Oh, dear Zara, we are so scared for you. You’ve tried your best and our heart goes out to you. Much as we try to understand Hassan’s past trauma in Jafaa, we are divided between the emotions – is he just a guy with treatable mental health issues, or a more abusive partner. Hassan is avoiding therapy to escaping revisiting his childhood trauma and understandably, that makes him selfish. However, we feel (and fear), so much for Zara, that any remaining vestige of sympathy towards Hassan has just become nonexistent.
The Dilemma of an Abuse Victim
Jafaa is playing it well, mirroring the dilemma of an abuse victim that everyone can see except the victim herself. When Zara’s mom fears for her, so do we. When Hassan’s dadi prays for Zara’s safety and happiness in her household, we want to believe her desperately too, but fear it’s not going to happen that soon, or at all.
The Story Reveal
Dadi’s prayers revealed more of the backstory, and that all is not as they have told Zara. There was much more to Hassan’s parent’s lives and the reason they are no longer there with him. There was much more to the trauma Hassan suffered and we hope the drama will reveal the key moments with as much sensitivity and nuance as they have the present interactions and relationship dynamics. Dadi is certainly to be blamed though, for now making Hassan start therapy earlier, she has a responsibility beyond prayer, but unfortunately, she is an apt representation of individuals in our society who resort to the Almighty to set everything right, when they don’t have the courage to play their own part in the story.
Hassan’s Need for Therapy Inching Closer
Hassan losing it with the young guys at the hotel in Nathia Gali was an impactful scene, one that seemed both relatable yet, injected the shock factor for both Zara and viewers. While we were expecting Hassan to blow off steam on Zara and lose control, this was a refreshingly creative manner to show us (and Zara), that he’s certainly not over it, and needs therapy for sure.
Thankfully, Zara will be on it again and we hope to see some progress on that story. Or will we? Till Zara lives in Hassan’s home, we fear for her safety, much as we do for all abuse victims who occupy the same space in our lives – we are outsiders looking into her life, fearing for her, yet unable to do much. Zara’s precarious situation is not only a trigger for other abuse victims watching, but also for parents, family and friends of abuse victims who forever worry about the wellbeing of their loved ones.
The ‘Slap’ Moment, Disappointing Much?
Let’s do a breezy survey of our love-birds Andaleeb and Dr. Numair. Andaleeb’s love meter just sparked. But what confounds one is that she is unable to note the poker face expressions Dr. Numair is throwing at her. Obviously, something transpired in the auditorium when he went to fetch Deebu’s bag? Obviously, he’s not telling Deebu, and obviously, we want to know!
That moment in the auditorium when Deebu staged a Moiz slapping ceremony before all his friends could have been angled differently, why does a girl slapping a boy or vice versa, the only way they can express their rage at each other? Is it because the script lacks punch? Is it because a slap is more sensational? Or is it because well, that was how the director saw it best to represent a girl who knows her own mind?
Either way, the script needs to change the script. If you know what we mean. On another note, we were happy that Deebu gave a piece of her mind (not hand) to Moiz and his friends, but disappointed that her revelation of love to Numair was met with stone-faced silence. What did Moiz tell Numair and why would Numair not be the mature man we have seen so far in the drama and clear it out with Andaleeb? Anyway, that’s for us to find out in the forthcoming episode – we hope.
The Toxic In the Character
On a final note, Zara’s dadi sounds like a monotonous, unstoppable lady with countless grievances about her daughter in-law and a cob-webbed approach to life. She’s not doing much on the popularity votes here. But… what astounds us is how Zara’s dad reacts to her toxicity as if he’s never heard her behaving or mouthing off the negativities she drops at the drop of a hat – literally. Either we inhabit a different reality or… we’re missing something?
And that’s it folks. Tell us if Jafaa and Zara are as close to your heart as ours and drop us a comment to tell us what she should do next? We think an escape plan is a good idea and now!
Catch Up More On Drama Gup With FUCHSIA
Jafaa is written by Samira Fazal and directed by Danish Nawaz. It is produced by Momina Duraid Productions. The cast features Mawra Hocane, Usman Mukhtar, Sehar Khan, Mohib Mirza, Zarrar Khan, Farah Sadia, Nadia Afgan, and others. The drama airs every Friday at 8 pm on HUM TV.
