This story follows the lives of two prestigious Northern families-one that earned its place, and one that can't afford to lose it. Salma Babajo-skillfully veiled, conflicted, and fiercely proud-has always idolized her father. But he lives by one rule: if you burn the midnight oil to secure something, you hold onto it by hook or by crook. Salma wears her last name like a badge, oblivious to the cracks beneath; until the secrets start to surface. Kabir Yabo is everything Salma is not-reserved, steady, and willing to bend to societal expectations. He tiptoes through life, careful not to step out of line. They have nothing in common... except for a fate neither of them sees coming. But what happens when the perfect son collides with the girl who plays by her own rules? And when what's expected threatens to overpower what's real? Will they fight to protect the illusion they were raised to uphold-or risk everything for a love that was never part of the plan?

2014. A blood-stained Captain, a dark wardrobe, and a fourteen-year-old girl who whispered, "They won't find us." On that night, IHSAN saved a man's life. On that night, Shuraim Imran Zaki promised never to forget the girl who was his light in the dark. ‎ ‎SIX YEARS LATER. ‎ ‎Kaduna is a city of secrets and structure. ‎Ihsan is no longer that terrified child. She is a brilliant medical student who views the world through the cold lens of science and logic. To her, love isn't destiny; it's a psychological illusion she doesn't have time for. ‎ ‎LT COL SHURAIM IMRAN ZAKI is no longer the wounded soldier. At forty-two, he is a man of iron and arrogance. A single father and a high-ranking officer, he commands respect with a single look and rules his world with rigid discipline. ‎ ‎When a chance encounter in the chaotic Kaduna traffic brings them together, he doesn't see his savior. He only sees a reckless girl on an Achaɓe who defies his authority. She sees a "lovely giant" whose arrogance is as vast as his rank. ‎ ‎He calls her "My Ustazia." She calls him "Mr. Arrogant." ‎ ‎And then there is MURAD AL-MANSUR RUBAƊO, DON MURAD, a charming, spoiled rival whose obsession with Ihsan blurs the line between desire and danger. ‎ ‎Meanwhile, IRON SMOKE, the shadow syndicate that manipulates governments, militias, and terror networks, casts its dark hand over Nigeria. Its secrets threaten everything Ihsan and Shuraim hold dear. ‎ ‎In a battle of military discipline, scientific logic, hidden desires, and global danger, who will surrender first and who will survive the smoke? ‎

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?

Sometimes the heart changes its mind... Mujaheed has everything-wealth, power, and a woman he loves. But when family pressure forces him into an arranged marriage with 18-year-old Noor, a quiet and innocent girl from another rich family, his perfect world turns upside down. To Mujaheed, Noor is a stranger he never chose. To Noor, he's a dream turned into cold silence. Their marriage begins with distance, tension, and tears. But behind Noor's silence lies strength, and behind Mujaheed's anger hides confusion. As old love fades and new feelings awaken, the two must face jealousy, heartbreak, and family drama. Will Mujaheed ever let go of his past? Will Noor survive a love that was never hers to begin with? Bound by culture. Tied by family. Will love set them free?

Afeeyah was never supposed to be his wife, She was his sister. The little girl who used to steal his hoodies, hide behind his legs, and fall asleep on his shoulder during long car rides. Afdal loved her - always. But not this way. He loved her in every unseen, unspoken, unreturnable way a boy could love the girl raised beside him. Then life twisted. Destiny flipped the script. And suddenly, the girl who once called him brother... became the woman tied to him by marriage. But love doesn't follow logic. And hearts don't obey timelines. Now Afeeyah must learn to live with a man she still sees through the lens of childhood... While Afdal fights to unbury a love he buried long ago. This isn't a fairy tale. This is faith, family, and a marriage born from chaos. This isn't the marriage she wanted. But maybe... it's the love she needed. Not My Choice, Still My Nikkah - where hearts collide, lines blur, and the real question isn't why... but what now? --- > © Khulsum Saleem. All Rights Reserved. Wattpad Edition | 2025

