Dunk Episode 16: Haider and Minal’s Marriage Gets Off To a Rocky Start

A lot can be said about “Dunk,” but one thing is for certain – it keeps the audience on their toes. Starring Bilal Abbas Khan, Noman Ejaz, Sana Javed, Yasra Rizvi, Azekah Daniel and Fahad Shaikh in lead roles, the story has been written by Mohsin Ali and directed by Badar Mehmood. The track continues to change direction with the story now moving back towards Professor Hamayun’s sexual harassment case.

In episode 16, Saira (Yasra Rizvi) realizes that Hamayun paid her rent for six months on the day before he committed suicide. This is another moment for Saira, realizing what she lost, what this harassment case cost her – a loving, protective husband who genuinely cared for both her and their daughter. And yet, the grief of the case and the character assassination he was facing, along with his family, was simply too much for him to deal with. Saira wishes to move away to a new neighborhood, but is instructed by her landlord to find a new place first before moving out.\

Meanwhile, Haider (Bilal Abbas Khan) and Minal’s (Azekah Daniel) wedding preparations begin. Of course, both Haider and Amal’s (Sana Javed) families are in an uproar as Amal paints Haider’s rejection out to be his interest in Minal all along. This couldn’t be further from the truth as even Minal’s marriage to Haider has been suggested to Minal by Amal herelf, but Amal has done a wonderful job painting herself as the forever victim. She continues turning the entire family against Haider with her false sincerity and sacrificing nature. Meanwhile, Haider meets with the college dean and discusses reopening Hamayun’s case – and the news reaches Amal’s ears. However, as the marriage takes place and Haider heads to his room to spend his first night with his new bride, Amal unleashes all her weapons. In a drawn out conversation between Haider and Amal, Amal makes it clear that while he broke her heart, she no longer harbors any such feelings anymore and has turned to stone. She also makes it seem as though this was all a ploy and Minal has been working with her, throwing Minal under the bus on her wedding night. Amal is now openly playing the game and makes sure Haider is aware of it, knowing that Haider continues to protect her truth – and this is Haider’s greatest weakness.

Quite honestly, this is confusing even to viewers. Why does Haider continue to protect Amal? What’s the reason for this? Amal has single-handedly destroyed Haider’s character within their family and has painted herself as a saint when, in reality, Amal is the cause of destruction for many lives other than just Haider’s. It made sense to protect Amal publicly, but at this point, it doesn’t even make sense. Amal has infiltrated his home, his family, his peace – why wouldn’t he have just married her then? What good did the refusal do? Also, Amal finding out about Haider reopening the case almost makes Amal seem like an all-knowing villain, which is a reach under any circumstance. How would her friend now what discussion took place between the dean and Haider behind closed doors?

Still, it’s Sana Javed and Bilal Abbas Khan’s performances that are taking this show to the next level, keeping the audience interested in what will happen next. They’re both doing a wonderful job – Sana as the manipulative, calculating sociopath and Bilal as the repenting hero, struggling to find peace within himself and rectify his mistakes. With Haider’s marriage starting off on the wrong foot, will Haider and Minal be able to find happiness in their marriage? Or has Amal destroyed this relationship for good? Will Haider reveal Amal’s truth in the next episode or will he continue to remain quiet? These are all questions we are waiting to see answered next week!