Nawaz Shah had married Naghma Zuberi at the age of twenty-five. However, two years later, Naghma Zuberi died at a young age due to a prolonged illness. Later, he married Hareem Begum who gave him two daughters, Hoorain and Hooriya.

Nawaz Shah loved his both daughters. However, the sad part was that none of them was interested in his business.

“Why don't you get Hoorain married to a businessman? Someone capable enough to take over your business.” Hareem Begum once suggested to him.

The very next morning, he called Hoorain into his study room and asked her,“Hoorain, do you like someone?”

Hoorain chuckled at his question,“No, Baba, I don't.”

“Beta, I want you to marry someone who can take over my business.” He spoke honestly.

“Baba, I have no problem with it.” She smiled.

Nawaz Shah smiled at his daughter. And since then he was trying to find a perfect son-in-law for himself. Someone who could take his company to success but also keep his daughter happy. However, it was hard to find both the qualities in one man. Until one day he met his late first wife's brother at a business party.

“Altamash Zuberi, what a surprise!” He exclaimed seeing his brother-in-law after such a long time.

“Nawaz Shah, you have grown fat.” Altamash Zuberi joked while hugging him.

“How are everyone in the family?” He asked.

“Ammi Jaan passed away two years ago. My daughter Ramsha got married last year. And my son Shahmir is going to take over the company very soon.” Altamash Zuberi told him.

Nawaz Shah's eyes twinkled at Shahmir's mention.

“Umm, Altamash, is Shahmir married?” He asked.

“No, my wife is looking for a bride but no one has succeeded in getting an approval from him.”

“Ah, see I won't beat around the bushes. I am looking for a boy for my elder daughter Hoorain. Is it possible that-” But he was cut off by an excited Altamash Zuberi.

“I understood! I have no problem! I am coming to your home, umm, this Sunday with my son. They can meet each other and rest is upto them.”

“Great!” Nawaz Shah smiled excitedly and both of them hugged each other before parting ways.

✨✨✨

Sunday came earlier than expected. That morning Hoorain was getting ready to meet the heir of Zuberi family.

“Shahmir Zuberi.”

She had searched his name on the internet. His social media accounts showed in results. His Instagram page was filled with motivational quotes, political memes and pictures from his sister's wedding. There were a few reels in which he and his sister were lipsing on a song together. And then there was a picture where he was sitting beside his grandmother. The captain said‘Miss you.’

He seemed fun-loving and easy-going through his social media posts. She just hoped it wasn't a facade like most social media accounts.

She put down her phone on the dressing table and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She didn't bother using makeup. There was no need for that. Her dimples and cute smile were enough to make someone fall in love with her.

She adjusted her mustard dupatta and made sure that the knot of her kameez's back was tied tightly. Hoorain huffed a sigh before exiting her bedroom only to crash into her sister Hooriya.

“Aapi, he is so handsome. Just refuse. I want to marry him, yaar!” Hooriya said with excitement, but she was only joking.

“Okay, I will tell your fiance about your decision.” Hoorain teased her.

“Aye! I was joking. My Zayan is more than enough for me.” Hooriya smiled.

“Good. Now leave my way. Let's meet the trouble in person.”

“He is a very big trouble, Aapi.”  Saying so Hooriya left her path and she descended the stairs.

✨✨✨

Hoorain had stepped down the stairs when she heard roars of laughter emerging from the lawn. She went past the glass doors and saw her parents sitting with two gentlemen. One was middle-aged and another one was...

“Breathtaking...” She whispered to her heart beating hundred times a second.

He had brown eyes and black hair. Though he was sitting, she could guess that he must be at least six feet tall. Oh, she was five feet and four inches tall. How will she survive with that bamboo? Maybe her heels would help.

She let the horror of height difference fly out of the window and entered the lawn. The sound of laughter immediately died down as all the eyes turned to her.

Hoorain smiled. Her dimples made her presence known on her smiley face.

