Inspirational love stories

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Although dramas these days seem to repeat the same love triangle stories that now bore us, the industry has given us some unforgettable jodis and meaningful performances from dramas like Khuda aur Mohabbat and Mann Mayal. Such dramas pull on the strings of our hearts not just because of the chemistry between the leading stars but because of how pure and innocent the relationship is portrayed through a meaningful narrative. It's very rare to see such romantic stories bring a tear to your eye and sometimes get us thinking about the true meaning of Mohabbat. Let's explore four inspirational love stories the drama industry has given us over the years...

Khuda aur Mohabbat (dedicated his life to her)

Khuda aur Mohabbat, as we understand from the literal meaning of the drama name depicts a strong spiritual-based love story. The drama series features three seasons showing more or less a similar story and end to the lead roles.

Seasons 1 & 2 star Imran Abbas & Sadia Khan in lead roles. Hammad (Imran Abbas) comes from a well-to-do family with modern values that sometimes oppose Islamic values and morals. Imaan (Sadia Khan) is the daughter of a maulvi and comes from a strict parda-abiding household. She isn't really seen to be allowed to go out anywhere alone or in a free-mixing environment with the opportunity to speak to men. Hammad's love at first sight was really something different from the usual love stories. Imaan was fully covered in an abaya and niqab and she caught Hammad's eye from a distance. Hammad's growing curiosity to see women in this get-up, different from the environment he grew up in led him to follow in Imaan's footsteps. On the same day, Hammad happened to open the door whilst he was searching for Imaan and saw her in prayer. He was in awe of her devotion and how spiritually connected and peaceful she looked in prayer- something Hammad has never seen or felt.

Hammad was totally head-over-heels for Imaan and would turn up to her house to speak to her dad just to catch a glimpse of her or sometimes ask his sister to arrange for them to meet in secret. Hammad only just wanted to speak to Imaan- he never touched her or did any type of zaur zabardasti. He even kept her two pearls from her sandals close to him always.

Hammad wanted his family to send his proposal for Imaan but his family weren't in favour of this happening because they pride themselves in their lavish lifestyle and see Imaan as a misfit in their modern household. Imaan's father, maulvi saab came to know about all this and could not even accept the idea of love marriage- he deemed this as a sin in itself although both Imaan and Hammad never did any sinful act. Imaan's father also explained to Hammad how he cannot send his daughter into the environment that his family live in and emphasised the social status gap. Hammad was willing to disassociate himself from his family and left behind his lavish lifestyle and started working as a porter. One day, Imaan sees him in such a state at the railway station and is left in shock. She requests him to go back home as her marriage has been arranged with her cousin. Hammad is unable to forget Imaan or remove his affection for her from his heart. Imaan becomes ill and dies and Hammad is left in shock.

Season 2 follows relatively the same storyline with an extended narrative and a different ending for a twist. In season 2 after the death of Imaan, Hammad is seen to find religion and has a spiritual connection with Islam. We see him praying and even calling the Athaan in a local Mosque. Hammad becomes a changed man and follows the path towards his deen and believes it is Imaan's soul that has guided him towards this path.

The love story between Hammad & Imaan is so pure it makes you question the meaning of Mohabbat in the real world. I really do hope Hammad & Imaan were written to reunite in the next world. Their performances are so emotional it makes you believe there is no stronger bond than that between you and the Creator. Hammad saw something in Imaan- her belief and faith in prayer pulled him towards her. Her devotion to her Rabb is what Hammad was also yearning for. Hammad looks at Imaan in such an innocent way like she's God's most beautiful creation. It's not necessary to physically touch someone to show love- it's the connection between two souls that says it all.

Mann Mayal (looking out for her from a distance)

Mann Mayal was 2016's highest-rated drama serial in Pakistan. The drama serial stars Hamza Ali Abbasi and Maya Ali in lead roles. 

The drama starts off by representing a fun-going immature Manahil (Maya Ali) who lives in a mansion with her joint family. She's the laadli of the house and is friends with their neighbour Biya (Aiman Khan). Biya has an elder brother called Salahuddin (Hamza Ali Abbasi) who tutors Manahil after she receives low grades in her college exams. Manahil starts to like Salahuddin and openly expresses this in front of him. Salahuddin too likes Manahil but is more hesitant due to fear of rejection and social class issues. Salahuddin doesn't have a job yet but he is very hardworking and ambitious. One day, Salahuddin's family ask for Manahil's hand in marriage but stop in their tracks at their doorstep. The proposal is seen as a misfit and so Manahil marries Mikaeel (Gohar Rasheed) who turns out to be a gambler addict.

A year later we see Salahuddin as a wealthy businessman living alone and Manahil is now a mother of two. Manahil's relationship with her husband isn't the best and Mikaeel lacks a sense of care and responsibility towards his wife and children. Manahil tries her best to keep Mikaeel happy and changes her physical appearance and good habits that Mikaal's parents liked about her in order to fit in with Mikaeel's liking. Mikaael's parents married their son to Manahil in hope that she will change him for the better but things turned out the opposite way.

