“Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay” is a drama that came with many expectations. Starring Mahira Khan, Kubra Khan and Usman Mukhtar in lead roles, the story has been written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Farooq Rind. It’s these great actors, the director and writer who have been keeping an otherwise flat story not only afloat, but in the top bracket. But unfortunately, as the episodes move on, the story has begun to lose….sense?
In episode 13, Mehreen (Mahira Khan) finds herself against a wall again when Safaan (Haroon Shahid) refuses to marry her, having received some new information from…..Mashal? Mehreen is as confused as the audience is, but one thing is certain – Safaan no longer holds Mehreen in high regard. Mehreen, unwillingly, marries Aswad (Usman Mukhtar), but on the first night itself, he makes it clear that he married her only to make her life hell. This is an intense moment for both Aswad, with all his anger spilling out, and Mehreen, who now understands the extent of Aswad’s hatred. Aswad leaves his home the next day, Saleha (Huma Nawab) finally realizing the trouble she has put Mehreen in.
There are many problems with “Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay,” particularly the gaping holes in the story and the lack of common sense within its lead characters. At the present junction, there isn’t one single character who viewers could call “likable.” Mehreen is digging her own grave by allowing her family (and Aswad) to yank her chain. Aswad is too dim for his own good, truly ugly, toxic and manipulative within. Saleha has let the audience down too by suddenly turning blind to her own son’s faults, faults which she has pointed out up until now. It’s all very difficult to digest. And yet, there are positives within this show.
The positives are, as always, the performances. This episode belongs to Usman Mukhtar entirely. Aswad is deeply troubled by Mashal’s (Kubra Khan) death, a death that he blames entirely on Mehreen. But why? What’s interesting about this character is that he isn’t a confusing character – he has always been exactly what he is presented as. He is a coward. He was never able to commit to Mashal, despite leading her on for years. When cornered, he claimed her as a “friend and cousin,” denying the relationship. And yet, he now behaves as though he lost the love of his life. Why did he lose her? Well, he lost her due to his own actions. But why doesn’t he question Mehreen’s motives or any sense of logic that would tell him Mehreen is innocent? Because he’s simply too scared to look within and blame himself for her suicide. But this is what makes Aswad such a fascinating character – and Usman Mukhtar’s performance only makes it better. It’s not easy to be a hated character, but Aswad is exactly that, the detestable anti-hero and Usman has made this character his own. He has put every flaw, every thought, every disgusting, toxic, complex emotion within Aswad on display for the audience to see and that requires a different level of talent. Whatever the fate of this show itself, Usman Mukhtar deserves an award nomination for his performance here.
Of course, Mahira Khan provides just the right kind of support in this episode, her horrified expressions depicting exactly what we, as viewers, feel for Mehreen’s character. Her life has been turned upside down since childhood, but there isn’t any respite in sight – and she is now beginning to spiral herself, blaming herself for Mashal’s death. Mahira Khan is always a wonderful actress and she’s just as dependable here as Mehreen. Again, it’s these performances and the direction that has put “Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay” on an elevated level – but unfortunately, the story itself continues to be half-baked and hollow, something which is not expected from the brilliant Umera Ahmed. One can only hope that things life off soon and the story begins to come together in upcoming episodes.