Shahmir's looked at her keenly. He was surprised to find out that she was more beautiful in person than her excessively filtered social media posts. Why did she need to filter them at first place?

“Assalam alaikum.” She greeted and sat down beside her mother.

“Walaikum assalam, Hoorain Beta.” Shahmir's father replied and then nudged his son to respond as well.

Shahmir inwardly sighed before replying, “Walaikum assalam.”

“Who wears mustard nowadays?” He thought to himself seeing the mustard colour she wore. He didn't like her fashion sense even a bit. Though he appreciated her not using makeup. But then why she preferred filters for her Instagram posts?

“He is so boring. White shirt and black pants? Man, you are here for interview or something?” Hoorain thought to herself. Though she knew her taste in fashion wasn't really impressive but his taste was worse than hers, she could bet on that.

“Umm... Hoorain, why don't you show around the house to Shahmir?” Her mother insisted.

Hoorain stared at the middle-aged woman for good one minute before replying,“Let him have tea first.” She kept her tone polite, though she deeply wanted to shout at her mother,“IT WAS YOU WHO TOLD ME TO NOT TALK TO STRANGERS AND NOW YOU ARE OKAY WITH ME BEING ALONE WITH THIS PARTICULAR STRANGER.... though I don't mind. He is handsome. But still he is a stranger, mother.”

“Don't worry, Hooriya will bring him the tea.” Her mother smiled sweetly.

Be careful, Aunty Ji, too much sweet can cause diabetes. And your daughter is already praying that for you.

“Okay.” Hoorain again smiled politely before standing up from the couch and eyeing Shahmir who was looking at the scene unamused.

Feeling all the eyes landing on him, he internally sighed before getting up and beckoned her to lead the way.

Hoorain wrapped her dupatta around her back and clutched the viel with much elegance and regality before leading him towards the stairs.

✨✨✨

Shahmir was bored to no ends. It wasn't like he was at Pablo Picasso's house filled with artistic marvels. The walls were painted plain white. Guess what? Miss Mustard got her boring taste from her parents.

“Nice home.” He lies oh so sweetly. As if he hadn't seen such a beautiful home before. Now Ramsha's pink-coloured bedroom too seemed fascinating to him.

Hoorain caught the disinterest in his voice, but still thanked him for the fake compliment.

“So what are you studying?” Shahmir finally asked something that would make some difference to him.

“I have done masters in architecture and right now I am working at a firm.” She replied while entering her bedroom.

Shahmir entered the room after her,“Interesting. So you want to pursue your career after marriage?”

His question had left her a little surprised. They had met for the first time and he is already discussing aftermath of their marriage. But still she replied, “Obviously. I have worked hard to get this degree. I can't let it go waste.”

He smiled at her reply. Now he understood the reason behind her bad fashion. She was more interested in sketching buildings than painting her face. He was impressed.

“Good thing.” He said while looking around the room.

The room fell into silence. Hoorain didn't know what to say and Shahmir was waiting for some questions from her. She must have plenty of them. Then why she wasn't asking?

“Hoorain...” The way he pronounced her name was shamelessly erotic to her ears,“Don't you have any questions?”

“I do...” She glanced at him with uncertainty,“but I don't want to scare you off on our first meeting.”

He smirked with a hint of mischief in his eyes,“Is it really so scary? The question?”

Hoorain noticed the mischief in his brown eyes and said with a smile,“Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you about your size.”

His eyes widened for straight five seconds. He was left flushed by her befitting reply. And when he saw Hooriya entering the room with the tea, he couldn't be more grateful.

“The tea is here.” She put the tray on the coffee table and left, but not before winking at her sister who passed her a look which said,“Leave before I kill you.”

There was only one cup on the tray so Shahmir concluded that Hoorain didn't consume beverages.

He picked the cup of tea and couldn't ignore it's blush pink colour. He took a sip and felt like someone poured the entire world's sugar in his tea. It was deadly sweet.

Pink tea cup. Sugary tea. And a girl wearing mustard colour. It would be the weirdest day of his life.