The story so far:

What does one do when ones own parents are engaged in a game of one-upmanship, placing ones freedom and right to choose in jeopardy?

This is the central dilemma faced by Zulaikha (Maya Ali) as main protagonist Yousuf's (Imran Abbas) love interest in Mera Naam Yousuf Hai.

Read also: Review: 'Mera Naam Yousuf Hai' is off to a smooth start

In the first episode, the 'Yousuf' in Mera Naam Yousuf Hai bumps into Zulaikha on a train and it's pretty much love at first sight. The problem is that Zulaikha's parents are already lining up suitors for her and the families aren't quite a match.

In episodes two through five, the story has maintained a pretty good pace. It also manages to bring into its fold a supporting cast which is given ample screen time which helps move the story along. The latest additions: Bushra an older divorcee hoping to marry Zulaikhas father; Madiha Yousufs friends sister (who also has the hots for Yousuf), and Tony another old school fellow and fortuitously Zulaikhas neighbour. These characters all have important roles to play in unfolding of the plot.

Zulaikhas father (Waseem Abbas) promises her hand in marriage to his sisters son, Imran Mugeez, while Zulaikhas mother, Afia Begum (Hina Bayat Khwaja) makes her own move by asking her sister Kulsoom to show up with her son, Ali Hamza, to woo Zulaikha. Clearly, both parents are trying to get their way without much thought to their sacrificial lamb of a daughter.

Meanwhile, our dreamer Yousuf is hopelessly in love and trying to get his (as yet one-sided) message of mohabbat across to his lady love through various channels by showing up at her door himself, asking his childhood friend Madiha to convey his feelings, requesting a meeting and finally, throwing caution to the wind and landing up in Zulaikhas room to confess his love and stay (or at least stall) Zulaikhas impending nuptials (groom TBD).

For now the one-sided love stories are adding up Yousufs love for Zulaikha, Madihas love for Yousuf and heck, even Tonys youthful I love you scrawled on Madihas school notebooks! Madiha, played with charm by Mansha Pasha, is ever hopeful that Yousuf will come around. She has been hopelessly in love with him since their school days and is willing to help him in anyway, despite her own heartbreak.

Zulaikha is well aware of her parents' jung, and isnt above playing her parents against each other. Even though her mother says otherwise, it is a sobering fact that even in 2015, there are still enough fathers 'joh betiyon ki saas keech lete hain'. In some way Noor Mohammed, Zulaikhas father, still has control over his daughters one who is not allowed to complete her education and the other who must marry as per his will.

Even though Yousuf has made his way into her dreams in a great scene with their roles reversed, Zulaikha still has to make up her mind. She seems strangely disinterested in the fact that she is about to get married in weeks time, no less, to a person not of her choosing. She wont stand her ground and actually say no but remains hopeful that her mother will fix things.

Originally posted here:
The story so far: