Married after 4-yr courtship, couple separate same day

Madurai: Four years of love survived parental opposition, but the marriage celebrations did not last even a day. A couple who tied the knot on Monday morning parted ways by night after the groom got drunk at his wedding reception and assaulted his bride and her father in Kanyakumari.The groom, identified as Ruben, 31, an Army soldier from Reethapuram near Colachel, had been in love with a 26-year-old pharmacist employed at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The woman hailed from a village near Parassala on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.Their relationship had faced stiff resistance from the woman’s family. After four years of courtship and persuasion, both families finally gave their consent. The couple married at Parassala on October 12, apparently bringing a long struggle to a happy conclusion.By evening, the celebrations had shifted to a marriage hall in Ruben’s hometown. Relatives and friends arrived to greet the newlyweds, while the bride’s father brought a cot, mattress and wardrobe as part of the customary dowry from her family.But the reception soon took an unexpected turn. As guests approached the stage to congratulate the couple, the bride’s father noticed something amiss. “His new son-in-law allegedly drunk, speaking incoherently and struggling to remain steady,” said a police officer from Colachel station.Concerned, he asked his daughter what had happened. That question reportedly triggered an argument. Police said Ruben began verbally abusing his father-in-law and subsequently assaulted him and the bride. He then fled the venue, leaving the celebrations in disarray.Relatives took the injured father and daughter to Colachel Govt Hospital, where they received outpatient treatment before approaching police.Colachel police registered a case against Ruben under two sections of law and are searching for him.’ The bride’s father took her home that night, bringing an abrupt end to the celebrations.The couple had spent four years convincing their families to bring them together. Their wedding day ended with the bride returning to the very home she had left that morning.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Madurai | Silver Rate in Madurai | Bank Holidays in Madurai | Public Holidays in Madurai | Madurai AQI | Weather in Madurai | Petrol Price in Madurai | Diesel Price in Madurai | CNG Price in Madurai | LPG Price in MaduraiStay updated with the latest Madurai news. Download the TOI App.