From Ayra’s father flipping his decisions faster than a 59 second Instagram reel and the girl in the video attempting to commit suicide, ending up at Ayra’s hospital and Kamyar taking on her care, and with Khawar still not giving up on a chance to marry Ayra, Meri Zindagi Hai Tu latest two episodes was a mix of sad emotions but yet, a story that lurched forward to keep viewers engaged despite all the problematic issues they choose to ignore.
Are Pakistani dramas now fielding bad boys turned heroes turned bad boys again with the visual of a hip flask to keep them company and drown their sorrows over heartbreak. One wonders how our female leads manage to get over their heartbreak without resorting to a puff of smoke or something stronger? Not just that but would they in fact even be a female lead if they took to a drink or a smoke? That’s a thought that could give many a sleepless night, though of course, never say never.
The unexpected plot twist was the girl in the video landing up at Ayra’s hospital. Just when viewers were wondering what would happen next and we’d watch two episodes of sad feels with Ayra and Kamyar both trying to overcome their breakup trauma, the narrative moves ahead and fast, to throw us a plot twist. Ayra has to deal with the reality of the video she’s trying hard to forget, and Kamyar, confused in the aftermath of the bizarre events of the past few days, wants some answers too. Now that he will be taking care of the girl’s medical care, chances are, he’s one step closer to knowing of the dirty work hatched by Khawar and Faria. But one wonders what is taking him so long to figure out that there had to be a big conspiracy behind that video and the perfectly synchronized timing with which it was dropped online and messaged to the wedding guests. Kamyar, we expected you to be smarter on the uptake, please get your act together and snap out of it. Telling dadi you want to die soon is not what heroes are made of. But for now, Kamyar has resorted to brooding, drinking, sulking and being the angry young man that possibly Pakistani drama creators feel will get massive traction. If you ask our opinion, a more put together hero, the one who moved swiftly to land up at the police station and proactively handle the situation felt more like it.
Ayra’s father seems to depict more red flags than all the Kamyar’s of this world put together. He flips his decisions from one scene to the next, making us do a triple take asking, was that really him? Kabhi Haan, Kanhi Naa? At one point, we applaud his sagacity when he tells Ayra’s mom that she should let Ayra be and pursue her degree rather than get married, and on the other, one mention of Kamyar and he flips. Instead of inquiring about the patient in the hospital and how Ayra is taking care of it, he seems to believe that pushing her into marriage with Khawar is a prize solution. This is the same dad who told Ayra that she shouldn’t beat herself up about making a wrong decision, and that this is life and she need to move on. His sudden change of heart makes us question if the character has been written by two completey different writers and the actor has to alternate scenes, first delivering one set of dialogues and then, the other – both polar opposite to each other in perspectives and yet, reflecting the thoughts of the same character. When the going gets tough for a child, it’s time for a parent to act on his or her words, and while we have little or no expectations from Ayra’s mom who’s ready to get her married and packed off, her father seems to be changing his mind faster than a chameleon changes colour. How can any daughter believe in the advice her father gives on a particular day when he changes his mind as swiftly the next?
Khawar and his mom are certainly beyond hope. And they’ve found a partner in Ayra’s mom. Sending Ayra with Khawar’s mom was really not a great move for a mom and then, making her feel bad about Kamyar was equally insensitive. Falak seems to have her sister’s back but she needs to have some decision making power in the family or at least advocate for her sister when their parents make a rash decision or one Ayra is not happy with.
Kamyar and his dadi’s bond warms our heart. Dadi is seriously concerned for him and both times, once when he lay his head on her lap and wept, and the other, when she sat in his room as he slept restlessly, showed how much she cared for him and that she is the only person in the house he can fully be himself with. His parents have retreated back to their previous antagonistic relationship. It is as if Ayra and Kamyar’s relationship was the one thing that had brought this family closer together and with that breakup, the Kamyar household is losing its grip on the chances of a happier family life. We were expecting more from Kamyar’s parents, but apparently their journey just stopped mid-track, frustrating that!
When will Kamyar unearth the conspiracy of which he was the main target? How were videos of Ayra telling off Kamyar recorded? Why is Kamyar not asking how these videos are surfacing all of a sudden? Agreed he is under a trauma and in pain, but how can he allow Faria to keep him inebriated all day so he has no time to consider the ground realities of the events happening around him?
The scene where Kamyar pushed the girl Suneeta at the party, regardless of what she said about Ayra revealed a borderline violent tendency in him. The makers have repeatedly pushed the envelope on our hero, from stalking his heroine, burning her car down, to bashing her brother and now reacting in rage and getting physically abusive towards a girl, even if it was a reaction and even if it was just a push, are all red flags in a person and need to be recognized for exactly that. The question is not whether Kamyar can change for good, but the question is rather, can any man who depicts these behavioural tendencies not resort to them despite his best intentions, when he is challenged by life events that might trigger him to act violently? And if Ayra or any other girl is okay with spending her life with such a person, that reality must also be made evident in the story line. People like Kamyar might want to change, and might really change in the most part, but they might need continuous, and even life long therapy to monitor their problematic tendencies. As responsible storytelling, this narrative must be part of the messaging, especially in a society where young women have been and presently are, victims of domestic abuse from men who appear to genuinely love and care for them, but have too many mental health issues to be deemed mentally stable life partners.
Tell us if you agree and drop us a commeht below with your thoughts on the latest episodes of Meri Zindagi Hai Tu.
