Gurmukh Singh and Kusum getting married in hospital

HISAR: Meet Gurmukh Singh (23) of Hisar district’s Peeranwali village and Kusum (22) of Hisar city’s Vidyut Nagar. Three days ago, this young couple attempted suicide by consuming an insecticide at a cybercafé in the city as their families were not ready to get them married. But the situation turned on its head by Saturday — Gurmukh and Kusum got hitched during a small function at the hospital they are being treated in.

Parents of the duo said they had a change of heart on seeing the condition of their children, both of who are being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). They are admitted in the ICU, but still dressed up like a bride and a groom for the function. For guests, the duo’s families invited the hospital staff.

A hospital staffer, who did not want to be named, said Gurmukh and Kusum studied together at DN College, Hisar. “They started off as friends, but they fell in love by the time they passed out of college nearly two years ago. Their families were not willing to get them married,” said the staffer.

Crestfallen because of their families’ refusal to allow them to marry, the couple met at a cybercafé near Devi Bhawan Temple and swallowed a pesticide. Gurmukh then informed his elder brother about the suicide attempt on the phone, and his family rushed to the spot and admitted the couple to Bharat Hospital.

Though there was an argument when the families of the couple met for the first time, anger gave way to conciliation after the guard of a doctor, Rubi Chauhan, intervened and asked them to let the children be. Though both Gurmukh and Kusum are unemployed, the families gave their consent to the wedlock.

The staffer said Kusum’s condition is still not well, while Gurmukh’s health has shown improvement. Chauhan said Gurmukh’s family was more stubborn. “But, at the end of the day, people ate more sweets than medicines at the hospital today,” Chauhan added.

Kusum’s father, Vikram, said he would have convinced the boy’s family to let the children marry if she would have been clear. “I don’t want other youngsters to take such steps. Families also understand the feelings of youngsters nowadays,” he added.

Big, fat wedding soon: Boy’s father

The celebrations are not yet over, though. Gurmukh’s father, Dilip Singh, said he would organised a wedding ceremony with pomp and show once the couple were discharged from the hospital. Dilip, who is a former sarpanch of Piranwali village, said he got ready for the marriage after seeing the couple’s condition.

