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Pakistan's chaiwala: The eyes that got the world looking

When 25-year-old Arshad Khan's picture was shared on Instagram this week, online users fell weak at the knees at the sight of the dashingly handsome Pakistani market stall worker.

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While Pakistan's newly-dubbed 'blue-eyed boy' began breaking the Internet on Monday, he had no idea of the stir he was causing around the world - because he doesn't even own a mobile phone.

 

Yes he smiles ?? #sorryladies #jiahsphotography #islamabad #pakistan #chaiwala
A photo posted by Jiah Ali (@jiah_ali) on Oct 18, 2016 at 9:49am PDT

When 25-year-old Arshad Khan's picture was shared on Instagram this week, online users fell weak at the knees at the sight of the dashingly handsome Pakistani market stall worker.
Take a look: Handsome Pakistani 'chaiwala' is breaking the internet
Within hours, the hugely popular 'Chaiwala of Pakistan' image - which sees Khan gaze powerfully at the camera - garnered hundreds of thousands of shares across social media.

 

#chaiwala Ladies I found him!
A photo posted by Jiah Ali (@jiah_ali) on Oct 17, 2016 at 11:23pm PDT

 

Arshad khan making me some tea ;) #chaiwala
A photo posted by Jiah Ali (@jiah_ali) on Oct 18, 2016 at 12:03am PDT

Jiah Ali (@jiah_ali) is the lady behind the picture and here, she tells Khaleej Times a little more about her encounter with the once mystery man.
"I actually went back to the market this morning to see if I could find him. When I told him that his picture went viral he was a bit confused and very shy, but he sheepishly said 'thanks'. I found out that he didn't even own a phone."
Ali snapped the viral picture more than one month ago.
"I was lucky because in the first two shots he was looking down, but then I got two pictures of him looking up. That's when I noticed his eyes."

 

Here are two more pictures of this viral Hot-tea ;) P.s: sorry for the annoying watermark, but I had to since alot of people are sharing it without credits! #potd #instadaily #igersislamabad #igerspakistan #instagram #nikon #jiahsphotography #nikonpakistan #vscocam #vscogrid #dawndotcom #shutterpak #etribunepk #photography #photographer #streetphotography #chaiwala
A photo posted by Jiah Ali (@jiah_ali) on Oct 16, 2016 at 10:39am PDT

She said she didn't post it immediately because she had "better pictures to showcase".
But it seems the world disagreed following its now 'viral' status.
"It was those eyes. That's essentially what got the world looking."
So what drew Ali to take his picture?
Well despite the subject's strikingly good looks and baby blue eyes, it was actually his tea-making skills that first attracted the part-time photographer to him.

Surgical Strikes on Indian girls though Pak #ChaiWala . Do we really need to unleash our other weapons? ???????????? pic.twitter.com/28AnCEGQWG
- Sohail Cheema MD (@sohailcheemamd) October 17, 2016

During a photo walk through the Sunday markets in her home city of Islamabad, Ali was stopped in her tracks by the master chaiwala.
"I was amazed by the amount of effort he put into his work. The way he made the tea, it was with so much dedication."
And when he noticed her snapping away, she said he became "shy and hid in his stall".
Following the picture's initial post, Ali said huge crowds have begun gathering at Khan's market stall, and we can bet you it's not for the tea.
"His friends on the nearby stalls were saying how popular he has gotten to be and joked  that he might be kidnapped. I also heard that a talent manager has signed him up."
Since posting the pics, Ali has gained in popularity too.
With around 3,200 followers on Instagram, she has now climbed to more than 13,000, and her Facebook photography page has grown from 85,000 likes to more than 109,000.
"I even had a press company reach out to me asking me to drop my copyright of the image for a large sum of money. I declined though."
Only time will tell if we'll be seeing more of this handsome chaiwala online.but something tells me no one will be complaining if we do.
kelly@khaleejtimes.com