Yun Tu Hai Pyar Bohut – The Finale: Affan Waheed’s Zain Will Be Remembered

In the finale, the audience is treated to a “double episode.” This is great, because it allows more room for the show to wind up – and yet, this is a show that could have easily had two more episodes in order to allow for a more natural, less rushed wrap-up. The finale comes across as rushed, cramming too many stories in, jumping to tie up all loose ends. In the finale, we see the tiff between Aima (Hira Mani) and Zain (Affan Waheed) grow as Zain has also had enough with Aima’s accusations and mistrust. The two break off their relationship. Later, Aima receives news of Maqbool’s death and Deena collapses on hearing this, winding up in the hospital. It’s here that Aima discovers Zain’s real relationship to Sarwan and his connection to Maqbool and Deena. This is an emotional reunion for Zain, happy to see Deena while heartbroken upon hearing of Maqbool’s death – which is made even worse when Deena passes away as well after meeting Sarwan. The Maqbool and Deeba story is one that viewers genuinely wish had a happy ending – and yet, their story was meant to represent those in society to suffer at the hands of “honor.” There are many Maqbools and Deenas out there in the world and this story gives the audience a window into what they endure. Fawad Jalal and Hina Chaudhry, who play Maqbool and Deena, both deserve a round of applause for their performances.

While Aima and Zain finally have their happy ending, one that has been earned through life’s ups and downs, it’s Nazi’s story that leaves an odd taste in the mouth. Nazi, despite her love for Faakhir, winds up pregnant and makes the decision to stay with Rehan…..and her entire family happily supports this decision, as if she’s doing something great. Yes, of course, now there’s a child involved, but Nazi’s marriage was done under questionable circumstances. This is not a question of whether Nazi made the right decision – rather, it’s a question as to what the writer was thinking even writing this pregnancy into the story? Would a happy ending for Nazi and Faakhir have been so difficult? Rehan’s wife simply accepts Rehan’s choices and decides to focus on her work – which is fine, but why did this even have to be the outcome at all? This doesn’t sit well.

And then, even more odd, is how Sonia (Sabeena Syed) is told off by her father and Roohi (Nadia Hussain) is told to either move into an old house or leave with Sonia. What sort of decision is this? Why does Mohsin (Javed Sheikh) have to mistreat his 2nd wife in order to make it up to his first? Can Mohsin not afford to buy his first wife and daughters a new home? So Roohi basically leaves Pakistan as a to-be divorced woman while Sonia is told to shape up and return as a “good human being.” Is it that simple? There is a wonderful moment in the finale where Sonia continuously harasses Zain to be with her and Zain, simply fed up of her antics, asks Sonia to get out of his life never to return. It’s rare that our drama heroes speak with such clarity and fight off the advances of scheming women with this much dignity and honesty – and this is why Affan Waheed’s Zain has been the true winning character of this show.

Hira Mani and Affan Waheed’s pairing is one that has been loved by many drama viewers, but their connection as Aima and Zain has been beautiful – a couple kept apart by their own life circumstances and not by any overly interfering external forces. Their battle has been internal – and that’s why their reunion is so heartfelt. “Yun Tu Hai Pyar Bohut” wouldn’t be called a classic years from now, nor can it be called a show that will stand the test of time. There have been a lot of melodramatic moments and this drama is far from perfect with some over-the-top characters like Roohi and Sonia and a rushed ending. Still, this has been a thoroughly enjoyable ride and, to put it simply, it is an entertaining show. This will be remembered as one of Affan Waheed’s best characters and a show that genuinely deserved more praise than what it has received.