Zenab calls on Dr Hassan with the central heating instructions. She’s brought their new tenant some food as well. Dr Hassan is touched by her kindness and invites her to stay and chat. She tells him all about Imran’s travels, reminding him of his own youth when he rebelled against his father, by going off backpacking around Europe. Zenab is intrigued and wants to hear more, to Dr Hassan’s dismay it looks like she’s settled in for the afternoon. Dr Hassan opens the food and as he munches away he quizzes Zenab about Shazia. Zenab grudgingly admits that Shazia has done well to get where she has but stresses that real power and influence is held by business people, like Mushtaq and herself. She also implies that there has also been gossip about how much time Shazia spends in the company of married men. Dr Hassan can spot a cheap shot when he sees it. He has no time for those kind of gossips he says. They are the sort people who would make something sordid of Zenab visiting him like this! Zenab quickly jumps up and making her excuses, hurries off home.
Sandra visits Darren in prison and finds him very down. He’s nervous about his upcoming parole board but Sandra assures her son it’ll be fine, he’ll get his parole and be home in four months. Darren tells his mum he’s been having terrible nightmares and he can’t stand another four months. He breaks down and tells him mum everything. There’s a Muslim gang in the prison who have got it in for him. He can’t go to a prison officer because they are all scared of the gang too. He begs his mum to get him out of there now.
Shazia is passing Dr Hassan’s when he emerges, on his way to surgery. She mentions teasingly that she noticed Zenab popping in earlier. Dr Hassan asks if detects a little chill between the two women. Shazia indignantly denies this and wonders what Zenab has been saying. Unwisely Dr Hassan tells her about Zenab’s nasty gossip, saying she shouldn’t worry about it. But Shazia is livid and stomps off fuming.
