Loveday Writing

When Imran gets a call from the Surf Lifesaving Club that someone wants to meet him, he finds his father, Jaaved, waiting for him. After an awkward interaction which ends with Imran inviting Jaaved to stay at the holiday house, he reveals to Sukhdeep and Caitlyn that Jaaved left the family when he was a child and he hasn’t seen him in eight years. Jaaved agrees to stay and ends up sleeping in the bed that Imran is sleeping in, although Imran, unable to sleep, gets up in the middle of the night and sits on the floor, leaning on the edge of the bed.

The next morning, Imran wakes up to hear Jaaved talking to Sukhdeep and Caitlyn in the kitchen and the bed already made. When he walks into the kitchen, Jaaved has cooked them all a delicious breakfast. Nabilah calls Imran and although he avoids her call at first, he does speak to her over a video call and tells her that Jaaved is staying with him. Nabilah asks a relative offscreen to find out some goss on why Jaaved would have left Brisbane, where he has been living for several years.

After Javeed offers advice and takes a photo of Imran, Sukhdeep, and Caitlyn during rehearsal, Imran discovers that he has made and distributed flyers of their upcoming gig. When he overhears Jaaved take a phone call at the beach, telling the person on the other end that he is still in Brisbane, Nabilah surprises him with her and her family’s arrival. Nabilah’s family welcome both Imran and Jaaved, although Imran freaks out and goes for a swim, fully clothed, in the ocean. Jaaved swims out to him and tells him it’s not cowardly to run it takes guts.

Imran returns to shore and thanks Nabilah’s family for the food and tells them that his gig has sold out before leaving. As he’s walking down the beach, Nabilah confronts him on the lie and reveals that Jaaved is going to jail, finding out as her mother’s cousin goes to Jaaved’s mosque. When Nabilah points out that her family drove a long way to see him and his gig, Imran points out that he never asked her or them to do that. Nabilah leaves, breaking up with him.

Imran returns to the holiday house and confronts Jaaved. Jaaved admits that he committed fraud by nominating other drivers for parking fines he received, taking his fraud so far that he nominated famous Bollywood actors, and eventually someone within the Queensland Government turned him into the police. Jaaved tells Imran he needs him to be a character witness by signing a pre-written reference written by his solicitor, so his sentence can be reduced. However, Imran refuses, calling Jaaved out for only visiting him for this reason, and for leaving him as a child.

Later, Imran, Sukhdeep, and Caitlyn meet up at the Surf Lifesaving Club to prepare for their gig and Imran notices Nabilah’s family van across the street, as they are eating at local restaurant. He texts Nabilah to come outside but she won’t, so he walks in to see her and her family calls him out for upsetting and ignoring her. Imran apologises to her and her family, admitting that Jaaved’s visit messed with his head, and that he loves her.

Towards the end of the episode, Jaaved leaves, taking the character reference that Imran has signed with him. The episode ends with Imran, Sukhdeep and Caitlyn’s gig going off without a hitch.

Overall, I felt that this was a solid episode, exploring the dynamic of an estranged father and son, as well as the effects that their relationship had on Imran’s reluctance to commit to Nabilah. I appreciated the diversity presented with all of the characters, and the humorous nature of Nabilah’s family.

Stray Observations:

-Just like the previous two episodes, this episode was also written by the actor portraying the main character, Nazeem Hussain (Imran).

-Jaaved lived in South America for a while, telling Imran he lived in Brazil in 1994 and Chile in 1995.

-Imran was eight years old in 1995, so he was born in 1987.

-Jaaved’s full name is Jaaved Haneef Mohammed and his date of birth is 20 July 1951.

-Nabilah and her family come from a Pakistani background, Imran and his family come from a Sri Lankan background.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “My dad meets every single girl I date.” “Wow, he must be busy.” “He is retired, so he has time.” (Caitlyn-Imran-Caitlyn)
• “Was that Nabilah? Is that a cultural thing too or just a dick thing?” “I’m wrecked.” “Exhausted from all that ducking and weaving.” (Caitlyn-Imran-Sukhdeep on Imran avoiding Nabilah’s calls)
• “That’s the best part of a three-hour road trip, gives us a chance to put together a list of questions.” “Almost enough time.” (Sohail-Anam to Imran on the questions they want to ask him as they’re meeting him for the first time)
• “His wit is not as fast as his getaway.” (Nabilah’s uncle to Sohail on Imran)