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Habs (Urdu: حبس, transl. Suffocation) is a 2022 Pakistani television series that aired on ARY Digital. It was written by Aliya Makhdoom, directed by Musaddiq Malik in his directorial debut, and produced by Six Sigma Plus. The Project Planning by Muhammad Ammad, The series features Ushna Shah and Feroze Khan in lead roles.

Plot

Ayesha is trying to find a job because her family is in a financial crisis. Her family consists of her mother Qudsia, her aunt Bobby, and her two sisters Bano and Zoya. Qudsia wants the women of the family to marry rich people, because they are impoverished, and so she never allowed Bobby to marry, since the groom wasn't rich. Ayesha is hired successfully by a company, and she starts working for the rich boss of the company, Basit Salman Khan.

Basit is a short-tempered man and he has a bad relationship with his mother Sadia, because Sadia abandoned Basit to live with her new husband. Because of this trauma, Basit is opposed to getting married. Since Sadia left, Basit has been living with his father Salman, but after Salman dies, Basit reads in the will that the company will only belong to him once he gets married. Basit tries to marry his friend Soha, but after she realises he is rushing to marry anyone he can, Soha refuses him. After Sadia tries to take over Basit's company, Basit lies to her, saying that he has married Ayesha, who is shocked.

Bano is in a relationship with Talaal, but after her mother rejects him due to not being rich and Talaal's mother becoming sick, Talaal marries Zainab, and Bano breaks up with him. Qudsia then meets Basit and decides to have him and Ayesha marry, and Basit pays Qudsia 75 lakh rupees for their marriage, at Qudsia's request. After their marriage, Basit fires Ayesha from her job, which angers her. Later, at Basit's birthday party, he embarrasses Sadia in front of the guests, causing her to collapse and die from the stress.

Zoya is in a relationship with Aamir, but when Aamir's mother Bilquis asks for a dowry, Basit is enraged, leading to Zoya running away and eloping with Aamir. Ayesha hides this from Basit, since she thinks that Basit will think badly about her family. She tells her friend Fahad about Zoya, but Basit mistakenly suspects that Fahad and Ayesha are having an affair. Basit expels Fahad and Ayesha from the house, and Fahad is involved in a car accident. Fahad tells Basit the truth about Zoya, and Basit regrets mistreating Ayesha. Basit asks for forgiveness, and Ayesha forgives him.

Things remain happy, until Soha returns and tries to separate Basit and Ayesha, claiming they are not suitable for each other. Ayesha is then revealed to be pregnant. Zoya returns, but after it is revealed that Zoya stole 1 lakh from Bilquis, Qudsia lies to Aamir saying that Zoya is pregnant, so that Aamir doesn't divorce Zoya.

Ultimately, Aamir learns of Zoya's lies and almost divorces her. Fahad tells Soha about the 75 lakh rupees, so she tells Ayesha this as well, which greatly upsets her. She runs away, with Soha's help. Basit tries to find Ayesha, but cannot. Bano warns Soha to stay away from Basit and Ayesha, so Soha tells Basit that she told Ayesha about his and Qudsia's deal, which Ayesha hears. Ayesha becomes mad at Basit and Soha, and she asks for a divorce. Basit agrees, and they almost divorce, but Basit asks Ayesha to meet him one last time after he tells her he is leaving Pakistan forever.

Meanwhile, Zoya begs for forgiveness from Aamir, but he tells her it will take him some time to forgive her. Basit tells Ayesha he is giving the house to Ayesha for her and her child. Ayesha, worrying whether her child will ask about Basit in the future, and seeing how much Basit has changed, forgives Basit and reunites with him.

Three years later, Bobby is getting married, Zoya and Aamir have reunited, Fahad and Bano are married, Qudsia is happy, and Basit and Ayesha are celebrating with their daughter named Sadia, after Basit's mother. Everyone takes a group picture together, and they live happily ever after.

Cast

• Ushna Shah as Ayesha Basit Khan, Basit's wife
• Feroze Khan as Basit Salman Khan, Ayesha's husband
• Ayesha Omar as Soha, Basit's friend and ex-fiancée
• Saba Faisal as Qudsiya, Ayesha, Bano and Zoya's mother
• Dania Enwer as Bano Sadiq, Ayesha and Zoya's eldest sister
• Janice Tessa as Zoya Sadiq, Ayesha and Bano's youngest sister, Aamir's wife
• Hina Rizvi as Bobby, Ayesha, Bano and Zoya's father's sister
• Irsa Ghazal as Sadia, Basit's mother, Ayesha's late mother-in-law
• Mussadiq Malik as Fahad, Basit's best friend
• Imran Aslam as Talal Rasheed, Bano's love interest
• Shazia Qaiser as Shamsa, Talal's mother
• Hamzah Tariq Jamil as Aamir, Zoya's husband
• Fareeda Shabbir as Bilquis, Aamir's mother
• Birjees Farooqui as Fehmida, Fahad's mother
• Hammad Farooq as Kareem, Basit's friend
• Muhammad Ammad as Salim, Basit's friend

Guest appearances

• Jawed Sheikh as Salman Khan, Basit's father, Ayesha's father-in-law (Episode 1) (dead)
• Anoushay Abbasi as Fahad's wife (Episode 25)

Reception

While reviewing the first episode, Cutacut.com said that the series had a "strong start", and called the storyline "relatable" and "intriguing". The News, reviewing the first few episodes, stated that the story has "nothing new", as the topics of abandonment issues and hatred of mothers have already been extensively done. Maliha Rehman of Dawn praised the direction and actors' performances, but raised the story differing from the title as an issue.

References

1. "Drama 'Habs' to offer another story of rich boss marrying a poor employee". Minute Mirror. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
2. "Feroze Khan and Ushna Shah-starrer Habs all set to air tonight". Something Haute. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
3. "Onscreen couple goals! Fans love Ushna Shah, Feroze Khan's chemistry in 'Habs'". Express Tribune. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
4. Shehreyaar, Armaan (9 May 2022). "Habs Teasers Hint At Intriguing Journey Of Love Through Marriage". Galaxy Lollywood. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
5. "In Conversation With Janice Tessa". Showbiz Pakistan. 3 September 2022.
6. "Is love really needed for marriage", ARY DIGITAL, 9 May 2022, retrieved 26 June 2022
7. "Habs off to a strong start". The News. 11 May 2022.
8. "Suffocating betrayal". The News. 19 June 2022.
9. Maliha Rehman (31 July 2022). "PRIME TIME: TUNED IN AND TRENDING". dawn.com.

External links

• Official website
• Habs at IMDb

• 2022 Pakistani television series debuts
• 2022 Pakistani television series endings