“Ishq E Laa” is a show that has been slowly picking up pace since its premiere. A big budget production, “Ishq e Laa” stars Azaan Sami Khan, Sajal Aly, Yumna Zaidi, Sohail Sameer, Uzma Hassan, Seemi Raheel, Adnan Samad Khan and others. The story has been written by Qaisra Hayat and directed by Amin Iqbal. Up until now, we’ve seen “Ishq E Laa” as a show focusing on two different tracks – one following Azka, played by Yumna Zaidi, and another focusing on Shanaya and Azlan, played by Sajal Aly and Azaan Sami Khan. Coming from different worlds, Shanaya and Azka face very different problems. How will their worlds come together?
In episode 8, “Ishq E Laa” takes the viewer on a 39-minute journey of happiness. This is a relatively light episode, void of anything too heavy, making the audience smile through Azka’s (Yumna Zaidi) happiness and success, along with Shanaya (Sajal Aly) and Azlan’s (Azaan Sami Khan) newlywed tiffs. The moments focusing on Azka are absolutely a delight as she announces having placed 5th in her exams nationwide. As Sultan (Sohail Sameer), Kanwal (Uzma Hassan) and Azka’s mother (Seemi Raheel) rejoice in Azka’s success, they make plans to send her to medical school. It’s a joy to see this family unit together, united, loving and supportive. But Abid (Adnan Samad Khan) has not given up his pursuit of Azka and will clearly continue to create trouble for her in the future.
Meanwhile, Shanaya and Azlan are now happily married, returning back to reality after their honeymoon. The two prepare to settle back into working life, but as is normal with newlyweds, they still want to spend all their time together. When Azlan arrives back home early and Shanaya gets held up when Ansab Haroon, a politician, arrives two hours late for an interview, the two have their first fight as a married couple. Azlan is not happy with being “ignored” and Shanaya makes plans to pacify him. This is something which any married couple can relate to, these fights part and parcel to marriage with one partner wanting attention from the other.
The sweetest moment that brings tears to the eyes is when Shanaya visits Azka at home after running into Sultan and tells Sultan that she will cover Azka’s medical school costs. This is another one of those wonderful women supporting women scenes and knowing that Shanaya is the one standing in support of Azka somehow makes Azka’s future success even more highly awaited. Yumna Zaidi, Sajal Aly and Sohail Sameer are the scene-stealers of this episode, all three giving such sweet, endearing, natural performances. The relationship between Azka and Sultan is truly a heart-warming one. But what the viewer is left with is the forboding feeling that “Ishq E Laa” is simply too happy at the moment. Is it too good to be true? Somehow this feels like the calm before the storm. The show is definitely ready to take a dark turn. But how? Will Azka suffer a acid attack attempt at Abid’s hands? Will Sultan protect Azka and lose his life in the process? Will Shanaya be murdered by Arbab Haroon? Or will she survive an attack and wind up in need of medical attention? There are so many different ways in which this story can go – but which way will it go?
