Hareem was adopted as an infant by Zahida, who only thinks of her as a daughter-in-law. Hareem refuses to acknowledge her birth mother, Nighat, who tries to reconcile with her, but visits to enjoy time with her sisters Nadia and Sadia. A shopkeeper, Fahad, shows an interest in her. Hareem's adoptive father, Shabir, is killed in an accident while coming to bring her home.

Shabir's brother Qadeer takes charge of Zahida's home, confining her for the iddah, so Zahida sends Hareem to live with her birth family.

Hareem overhears that Nadia is soon to marry, and becomes angry that Nighat kept this information from her. Hareem vows to marry a rich man before Nadia's wedding, and befriends Fahad.

Hareem tells Fahad that she wants to marry him before Nadia gets married, claiming that she is racing her sister. At the engagement party of Nadia and Ali, Hareem claims that she is Nadia's step-sister, shocking Ali and his mother Surrahya. Upset, Nadia refuses to consider Hareem as her sister. Ali's mother becomes angry and tells Ali not to marry into Nadia's family, as it doesn't know its own relations. However, Ali explains[clarify] to his mother, who accepts the engagement.

Ali happens to see Hareem and Fahad in a car; this provokes a fight between Nadia and Hareem. Hareem tells Nighat that Fahad is a businessman with family in Dubai, and that she has to say "yes" when asked about her nikah (Islamic marriage contract).[relevant?] Nighat refuses unless she is sure of the match, so Hareem asks for her marriage to be arranged in court. Hareem goes with Fahad to buy new clothes, and returns to find Zahida visiting and concerned. Hareem calls Zahida "aunt", provoking a fight about whether Zahida is Hareem's mother or aunt. Later, Nadia tells Hareem that Ali learned Fahad doesn't own the shop he works in, angering Hareem and pushing her closer to Fahad.