Episode 3

There are some drama episodes where everything explodes. Then there are episodes like Dar-e-Nijaat Episode 3, where almost nothing huge happens, yet somehow everyone manages to make their lives considerably more complicated. And honestly, that is what makes this episode so entertaining.

The third episode takes the small tensions established earlier and starts turning them into something much more interesting. Zaryab is emotional, Zamil is jealous, Abu Bakar is suspiciously calm, and Grandma is somehow always one conversation away from discovering everyone’s business. At this point, I am convinced the walls in this house have better information than the characters do. Dar-e-Nijaat is written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Saqib Khan, with Durefishan Saleem, Nameer Nawaz Khan and Sheheryar Munawar leading the story.

The Episode Starts With a Very Uncomfortable Family Meeting

Episode 3 picks up with Zaryab’s mother confronting Grandma in front of her guests. And by “confronting,” I mean she essentially decides that this is the perfect time to have a family dispute in front of Abu Bakar and his mother. Awkward doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Abu Bakar, being Abu Bakar, eventually apologizes to Zaryab’s mother and to Zaryab because he didn’t know she already had plans. Once he apologizes, Zaryab’s mother realizes that perhaps her daughter has turned a very small misunderstanding into a much bigger issue.

Zaryab, however, isn’t having it. She gets angry with her mother for not taking her side. And this is where the episode starts showing us something important about Zaryab. She isn’t necessarily a bad person. She is simply young, emotional and still immature when it comes to handling conflict. She wants her mother to say, “You’re right.” Her mother instead says, “Maybe you’re overreacting.” And Zaryab absolutely does not want to hear that.

Zaryab and Zamil: Welcome to the “Why Are We Talking About Abu Bakar Again?” Club

Naturally, Zaryab later discusses the whole situation with Zamil. And somehow, a minor family disagreement turns into a conversation about Abu Bakar. Because apparently, Abu Bakar has become the main character in Zamil’s head. Zamil admits that he feels Grandma is giving Abu Bakar too much importance. Hmm. Jealousy?

I think we may have found our first major red flag. Zamil starts asking questions about Abu Bakar. What does he do? Where has he seen him? Who exactly is he? Zaryab doesn’t really know much about him either. Then comes the interesting part: Zamil says he has seen Abu Bakar somewhere before but can’t remember where. Zaryab, perhaps trying to reassure him, basically tells him not to worry because Abu Bakar is “nobody.” Oh, Zaryab. That sentence is probably going to age terribly. She also admits that she doesn’t particularly like her grandmother’s choices when it comes to Abu Bakar. And just when the conversation gets interesting… Abu Bakar and his mother walk out and overhear them. Perfect timing. Zaryab quickly changes gears and hands them the invitation to her sister’s wedding. Nothing to see here. Please continue walking.

Abu Bakar Is Playing a Completely Different Game

One of the biggest contrasts in Episode 3 is between Abu Bakar and Zamil. After what happened, Abu Bakar tells his mother that next time he will simply wait outside the house until she is free. His reason? Someone got hurt because of him, and that doesn’t sit well with him. This is such a small scene, but it tells us a lot about Abu Bakar. He isn’t interested in proving that he was right. He isn’t interested in winning an argument. He simply doesn’t want his presence to become a source of conflict. His mother also explains that young girls aren’t always wise about these things and describes Zaryab as emotional. And suddenly the two male characters look even more different. Abu Bakar is trying to avoid the drama. Zamil is investigating it. Guess which one is making things worse?

Grandma, Religion and a Very Complicated Dinner

The family dinner sequence is another interesting part of the episode. Grandma isn’t eating, and Habib notices. He goes to her room and asks what’s wrong. Instead of turning it into another explosive confrontation, Habib handles the situation sensibly. But Grandma eventually brings religion into the conversation and blames Habib for not teaching his children properly. And I couldn’t help thinking:

Wait a minute… wasn’t Grandma supposed to be part of raising Habib too? If the children aren’t being taught properly, perhaps the responsibility isn’t entirely his. Still, the scene eventually comes back around, and Grandma returns to the dinner table. For all the tension surrounding this family, there are also moments where you can genuinely feel the affection between them. That balance is important. The show isn’t presenting the family as simply “good people” and “bad people.” They’re complicated, stubborn and occasionally ridiculous, but they clearly care about one another.

Meanwhile, Zamil Is About to Discover LinkedIn… Except It’s Facebook

Then we get one of the most entertaining parts of the episode. Zamil starts searching for Abu Bakar online. And this is where his insecurity goes into overdrive. He finds Abu Bakar’s profile. Senior Executive Engineer. Master’s degree in Engineering. Harvard University.

