A few minutes into the walk, I heard footsteps shuffling behind me. I tensed up and halted in my tracks. My heart began to pound violently in my chest. I felt too afraid to even do anything. I stayed glued to my spot, but that didn't stop the footsteps from approaching. Mustering all of the courage left in me, I spun around and to my utmost horror, two men - more like thugs were standing just few inches away from me. Ya Allah, please protect me! I don't want to die like this. I spun back around and started walking, my pace increasing rapidly. "Hey! Where the f*** do you think you're going, bit**" One of the men slurred. By the tone of his voice, I could tell he was tipsy or high. The rate of my fear intensified. MANAL ❤ ©2019

There are some things you just don't get over. No matter how hard you try, some memories just don't fade away. Even if the edges are hazy, the feelings resurface inside you every time a particular person crosses your mind. Laeeq Abdullah had one such feeling wrapped in barbed wire and pushed inside his heart. For him, every big disaster he's had was a result of love. Then again, like the poets say - "how is the heart not brave, when after shattering a million times, it mends itself and walks ahead?" Leila Muhammad had everything a content muslimah could wish for - except perhaps love. Being the bookworm that she is, she's had enough exposure to know the difference between halaal and haraam. But would her heart be willing to sacrifice itself for someone like Laeeq? Someone who - despite having the best of manners - has been battered in the battlefield of love? After all, it takes a long voyage within qalbs to understand the depths of a situation - which is exactly what this story will do.

Hilwa Haroun, a spirited girl from a small town in Nigeria, relocates to the bustling city of Abuja, hoping for a fresh start and new opportunities. However, adapting to her new life proves to be a challenging journey filled with unexpected twists. As she navigates the fast-paced lifestyle and the complexities of a blended family with contrasting personalities, Hilwa struggles to find her place in a world that feels foreign. Just when she begins to settle in, a shocking revelation turns her life upside down, presenting her with a challenge she never anticipated. Faced with emotional turmoil, Hilwa must confront her fears. Will she be able to embrace the changes and accept this unexpected turn of events with an open heart, or will it push her further away from the life she longs to build? Join Hilwa on this exhilarating and poignant journey as she learns to balance love, family, and self-discovery in a city that promises both excitement and uncertainty. It's a bumpy, emotional and an exciting ride. BETWEEN TWO WORLDS. H I L W A. ~ H E L WA.