One-Line Summary:

Haley grappling with past trauma, particularly a heartbreaking confrontation with her resentful brother Hassan, while seeking solace and support from others, leaving her questioning her future and grappling with unresolved grief.

Summary: 

In Episode 36, we witness Haley grappling with the emotional toll of the past events while Hassan, Safir, and other central characters confront their struggles. The episode begins with a light-hearted moment between Haley and Umar, where they share a meal. Unbeknownst to Haley, she finishes all of Umar’s food. Playfully, she feels guilty about eating his share, promising never to argue with the chef again. Umar, with his usual quiet humor, laughs it off and finishes the remaining scraps, hopeful that the wall of distrust between them will eventually crumble​(36).
Later, Haley finds herself at a library, seeking solace among the books. After hours of reading, fatigue sets in, and she rests her head on the table. A familiar voice jolts her back to reality—it’s Hassan, her estranged brother, working as a librarian. The shock of seeing Hassan after such a long time leaves Haley overwhelmed. She pulls him aside, demanding to know what he is doing working in a library, and attempts to reconnect with the brother she once raised like a mother. However, Hassan’s response is cold and bitter. He dismisses Haley’s concern, explaining that he no longer views her as a sister due to the way she abandoned their family in their time of need. His words cut deeply, and their conversation escalates into an emotional confrontation​(36).
Hassan recalls past events that broke their bond—Haley’s absence when he achieved academic success, the death of their dog, and how Haley didn’t attend to any family matters when needed most. His resentment is palpable, and he confronts her for never being there for him. Haley tries to defend herself, but Hassan’s bitterness has grown too deep. He accuses her of abandoning their family, leaving him alone to fend for himself. Haley, devastated, leaves the conversation, realizing that the gap between them may be too wide to bridge​(36).
The episode also explores the complex relationship between Haley and Mehrmaah. Haley, after her emotionally charged encounter with Hassan, ends up sharing a vulnerable conversation with Mehrmaah in the car. Haley admits to Mehrmaah that she has never forgotten their father, Mehraaj Sultan, and how much she misses him. This leads to a deeper discussion about grief, love, and acceptance, as Haley confesses her struggle with the five stages of grief—shock, denial, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Haley reflects on how she has been stuck in these stages, unable to fully move on from the loss of her father​(36).
Mehrmaah, in her practical and somewhat cynical way, challenges Haley’s emotional attachment to her past and pushes her to accept reality. Mehrmaah dismisses the idea of happy endings, telling Haley that life is not a fairy tale and that the sooner she lets go of her fantasies, the better. This conversation leaves Haley questioning the path she’s on, torn between holding onto hope for redemption and accepting the harsh realities that have shaped her life​(36).
The episode ends on a somber note, with Haley deeply reflecting on her relationship with Hassan, Mehrmaah’s blunt perspective on life, and the toll her personal journey has taken on her emotional well-being. The cracks in Haley’s emotional armor are becoming more visible, as she wrestles with the weight of her unresolved family issues and the complexities of love and loss.