Whether it is the sacred duty he feels toward Tamina, the dangerous passion he shares with Kaileena, or the fleeting flirtations in the comic book panels, Dastan’s romantic life is a mirror for the player or viewer. It asks us: What would you sacrifice to hold onto love for just one more second?

: Modern iterations, such as those in Ajeeb Daastaans (directed by Kayoze Irani), often move away from clichés to explore lust, repression, and heartbreak in realistic settings.

When Bano finally reaches Pakistan and discovers Hassan’s engagement, the emotional stakes skyrocket. The episode in which they are reunited—after Hassan reads a letter and sets out to find her—has been described as nearly impossible to describe in words. Critics noted that both actors delivered such powerful performances that audiences were left crying with “racking sobs” as Bano finally stood in Hassan’s arms in the safety of their own land.