“Kuch Ankahi” is one of those feel-good dramas that transport you into a different time period – and yet, the storyline is very much set in the present day and covers prevalent topics. Starring Sajal Aly, Bilal Abbas Khan, Mira Sethi, Mohammed Ahmed, Irsa Ghazal, Vaneeza Ahmed, Babar Ali, Adnan Samad Khan, Sheheryar Munawar, Asma Abbas, Ali Safina, Qudsia Ali and others, the show has been written by Mohammed Ahmed himself and directed by Nadeem Baig. With Samiya and Saif now married, Aaliyah and Salman’s relationship growing and Agha Ji’s property issues hanging in the lurch, episode 13 pushes the storyline forward.
In episode 13, Agha Ji (Mohammad Ahmed) now feels backed against a wall with his siblings openly sending threats regarding the family home. While Agha Ji’s father gave him the home, he never put it in writing – and his sibling are taking advantage of the fact that Agha Ji does not have sons. This is a tough situation to be in and while Agha Ji does not get along with Sofia (Vaneeza Ahmed), she is his one sibling who is looking out for his best interests. While he may not like hearing it, selling the home and distributing the wealth is his best way to ensure his children get their inheritance.
There’s a powerful moment between Samiya (Mira Sethi) and Saif (Ali Safina) in this episode. Samiya, frustrated at Saif’s silence when his mother makes unreasonable demands, asks Saif if he believes she’s right – and Saif, surprised, states that no one has ever asked for his opinion before. This shows the sort of environment Saif has been brought up in – and is comfortable in. Whether it’s his dominating mother (Asma Abbas) or his controlling girlfriend, Shagufta (Uroosa Siddiqui), Saif has never been the one in control and has been a follower. Here, with Samiya, he is now being given the opportunity to be an equal. Will he take her hand and be a good husband, not only for her sake, but also for his own? Or will the divorce clause in their Nikkah be one that Samiya is later forced to pursue? While Saif isn’t worthy of a sweet woman like Samiya after everything he has done and continues to do, it’s hard to not root for Saif and Samiya’s happiness in the future.
When Rafi drops the news on Salman (Bilal Abbas Khan) that he’s moving to New York City after marriage, Salman takes it as a betrayal and we begin to see the wounds underneath the surface. Salman has abandonment issues due to his father’s absence in his life. He places a lot of importance on those remaining relationships in his life and has a hard time losing them. The relationship between Aaliyah (Sajal Ali) and Salman also appears to be a genuine one, a very sweet relationship. Their relationship has progressed naturally and watching their scenes on the roof only highlights how important they’ve become for one another – without even realizing it. This is a relationship where they may have started off as enemies, but they feel comfortable confiding their worst fears to the other. While Salman is fairly open about his feelings towards Aaliyah, she still seems to be on the fence, hinting at romance taking a backseat in comparison to doing what’s best for her family. Will doing what’s best somehow lead Aaliyah to get involved with Azfar (Sheheryar Munawar)? Or will the sweet, clean-hearted boy next door win in the end? While both are attractive men, Salman is the sort of character who has won the hearts of the audience and we are rooting for him. Bilal Abbas Khan is so lovable in this role.
The great thing about “Kuch Ankahi” is its simplicity. These stories are not over-the-top or unrealistic, rather they are the sort of stories one could hear about the next door neighbor. From financial struggles to property disputes to relationship issues, these are all a part of life that we can relate to. Deepak is another character who adds to this with his desire to move past his trauma and educate himself. The sequences with Deepak preparing for his school test are adorable, the entire family pitching in to ensure he does his best. “Kuch Ankahi” continues to be a sweet, endearing watch, particularly now that the focus is more balanced and isn’t so heavily focused on Saif’s love triangle.