Jama Taqseem Episode 11 & 12

The most recent episodes of Jama Taqseem were an emotional rollercoaster, especially as Qais navigated the mayhem surrounding him. Talha Chahour continues to flourish in this capacity. Last week, we watched him pulled between his family and his niece Sidra's safety, facing his nephew Zeeshan, and seeing the toxic environment in his house. This week continued off just where it left off, with Qais saying his goodbyes to his parents before moving in with Laila. Talha gave a nuanced and profound performance here. The way his voice cracked slightly as he glanced at his father and inquired, "Abba ji?" — without an answer — before turning to his mother for consolation, was heartbreakingly beautiful. His whisper to her, full of optimism yet laced with regret, truly touched me.

Setting up the new house with Laila was another delight. You could see Qais' feelings all over his face: remorse, nostalgia, and hope. Even simple tasks like opening a door, inspecting a room, or recalling recollections of his parents at night were extremely intricate. A single tear streaming down his cheek during a peaceful time said louder than words could. He even appeared somewhat annoyed over breakfast, which felt a little too soon. I get that he misses his family, but the way he acted over food seemed a touch over the top. And every time he mentioned missing his bhabis, I couldn't believe it—he'd never had such a tight relationship with them before. Poor Laila has to deal with all of this while managing his mood swings and her own adjustment to the new environment.

Meanwhile, Zeeshan is gradually realizing how much worry and suffering he has caused Sidra, and Qais has clearly taken her protection seriously. I enjoyed witnessing how important Sidra is to her Taya; his protective instincts are endearing. Unfortunately, the Tayi remains as icy as ever, stating that she had no prior intentions to marry her son to Sidra, but now intends to do so only to control Zeeshan. Rashida is almost sold on this scheme, but Majeed keeps bringing her back to reality, putting Zeeshan out when he deserves it. Nighat now has a good cause to want a separate residence, which adds to the family's conflict.

The scenes of Laila and Qais organizing their new house were adorable. It was pleasant to see Laila sleep comfortably after a long day of unloading furniture, hanging paintings, and putting everything in their proper places. You could sense the ease and peace of the area they were creating together, their own little refuge.

At the same time, Rafiq Sahib's "house of cards" is gradually falling at his original home. Hameed and Majeed are frequently at strife, and Qais, who is already emotionally weary, has to deal with his parents' indifference. When he attempts to visit them, his father refuses to touch him, and Nighat forms a barrier between him and his mother. I couldn't help but wish he had at least hugged his mother once, but he went without seeing her, which was devastating.

Then followed the scenario at home, where Qais realizes that Laila has not completed all of the domestic duties. Yes, the house was disorganized, breakfast was not ready, and the housekeeping was not ideal — but Qais' response was extraordinary. Laila had definitely been ill, spending the day in a haze and unable to manage things. Maybe she is pregnant? That might explain her sleepiness; otherwise, she would have done some of the duties. Nonetheless, his frustrations — from belts to socks to shoes — were quite realistic! And when he complained about missing his bhabis and their lachaydar parathas, Laila had to intervene and give him a reality check before withdrawing to her chamber. The door's locking was arguable, but it created for some very lovely sequences, especially when Qais realized his error, knocked, yelled her name, and ultimately texted her "Sorry!"

By the next morning, everything seemed lighter. Qais prepared breakfast for Laila, and it was a simple but wonderful gesture that reminded us how much their relationship relies on these small gestures of kindness. And the incident in which he licked the jam knife clean before nonchalantly setting it on the table? I laughed aloud.

Overall, these episodes effectively conveyed Qais' inner conflict: he is caught between his familial duty and his love for Laila, navigating both grief and hope. Talha's nuanced reactions, along with the personal and lighthearted moments with Mawra's Laila, elevate each scene. You can feel both the weight of his obligations and the sensitive, real relationship he has with Laila. These episodes were about more than simply drama; they were about love, adjustment, and finally figuring out how to live together under turbulence.