Chennai: Normally, when a groom escapes from the marriage hall to avoid getting married, there is chaos, name-calling and an inevitable police complaint. Things were a little different though when a similar incident happened at a corporation community hall in Shenoy Nagar — barring a few hours delay. An eligible bachelor stepped up and married the bride, thus ensuring a happy ending that is straight out of a Tamil film.
For Suganya (25) and her father Govindaraj, who live in Koyambedu, things went horribly wrong when they realised that groom-to-be Venkatesh was nowhere to be seen at the auspicious time on Sunday. “He had seemed fine through the reception. He appeared to be enjoying himself with five of his friends from Bangalore,” said Shankar, one of the girl’s relatives. Originally hailing from Gingee, Venkatesh had been working as an employee in a pizza outlet in the garden city — a ‘good’ job considering the lower-economic status of both of the families, added Shankar.
After the reception ended on Saturday night, Venkatesh and his friends remained in the marriage hall until 3 am, according to Govindaraj. “He then said he was going to see his friends off and went outside. We never saw him again,” alleged Shankar. As the wedding hour drew near, arguments broke out between the families. “Our family almost attacked theirs, but they honestly didn’t know where the groom was,” he added.
Just as the wedding was on the verge of being called off, the girl’s uncle remembered that there was a man from their caste, who had been seeking an alliance for a few years. As soon as prospective groom Sudhir’s name was suggested, the bride’s father went to their house in Maduravoyal and explained the situation to him.
“He was sympathetic, but asked to speak to the bride initially,” said a woman police officer. After Sudhir met Suganya and spoke to her for about two hours, they decided to get married. The wedding was conducted at 11 am and there was relief all round. However, a few relatives of the bride lodged a complaint with Aminjikarai police and two of the groom’s absconding friends who had fled were picked up.
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