The idea of arranged marriage vanished into thin air when she set her eyes on him. Although he is nothing close to the man of her dreams, he is a 'picture perfect'. Is there even a Mr. Right?, Amnah wondered. Hell broke loose when his mother decides to organise a bridal contest for her first son. Is she going back to her arranged marriage idea? Will she join the contest?? Is a bridal contest possible in Northern Nigeria??? What is his view on her and the contest? The mystery will be unraveled in the story. You just need to add it to your library and enjoy. ? ? ?

"We have to live together. I am tired of this game" I said. "Game! Do you think what's going on between us is a game, it's destiny Ray, our fate". "I do not know. Sometimes I feel insecure and lonely. Often even in your presence I feel that you are far away from me". I felt a pang. She smiled and looked at me intensely. "That was not your promise Ray, I promised I was going to visit anytime you miss me which I have been doing. You promised not to worry". I kept mute and we ate slowly in silence afterwards. "Let's go" .She said. "Let's ride around". The sky had turned faint red in colour. I rode slowly feeling her warm body pressing against me. The noise of street sank down and i felt deep calmness. We sat on a cement bench under the bridge near the walk way. The view was majestic. The gentle waves in the lake glistened in the fading sun light. Tall grass spread on both sides of the lake like a green carpet. Suddenly she lay down on the grassy ground closing her eyes and took a deep breath. The sky was clear with innumerable stars glistening. "Hey dreamer, come to me". She said her eyes sparkling. I moved forward and lay close to her, then turned to face her. She rolled over to me and i felt her gentle kisses on my face. "I wish to be melted into you, penetrate into you, not just a part of my body but the whole of it. I miss you Marwah". I said and sighed. She laughed looking stunned. Her laughter echoed. "You must have been reading those hot love stories recently Ray". She said making me smile shyly. She pulled me suddenly to her and kissed hard at my lips. I returned her kiss as we hugged each other tightly. The tightness of her hug went soft as she gently pulled away from me. I tried hard to read her face in the reflection of the moon light. I felt a sharp intense pain in my chest as she started to walk away. I yelled her name, crying and telling her to come back. "Strong men don't cry Ray, wipe those tears and know that your Marwah forever loves you".

"There's always light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to hold onto even the flimsiest rays of hope." _Aishatuh M Aisha Humaira, an ardent and sassy young lady aspires to become a journalist. She's a great humanitarian who believes that issues like a society's judgemental tendencies, religious conflicts and the likes of them shouldn't be a country's day to day routine, but issues that should only be read about in history books of past generations. However, growing up in the northern part of Nigeria seems much big of a challenge for her to be able to change the mentality some people posess, of journalism being an improper course of study to any girl brought up in a modest arewa home. With an unsupportive family and a judgemental society, can she achieve her ultimate goal agaisnt all odds by becoming a journalist? When her world comes crashing down in the process with a dream that seems too far from reach, will she relinquish or stand on her ground? Find out on this rollercoaster journey where life isn't just a bed full of roses but full of thorns as well, capable of pricking those determined to come out of it as winners. Tears of pain and joy will be shed, hearts will be broken, hopes will be shattered and lastly rays of hope will surely bring about light at the end of the tunnel. Copyright ©️ 2020 by Firdausi Aliyu Kakangi