JADWA

Zulaiha Abdallah is a final-year medical student at Nile University, Abuja, living with a past the world refuses to let go. She once loved the wrong man-an abusive relationship kept hidden from everyone. One night, while trying to protect herself, he died. The court ruled it self-defence, but society passed its own judgement. Cleared by law, yet condemned by people, Zulaiha is forced to live with labels such as "A woman who lost her virginity before marriage" whispers, and the stigma of not fitting into society's idea of a "pure" woman. During a visit home for Eid in Kano, her life takes another turn when she is pushed into an arranged marriage meant to settle debts and repair damaged reputations-not to bring love or healing. Her soon-to-be husband, Umar Al Muqtadir, is a respected and successful man with a past as dark as hers. Years ago, an affair led to a child he never got to raise, his lover commited sucide, and a promise he made to never forget her and to find his child. Two broken souls. One forced marriage. Secrets buried deep. As the truth about the past begins to surface- What happens when Umar finds out his child was killed by his girlfriend- about death, guilt, and a child lost "Who was this girlfriend?" -Zulaiha must face the question that has followed her all her life: Is this marriage her punishment... or her only chance at survival?

She was the loud, modern first-year who never cared what people thought. He was the final-year topper everyone admired-disciplined, feared, and untouchable. They hated each other from the very start. But one ruined wedding, one broken promise... and one desperate decision tied them together in a secret nikkah no one could know about. Enemies in public. Strangers at home. And yet-two souls bound by a sacred vow neither of them wanted. Will pride keep them apart, or will faith bring them closer?

Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. Aisha Aminu Babangida has spent her life searching for a passion she can truly call her own. Growing up in a household that stifled her choices, she never had the freedom to explore what she loved. Worse, relentless body shaming from her stepmother and those around her left her feeling trapped in her own skin. "You're too skinny!" "Do you even eat at all? "I swear you gained weight yesterday, but today you look..." And her personal favorite from her future husband. "...all bones." People claimed to envy her body, but Aisha knew better. What was there to be jealous of? Struggling with an eating disorder, anxiety and depression, she makes a bold decision; to take control of her life by joining the gym. Her weight gain journey was anything but easy, but she is determined to rewrite her own story. Khalid Muhammad Bugaje has only ever had one goal; to live up to his father's legacy. Raised on stories of power, discipline, and honor, he knew from a young age that failure was not an option. As the son of a highly respected General, expectations weighed on him heavier than any armor. But when his father suggests that he marry a woman he cannot stand, Khalid finds himself in a battle unlike any other. One that has nothing to do with war and everything to do with the heart. And for the first time in his life, he loses.

Copyright© 2023. All rights reserved. Meet Yasmin El-suraj, the epitome of determination. Defying the stifling norms of a judgmental society, Yasmin fervently pursues her dreams to ensure her family's rightful prosperity. In a society quick to judge, branding a woman's success as tied to whoring about and veiling it under a less prosperous business, Yasmin refuse to be defined by prejudice. When fate presents her the chance to become an event planner, Yasmin seizes it like a lifeline, disregarding her humble beginnings and embracing the opportunity with vigor. As the youngest and least affluent among her peers, she pours her heart and soul into mastering the craft, unwilling to squander this chance. Amidst the whirlwind of her burgeoning career, fate orchestrates a pivotal encounter during her first wedding event-a meeting with Abdullah, a groomsman. A man she knew she wanted, she fell for at first sight. The memory of their first interaction is a blend of blushing embarrassment and unforgettable mortification, etching itself indelibly in Yasmin's psyche. Most wouldn't look his way ever again and would hope to never meet in this lifetime, but not Yasmin. Despite discovering Abdullah's impending marriage, she stakes her claim, unyielding in a society where a man can have four wives, determined to find her place in his life.