"The groom is finally here." Khalid's eyes moved to them slowly. Cold. Sharp. "Get out." They hesitated, unsure they heard him right. "I said get the fuck out of my house!" The anger in his voice left no room for argument. Both girls flinched, fear flashing across their faces. Without another word, they rushed past him, nearly tripping over their steps as they fled the room. The door closed behind them. Silence returned - thick and unbearable. Khalid stood there for a moment, just watching her. Ayesha's shoulders shook. Her hands trembled in her lap. She felt his gaze on her like weight pressing her down. Slowly, she tried to stand, her legs weak beneath her. She couldn't breathe properly. She just wanted to leave. Anywhere. Anywhere but here. She took a step toward the door. "Where do you think you're going?" His voice stopped her cold. She swallowed hard, her throat tight, her voice barely a whisper as she answered, "O-out..." Khalid let out a short, humorless laugh. "Aren't you my bride?" he said. "It's our wedding night. Our first night." His tone turned dark. "We should celebrate." Before she could react, he reached out, pulling away her veil. The world tilted. Panic rushed through her veins as he pushed her back onto the bed. "No," she shook her head desperately, tears spilling faster now. "I don't want this. Please-" Her words fell apart on her tongue. He wasn't listening. Hovering above her, his presence felt overwhelming, crushing. The ceiling blurred through her tears. Her hands clenched the sheets, her body stiff with fear. Then something inside her broke. This was her reality now. This was her life. He was her husband. Slowly, she stopped struggling. Her eyes closed tightly, lashes wet, tears escaping anyway. Her lips trembled as she whispered the only words she could find, her voice small, broken, and defeated. "Please... be gentle." a marriage of force. tortured love. love after marriage.

BASED ON A HAUSA LIFESTYLE Follow Manal through her journey as she moves to a new city to begin a new phase of her life, only to innocently Involve herself in a little family of three, along with that she finds herself entangled between two brothers. How will Manal find her way out of this? Through love or through betrayal...or both? Find out in 'Made for You'.

She was the one who loved him first. The one who taught him what love felt like, and the one who left him with it. He never stopped loving her. Not for a second. Years passed, but her absence only carved her deeper into his soul. Until the day the man who despised their love the most brought her back to him. But while a love once lost finds its way back, a new love story had begun. One filled with forced ties, constant clashes, and a connection that refuses to be ignored. Because love doesn't always come gently...Sometimes, it fights its way in. And as emotions collide, secrets begin to surface... secrets that were never meant to be known. If you think you know how this ends? Trust me you don't. The only way to find out is to READ!

The story follows 24-year-old umar Faruq, who has just proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Balkis. Their future is shattered when Faruq's uncle and aunt die in a sudden accident, leaving behind their 7-year-old daughter,Noor khadija. Faruq discovered months prior that his uncle-a man of traditional and rigid beliefs-had legally "betrothed" khadija him to ensure she would never leave the family's protection. Now, faruq is not just khadija's guardian; in the eyes of their traditional community and his uncle's will, he is her future husband.

UNEDITED CHAPTERS 1-25 Armani grew up starved of affection. In a house where love should have lived, her mother's coldness taught her to expect nothing from anyone. She learned to keep her feelings quiet, her hopes small, and her heart guarded. But everything changes when she is forced into an arranged marriage with Zaid Ismael AbdulRahman-a 26-year-old architectural prodigy and powerful multi-millionaire businessman. To the world, Zaid is known as a cold, calculating man. Reserved, disciplined, and distant, he is the kind of man people respect... and fear. No one has ever seen warmth in his eyes. Except Armani. From the very first day of their marriage, the man the world calls heartless treats her with a gentleness she has never known. The same Zaid who terrifies boardrooms speaks to her softly, watches over her quietly, and protects her in ways she never expected. Confused by his kindness and haunted by a lifetime without love, Armani begins to wonder: why is the coldest man in the world so warm only to her? In a marriage that was never meant to hold love, Armani may finally discover the one thing she thought she would never have-a heart that chooses her, every single day. ✨