EastEnders fans are used to riding an emotional roller coaster with the soap, but last night’s episode (Friday, August 28) would have been too painful for some to watch.
And Monday’s episode is going to hurt, too.
Those who did make it through the full 30 minutes on Friday, would have seen Shabnam (Rakhee Thakrar) and Kush (Davood Ghadami) told by a doctor: “I’m sorry, your baby’s heart has stopped beating”.
Shabnam knew what she was going to be told. She had told her father, Masood (Nitin Ganatra), her baby had stopped moving and, in tense, heartbreaking scenes, viewers saw them both trying every trick in a pregnant mother’s book to get the baby to move.
It was only when she was at the hospital, that Shabnam started to accept the awful truth and asked Masood to call Kush - who had just finished decorating the baby’s nursery.
Stunned by the doctor’s words, Shabnam then had to decide how she wanted to deliver the baby.
Agony was piled upon agony for them and for the viewers.
And it’s still not over.
In Monday’s episode, Shabnam and Kush are asked: “Once your baby is born, do you think you would like to hold him or her?
“Some parents want to spend time with their baby, wash them, dress them. Some find it helpful. Others decide not to. It’s your choice.”
Shabnam looks to Kush - but he can’t look at her.
Can they survive this tragedy?
Will they help each other heal - or will they turn away from each other and seek comfort from people who may just bring them more heartache?
EastEnders continues on BBC1, Monday, August 31, 8.00pm.
