“Aakhir Kab Tak” moves from Sundays to Mondays, starting our work week off with quality content. Starring Ushna Shah, Adeel Hussain, Srha Asghar, Haroon Shahid, Shahood Alvi, Javeria Abbasi, Gul E Rana and other talented actors, “Aakhir Kab Tak” has been written by Radain Shah and directed by Syed Ali Raza Usama. This is a strong show that tackles many subjects, including sexual assault, but is, more than anything, a tale of women empowerment and how women can rise above their circumstances.
In episode 12, Fajar (Srha Asghar) and Saim’s (Haroon Shahid) marriage is growing stronger, something which has happened over time and in a natural way. Fajar now feels love and respect for Saim thanks to his patience and his care towards her treatment. Unfortunately, Fajar and Saim’s marriage takes ten steps back again when, while on an outing with Saim, Fajar spots Bushra and regresses into her previous scared state. Simply seeing Bushra is enough to trigger Fajar and bring back all the terrifying memories associated with her assault – and considering Saim is unaware of the assault, he is unable to help Fajar. Haroon Shahid and Srha Asghar are playing their roles nicely, Fajar and Saim’s relationship and its progression feeling natural. Saim is truly the ideal husband, loving, patient and supportive. But it’s now becoming unfair for the truth to be hidden from Saim. Will Fajar realize that she should trust her husband? And how will Saim react?
Noor (Ushna Shah) finally gets a love story of her own when Nasir (Adeel Hussain) has an immediate interest in her. His brother Sameer (also Noor’s friend) cutely teases Nasir about Noor, also indicating what a good girl Noor is. Nasir, on his part, puts an elaborate story in place to impress Noor by having her factory manager sing his praises. What is entertaining about this character is that he isn’t a straight-and-arrow sort of cop as would have been expected. Rather, he’s someone who takes bribes, enforces the power he holds as a cop and knows how to work the system to his advantage. Noor is a good girl, but is also strong-willed and would need a partner who can hold their own next to her. Will Noor be a good match for him? We will have to wait and see, but Adeel Hussain is enjoyable to watch as Nasir so far.
Noor has, thanks to Nasir, managed to save the factory from destruction and is back on track to fixing her father’s business. This, however, is infuriating for the extended family – particularly Basim and her grandmother. Still, Noor not only pushes forward, but also encourages her mother to utilize this situation, get on her own two feet and take charge of the household. Who is left to order her around? The way Noor puts her mother in her place and forces her to recognize the mistakes she has been making is an applause-worthy moment. She says this out of frustration, sure, but also out of love for her mother, a woman who has always deserved better. Ushna Shah and Javeria Abbasi are both great in this scene together.
Ushna Shah is a natural performer and its her performance that stands out the most this week as Noor fights not only for her family, but for her own future. It will be entertaining to watch Noor elevate the factory to new heights and force her entire family, including her father, to eat their words. Fajar’s storyline remains a strong pull as viewers root for Fajar to come clean to Saim and confide in him. “Aakhir Kab Tak” is a show that deserves more praise as it’s attempting to tell a story that needs to be heard.
