‘Forced to wait’ for 17 hours over age proof, couple get married on V-Day

The lack of age proof of a bride forced a groom to wait for over 17 hours to get married. However, the delay helped the couple marry on Valentine’s Day.

“This is a blessing in disguise,” said Kanha, 23, the groom from Chandan Nagar area in Indore, who got married to Anju from Sanawad.

“Sabar ka phal meetha hota hai ( The fruit of patience is sweet) and 17- hour- long wait made our marriage memorable as earlier we planned to marry on Saturday (on the eve of Valentine’s Day), but the delay helped us marry on the day of love,” the groom added, who looked happy and relieved after the 17-hour delay.

According to information, the delay happened after Anju’s father Radheshyam, who recently shifted from Sanawad to Indore along with his family failed to furnish relevant documents to prove that his daughter is an adult to the flying squad to prevent child marriages on Saturday evening.

Flying squad members allowed the wedding to be solemnized after Anju’s father was able to furnish age proof of the girl. The whole process took 17 hours.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, flying squad incharge Mahendra Pathak and Devendra Pathak said they had got complaint that a minor is due to get married.

Kanha who had a driving licence proved his age while Anju’s parents who recently shifted to Indore from Sanawad, situated about 70 kilometres away, failed to provide relevant documents.

“However, the bride’s father managed to get her horoscope which was prepared at the time of Anju’s birth from his native place on Sunday morning and it took 17 hours for him,” Pathak said.

“We have accepted the proof submitted by Radheshyam and allowed them to solemnize the wedding, but will conduct her medical check-up in the morning to ensure that she is of marriageable age,” Pathak added.