In episode 21, Saim (Haroon Shahid) finally realizes the lies his mother, Neelofar (Sabahat Bukhari), has been telling. What’s great about the way this has been executed is that Neelofar’s great confession isn’t a way to let her off the hook nor is it a sequence which paints her to be “evil.” Yes, her actions have been detestable, but at the end of the day, she has been a mother who wants the best for her son – and in her eyes, Fajr (Srha Asghar) has not only been the opposite, but she also realized that Saim and Fajr did not share a proper marital relationship. Still, it’s a wonderful moment when Saim and Fajr reunite, their relationship finally progressing as husband and wife. It’s rare that a Pakistani drama delivers on two solid romances within the same show, but “Aakhir Kab Tak” has managed it, not only with Saim and Fajr, but also Noor and Nasir.
Noor (Ushna Shah) is a woman with a lot on her plate, this much is obvious. The bread-earner for her family, she has the responsibility of work, caring for her ill father and providing emotional support for Fajr and Safia. So when Nasir proposes to her, she’s not sure how to react – she is in shock! Noor has never really seen marriage in her future, never having been allowed that “luxury,” with the exception of her potential forced marriage with Basam. So now with the option in front of her, she’s left in a confused state. Is marriage with Nasir something that could really happen for her? It’s sweet to see Noor smiling to herself while thinking of Nasir’s words. If there has been a realistic portrayal of a relationship on television recently, it’s the Noor and Nasir relationship. This is a pair that’s not only root-worthy, but also a couple of the modern world, intelligent individuals with their own lives coming together in a natural way. The way Nasir supports Noor in her life, not only personally, but also professionally, is commendable. Ushna Shah and Adeel Hussain are doing wonders with their roles.
Of course, Noor’s relationship with Ehtasham (Shahood Alvi) remains a highlight and it’s incredible to see the progress this father-daughter duo have made on a personal level. Yes, Ehtasham probably never would have become this person if not for his illness, but his illness has somehow become a blessing for this entire family – giving Safia (Javeria Abbasi) the husband she always wanted and Noor and Fajr a supportive, loving father. It’s a laugh out loud moment when Safia puts her mother-in-law (Gul E Rana) in her place, stating the truth of the situation, and Noor has her thrown out for feeding Ehtasham unhealthy foods. Still, with his condition, will Ehtasham ever recover? Or will these three women face misery once again with his loss? There isn’t any one performance to praise on this show. Each actor is doing a brilliant job (barring the one playing Basam, who needs a lot of work on his ideas for playing “bad.”). “Aakhir Kab Tak” is a show that is praised each week and it’s becoming difficult to write about it weekly, honestly, because I have run out of words to further praise it. At this point, we are all wondering when Professor Zaffar (Afzar Rehman) will make his reappearance and cause chaos in Fajr’s life once again. Will Saim remain firmly by her side through it all?