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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 needed to sell her flat due to a dire need for cash, while Harvey offered some monetary assistance. Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) also voiced her concerns about Maya after catching her rifling through their kitchen drawers.
However, recent scenes saw Harvey discovering her address after she dropped a letter, revealing that she had been dishonest about her circumstances.
Determined to uncover the truth behind Maya's actions, Harvey visited the address and found the front door unlocked - but he wasn't alone inside, reports the Daily Star.
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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 disclosed was her husband, Abdul Hussain.
It was at this point that she revealed her secret that Abdul had been assaulted by Harvey's son, Aaron Monroe (Charlie Wernham).
Aaron was part of a notorious far-right gang, known for their brutal racially motivated attacks. The group even assaulted Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), leaving him on the brink of death, while Aaron observed from a distance.
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When Abdul fell victim to an attack, Harvey provided Aaron with an alibi, allowing the thug to evade justice for his heinous crime.
Aaron and his accomplice Neil then schemed to plant a bomb in the Argee Bhajee, which was transforming into a mosque, on New Year's Eve. However, Harvey's conscience got the better of him and he alerted the authorities.
In 2022, Aaron was finally thrown in prison, but this did little to alleviate Maya's struggles as she grappled with caring for her husband post-attack.
She disclosed the extent of Abdul's severe injuries, including the loss of sight in one eye due to Aaron's actions.
She tearfully expressed that if Aaron had been held accountable for his assault on her husband, perhaps Abdul wouldn't be in such a fragile state requiring round-the-clock care.
Maya revealed that she had been forced to leave her job to look after Abdul, leading to financial difficulties. With no other options, she believed Harvey could provide assistance.
However, she admitted how challenging it was to deceive him, as she hadn't anticipated 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
