Atonement and salvation

o err is human but not all erring people get to atone for their sins in a satisfactory manner. Many live long guilty lives looking for an opportunity to right the wrongs to which they have been a party. The defining question in Dar-i-Nijaat, by Umera Ahmad, is whether its protagonists - Zamil and Zaryab – will get such an opportunity and recognise and seize it. The play is currently making waves on the small screen and raising the bar with each episode. Umera is a prolific writer, known for introducing layered, multi-dimensional characters. Aap ki Izzat, another play written by her and on air currently, which stars Ahsan Khan and Urwa Hocane, is also ticking all the boxes for all the right reasons. Dar-i-Nijaat has Zaryab (Durr-e-Fishan Saleem), Zamil (Nameer Khan) and Abu Bakar (Sheharyar Munawar) in the lead roles. Zaryab, a spoilt brat, is obsessed with Zamil. She is willing to sacrifice her career for him. She has been offered admission at Harvard. However, Zamil, a family friend, has not made the grade and has to join another university. The restlessness experienced by the Gen-Z characters is expertly portrayed. Zamil and Zaryab both belong to affluent families. When Zamil does not make the grade for admission into an Ivy League institution, the peer pressure and social expectations are overwhelming. He seeks solace in drugs and alcohol. The anxiety and self-doubt threaten to destroy him. When Abu Bakar enters the equation, the anxiety and the tension escalate. Zaryab's grandmother Kishwar Jahan, played by Saba Hamid, has a childhood friend, a role essayed by Sania Saeed. Her son Abu Bakar is a cultured, refined and educated. He is also a thorough gentleman. His presence and self-confidence make Zamil feel extremely insecure. When he finds out that Kishwar wants her granddaughter to marry him, his insecurity and self-doubt grow further and he starts nurturing an unhealthy obsession with him. The anxiety and restlessness experienced by Gen-Z has been expertly portrayed by the two protagonists, Zamil and Zaryab. Both belong to affluent families. Zaryab does not like Abu Bakar and has eyes only for Zamil. To prove her love and loyalty, she spends two nights with him, after which he mysteriously disappears. When his parents question her, she feigns ignorance. Privately she realises that she might have gone too far to make her point. When he resurfaces, it comes out that he had been away on a preaching mission. This is a surprise for his lady love. Umera Ahmad's plays often feature references to religion. Here, the viewers wonder whether Zamil will now start seeking comfort in religion and give up worldly pleasures that have apparently failed to give him the peace of mind he craves. The play is an excellent production that holds a mirror to the society. It forces the viewers to think about deep issues and question their values. Umera keeps raising the bar with each episode. The script is excellent. So is direction and acting by key characters. No wonder the play is getting great TRPs. What does the future hold for the three young characters? Will Zamil immerse himself in religion and drift away from Zaryab? How will Abu Bakar influence their lives? He has been portrayed as a devout Muslim, who balances his religious and worldly obligations. He is the perfect foil to the other two. Abu Bakar appears to have his life sorted. He seems to know exactly what he wants. The self-assurance he exudes, undermines Zamil's confidence and aggravates his insecurity. The dialogues appear natural and easy to relate to. Although there is a generous smattering of English, it does not seem awkward or out of place, considering the way the characters have been crafted. The writer is an educationist. She can be reached at [email protected].