“Pehli Si Muhabbat” has been well-written throughout its run, however the story has been dragged on for several weeks before the leap, only now picking up the pace post-leap. Starring Shehryar Munawar, Maya Ali, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, Nausheen Shah, Hina Afridi and many others, the story has been written by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Anjum Shahzad. This week, there isn’t much happening in terms of action. Akram (Hassan Sheheryar Yasin) and Ishrat (Nausheen Shah) worry about Ahmed’s wedding now that they’re aware of the Rakshi (Maya Ali) connection. While the two still hope to get Ahmed married according to his happiness, the worry is on whether Aslam (Shehryar Munawar) will be able to handle this encounter – and more importantly, whether his marriage will survive this blow. Bushra (Hina Afridi) is an intelligent woman and recognizes that this marriage cannot happen with Rakshi and Aslam behaving this way and so she takes matters into her own hands and takes Aslam to Rakshi’s house to bring the ex-lovers face to face.
The episode itself isn’t eventful as even Aslam and Rakshi meet at the very end. However, there’s one major takeaway that the viewer is left with at the end and that is simply that Bushra is an angel. Bushra is a character who has been there for Aslam through it all. She has taken the blow of a broken engagement for Aslam’s happiness and, after he decided to marry her, she accepted his feelings for Rakshi and recognized her own place in his life. Everything aside, she has been a wonderful wife to Aslam and a loving daughter-in-law as well, along with the mother of Aslam’s child. Is there really any excuse for Aslam to jump in and try to make a dead relationship work again? Yes, one cannot forget their first love – because it’s their first love. That does not mean one cannot move on and find happiness and, quite honestly, watching Aslam brooding over Rakshi all these years after all the turmoil she and her family put him through years earlier is difficult to digest. Brooding over Zainab’s death? Of course – that’s an entirely different situation. But for Rakshi and Aslam’s relationship to be painted as this undying love…..their baggage has been so severe, is It even logical to root for them anymore?
Honestly, Rakshi had been the weak character throughout their relationship, a young girl without the backbone to stand up for herself or even admit to her love. While Aslam constantly took a stand for Rakshi Rakshi always hid in fear – and Aslam suffered many losses because of her behavior, including his own sister. However, now in the present, it’s Aslam who comes across as a fool, despite Shehryar Munawar’s wonderful performance. Aslam has everything going for him – a loving wife, a beautiful daughter, a good job and a united family that now supports him and cares for his happiness…..and here he is, still promising Bushra that he’ll “keep his word” instead of telling her that he loves her. What are these warped notions of love that our society has? Yes, you can love more than one person in life and yes, one can move on without being seen as a “betrayer.” At this point, the story has blocked Rakshi against a wall now that she’s a widow with no potential options on the horizon – except Aslam…..a married man with a child. Will Rakshi go on to become Aslam’s second wife? And is that justified in the name of being his “first love” or is this a serious injustice to Bushra, the woman who has stood by him through it all?