One night, Manahil's daughter gets a high temperature and worries about what to do as there is nobody at home. At the same time, we see Salahuddin begins to worry that something might not be right and drives straight to Manahil's house and calls her just generally to ask if everything is alright. In a time of need, for the sake of her daughter, Manahil tells Salahuddin about her daughter's condition and he tells her he is parked up outside her house and should quickly come down with the kids. Manahil is in shock at how even now Salahuddin worries about her and is there for her although they now share no such relationship as she is married now. It's just the connection that Salahuddin seems to have with Manahil that he just turned up outside her house knowing she might need him.

Another moment we loved was when Manahil was staying at Salahuddin's house after her divorce and her dad was in critical condition at hospital. Manahil was staying with her kids in the servant quarter and refused to stay inside Salahuddin's main house area. There was no AC in her room and she was struggling to sleep one night so Salahuddin came and sat by her side and used a newspaper as a fan to cool her down. It's just such a simple and caring gentleman-like gesture coming from him that melts our hearts.

Maybe Salahuddin does live his life with regret in handing over his Manu to Mikaeel, hence why he looks out for her even after she's married possibly in hope of redeeming himself? But it's very rare to see this care and concern for someone once they are a mother of two- usually, this gives men the ick and this is when they slide away. But Salahuddin is like Manahil's well-wisher and saviour whose always there to protect her.

Baandi (fought against his parents for justice)

Baandi (2018) is a social issues drama which stars Aiman Khan & Muneeb Butt in lead roles.

Meeru (Aiman Khan) works for Faiza Begum (Hina Dilpazeer) who despises the lower class and treats them like dirt at such a young age. Faiza Begum's son Wali (Muneeb Butt who is a police inspector) begins to take a liking for Meeru's innocent nature and takes a stand to protect her against his mother's atrocities. He secretly goes to visit her in her servant quarter and gives her books to study and spends time with her building up trust and friendship between them.

There comes such a time when Faiza Begum begins to see Wali taking an interest in her mamooli maid Meeru and she accuses Meeru of trapping her son. One day when nobody but Meeru, Faiza Begum and her husband are home alone, Faiza Begum takes advantage of this and attempts to burn Meeru alive with the help of her husband. However, Babu bhai (who also works in the house) becomes a witness to such a heinous act and rushes Meeru to the hospital in a burnt state.

Wali eventually finds Meeru and comes to know that his own parents are responsible for her burnt state. In shock, he decides to take up this case himself, resulting in arresting his own parents. We see how Wali takes a stand for justice even when the situation comes down to his parents being the criminals- he doesn't leave Meeru's side once. Wali was in a very difficult situation whereby he had to go against his own parents and fight for what was right- he could've easily concealed and helped his own parents but didn't do this. Meeru often advised Wali to not pick this fight for her sake but Wali was adamant about doing what was right and this is exactly what she (and we) admired about Wali most. Wali's bravery and taking a stand for Meeru became an eye-opener for most men who become "mummy's boy" and overlook anything wrong and blame their wives. Wali's character was bold enough to create such an impact which became a reason why his respect grew in Meeru's eyes because nobody really goes to such an extent these days.

Parizaad (she loved him for his words)

Parizaad (2022) stars the popular jodi Ahmed Ali Akbar and Yumna Zaidi.

Parizaad (Ahmed Ali Akbar) has been rejected numerous times due to his outer appearance- he's of a low class and dark colour but his heart is made of gold. Parizaad meets Annie (Yumna Zaidi) who is a blind girl that is a huge fan of his poetry. Annie admires him for his words and they both share and view the world in the same way. Both souls are so pure and innocent and recognise the inner beauty in each other as if they were made for each other.

Annie is flying out abroad for her eye operation which creates fear within Parizaad as he feels insecure about Annie seeing his physical appearance and once again being rejected. Annie's cousin is young and smart (and also interested in Annie) and gets along well with Annie which creates a sense of competition for Parizaad- adding to his worries. Parizaad drops his lavish lifestyle and essentially runs away in fear of getting his heart broken again and settles into a small village as a teacher with a new identity. Years later, Annie visits the school as a journalist and recognises Parizaad from his voice. The last scene of the drama becomes so emotional between them as Parizaad talks about his worries and Annie tries to challenge his inner complexities and provide him with reassurance. 

Parizaad and Annie both have an eye for inner beauty and are appreciative of the small things rather than "worldly" things and this is exactly why they share such a special bond. Annie continuously tries to reassure Parizaad of his inner complexities whilst Parizaad degrades himself due to previous bad experiences. But Annie provides warmth to Parizaad that leaves him in disbelief that there's someone out there just like him who understands him and his poetry. Parizaad and Annie are quite literally the definition of soulmates and give this generation hope to realise that there is someone out there for you that will enter your life at the most unexpected time and it's all already written perfectly.