"The Incident"

*Late submission 

“The incident” is one of the most significant and dramatically intense scenes in Humsafar. It serves as a turning point in the plot, where Khirad and Asher equation changes and the real ‘villians’ are brought into light.

Analyzing the setting and context it was set in it could be argued that audiences were prepared by it because Khirad was entering “danger zone” without covering her head. She still has her dupatta. But she isn’t “properly” covered. 

It is also significant that the incident takes place in kitchen which is a symbolic of a matriarchal structure (which paves way for the rise of the matriarch in the drama in the next scene).  Not only that but is shows the apparent ‘domesticity’ of Khirad who conforms to the role of this ‘ideal bahu’ she takes the responsibility of cooking without considering time. Not once does she leave the kitchen or ask Zarina (who was seen in the kitchen before) for advice or help of any kind. Khirad’s role here is pretty much same to that of domestic help. Her domain is the kitchen. Maybe reinforcing the class difference she shares with the rest.

Indeed the position Khirad and Khizer are found in is quite compromising but it depicts societal value especially with regard to the use of dupatta. Khirad’s dupatta (read izzat) is in the hands of another man. A man who is not her mehram.

This ties in with the narrative of “izzat” which Farida keeps repeating in the next scene.

Farida: “Tum yahan… akeli Khizer ke saath iss halat mei. Yeh Manzar dekhne se pehle hum mar kyun nahi gaye they ?.............Mere bête ke mun pe kaalak malne se pehle koi SHARAM nahi ayi thi ? Bhul gayi kisi ki biwi ho ? HUMARE GHAR ki IZZAT ho.  Pata nahi kab se university ka dhong macha kar HUMARI IZZAT ko khaak mei mila rahi ho tum ?........................Kya nahi diya tha mere bête ne tum mohabbat,  IZZAT, azadi.

This is hugely problematic as time and again women are considered representative of “ghar’s izzat”. Their bodies are used as a means of dominance which is either regulated by the patriarch or the societal expectation of how they should be. Thus dupatta is of immence importance. 

For this apparent ‘sin’ Khirad is mentally and physically abused for it. Farida shouts at Khizer too but she slaps Khirad which is absurd. The show makes no comment regarding the prevalence of domesitic violence in our society. So depicting such a scene says it’s okay to hit a woman because if you are  innocent good things will happen eventually. That message is problematic on so many levels.

*mind the picture quality 

After she is slapped Asher is definitely shocked but he becomes passive and almost unresponsive. He had to protect Khirad, take care of her as he was mature (echoing Baseerat’s dialogue) but he chooses not to respond in any which way. Showing that even if he had a problem with domestic violence he never really raised his voice.

My favourite line of the scene (if I wish I was saying):

“Khirad khuda ke liye iss dunya ke logon se daarna chor do”

Khirad is portrayed as a pitiful, helpless creature who needs a man in her life to protect her. I mean what kind of definition of an “ideal” woman is the show portraying ? She changes herself completely to fit the requirements of her husband. A husband who claims to love her but does not take a stand when he needs to. I mean Khirad please take a stand for your individual self.