'Can I be the bari beti this time?' People are lining up to be part of Pakistan’s first custom-made khandan

Back in April, when Instagram creator Saba Masood announced that she was building Pakistan's first "custom-made khandan," many people thought it was just another quirky social media experiment.

It wasn't.

On April 10, Saba posted an open invitation to the internet. "Pakistan's First Custom-Made Family is finally here! I'm creating my own khandan from scratch—and guess what? You can be a part of it!"

The rules were simple. If you wanted to become a cousin, all you had to do was send an introduction, a voice note, your hobbies, goals, qualifications, and a photo.

The selection criteria? "Vibes only."

The idea instantly struck a nerve online. Some people treated it as a joke. Others were genuinely interested. And then there were those who seemed weirdly excited by the prospect of upgrading their family role.

"Can I be the bari beti this time? I'm done with the choti beti role," one user joked. Another commenter was fascinated by the social experiment itself. "It's such an intriguing and unusual concept—I’m curious to see if it actually works out, and whether they eventually live like cousins forever or end up leaving the family."

But the most surprising part came later. Because people didn't just apply.

They stayed.

A few weeks ago, Saba posted an update featuring members of the now-famous custom-made khandan, and the testimonials sounded less like an online group chat and more like a family reunion.

Participants described finding support for their studies, careers, businesses, and personal lives. Others spoke about having people to celebrate with, seek advice from, or simply talk to after a difficult day.

According to Saba, the strangers she brought together eventually became: "The most loyal, caring, supportive, funniest and emotionally connected cousins ever."

And judging by the responses, many people seem to agree.

In an era where loneliness has become a surprisingly common topic online, the idea of intentionally building community appears to have resonated with thousands.

One comment perhaps summed up the entire project better than anything else: "Some people become home without sharing blood."

What started as a quirky Instagram post about recruiting cousins has somehow turned into one of the internet's most unexpectedly wholesome social experiments. And honestly? The custom-made khandan might have more family group chat activity than some real families.