Heeramandi — Episode 2 “Fareedan – The Challenger Returns” Recap & Review

Fareedan – The Challenger Returns

Episode 2 of Heeramandi starts with a young Mallikajaan accusing her sister – Rehaana of selling off her and Nawab Zulfikaar’s son. When Rehaana learns that Mallikajaan is in love with Zulfikaar, she mocks her and calls her a whore. Mallikajaan is pissed and ends up throttling Rehaana and kills her.

Nawab Zulfikar shows up at Rehaana’s court and is shocked to see the scene. He helps Mallika dispose of Rehaana’s dead body and later saves her from being investigated by the British cops.

The episode moves to the present day where Mallikajaan and her courtesans get ready to pay their respects to her late sister – Rehaana on her death anniversary. The courtesans use candlelight as they make their way to and discuss how the British officers had imposed a curfew after the recent protest.

Mallikajaan sarcastically pays her respects to Rehaana and thanks her for being dead. Just then, Waheeda asks Mallikajaan to give her the keys to Rehaan’s secondary court named ‘Khwabgah’. Since Mallikajaan already had power over the main court – Shahi Mahal, Waheeda claims that she was the rightful owner of Khwabgah. Mallikajaan states that Rehaana’s daughter was the rightful owner of the palace.

Waheeda throws a fit and mocks her sister for ruining her life. That night, the servants of Mallikajaan’s court discuss how Khwabgah belongs to Fareedan, her daughter who was sold off by Mallikajaan. The servants claim that Fareedan will soon return to avenge her mother’s death.

On the other hand, Bibbojaan is heartbroken when she sees Lajjo talking about Zorawar being her lover. Bibbojaan tries to bring Lajjo to her senses and tells her that Zorawar is soon going to marry a princess. Lajjo scolds Bibbojaan for crushing her dreams and passes out on her way out of the court.

At the same time, Tajdar meets a perfumer and asks him if he can identify the scent on Alamzeb’s handkerchief. The perfumer promises to find out who the handkerchief belongs to as Tajdar leaves. Saima, Alamzeb’s friend takes the handkerchief from the perfumer and gives it back to Alamzeb. Alamzeb tells Saima how she thinks she is falling for the guy and wonders who Tajdar is.

Meanwhile, Waheeda tries to bind her daughter – Shama’s chest to prevent her from looking like a woman as that would make Waheeda less desirable in Heeramandi. Bibbojaan stops Waheeda from treating her daughter like that and promises Shama to talk to Mallikajaan about it.

Lajjo shows up at the cafe where Zorawar is with his to-be wife – Saba. She makes a scene at the cafe and asks Zorawar to marry her along with Saba. The nawab kicks Lajjo out and apologises to Saba. That night, Mallikajaan calls a jeweller at the court to purchase jewels for Alamzeb’s debut. The jeweller mentions Zoarawar’s wedding and Lajjo reveals that she was called to perform at his wedding as a courtesan.

Bibbojaan offers to go to the wedding in Lajjo’s place but the latter claims that she wants to perform at her lover’s wedding. Lajjo shows up at the ceremony with a bridal headdress. Lajjo puts up an emotional performance and starts throwing herself at Zorawar. Mallikajaan shows up there and causes a scene. She first mocks Lajjo for falling in love with a nobleman.

Mallikajaan then asks Zorawar to apologise to Lajjo for leading her on. When Zorawar refuses to do so, Mallika reveals that Zorawar is her son and asks him to be respectful towards her mother and her mother’s kind – the courtesans. Mallikajaan takes Lajjo home but notices how she is heavily drunk. The chariot meets with a minor accident and Lajjo bangs her head, leading her to suffer a concussion.

Mallikajaan is shocked when she discovers that Lajjo is dead and the court then carries out her funeral. Mallikajaan tells the other courtesans that they should think before falling in love as a courtesan who falls for a nobleman has no other end but in death. That night, Rehaana’s daughter and Mallikajaan’s estranged niece – Fareedan shows up for Lajjo’s funeral.

She accuses Mallikajaan of killing her mother and selling her off when she was 9 years old. Fareedan tells Mallikajan that she is here to take back what belongs to her late mother. The episode ends with Fareedan leaving with Rehaana’s ring and a promise to destroy Mallikajaan.

The Episode Review

While the timeline of events is confusing, it is clear that Rehaana, Mallikajaan and Waheeda are sisters. After her son – Zorawar is stripped from her and sold off to a nobleman, Mallikajaan kills her sister Rehaana. She sells off Fareedan to a nobleman in Benaras. Now, years later Fareedan has returned to avenge her mother. 

However, in this fight between Fareedan and Mallikajaan, Waheeda is the one who ends up with nothing to her name. I wonder what other twists and turns this show has for us as the episodes progress. So far, Heeramandi is a very exciting watch and I am looking forward to the episodes that come.