ABOUT THIS BOOK
Description
The Train Ride and an Unexpected Proposal
Inside a fast-moving train, a beautiful young girl named Aisha sat quietly with her face partially covered in a white and black scarf. Despite being only twelve years old, her charm and innocence were captivating. Tapping her older sister, she whispered, “Adda, I want milk.” Then turning to her mother, she whined playfully, “Mom, when we get to Gombe, I’ll go straight to Nunu’s house. I don’t want to go to grandma’s — she’ll just keep comparing me to Aisha this, Aisha that.”
A woman sitting nearby smiled warmly and asked, “What’s your name?”
“Aisha,” the girl replied softly.
The woman nodded, then turned to her family and whispered, “She’s beautiful. What if we match her with our son, Muhammad? His name is Maher. Aisha and Maher — sounds perfect, right?”
Everyone laughed. Aisha’s parents joined in the amusement, joking that they’d accept the marriage on the spot. But Aisha, embarrassed and confused, stood and ran away.
In her rush, she bumped into a young man who grabbed her arm. Annoyed, she tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go. He reached for her scarf to reveal her face. She fought him off fiercely.
“Let me go!” she snapped. “Not every girl wants to be looked at by men like you!”
He asked, “Who is your father?”
“Your father!” she fired back boldly.
Laughter erupted around them. The boy, stunned and angered, tried to get closer, but Aisha pushed him hard and ran off.
The Terrible Accident
Meanwhile, in the train, Aisha’s mother handed a bag of her belongings to Maher’s mother, and the conversation turned to wedding preparations. It was agreed the two would be engaged, and even a date — March 10th, 2019 — was humorously suggested.
Then suddenly, the train jolted violently. An unexpected derailment occurred in Barikin Ladi, Jos, just before they reached Gombe. The train carrying Aisha and her family collided with a cargo train. The first-class carriages burst into flames. People tried to escape, but those who jumped were injured or killed. It was a nightmare.
Among the chaos, Aisha’s parents searched frantically for her, but it was too late — the fire had engulfed the compartments. The once joyful journey ended in tragedy.
2019 — Noor and Tasleem
In present-day Yola, a blaring alarm woke Noor, a young woman preparing for her NYSC (national service). She shared a room with her twin sister Tasleem, whose beauty and ambition always outshined her own in the eyes of their parents.
Noor, the calmer of the two, did everything early — woke up, bathed, prepared for the day. Tasleem, still dreaming of her fairy tale life, lazily whispered, “Noor! I want a rich, powerful husband who makes everyone say, ‘That’s his wife!’”
Noor sighed. “If you have patience and seek Allah’s choice, you’ll succeed. I just want a simple, peaceful life.”
Tasleem’s life was driven by vanity and family favoritism. Though Noor was the more brilliant and modest of the two, Tasleem received all the attention — simply because their parents saw more “potential” in her.
They had both aimed for medicine. Noor passed; Tasleem didn’t. Yet Noor was pushed into Mass Communication so Tasleem could be placed in a “suitable” course. Noor never complained. She accepted it all silently, even when Tasleem repeatedly sabotaged her relationships out of jealousy.
Noor’s Silent Strength
Despite being overlooked, Noor carried herself with grace. She had a soft heart, deep patience, and a love for quiet. People thought she was arrogant, but she just didn’t like noisy crowds. Her Algerian-Nigerian heritage gave her a radiant complexion, and though not loud about her looks, she was naturally beautiful.
Throughout university, Noor helped Tasleem with studies, only to be ignored later. Eventually, she stopped. Their parents restricted Noor’s dressing while allowing Tasleem to shine. Every time Noor made a new friend or admirer, Tasleem found a way to push them away.
Still, Noor kept to her lane. She valued knowledge over attention, faith over fashion, and dignity over drama.
Now, posted to Yola for NYSC — close to her father — Noor hoped for peace. But destiny, as always, had its own plans.
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading! This is just the beginning of the story. Please be patient as more parts are posted every four days. Your votes and comments will make the story come quicker, In Shaa Allah. If you’re not reading or interested, kindly scroll past — no negativity needed.
Much love – From your writer â¤ï¸
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