Dhoop Kinarey vs Humsafar: Marriage

One of the main differences between the women of Humsafar and the women of Dhoop Kinare is the manner in which they understand love and marriage and what it means for them to find companionship in a man.

Comparing the manner in which Sheena and Sara handled unrequited love and rejection, it is interesting to see how Sheena accepts that Ahmer will never feel the emotions that she feels for him. In episode fifteen, while inviting Ahmer to her wedding she admits that it is better to stop chasing and living a dream and to accept the hand of a man who is so willing to provide her with companionship. She also admits that at least someone wants her the way she wants Ahmer and it is better to be wanted this way if not to get the one she wants. Sara was in a very similar situation where Khizer wanted to marry her and was ready to get an American education so he could be worthy of her. Instead of appreciating his love for her, she shows her selfish wishes and continues to pursue Ashar’s attention despite his marriage. Moreover, Sheena voices certain comforts of marriage which do not involve love or passion, but instead refer to material advantages. Resigning to her fate of marrying Nasir Jamal, she confesses that at least life will be easy with a huge house, a fancy car, and jewelry. Sara, on the other hand, is fixated on her love.

It is not only the men though who seem to have a different understanding of marriage in both the dramas. For Ashar it was a necessity and perhaps for this reason, he never understood Sara’s love. Likewise, Sara only understood marriage as a result of passion, and not as a situation of compromise. For Ahmer, regardless of passion, he believes marriage means companionship and his friend tells him as well that he needs someone who will make him laugh and drive away the depression and loneliness from his house.  In Humsafar, marriage becomes a crude institution which categorizes people into class, wealth and education. It almost dehumanizes women, classifying whether they are good enough for certain men or not. The concept of companionship and compatibility do not seem to exist.