Love under the sign of fire

When Kiani arrived in Zimuniya for the annual love festival, the city was already gripped by a sensual lightness. Many amusements such as masked balls, heroic fights in the arena, dances or lyrical performances, all of which served only one purpose - to find love in all possible forms, awaited numerous guests from all parts of Layida.
  Kiani sat in a sedan chair carried by four men. Through the curtains she could see the streets and houses without anyone seeing her. Scents of patchouli and orange blossom mixed with the smells of exotic spices. Rhythmic music played in the background, making Kiani want to dance. She stopped the sedan chair, got out and let the sounds carry her to the market square.
  Several couples had already found each other there, hugging their bodies close to each other to the rhythm of the drums and dancing with each other in a trance-like state. On a stage stood a man who embodied the god of ardent love Jayadiba and performed a fire show. Kiani watched the scene from the edge until she grabbed the hand of a handsome Layikani and pulled it to his body. She followed his movements and let him guide her completely.
  The stranger pulled Kiani further into the middle of the square. Pheromones danced invisibly through the air with the couples and allowed the couples to exchange caresses and kisses with each other. Kiani's dance partner stood behind her and kissed her neck and shoulders as he pressed her hips tightly against his body. Kiani's skin tingled and butterflies awoke inside her. But she knew that this was just a fleeting moment and just the start of her journey that might end in love.

Tiala stood next to her sister Mabika, holding her hand, the nails of which dug into Tiala's skin. Mabika's face was covered by a saffron-colored veil and was only to be lifted by her groom shortly before the wedding night. But Tiala's sore hand told her that her sister was worried. She had never seen her future husband before. The marriage and dowry had been negotiated by Mabika's mother and future mother-in-law and after a year of ritual preparations for the marriage, Mabika would be married today.
  The wedding took place in the courtyard of the parents' house, which was decorated with lots of yellow, purple and orange flowers and garlands. In the middle of the courtyard lay a few spotted camel skins, on which stood a padded bench. A canopy with scarves in the same colors provided the future couple with shade from the hot sun. The parents of the bride and groom and relatives stood around the canopy.
  Tiala led her sister under the canopy and placed Mabika's hands in the groom's. He pulled one hand to his chest and one hand to the cheek of his face. The groom's mother then asked: "Do you accept our gift?", to which Mabika replied: "In honor of Jayadibu, the god of ardent love, thank your house." affirmed. Next, Mabika's mother asked the same question, however this time the groom's mother responded with the same answer. This marked the marriage ceremony and the husband was accepted into Tiala's family.