And I swear you can almost hear Zamil’s confidence leaving his body. Until this point, Abu Bakar was just some guy Zamil didn’t particularly like. Now? He’s an educated, successful guy with an impressive résumé who also happens to be getting attention from Grandma. That changes everything. Zamil doesn’t just dislike Abu Bakar anymore.

He feels threatened by him. And Nameer Nawaz Khan does a really good job selling that transition. The acting becomes more physical. The irritation is visible. The way Zamil reacts to Abu Bakar’s qualifications tells us far more than his dialogue does. A viewer discussing the episode also singled out Nameer’s performance as particularly effective in portraying Zamil’s insecurity and jealousy.

The Gym Scene: Zamil Has Questions

Then comes the gym. And apparently Zamil’s workout routine now includes:

• Chest.
  
• Biceps.
  
• Abu Bakar.
  
• Harvard.
  
• Abu Bakar again.

He tells Zaryab about Abu Bakar’s qualifications and asks her whether she is impressed by him. Zaryab says, essentially, Why would I be impressed? But Zamil isn’t convinced. He starts listing reasons why he doesn’t like Abu Bakar. And this is where I think the show is deliberately showing us something uncomfortable about Zamil. He is inserting a third person into his relationship with Zaryab. Abu Bakar isn’t actually doing anything to Zamil.

Zamil is doing it to himself. He’s comparing. He’s competing. He’s checking qualifications. He’s searching social media. He’s asking whether Zaryab is impressed. That’s not confidence. That’s insecurity wearing gym clothes.

Zaryab Isn’t Completely Innocent Either

At the same time, Zaryab continues to show that she isn’t particularly mature about these situations. She dismisses Abu Bakar as a nobody while simultaneously being curious enough to ask Grandma about him indirectly. Later, Grandma also gives Zaryab a lecture about her clothes when she returns from the gym. And once again, Zaryab tries to ask about Abu Bakar without actually asking about Abu Bakar. Everyone in this drama seems to have mastered the art of asking the question they don’t want to admit they are asking.

Sheheryar Munawar’s Abu Bakar Is Becoming More Interesting

Sheheryar Munawar’s performance as Abu Bakar is probably one of my favourite parts of these early episodes. What works is the restraint. While everyone else is reacting, arguing, comparing and overthinking, Abu Bakar remains relatively composed. His apology scene and conversation with his mother show someone who is thoughtful without needing to constantly announce that he is thoughtful. The character’s official description also presents him as someone shaped strongly by his mother and inclined toward reflection rather than unnecessary social gossip. That makes his contrast with Zamil even more obvious. And the more Zamil competes with him, the less Abu Bakar seems interested in competing with anyone.

Durefishan Saleem Makes Zaryab Frustrating in the Right Way

Durefishan Saleem’s Zaryab is also becoming easier to understand. She can be frustrating. She can overreact. She can be childish. But that seems intentional. Zaryab is supposed to feel like someone who has grown up in a comfortable environment where she hasn’t necessarily had to confront every difficult reality yet. So when something doesn’t go her way, she reacts emotionally. And Durefishan plays that immaturity naturally rather than turning Zaryab into a caricature. That’s important because I suspect the character has a lot of growing up to do.

And Then We Get the Sister Moment…

The episode ends on a much more emotional note. Zaryab shares a sweet moment with her sister, but the conversation takes a serious turn when her sister suggests that Zamil might be using drugs. And just when you’re processing that…

Grandma overhears the conversation. Of course she does. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Grandma overheard someone whispering from three houses away. But the ending is effective because suddenly Zamil’s behaviour throughout the episode takes on another possible meaning. Was it simply jealousy? Is something else going on? And how much does Zaryab actually know about the person she considers her closest companion? Those are much more interesting questions than the original argument that started the episode.

Final Thoughts

Episode 3 doesn’t need a gigantic twist to keep you watching. Instead, it quietly moves all the pieces around. Zaryab is emotionally immature. Zamil is becoming increasingly insecure and jealous. Abu Bakar is trying to stay away from unnecessary conflict. Grandma is watching everything. And somewhere in the middle of all this, the family is trying to maintain some sense of normality.

What makes the episode binge-worthy is that the characters aren’t simply moving toward a romance. They’re revealing who they really are under pressure. And Zamil, in particular, is starting to worry me. Not because he is automatically a villain, but because his obsession with Abu Bakar is becoming much bigger than Abu Bakar himself. The guy went from: “Who is this man?” to: “What are his qualifications?” to: “Did Zaryab find him impressive?” That’s not a love triangle yet. That’s a one-man competition Zamil invented in his own head. And I have a feeling Abu Bakar hasn’t even realized he’s competing.

Episode 3 leaves us with one big question: Is Zamil simply jealous of Abu Bakar, or is there something much deeper behind his obsession? Either way, I’m watching Episode 4. Because at this point, Dar-e-Nijaat has officially entered the “just one more episode” territory.