When Swarajya visited the Nehru Colony in Haryana's Faridabad district on Wednesday, the familiar signs suggesting a sensational crime were missing. No police or media could be seen. Also missing were any signs of Eid festivities in this mostly Muslim-populated area.

Irshad Qureshi, a 20-year-old resident, helps with direction to the house of Sanjay Kumar, the victim. A group of women are sitting outside in the street on a plastic mat. Amidst them are Sanjay's inconsolable mother Manju Kumari and her sister Saroj.

Sanjay, who was about 22, fell in love with Rukhsar when they lived in adjoining houses in the same colony. About a year ago, the two eloped. They would next reappear in the colony eight months later.

A wailing Manju told Swarajya that Sanjay took Rukhsar to his grandfather's house in Rajasthan where they registered their marriage in a court.

Rukhsar changed her name to Rukmini, and began observing Hindu festivals and rituals, says Manju. A neighbour shows a photograph of the couple of their wedding day where Rukhsar is wearing sindoor. "Nobody asked her to change her religion or name. She did it on her own," says Manju's neighbour Babli. "She liked our things, chooda (bangles), sindoor and mehendi. She also liked observing fasts, particularly Karwa Chauth," Babli says.