‘Till our siblings do us part’

After a heated argument, Afzal refused to take the bride home and divorced her.

FAISALABAD:

A bridegroom here first got into an argument with a sister-in-law and then a brawl with boys and men of her family within minutes of “I do’s” and the wedding feast.

Muhammad Afzal had married Sumera Bibi in the presence of families and friends. Maulvi Abdul Haq, a local prayer leader, had solemnised the marriage deed.

After the wedding feast was over, Rimsha Bibi, the bride’s sister, asked for Rs1,000 as lag (bridegroom’s ritual acknowledgement of owning his new family). The groom gave her Rs500 but she insisted for more. An argument ensued between the two families which quickly turned violent as after insults were exchanged. The groom’s brother slapped Rimsha and abused her parents. Some men from the bride’s family responded by joining the scuffle and they began slapping the groom and his brother.

Next, Afzal refused to take the bride home and divorced her.

Several guests persuaded the two sides to ignore the fracas and almost succeeded. Maulvi Abdul Haq was then approached with a request to nullify the divorce but he refused to oblige. The groom and his family then returned without the bride.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2013.