One of the best-written shows on television, “Wehshi” continues to keep us captivated despite the current misery playing out on our screens. And yet, this is misery of a different sort. While we are used to watching tragedy in Pakistani dramas, this is tragedy that cuts deep and shows the long-term effects of emotional abuse and neglect. “Wehshi” stars Khushhal Khan, Komal Meer, Nadia Khan, Babar Ali and others in central roles while the screenplay has been written by Shumaila Zaidi and directed by Iqbal Hussain.
In episode 24, Sobia (Komal Meer) has now agreed to marry Aamir. Sobia is as much a fascinating character as she is detestable. Sobia may not be a lot of things, but one thing she is…….is well written. Sobia has been ambitious since childhood, always wanting the better things in life and aspiring for greatness to remove herself from her toxic, less than middle-class background. And while she has made it as a doctor, she wants much more. While she initially fixated on Asif (Khushhal Khan) and fell in love, realizing he was an adopted son came as a big blow for her. It’s interesting that Sobia had been so unaware of Asif’s past, but this understanding changed things. Sobia may not be outwardly a bad person and it seems as though she genuinely did love him in her own way, but small irritations began to creep in with Asif’s demands and moments of being, what she sees as, unreasonable. And while Asif is out of sight, Aamir is actively pursuing her as a foreign graduate with a bright future and family wealth. Adding to this is Sobia’s cowardly demeanor in terms of confrontation and telling others exactly what she thinks. One could almost call Sobia indecisive or a people pleaser, unable to tell Aamir no, unable to let Asif down completely and even stringing her cousin Talaal along.
At the present juncture, Sobia deserves Aamir, a man who only wants things because he can have them. The way Aamir pursues Sobia is downright creepy, almost stalker-like, without really even giving her an option to get to know him or declare her interest in anyone else. On the other end, Asif struggles to make his peace with the fact that he may be losing Sobia, realizing that she has changed in attitude. Asif is the character we feel the most for as he struggles to pacify himself and calm his own anxieties towards his relationship, a relationship he is working hard for in an attempt to make himself worthy of Sobia (ironically, Talaal is doing the same thing).
Komal Meer does a wonderful job playing the playing-games Sobia, but it’s truly Khushhal Khan who steals the show as Asif. Each and every expression is on point, depicting exactly what Asif is feeling on the inside and struggling with as an individual. Khushhal Khan has such a wonderful future ahead of him. Credit also must be given to Nadia Khan in this episode as Muneera realizes how Asif’s world will crumble with Sobia’s deception. There’s an almost laugh-out-loud moment as Muneera throws her “gift” at Sobia in anger. And yet, it’s eye-opening for Muneera to hear Sobia argue back, making it clear that Asif’s state is not because of Sobia, rather Muneera’s weakness and inability to defend her son. And so Muneera vows to do exactly that…..but how? By arranging his marriage to her niece? How will this solve anything? Muneera is doing what she has always done – finding back roads to happiness, a way to keep Asif safe without actually listening to him and caring for him. It will be interesting to see how things move forward when Asif arrives back home, but one thing is certain….more heartbreak is in store for Asif.