“Habs” has carved its own place in the hearts of viewers since it began weeks ago, reminding fans of Pakistani dramas of the past, encompassing that same subtlety that has diminished over time in more recent shows. Starring Feroze Khan and Ushna Shah in lead roles, “Habs” also stars Saba Faisal, Irsa Ghazal, Hina Rizvi, Javed Sheikh, Imran Aslam and others. The story has been written by Aliya Makhdoom and directed by Musaddiq Malek, a duo that deserves praise for their sensitive writing and direction which makes us feel as though we’re watching characters we know in real life.
Episode 11 focuses entirely on the “aftermath” of Basit (Feroze Khan) and Aisha’s (Ushna Shah) wedding. And there honestly isn’t any other way to describe it other than “aftermath.” Basit and Aisha, two individuals from very different backgrounds, are married and having a difficult time understanding each other and breaking down barriers. While Aisha has already been upset over Basit’s refusal to let her resume her job, Basit is growing increasingly uncomfortable with Aisha’s family. From Basit’s point of view, he sees Aisha’s family as money-grubbing and is also burdened with the task of not telling Aisha the truth about the exchange of money between him and Qudsia (Saba Faisal). But with that lie already weighing heavy on his shoulders, it isn’t easy to form a new relationship.
There are a lot of awkward moments in episode 11 and what makes them so awkward is the reality of it all. From Bobby (Hina Rizvi) accidentally dropping gulab jamun on Basit in her well-meaning enthusiasm to Aisha’s younger sister (Janice Tessa) breaking Basit’s toiletries in the bathroom, Basit’s opinion of Aisha’s family is not great….and this is worsened by his attitude towards them at the wedding reception. There isn’t any doubt that Basit is rude towards Aisha’s family, but we also have to realize that Basit has never had to deal with relatives like this. He has always kept himself removed and surrounded himself with like-minded people.
This is the beauty of “Habs” where we see Basit realizing his faults – and much of that is credited to the character of Fahad, a man who can be called a true friend. This is the influence Basit needs in his life, someone who is loyal to him and will guide him when he is wrong. He doesn’t mince words and encourages Basit to make positive steps towards his marriage. Feroze Khan is wonderful as Basit, a man who is genuinely good at heart, but simply comes from a different place and has been hurt by his mother in his childhood. He doesn’t have a high opinion of women and while it isn’t Aisha’s job to change that opinion, we hope she will. Meanwhile, Ushna Shah excels as Aisha, a girl who had aspirations to study and make something of herself now saddled with being a rich man’s wife. While many girls would be ecstatic in this position, Aisha feels trapped as though her independence has been taken away from her. To top it off, her husband’s behavior towards her family has deeply hurt her. Ushna Shah does a great job of depicting what Aisha is feeling, allowing the audience to connect to that discomfort. The final scene between Basit and Aisha is beautiful, both bending and realizing they need to take time to understand one another. Feroze Khan and Ushna Shah’s chemistry is stellar and they make a beautiful couple visually along with their matching acting talent.
“Habs” is a show that’s difficult to praise, because there’s little to criticize. This is a must-watch!