Mujhay Qabool Nahin Is the drama that’s sending out strong girl goals with Maira’s character played by none other than Madiha Imam. The manner in which she navigates her trials and attempts to overcome her harasser is lending the narrative reasons to watch for those who might be stuck in similar situations!
Mujhay Qabool Nahin is a project of 7th Sky Entertainment which is helmed by producers Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi. The drama is directed by Aabis Raza, and written by Adeel Razzaq. The star-studded cast of the drama features Ahsan Khan, Madiha Imam, Sami Khan, Saba Faisal, Azra Mansoor, Mohammad Ahmed, Behroze Sabzwari, Humera Bano, Azra Mohiuddin, Sidra Niazi, Usama Tahir, Alizey Rasool, Zain Afzal, Bisma Babar, Fahima Awan, and Birjees Farooqui. It airs on Geo Entertainment at 8 pm every Thursday.
Here’s Why Maira’s character might serve as inspiration for many young women. Read on!
1. Maira Doesn’t Give Up!
Strong minded girls like Maira can help show the way to families to listen harder.
Maira has tried to have a conversation repeatedly about Salman with her mom, who has pretended to brush it under the carpet. Were she not so strong willed, she could have been under severe trauma by now. She has zero family support and is often left alone with her harasser, forced to engage with him, and often told that her thoughts about him border on the rebellious and uncompromising.
Most self assured girls would struggle to deal with having no support from home, despite repeatedly trying to tell their families that they feel unsafe with their partner. Maira’s character is uplifting in that she doesn’t give up!
2. Resorting To Outside Help – The Survival Instinct
While we wouldn’t advise taking outside help from a non family member, but Maira seems to have exhausted all options. In this case, rather than censuring her decision, we can applaud it as a move to survive. Maria is not a quitter and that’s why we love her sense of empowerment. She has given herself the power to fight for her future, despite meeting with resistance from her family. She knows she’s right and hence, had no option but to disclose her story to an outsider in the hopes of seeking solutions.
It has to be said, that while she resorted to outside help which can be unsafe and dangerous in other circumstances, it just so happens that Atir is a nice guy. Maira could be in deeper trouble if he wanted to exploit her helplessness. However, she has met him in public places and continues to keep communication lines open with her mother and sister to apprise them of her situation (though they’re not really listening)!
3. Moving On & Living Life Despite The Abuse
Maira is seeking practical solutions to her problems, albeit all by herself.
Maira has to be her own saviour where her family should have believed her and helped her overcome her challenges. Opening a separate bank account, visiting an Islamic scholar to seek guidance about her situation and then explaining things to her brother in-law, Maira is trying her best to use all her lifelines in order to help herself escape an abusive partner. As she attempts to disentangle herself from the shackles of an under-age marriage, she continues to empower herself by staying financially independent and continuing with her job despite pressure from her family to quit. This empowerment is probably what will keep her going in her most trying times with Salman (and her family).
4. Open Communication With Her Mother
Communication & Honesty can be respected rather than punished.
Unlike many young girls who hide or are secretive about their actions, Maira keeps an open communication with her mother & let’s her know she’s stepping out for personal work. (When she went to meet the cleric with Atir). But unfortunately, this is a trip she could have made with her mother rather than Atir, if she’d had more support from her parent. It would have been even better if she’d let her mother know exactly that she is going with Atir, (just as a message for all young girls). Maira’s mom also, although inactive and disappointing in not helping her daughter escape a harasser, let’s her find her way where she can.
5. The Courage To Say No
Maira has to continue facing Salman’s bullying when her mother leaves the room… She could have been hurt by him too. Unfortunately, where family failed to support her, Maira had the courage to say no to Salman and ask for khula.
The fact that she has the courage to say no to keeping the nikah with Salman before her family, is a huge win for someone who has no one on her side. After trying to speak to her mom and brother-in-law, Maira finally realised that even if no one sides her, she’ll keep fighting the situation & refuses to apologise or be bullied into accepting Salman. She stays adamant on her stance.
Maira’s story might represent the story of many young girls who face abuse from their partners and whose families continue to turn a blind eye or stay in denial. But her courage in the face of that abuse is exemplary and must be watched by many who struggle to find solace or speak out against abuse. Her small yet effective actions at gaining financial freedom, exercising her right to be aware of her situation by seeking religious counselling and keeping the doors of communication open with her parent are perhaps, the highs of her character in a situation that seems to become more and more threatening with each passing episode.
Here’s to all the Maira’s amidst us. May they draw courage from the onscreen character and manage to eventually break free!