqseem: Forging a Narrative for the Perfect Woman Always Without Her Perfect Man?
Qais and Laila in Jama Taqseem are stuck in a bit of a diplomatic rut – both sets of parents have landed together in one home. While Laila is trying her best to keep the peace, Qais is trying his best to push that responsibility onto her. Throwback to Laila’s friend in an earlier episode, who reminded not only Laila but all of us: daughters-in-law are not bound to take care of their husbands’ parents, but if they do it from the goodness of their heart, that’s a plus. Yet both sons and daughters should look after their own parents. Having said that, what religion tells us and what culture, society, and tradition dictate often meet at a crossroads. Our upbringing spoon-feeds a narrative that “works” — and hence, is it even Qais’s fault when he expects his wife to drop everything, reschedule her job interview, tend to his ailing father, and somehow wish away her own parents from their home? He’s only reacting to a situation with the skills he’s learned from his family and society.
When Qais left the house early morning without checking in on his parents, when he brought them home late at night without even calling Laila to tell her his father had suffered an angina attack, when he expected her to change her interview timings or tend to his parents — and then said, “I won’t force you, but it would be nice if you stayed home and tended to my parents” (heard that one before?) — when he wouldn’t believe her red-flag alert on Zeeshan until his nephew Faisal confided in him, one wonders: why does Laila have to carry the burden of ensuring the marriage works by being the more understanding, patient, wise, and attentive spouse?
Pakistani dramas have progressed in their girl narrative by leaps and bounds — out with the quiet, long-suffering heroine; in with the communicative, expressive, yet courteous, confident, and career-oriented woman who still manages to be giving. But does this mean that once again, the onus falls on the woman to keep the family together?
Read full article here!
3. Zohran Mamdani Just Made History. New York May Never Be the Same
Zohran Mamdani just gave New York its biggest plot twist — progressive politics with heart, humor, and a whole lot of hope. New York has done it again rewritten political history in the most New York way possible. In a city where Wall Street suits once ruled and scandal-plagued governors still dared to make comebacks, voters decided they’d had enough of “business as usual.” Enter Zohran Mamdani: the democratic socialist, meme king, Bollywood-referencing policy wonk who just became the first South Asian Muslim mayor of New York City.
Mamdani’s rise wasn’t supposed to happen at least not according to the establishment. His opponent? None other than Andrew Cuomo, the disgraced former state governor, whose campaign came bankrolled by ultra-rich donors and haunted by scandal. The contrast couldn’t have been starker. Cuomo’s slogan might as well have been Make the Status Quo Great Again, while Mamdani’s message screamed: let’s make rent, groceries, and childcare actually affordable.
4. Who Is Rama Duwaji, NYC’s First Gen Z First Lady?
Since Zohran Mamdani has made history as New York City’s first Muslim mayor, there’s been a wave of excitement and curiosity surrounding him – his journey, his politics, and the change he represents. But along with all the interest in him, there’s another question people keep asking: who is he married to? Who is Rama Duwaji, the woman standing beside him? Rama Duwaji isn’t just “the mayor’s wife.” She’s a Syrian-American artist, a creative mind, and someone who’s been shaping narratives through art long before she ever stepped into the public eye. Her background is just as layered as her work – born in Texas, raised partly in Dubai, and now based in Brooklyn. That blend of places and cultures shaped who she is: a global, modern creative with roots that cross continents.
She studied art seriously, not as a hobby but as a full-fledged career path. Rama earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, and later, a Master of Fine Arts in Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her artistic style flows across mediums – illustration, animation, ceramics – and she uses them all to tell stories about sisterhood, identity, and belonging. Her ceramic work, for instance, often features blue-and-white hand-painted designs that blend tradition with modern emotion.
Want to how she met Zohran? Reap up their full love story here!
5. 556th Birth Anniversary Of Guru Nanak Dev Ji – Everything You Should Know About Him!
