Alya begs Yasmeen to leave Geoff
HER GRANDDAUGHTER ATTEMPTS SOME TOUGH LOVE – BEFORE CONTACTING THE POLICE…
Alya is determined to free Yasmeen from Geoff’s evil grasp this week – and after piecing together his awful abuse, she goes to the police!
Having learned that Geoff is planning to sell his and Yasmeen’s share of Speed Daal – while trying to force his wife into beginning a new life abroad – Alya demands that her grandmother packs a bag and leaves her controlling husband immediately.
However, when fragile Yasmeen refuses to listen, Alya concludes that Geoff must be stopped – and decides to report him to the police…
“Alya’s feelings towards Geoff go from her disliking her gran’s annoying partner, to realising that Yasmeen has lost control of her own life,” explains actress Sair Khan, who plays Alya. “She can see that Yasmeen has become quite isolated, although Alya doesn’t initially make the leap that an abusive relationship is going on. Never for a moment does she think it’s so bad that Geoff has made Yasmeen eat her own chicken.”
Shrewd Alya has had her concerns for a while, but it wasn’t until Gail remarked that she’d witnessed Yasmeen crying in the back garden – after Geoff served up Yasmeen’s beloved bird Charlotte for tea – that Alya’s suspicions peaked.
So, when a surveyor calls to value the restaurant this week, and reluctant Yasmeen is forced to reveal Geoff’s grand plan for them to move to Cyprus, shocked Alya can’t believe her ears.
“Alya is not privy to personal conversations between Yasmeen and Geoff – so the realisation that Geoff has taken over their accounts and all the money matters within their household comes as a massive surprise to her,” reveals Sair. “Yasmeen used to be so independent and ran such a tight ship, and now the restaurant is getting bad reviews, there is missing cash – and Yasmeen isn’t working so much or seeing friends. There are unanswered questions, and with talk of Yasmeen and Geoff moving away, Alya knows something isn’t right.”
A heartbreaking showdown ensues at No 6 when Alya tries to persuade Yasmeen that she is being abused by Geoff – only for the perpetrator himself to return home and catch Alya physically trying to wrestle her gran and some belongings out of the house!
Alya stands up to Geoff, branding him a control freak. However, poor Yasmeen’s spirit is so broken that she sides with her husband – leaving Alya with no choice but to report her suspicions to the Weatherfield constabulary.
“Alya confides in Toyah, who is helpful as Alya doesn’t have experience of domestic abuse issues,” explains Sair. “Toyah, on the other hand, does have some knowledge of it through her job as a counsellor. Because Alya has seen worrying behaviour, Toyah tells her there is information that they can request to see if Geoff has a history of abuse.”
Soon, Alya is triumpant to discover that Geoff and an exgirlfriend were once arrested after ‘causing an an affray’. Will this help Alya to persuade her gran that Geoff is a wrong’un – or if Yasmeen refuses to be moved, can Alya get the police to investigate the case?
“Alya realises Yasmeen has lost control of her own life!”