When I started watching Dhoop Kinaare, I perceived Fazeelat to be a part of Zoya’s family, her aunt or maybe even grandmother. Her position as the housemaid, as of someone belonging to a lower class, hardly comes across effectively in the drama. As a result, I ended up equating Fazeelat to a figure somewhat similar to Mrs. Norris. She is the “anchor” who is keeping the family in check.

Unlike Lady Bertram who is just useless in life, Zoya’s mother has a reason for not looking after the household: her death. Therefore, there is a need for a substitute maternal figure attending to the domestic duties, enter Mrs. Norris and Fazeelat respectively. Not only these women tend to the running of the household, they also ensure that the social structure is maintained.

We see Zoya’s Baba as somewhat of a laid back patriarch, as compared to Anji’s Daddy. Baba himself does not police Zoya and that responsibility, as a result, falls onto Fazeelat. Not once but twice in the same episode Fazeelat says to Zoya, “Tum apne Baba ki mohabbat ka zaroorat se zyada faida utha rahi ho.” Moreover, when Zoya and Anji plan to go see the house Zoya has inherited, Baba is completely unaware of this plan. Fazeelat, on the other hand, not only is cognizant of the plan but also tags along to ensure that the girls remain in check.

Fazeelat ends up ensuring the power structure within the household remains intact. Even if the patriarch doesn’t overtly police the household, there are still mechanisms in place that try to maintain the hierarchy.