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Neela Bashir and Khadija Islam were both women wronged by society. Being dealt a bad hand at a young age – one in form of her husband and the other mother-in-law – and having to adapt, adjust and put the pieces of their hearts repeatedly back together, had taught them to become tough. Their friendship was based on supporting each other, and often allowing the other to be bitter while venting the bad memories. When the news of a possibility of turning their friendship in a family tie, both women were ecstatic.

They left behind the hottest summer the country had suffered in years, and entered winter. Katrina shifted to her new workplace. Getting used to new people, adjusting to a new environment, and learning the ropes of a new position were daunting; Salman was always there to comfort her with his encouraging reminders.

"The harder you work, the wealthier you'll get; and I've always wanted to be a trophy husband."

Their interactions were limited to their weekly outings - and the only way Katrina's father allowed them to go out were if they were accompanied by Tamara. As the spent time with each other, Tamara grumbled under her breath about being a third wheel, until Salman lured her with the bribery of free food.

Arif Khan at first was concerned about the possible union. He was satisfied with Salman's education and upbringing, but the fact remained that his grandfather was once upon a time a politician - and a prominent one at that. After their last experience with politicians, the girl's father was bound to be worried.

"I understand the grandfather has now retired, but what if Salman decides to follow his footsteps and enter politics too?"

At that, Tamara burst out laughing. "Chachu, believe me when I say, that is not a possibility," she assured him. "He possesses as much tact as our desi aunties. Nobody would allow him to become a politician even if he tried to."

At times when Salman drove to their house to drop the sisters home, their grandmother would be standing by the window waiting for them. Then as Salman blew her kisses, Zahira Khan could be seen blushing like a young girl.

The rascal twins at times would be waiting for Salman at their gate.

As Katrina bid him goodbye and disappeared through the gates, they patted down Salman's car meaningfully and threw him evil grins.

Salman attempted to bribe them with, "I can't afford to buy another car like this again," Salman told them. "But I have a friend who can. He has a lot of money, too much. And his cars are much nicer..."

Then one day Salman showed up in one of their Dadi's live videos once, and the views went through the roof. So then the twins began to soften towards him. They struck a deal with him to allow them to become his Social Media Manager. They were now on the journey to making Salman an Instagram model.

Despite his relationship with her grandmother, he also maintained healthy ties with her mother. When Khadija lamented, he listened with the utmost patience and compassion. He was the only man in history who managed to balance these two women. Arif Khan begrudgingly began coming to Salman for weekly lessons.

Katrina watched as he made his own place with her family. She was pleasantly surprised when he not only understood her need to take care of her family financially, but supported and respected it too.

She realized it had a lot to do with the fact that he had been raised by a single mother. Salman had seen a darker side of society at a young age, one seldom seen by most people. He opened up to her about his parents' failed marriage and the discrimination he faced within his own family all through out his childhood due to growing up without a father, despite how difficult it was for him to speak about it.

"I have never seen you like this." Tamara said to her one day, while returning home from work.

"Like what?"

"Like this, how you are with Salman Bhai."

Her cousin didn't elaborate, but she didn't need to. Katrina couldn't deny herself how Salman made her feel. He showed her a side of her own self she didn't even know existed, and elicited such a kaleidoscope of emotions in her she didn't know was possible. He made her feel warm and cold, elicited the desire to chase, and comforted her with the blanket of being desired at the same time.

She was growing to trust him with her entire heart and soul, and felt a overwhelming reassuring feeling in her heart that he would be there for her, no matter how difficult it became.

Katrina would have never in a million years expected to end up with a guy like Salman; but at times, when she caught herself laughing at one of his really cheesy jokes, Katrina didn't mind the idea of spending the rest of her life with him

Dahlia and Kaveh were attempting to piece together their life, one step at a time.

It had been almost a month since they officially settled into their place, but the couple was still forced to dart between their three residences since they hadn't managed to fully move their things. Between unpacking, learning how to manage their own household, and balancing work all the while - they were scrambling to find a semblance of stability in their lives.

As the cherry on top of a leaning cake, the social obligations were pressing on. Dahlia was growing weary of receiving calls from either her own mother or Yasmine Fayyad regarding dinner invitations to one relative or the other.

Dahlia quickly realized her husband's work hours were insane. She always knew he was a busy man because of the nature of his job, but being married to him, and sharing a house with him, made her realize the extent of it.

He made an effort to make it home for dinner every night. But at least a couple times a week Dahlia would find herself eating alone. By the time Kaveh would tip-toe into the apartment, he would find her sleeping on the couch in their living room with the television playing.

Dahlia was beginning to spend her days in her own company, for the first time in her life. Learning to become familiar with the silence of her new house, all the while getting used to missing out on important milestones of her nieces and nephews, were painful adjustments for her.

She also struggled to find her standing with her husband. The first thing Dahlia learned about Kaveh was just how protective he was of his personal space. His insistence on doing everything himself was something he carried into their new house as well. He was self-sufficient, organized and disciplined, to the point it was overwhelming.

Slowly but surely, she managed to weave her way into his life. He had no choice but to lower his carefully built walls for the headstrong girl. He also had to learn to patiently deal with all seven of Dahlia's personalities when she had mood swings. In return, she tried to respect his boundaries regarding certain things - to some extent.

He never uttered a word of dissatisfaction towards her, but soon, his insistence on order and discipline motivated Dahlia to pick up responsibility around the house - which did not come naturally to her.

For the first time in her life, Dahlia felt like she was being respected like an adult. She was her parents' baby, being the youngest child in the house. But Kaveh involved her in every major or minute decision regarding his, and their, life - and her opinions were always valued by him.

While learning how to strike a balance in their relationship, learning each other's quirks and habits, and keeping up with social obligations - their house was slowly getting organized. The suitcases were unpacked and put away, the furniture were being arranged. Dahlia started to get excited at the sight of Home Living magazines and Pinterest boards regarding it.

From a cluttered, horrifying junk yard, their rooms were finally starting to look comforting and welcoming. Their kitchen racks were installed and colored with spices. They spent an entire afternoon color-coding Kaveh's clothes because he kept loosing sleep over it.

As Winter graced their city, Dahlia's mid-term was upon them. Kaveh ensured that all her distractions were taken away ("because nothing in this world is more important than education, Dahlia"). He had the terrifying revelation that she was the kind of person who pushed her deadlines till the last second. His anxiety over her procrastinating habits, and attempts to fix them, drove her up the wall.

Once her exams were over, Ibrahim and Malika visited their home late into the night with sweets and snacks to celebrate. It soon became a tradition for them to visit Dahlia and Kaveh the night before the weekends, after the kids were put to sleep; though Kaveh was very prompt about his bedtime, he let loose of his own rules for that one day of the week and actually seemed to enjoy the company of her mildly psychotic family.

Dinners with the Fayyads on the weekends were becoming another tradition. When Arshad Fayyad lost it or were too unfair on his son, Dahlia held Kaveh's hand under the dinner table to comfort him; and when both of their families refused to accept their boundaries and began to drive them crazy - she was the one to stand up and refuse them because he didn't know how to handle them.

At times, when Dahlia stood on their balcony, watching the sunset by the horizon as its last rays filled her house, she couldn't help but think how she had never felt she belonged anywhere more than where she was now; not at her parents' home, or her in-laws. Because in this place, she was starting to build her home with Kaveh.