sent Yusef into the burning building to his death and is responsible for Tamwar's injuries, but despite initial uproar, Afia forgives Zainab when the true extent of Yusef's abuse is divulged. Afia and Tamwar sort out their differences and try to make a success of running the Masood family restaurant but long hours and Zainab's interference puts further strain on their marriage. Tamwar heeds Zainab's advice and suggests to Afia that they start a family, believing she will settle once she has a child. However, Afia refuses, suggesting that they go traveling instead. Tamwar agrees but Afia is displeased when she realizes that he wants to return to Walford after their trip. Afia, however, doesn't know where precisely she wants to go or how long for, so realizing that she and Tamwar want different things from life, Afia tells Tamwar that she loves him and leaves Walford. Creation and development Casting and introduction Meryl Fernandes was cast as Afia as a love interest for already established character Tamwar Masood. Due to Afia initially being a guest character, Fernandes' arrival and filming was not announced. Upon hearing Fernandes return, Patel commented: "I'm glad that I'm able to explore another side to Tamwar's character. The best thing about him is that he's so layered. You peel away one layer and see something else underneath. I think the audience is going to be surprised by what they see next. Who knows, there could even be a wild side in there." After her initial guest stint in 2009, Fernandes made her full-time return on 18 November 2010. Afia is Fernandes' second role in EastEnders with her first being a schoolgirl in 1993. Patel praised the decision to bring back Afia. Speaking to Digital Spy, Patel said that he was "very happy" to hear that Fernandes would be back on set, explaining: "We filmed together for about three or four weeks when she first came into the show, which was about this time last year. We got on really, really well because she's such a lovely person and a great actress, so I was always asking people if she was going to come back. Then she dropped me a text to say that they'd got in touch with her and were bringing her back, which was fantastic." Patel also said that there will be "split-second change in Tamwar" as Afia makes him happy for the