he play Dobara, starring Bilal Abbas and HadiqaKiyani in lead roles, is a refreshing twist on typical Pakistani plays because of its focus on depicting the tenderness of falling in love at an old age. It tells the story of a couple that comes together despite differnes of class and age.

Hadiqa plays Mehrunnisa, aged 40 who has been through a lot. She was married to a much older man at the age of 15. When he passes away, she decides to live her life to the fullest. That’s when she comes across Mahir, a twenty-something who is full of zest for life. The two fall in love and chart out their paths.

The play is a refreshing change from the usual romance portrayed in mainstream TV productions and Hadiqa and Bilal enjoy great on-screen chemistry and make a very cute couple.

Why have plays featuring oldcouples in romantic relationships not caught on already? There are many examples of such couples in the society.They remain underrepresented on screen. Is love the exclusive territory of the young and carefree? Love, at any age, is a blissful emotion.Everyone should have a chance to experience it. Cupid can strike at any age.There should be more stories about oldcouples falling in love and experiencing marital bliss.

The sensitivity and maturity with which Dobara was made is living proof of the potential that our scriptwriters, directors and producers possess. This play went down very well with the audience.Hadiqa, only one play old then, essayed the role of a widow remarkably well.

In fact, it is heartening to see individuals advertising on social media websites and looking for spouses for their parents, realising that the empty nest syndrome can lead to emotional and psychological issues. Society is slowly evolving and children are becoming more amenable to the idea of their parents remarrying and possibly resettling in life.

Often, women with children are reluctant to remarry but it is widely understood that no man is an island and individuals, at every stage, need a partner or a companion who will be with them through thick and thin. In a largely misogynistic society, the concept of middle-aged women with grown-up children remarrying is something the majority finds hard to digest. Do women not have biological or emotional needs? Do they not deserve a second chance? Should only men have the prerogative of remarrying?

Why have plays featuring oldcouples in romantic relationships not caught on already? There are many examples of such couples in the society.They remain underrepresented on screen. Is love the exclusive territory of the young and carefree?

Plays like Dobara are bringing about a gradual change in the mindsets.Romance is not limited by age, gender, status or socio-economic differences.Cpid can strike at any age. When aman marries a woman half his age, no eyebrows are raised but if the situation is reversed, a character assassination can start right away.

Somehowwomen are considered the sole guardians of moral values in society. Honour killings and acid attacks are examples of how stringently and harshly the society judges women.Often, the perpetrators consider themselves righteous and believe that they are rendering a huge service to society by eliminating negative influences that could potentially harm society. The very term ‘honour killing’ portrays a regressive and demented mindset.

Raising the status of women will require an overhaul of societal values and ethics. Education will help but raising awareness is more important. Plays like Dobara are a step in the right direction as they portray women as human beings with emotional, psychological and biological needs.

In fact, more and more women trapped in unhappy marriages now seek escape.As an educationist, I have noticed an increase in the number of single parent households. The exponential increase in the number of single parent households is a grim reminder that not every union has a “happily ever after.”

Some of the divorces are attributed to the rising intolerance and financial independence of women. A lot of women groups operating on social media are also blamed for inciting women against men and blowing matters out of proportion. While it may be unfair to generalise as every case is unique, it is always easier to pass judgement than make an effort to understand and empathise.

It is important to view women as human beings and keep in mind that marriage is a partnership. Single parents have to assume a dual role and are marginalised by the society. This is especially true of single mothers. Remarrying is not always a feasible option.Accepting a woman’s children from a previous relationship is considered harderformen than the other way around.

It will be heartening to see more productions that portray romance traversing barriers of age, caste, colourand creed. Here’s hoping we see novel storylines with a fresh take on relationships in the future. Come, fall in love.

The writer is an educationist. She can be reached at gaiteeara@hotmail.com. She blogs at http://sanukeycom.wordpress.com