“Anaa” has taken viewers on a journey through complicated relationships. Whether a strained relationship between siblings and warring families, animosity between spouses or emotional ties to a significant other despite being married, “Anaa” has covered it all. While the story may seem warped on one level, the way the story has been presented makes the occurrences seem understandable. While Daneen (Hania Aamir) and Areesh (Shehzad Sheikh) continue their relationship despite their marriages to other people, the progression of this step has been written to allow the viewer to understand and care for these characters – and their mistakes, namely Daneen’s.

Episode 27 focuses on two main tracks. While Areesh continues to stay with Daneen during her time in the hospital, Daneen receives a visit from Ghazanfar (Shamil Khan) who threatens not only her life, but also the life of Daneen’s father and loved ones. He forbids Daneen from marrying Areesh and tells her that she should stay away from him otherwise he will make good on his threats. This rattles Daneen and viewers can see her thinking about her next move throughout the episode, visibly worried for her family and emotionally trying to distance herself from Areesh. On the other hand, Areesh and Anya (Areeba Shahood) continue to have affection for each other, but Areesh has become determined to be there for Daneen and Anya has become worried about Areesh and his reaction when he discovers Anya’s hand in Daneen’s kidnapping. Areesh and Anya begin to grow apart, traveling on two different planes. Anya begins to open her heart to Altamash’s (Usman Mukhtar) support and finally begins to allow her brother to convince her that her life will be better without the shadow of Shamsher Nagar and that household.

Anya is in for a world of trouble, as Ghazanfar and Nashwa (Javeria Kamran), a horribly annoying character and human being, plot and try to find a way to trap Altamash into marrying Nashwa. While Ghazanfar will not allow for any crooked, wayward behavior that could affect their own reputation, Nashwa is set on doing anything to damage Izza’s reputation and play dirty. Despite Nashwa and Ghazanfar’s threats, Altamash ignores the two and does what he truly desires: Pursues Izza (Naimal Khawar Khan).

The story viewers have been waiting for and the one that has been the slowest to progress finally made movement in today’s episode – in almost a way that could be described as rushed, but somehow, there’s no reason to want to complain about it. Bullied, essentially, into marrying her cousin Kabir (Muqeet Khan), Altamash gate-crashes the nikkah ceremony and advises Izza to think through her decision. Seeing her reaction, Azam (Farhan Ali Agha) tells Izza that she has the right to say no to the nikkah. Relived, Izza rejects her marriage to Kabir. Izza and Altamash finally begin their love story and viewers are given cheesy, cute scenes with Altamash giving Izza flowers and calling her “beautiful.”

While episode 27 did not race towards the finish line regarding Daneen and Areesh, it did seem to be rushing the Izza and Altamash sequences. While the two have been the real pull for viewers, their story seemed to be neglected, leaving viewers constantly wanting more. And then suddenly, in this episode, Altamash and Izza not only (finally) understood their feelings for one another, they also expressed them openly and Altamash literally broke up Izza’s wedding. While this episode is a joy for long-time viewers, it also seems like a cop-out and as though Izza and Altamash deserved much more than the weak story Naimal and Usman have been handed out to enact. It will be exciting to see Izza and Altamash announce their marriage, much to the dismay of Nashwa, in future episodes. And while Areesh continues to play yo-yo with the hearts of two women, an upcoming revelation will seemingly change the outcome of this game.