As per historical and traditional records, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469 in Rai Bhoi Di Talwandi (present-day Nankana Sahib, Pakistan) into a Khatri family. His father, Mehta Kalu, was a local revenue official, and his mother, Mata Tripta, nurtured him in a household that valued moral and spiritual principles. From a young age, Nanak showed remarkable intelligence, curiosity, and a contemplative nature. He was deeply aware of spiritual matters and often reflected on the nature of life and God. Even as a child, he is said to have questioned ritualistic practices, social hierarchies, and the inequalities of his society, demonstrating an early inclination toward spiritual insight, justice, and compassion.
Around the age of 30, Guru Nanak Dev Ji experienced a profound spiritual awakening. As recorded in tradition, he disappeared for three days while bathing in a river, and when he returned, he spoke of the oneness of God and the unity of all humanity. This experience became the turning point of his life, deepening his realization that God is formless, eternal, and present in everyone. From that moment onward, Guru Nanak devoted his life to guiding people toward truth, compassion, and righteous living, emphasizing that all human beings are equal in the eyes of the Divine.
6. Earthquake Devastates Northern Afghanistan – What We Know So Far
A powerful earthquake struck northern Afghanistan late Monday, causing widespread devastation and loss of life across several provinces. The tremor, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, hit at around 12:59 a.m. local time (00:59 AFT / 20:29 UTC), with its epicentre near the Khulm district, between Balkh and Samangan provinces. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the quake’s depth at approximately 28 kilometers, indicating a shallow but destructive event.
Initial reports confirmed at least 20 fatalities and more than 640 injuries, though officials warned that the numbers are likely to rise as rescue efforts continue in remote areas. The quake’s force was felt as far away as Kunduz and Baghlan, where residents fled their homes in panic. The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said rescue teams are working through the night to reach isolated villages cut off by landslides and debris.
7. Did Shah Jahan Really Build The Taj Mahal For Mumtaz? Paresh Rawal’s The Taj Story Has A Controversial Take!
Directed by Tushar Amrish Goel, the movie attempts to tell a controversial story: that the Taj Mahal was not originally built by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, but rather over a pre-existing Hindu temple. While ambitious in scope, critics and viewers have widely described the film as messy and confusing, struggling to balance history, drama, and ideology.
Paresh Rawal plays Vishnu Das, a tour guide who becomes a petitioner in court challenging the conventional narrative of the Taj Mahal. The movie unfolds as a courtroom drama, with Vishnu Das cross-examining historians, archaeologists, and academics, questioning textbooks and mainstream accounts. The story leans heavily on a controversial theory, often called “Tejo Mahalaya,” claiming that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple. Mainstream historians and the Archaeological Survey of India have consistently debunked this theory, but the film treats it as a central premise.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what this film attempts, what it delivers (and fails to deliver), and why it has generated both controversy and criticism. Check out here!
8. Main Manto Nahi Hoon Wraps Up: What Viewers Are Saying About The Last Episode
From the beginning, the show tried to explore topics that are not often seen in Pakistani dramas: family legacies, rebellion, and the weight of history. While the idea was strong, the way it was shown sometimes left viewers confused or disappointed. Some scenes and characters got people talking, some in a good way and some in a bad way. For example, viewers loved the way Saima Noor played the character of phuppo, giving it a fresh and realistic feel. On the other hand, the student-teacher storyline got a lot of criticism for the way it was shown.
When the drama ended, netizens shared their reactions online, with some feeling happy that the story was over, others frustrated by missed opportunities, and a few pointing out the problematic parts. The ups and downs, uneven pacing, daring dialogues, and confusing parts became part of what people remembered. The ending gave closure, but it also made people wonder, did the show really deliver what it promised or did the bumps along the way get in the way of its vision?
But having said that, Main Manto Nahi Hoon kept everyone talking from start to finish, and now that it has ended, viewers are voicing their thoughts online.
Check out viewer’s reaction here!
That’s all from us for this week – see you again with more stories next week!
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