When one thinks about a story based on a poet and the world of poetry, one imagines beautiful mushairas, poetic conversations and grand sets. However, what we’ve been given is something quite different – and in a pleasant way. Taking a more gritty look at poetry as a profession, the competitive nature of breaking into the industry, the eccentric nature of poets and the relationships surrounding them all comes together to create a world of intrigue and manipulation. Starring Adnan Siddiqui, Nadia Jamil, Kinza Hashmi, Sidra Niazi, Saleem Mairaj, Nazli Mirza and others, the story is written by the talented Amna Mufti and directed by Mohammad Saqib Khan.
In episode 13, the veil of innocence surrounding Husna (Kinza Hashmi) and Jahan Ara has dropped,the two revealing themselves as users, young women who know how to utilize their youth and beaty to lure in older men. But are they the ones doing the manipulating or the ones being manipulated? Ahmed Saryab (Adnan Siddiqui) has aligned himself with Jahan Ara, but continues to call Husna, declaring his attraction for her. The best word for Husna and Jahan Ara’s friendship would be “frenemies.” The two confide in each other and share their lives, but also plot against one another. However, it appears Ahmed Saryab is using both young girls for his own enjoyment, making each girl feel special to satisfy his own wants.
It would be easy to feel sorry for Husna as we see her lured into Saryab’s world, a man who could easily destroy her world, but unfortunately, Husna’s behavior towards Parvez (Alee Hassan Shah) is terrifyingly calculating. Parvez loves Husna, but Husna is willing to marry Parvez only because of the control she hoards over him. Husna recognizes that she can bully Parvez, hurt him emotionally and, in turn, force him to bend to her demands. She knows that if she must get married, it’s beneficial to her to have the upper hand in her relationship. She is, quite honestly, an abusive partner. Kinza Hashmi is perfect for this role. She looks every bit the part of a young girl who catches the eye of an older man, but it’s also her performance which casts light on Husna’s intentions. With each performance, Kinza Hashmi proves she’s an underrated artist.
Nadia Jamil is excellent as always, but this time around, she excels as Adeela, a woman who has willfully kept her rose-colored glasses on for her husband, despite realizing that he has always had a flirtatious nature. Catching him red-handed with a college student finally wound up being the breaking point, the moment which finally shattered her vision of Ahmed Saryab. Ahmed Saryab is a verbally abusive husband, reserving his charming nature for others while bestowing Adeela with abuses of being “jaahil” (ignorant), ill-mannered and beneath him all while holding every bad vice himself. This week, he calls Adeela his “trophy,” a woman he has “won,” demeaning her – but Adeela is no longer under his control, safely at her mother’s house, giving her time to think while surrounded by those who have her best interests at heart. Meanwhile, Penny (Sidra Niazi) has left her husband, yet again, and has come to stay with Ahmed Saryab. Will he accept her this time? Or will the warnings Husna heard from her teacher, stating that Ahmed Saryab is a bad man who will use her and destroy her life, ring true for Penny?
Adnan Siddiqui is the heart and soul of “Khusbho Mein Basay Khat” as Ahmed Saryab, a flirt and a man who has surrounded himself with many women – and yet, his desire never appears to be satisfied. There’s little to criticize about this show. For those who are used to action-packed shows may be disappointed with this one, but for those who love meaningful conversations, grim reality and beautiful people will fall for this tale. A story which highlights the fragility of human relationships, how the mirage of “love” fades quickly for a self-absorbed personality and how the lives of those around such characters are impacted in the long run. There are many stories which have yet to open up yet, such as Zainab Qayyum’s role as Jahan Ara’s mother as we can see she has a past with Saryab herself. Much is left to unfold, but we are not in any hurry – the journey through this story is beautiful.