EastEnders has finally unveiled the true motives of Maya Hussain (Bharti Patel) after her unexpected friendship with Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman).
BBC One soap fans have been wary of newcomer Maya since she attempted to bond with Harvey over their shared love for Tottenham Hotspurs. As their friendship grew, Harvey began lending money to Maya as she confided in him about her financial struggles.
Maya even mentioned that she needs to sell her flat due to her urgent need for cash, while Harvey offered some monetary assistance. Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) also voiced her worries about Maya after catching her snooping through their kitchen drawers.
However, recent scenes saw Harvey discovering her address after she accidentally dropped a letter, revealing that she had been dishonest about her circumstances.
Determined to uncover the truth about Maya's intentions, Harvey visited the address and found the front door unlocked - but he wasn't alone in the house, reports the Daily Star.
He was shocked to encounter a man he'd never met before, who was clearly terrified by Harvey's presence in his home. Harvey tried to reassure the man that he meant no harm before Maya hurriedly descended the stairs.
She attempted to soothe the visibly distressed man, who she revealed was her husband, Abdul Hussain. It was at this point that she disclosed her secret that Abdul had been assaulted by Harvey's son, Aaron Monroe (Charlie Wernham).
Aaron was part of a dangerous far-right gang, known for their brutal racially motivated attacks. The group even assaulted Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), nearly killing him, while Aaron watched from the sidelines.
When Abdul fell victim to an attack, Harvey provided Aaron with an alibi, allowing him to escape punishment for his vile actions. Aaron and his mate Neil then schemed to plant a bomb in the Argee Bhajee, which was being transformed into a mosque, on New Year's Eve. However, Harvey's conscience got the better of him and he alerted the police.
In 2022, Aaron was jailed, but this wasn't enough for Maya, who had been struggling to look after her husband following the assault. She disclosed the extent of Abdul's severe injuries, including losing sight in one eye due to Aaron's actions. She tearfully stated that if Aaron had been held accountable for attacking her husband, perhaps Abdul wouldn't be in such a fragile state, requiring full-time care.
Maya revealed that she had to leave her job to care for Abdul, leading to financial difficulties. With no one else to ask for help, she thought Harvey might be her last resort.
However, she admitted how hard it was to deceive him, as she didn't anticipate developing such strong feelings for him. As Harvey returned home to a concerned Jean, he broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the situation.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
