In Pakistan, from love at first sight to vendetta

From a modest hotel room on a busy Lahore street, the author scrolls through her phone. A notification appears: a LinkedIn user has viewed her profile. It's Farhan, an acquaintance with whom she has had no contact for six months. Her heart quickens. Five minutes later, another notification: it's him again. She texts, suggesting they meet for tea, clarifying it would be "strictly platonic."

“

I wanted to see you here to tell you that we must not see each other anymore...

Hours later, they are in the same hotel room. Farhan, smoking cigarettes, tells her he wanted to see her to say they must not see each other anymore. When she questions the need for a hotel to convey this message, he expresses concern about being seen together in public. She dismisses his worries as paranoia, but he insists there is something he hasn't told her.

“

Did you really need a hotel to tell me that?

Months earlier, during a reporting trip in the sugarcane fields, the author met Farhan, who was translating and assisting with the interview. She observed him discreetly, noting his gentle smile and the way he navigated the terrain. Despite his traditional demeanor, she found herself drawn to him, her pulse quickening when their eyes met. She learned he was married, a common situation in Pakistan where most unions are arranged and women marry young.

“

In a cafe, people could see us.

Unexpectedly, Farhan contacted her the next day, initially to discuss the report. Their exchanges quickly became daily and extended beyond professional topics, with the author eagerly awaiting his messages. Around the same time, she moved into her own apartment, offering a rare degree of freedom in Pakistani society, where inviting male guests is often restricted. Farhan inquired about when she would invite him over, a suggestion she found tempting but approached with caution, given his marital status and the cultural context of Pakistan.

“

You're paranoid.