In the days that followed the transaction, the village buzzed with anticipation as preparations for Zuri's impending wedding began in earnest. Women draped in vibrant fabrics gathered under the shade of acacia trees, their voices blending in harmonious melodies as they prepared ceremonial dishes and adorned themselves in traditional attire.
Zuri, caught in the whirlwind of rituals meant to signify her readiness for marriage, found solace in the rhythmic beats of the drummers and the gentle touch of her mother's hands. Her heart fluttered with a mixture of apprehension and resignation, her gaze drifting to the horizon where dreams once held aloft now faded like mirages in the desert heat.