DEHRADUN: This is one “wedding” the bridegroom would like to erase from his memory -- just as the couple was about to exchange garlands and take wedding vows at Aavdipurhal village in Laskar , Haridwar , in marched a woman claiming to be his “girlfriend”. Accompanied by a friend, the woman slapped the bridegroom several times, in public view. She was pushed away by other wedding guests. She said she had been in a relationship with the groom for many years and had entered into a court marriage with him. She threatened to get him arrested, if he dared marry another woman.

Other members of the groom’s family attempted to persuade the furious woman. After she left the venue of the wedding, however, things only got even worse for the groom. The bride refused to proceed with the wedding rituals, saying she could not accept as her husband a man who showed such scant regard for women. Her own family too understood her stance, and asked the groom and his family to return.

A man present at the wedding, unwilling to be named, said the two families decided against approaching police. The matter was taken to the panchayat instead.

The groom’s family pleaded with the panchayat to offer them a solution that would allow them to escape further humiliation. After hearing the matter, the panchayat suggested that the bride consider marrying the man’s younger brother instead.

The bride and her kin accepted the suggestion, and the matter found amicable resolution – the marriage was solemnized late Sunday.

