“Saraab” has reached a point where it has become emotionally difficult to watch. The story has been written by Edison Idrees and has been directed by Mohin Talat. “Saraab” stars Sonya Hussyn, Sami Khan, Nazish Jehengir, Ghana Ali, Kinza Malik and others in supporting roles. This is a strong show due to its excellent performances from its lead pair and the wonderful scenes between the two, highlighting a young woman’s mental health falling apart as she’s supported by her husband – but pushed into further illness by her own family.
Episode 25 continues where episode 24 left off with Hoorain (Sonya Hussyn) at home with Namal (Nazish Jehangir) as the rest of the family stays with their father at the hospital. Namal uses this time to her advantage and spends the next several hours planting fears in Hoorain’s mind and playing truly evil mindgames with this already ill young girl. It’s heart-breaking to see how a family member could be so evil with their own, but Namal is proving to be exactly that – evil, a woman who will destroy her own sister entirely simply to get the man she “loves.” At this point, one can only hope that Sufiyaan, Warda’s (Ghana Ali) horrible brother-in-law, gets his way and does marry Namal, simply to get her out of Hoorain’s hair! Namal continues her brainwashing by telling Hoorain her in-laws are performing black magic on her. After Hoorain’s father is stable, the family arrives back home only to be exposed to Hoorain’s complete mental breakdown, one caused by Namal, when Hoorain charges at Asfandyar with a glass bottle, only to be intercepted by his father. This forces Asfandyar to make a very serious decision, one that he has never wanted – the decision to place Hoorain in a mental facility.
It may seem repetitive, but at this point, there are two actors who are keeping this show at the level that it is. “Saraab” is overrun by family conspiracies and illogical plotting, but Sami Khan and Sonya Hussyn are the shining stars each week. It’s their acting and their chemistry that keeps the show in the slot of “quality content,” otherwise there’s certainly a lot of plot points that are not palatable. Sami Khan’s performance as Asfandyar is outstanding week after week, but this week in particular, it’s heart-wrenching to see Asfandyar struggle with the decision of allowing Hoorain to go to the mental hospital. He is dying inside at the thought of this, unable to let go of his love or loyalty and, even though he’s not allowed to be with her, he sits outside the hospital in solidarity. Asfandyar is a character who deals with a lot, considering he’s a newlywed, but despite his actions and sometimes dishonest moments, he is a character who is truly lovable and one that viewers want to see have a happy ending with his love. Sami Khan’s eyes do all the talking in this episode, expressing the weight of his decisions and the burden he’s feeling on his heart. Of course, Sonya Hussyn is no less, carrying the show on her shoulders. Hoorain is a very difficult, complicated character and despite making some very terrible choices in this episode (like trying to murder Asfandyar), the way Sonya has played this role has made Hoorain one that the audience wants to protect. She needs to be protected from her terrible family, a family that has pushed her to this point and continues to have zero sympathy for her condition and her mental health. Sonya simply shines and this is another feather in her cap that seals her brilliance as an actress.
Saraab Episode 22: Sonya Hussyn’s Hoorain Grows Suspicious of Asfandyar and Namal’s Relationship
Overall, episode 25 is a strong one performance wise and has set the stage for what’s to come. There’s a moment at the end of the episode where Asfandyar is thinking on a prediction made by an astrologer that he has two wives in his fate. This is an uncomfortable reveal, because does this mean we will have to suffer through Asfandyar marrying Namal? Or will Asfandyar emerge as a true hero when he completely brushes aside all this plotting, planning and manipulation and stands by Hoorain, the woman he proclaims to love so much? We will have to wait and see.