“Mere Humsafar” has been a great hit during its run so far, not only within Pakistan but also across the border. Farhan Saeed and Hania Amir’s Hamza and Hala have won hearts due to their root-worthy pair. Supported by actors like Wasim Abbas, Saba Hameed, Samina Ahmed, Zoya Nasir, Omer Shahzad and others, the story has been written by Saira Raza and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed. While the current track has become frustrating, it’s Hamza and Hala’s pair that continues to keep viewers hooked.
In episode 24, Shah Jahan (Saba Hameed) finds herself caught up in her own manipulations when Khurram (Omer Shahzad) refuses to recognize her and states that he has never met Hala (Hania Amir) before. This leaves Shah Jahan in a lurch, not only in front of Sofia (Tara Mehmood), Sameen (Zoya Nasir) and the rest of the family, but also in front of her own son, Hamza (Farhan Saeed). And while it’s very satisfying watching Shah Jahan shamed and scorned by her family, particularly Rumi and Raees (Wasim Abbas), and accused of losing her marbles…..it’s also sad to see Hala’s reaction to all of this.
Hala is forced to lie about not knowing Khurram and that guilt has begun to eat her up inside. This is made even more difficult for Hala after Khurram makes it clear that he’s using this moment for his own benefit and his long-term goal is to destroy Hala. Hala is in such a terrible place, as she is now lying and doing the very thing she never wanted to do in her marriage. Hala has never had that kind of love and protection and now that she has finally found it in Hamza, she is putting everything on the line by concealing the truth from him. But can she really be honest about her past, considering how everyone reacted (including Hamza) only moments earlier? Hala is an innocent and she has never really done anything wrong, but the household she has grown up in is the very definition of toxic. While her ideal escape would have been to marry out of the family, she has wound up married to the pride and joy of the family and now feels her impending doom closing in on her. It’s difficult not to feel horrible for Hala…and truly despise Shah Jahan for what she is putting her daughter in law (and niece) through.
Farhan Saeed has been the heart and soul of the show as Hamza, though he revealed recently in an interview that Hamza was written as a much more toxic character. This is not surprising, given the toxic characters in that household who he has grown up with. Would Hamza really be much different, especially seeing his mother abused by his father and grandmother? Still, it’s wonderful to see how Farhan and the team worked together to improve Hamza and, despite his many flaws, make him a character we can care about and admire. Farhan Saeed’s performance is excellent. Hania Amir does have moments of overacting in this episode, but she has done a great job as Hala as well. Hala is the real “victim” in this show and it’s so important for viewers to connect with her and want a happy future for her – and we do. At this point in the story, while it’s very enjoyable to watch, it’s becoming tedious for viewers to watch Hala’s misery and wish so desperately that she would tell Hamza the truth.