Episode 1 — A Stranger in a Foreign Land
It was a peaceful evening in Lahore.
Hoor Pari stood beside the window of her room, looking at the sky. Her phone was in her hand, but she wasn't looking at the screen.
She had been feeling something strange about the house for the past few days.
Her father kept talking to his second wife, Meera, on the phone. And whenever he came into Hoor Pari's room, he would suddenly change the subject.
Hoor Pari didn't like it at all.
Suddenly, the door opened.
"Hoor Pari!"
She turned around.
Her father was standing at the door.
"Yes, Dad?"
"Pack your things."
Hoor Pari stared at him for a few seconds.
"Where am I going?"
"Korea."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
"You are going to Korea with Meera."
Hoor Pari immediately shook her head.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Her father frowned.
"Hoor Pari, the decision has already been made."
"You made the decision. I didn't."
Her father went silent.
Hoor Pari crossed her arms.
"And why exactly am I suddenly being sent to Korea?"
"They need you there."
"Who?"
There was no answer.
Hoor Pari took a step forward.
"Dad, I asked you a question."
"Meera."
A sarcastic smile appeared on Hoor Pari's face.
"Oh… so the real order came from her."
"Hoor Pari!"
"I'm just asking, Dad. Why are you getting angry?"
Her father sighed deeply.
"You will not disrespect Meera. She is your stepmother."
Hoor Pari's expression became serious.
"A relationship deserves respect, Dad. Not just a title."
She turned around and walked back into her room.
The door closed behind her.
Hoor Pari took a deep breath.
She had no idea that within a few days, she would be starting the biggest journey of her life.
---
A Few Days Later…
Seoul, South Korea
Hoor Pari stood outside the airport, holding her bag and looking visibly annoyed.
Standing in front of her was a beautiful Korean woman.
Meera.
Her stepmother.
Meera looked Hoor Pari up and down.
"Why did you bring so much luggage?"
Hoor Pari glanced at her bag.
"It's my luggage. I decide how much I bring."
Meera's expression immediately turned unpleasant.
"You've become very independent in Pakistan."
Hoor Pari answered without hesitation.
"Yes. And I plan to remain the same here."
Meera stared at her angrily.
"You will have to learn the rules here."
"Of course. But you'll have to learn something too."
"What?"
Hoor Pari smiled.
"That I don't quietly tolerate everything."
Meera's face hardened.
"Get in the car."
"Yes, that's probably better. Fighting at the airport wouldn't look very nice."
Hoor Pari walked toward the car.
Meera followed her with an irritated expression.
---
The car moved through the busy streets of Seoul.
Hoor Pari stared silently through the window.
A new country.
A new language.
New people.
And a house she hadn't chosen to come to.
After some time, the car stopped in front of a huge, beautiful house.
Hoor Pari looked through the window.
"This is the house?"
"Yes," Meera replied coldly.
Hoor Pari stepped out of the car.
She looked at the house and then at Meera.
"Nice."
Meera looked surprised.
"That's it?"
"What?"
"You have nothing else to say after seeing this house?"
Hoor Pari shrugged.
"It's big. It's beautiful… but it's not mine."
Something strange flashed in Meera's eyes.
"After a few days, it won't feel like yours either."
Hoor Pari looked directly at her.
"Was that a threat?"
Meera remained silent.
Hoor Pari smiled.
"Fine. Let's go inside. I want to see what exactly is so special about this house that I was brought all the way from Pakistan."
---
It was late at night.
Hoor Pari stood near the window of her new bedroom.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of a car stopping downstairs.
She moved the curtain aside.
A black car had stopped in front of the house.
A tall man stepped out.
He was wearing a black coat. His face was serious, and there was something about the way he carried himself that made it seem as if everyone inside the house had been waiting for his arrival.
Hoor Pari narrowed her eyes.
"Who is he?"
At that exact moment, her bedroom door opened.
Meera walked inside.
Hoor Pari immediately turned toward her.
"Who is that?"
Meera looked toward the window.
The color suddenly disappeared from her face.
"You stay in your room."
Hoor Pari stared at her.
"Why?"
"Just do as I say."
"I hate 'just do as I say.' Give me a reason."
Meera's voice became stern.
"Hoor Pari, stay away from that man."
Hoor Pari looked outside again.
The man was now walking toward the entrance of the house.
A small smile appeared on Hoor Pari's lips.
"Now I'm even more curious to know who he is."
"Hoor Pari!"
Hoor Pari looked innocently at her.
"What? I haven't even done anything yet."
A door opened downstairs.
And within seconds, the entire atmosphere of the house changed.
Hoor Pari still didn't know who that man was.
But one thing was about to become clear—
He wasn't an ordinary man.
And with his arrival, Hoor Pari's life was about to become anything but ordinary.
To Be Continued…
