The story of “Agar” focuses on a family and their struggles – financial, personal and otherwise. With three sisters as the central protagonists, what sets “Agar” apart has always been the treatment of the narrative, telling a heavy story, but in a more realistic way with an emphasis on female education and independence. Starring Hina Bayat, Juggan Kazim, Junaid Khan, Hina Altaf, Ali Abbas, Maheen Siddiqui, Ahmed Randhawa, Hira Soomro, Ismat Zaidi and others, the story has been written by Madiha Shahid and directed by Ilyas Kashmiri.
In episode 30, Hooriya (Hina Altaf) finally decides it’s time to make her move. Paying Shahwaiz (Junaid Khan) a visit with Pari, she approaches the subject of remarriage with Shahwaiz and makes her intentions clear. Shahwaiz’s reaction, however, is what audiences have been waiting for – one of absolute horror, shock and disgust. Putting Hooriya in her place, Shahwaiz has a surprise for viewers as well, informing Hooriya that Annie (Juggan Kazim) asked him to marry Chandni (Maheen Siddiqui) after her death. This not only leaves Hooriya upset, she is also fuming at the thought of Chandi marrying Shahwaiz.
In all this chaos, Meheryaar (Ali Abbas) also makes his way back into town and informs Hooriya’s mother that Hooriay is not, in fact, divorced at all. And through it all, what’s apparent is how the show is now attempting to take a step back and find retribution for Hooriya when, in reality…..there isn’t any? Does Hooriya deserve a second chance with Meheryaar? Was Hooriya really as naïve as the show is now trying to whitewash her as being? This is a woman who was plotting her third marriage to Shahwaiz while still married to Meheryaar, drawing up divorce papers and then leaving the house in a huff without any response from Meheryaar…..her husband. Suddenly claiming that Hooriya was naïve and assumed she was divorced is an attempt to put Hooriya in an innocent light, but Hooriya has not been innocent for a long time. Hooriya has proved herself to be a thoroughly selfish character who not only thinks only of herself, she does not care about the kind of trauma she’s putting her own daughter through. Of course, in all of this, Hina Altaf is doing such a great job of acting. It’s a difficult task to make the audience really dislike a character – and we sure do dislike Hooriya.
Meanwhile, the way the information about Chandni came out is terrible, because it casts Shahwaiz in a poor light. Shahwaiz should have never made this confession to Hooriya, rather he should have discussed it with Chandni herself or with her mother. The relationship between Chandni and Shahwaiz has always been an obvious fit after Annie’s death and there was still so much more that could’ve been developed rather than throwing Chandni into an unpalatable situation. Junaid Khan’s performance in this episode is also great as we see him fighting anger towards Hooriya and then, later, mourning the loss of his wife once again as he thinks over moving forward with Chandni. Shahwaiz is very much a pure-hearted character and we, as an audience, want his happiness.
Overall, this episode of “Agar” is an eventful one to say the least. From Hina Altaf, Junaid Khan and Hina Bayat, the cast does a great job performing in high voltage scenes this week. Moving forward, we can only hope to see further relationship development rather than forcing Chandni into a relationship against her will and Hooriya reuniting with Meheryaar without any repentance.
