“Humsafar. Do not disturb.” This was a friend’s Facebook status last Saturday evening, a few minutes before an episode of the serial aired at 8pm PST on Hum TV. Now, midway into the story, Humsafar fans are hooked to the television on Saturday evenings (or the re-run on Sunday morning), and with nearly 100,000 fans on Facebook, there is also a palpable buzz in the cyber world, pre- and post-airtime. It seems as if people have an insane amount of time obsessing about the story and the stars. A recent example of Humsafar madness: a cartoon posted on Facebook by The Desis.

The question that dominates the show’s ongoing episodes is: what makes Humsafar all the rage? Could it be any of the following:

One of the hottest on-screen couples the mini-screen has seen in a while: Mahira Khan as Khirad and Fawad Afzal Khan as Ashar whose good looks succeed in appealing to the romantic in all of us.

The stereotypes are engaging: Khirad is the ideal goody-two-shoes, simple, desi girl, in contrast to Sara, the manipulative, uber trendy modern female who is obsessed with Ashar, the Ivy-League graduate with a great job and all the perks of a silver-spoon upbringing.

A Cinderella story always sells: It’s a familiar tale of a poor-little-girl in a big, rich home; Mahira Khan as Khirad has the ideal waif persona.

The tension feels all too real: Atiqa Odho as the evil mother-in-law contributes to the strain; a good job by Sarmad Khoosat who is proving to be a skilled director.

It’s not just melodrama: An admirable attempt to dramatise the emotional toll of rejection: both Khirad and Sara face Ashar’s chilly disdain.

It has an old-fashioned feel: Some of the characters are quite archetypal, similar to those in old Bollywood movies.

The title track is catchy and deep: Singer Quratulain Baloch is excellent; her voice tugs at the heartstrings.

Pakistani dramas versus Bollywood: This round goes to Pakistan.

Humsafar has proved to be engaging viewing over an entire season. The serial has managed to maintain some tension and excitement, and the unpredictable twists in the plot continue to surprise.

On that note, please don’t disturb me at 8pm on Saturday evening — I’ll be watching Humsafar.