Flashily dressed romeo in Delhi gets a taste of his own medicine on Holi

Desperate GroomsIn real life, as in Hindi films, marriages always provide drama and diversion. Some time ago, a match was arranged in Abdulnabipur near Bareilly, in Uttar Pradesh. In true traditional style, a go-between had settled the affair. On the appointed day, the bridegroom led a barat to the bride's house and the wedding took place with all the requisite fanfare. Unfortunately, things went awry soon after. There were a few quarrels, hot words flew about, and the upshot was that the bride's parents refused to let their daughter leave with her brand-new husband.In desperation, the distraught husband turned to the go-between, asking him to help release the bride. However, the go-between, whose role usually finishes with the marriage proper, threw up his hands and expressed his inability to do anything. The lonesome bridegroom went away plotting revenge.When he struck, it was, surprisingly, not against the bride or her family. Leading a posse of 17 people armed with lathis and other weapons, the bridegroom carried off the go-between's wife from Lalpur village. When the husband came back from a hard day in the fields, he found an empty house and no sign of his better half. Later, the anxious lesser half was told that he should either restore the bride to her lord and master, or the missing wife would serve in place of the missing bride. When reports last came in, the police had registered a case of kidnapping, and both men were still waiting for their wives.Romeo's PlightHoli is traditionally a time to seal existing friendships. But recently, it was used to settle scores. In a south Delhi colony, a flashily dressed romeo was the bane of the young men and women - especially women - of the area. He would prowl the lanes with a group of sycophants in tow, teasing the girls to tears.When the colourful day arrived, the romeo went on the beat again, this time with masses of water-balloons and bags of gulal. The boisterous group ran riot for a few lanes, and then turned down one street where a particularly pretty young thing lived. The romeo caught sight of her on a balcony, and immediately deployed his troops below. They began serenading her, while she stared emptily into space.The house was a dead end, and the only way out of the lane was the way in. While the romeo recited a profusion of Hindi film dialogues at the seemingly uncaring girl above, one of his cronies glanced casually over his shoulder - and froze in shock. The lane was silently filling up with scores of young men, armed to the teeth with pails, balloons and other wet weapons.Escape was impossible. After a brief struggle the romeo and his men were stripped to the skin, and then made targets of hundreds of water-balloons. Soon they were lathered in colour, and, as a final ignominy, each received a can of thick, clinging motor oil on his hair. Finally, they were kicked up the lane and out of it. Then the victorious army dispersed, its work well done.Costly RumourNine months ago, V. Chinnathurai of Madras got on to a good thing. He started a shop near the Tambaram Sanatorium station, and to any customer who bought a ticket worth Rs 15, promised goods worth Rs 60 after 30 days. As there was no limit to the number of tickets any one person could buy, hundreds grabbed the opportunity and invested thousands of rupees. Business boomed, and Chinnathurai began offering steel cupboards, sewing machines, television sets and other utility items, including stainless steel utensils. The rush became so great that the price of each ticket was raised to Rs 16.50 and the maturity period to 45 days. The value of the goods was reduced to twice the deposited amount.Then a rumour spread: Chinnathurai had disappeared. Hard on his heels roared an avalanche of angry customers demanding restitution. Each train that trundled up to the station disgorged hordes of agitated men and women, what-the-helling in no uncertain terms. In the wee hours of the morning of March 19, the shop was raided and ransacked systematically. Despite police reinforcements. the enraged crowd got away with booty worth about Rs 2.5 lakh. Eventually, police parties raided houses in the area and seized looted stainless steel utensils, which in some cases were concealed in wells. Several people were arrested.Chinnathurai reappeared - his business was very authentic and above-board - and angrily alleged that other shopkeepers had started the rumour to discredit him. He assured a crowd of housewives that he would restart business soon. And calm returned to the area.Swapping BridesIn the enlightened West, couples swap wives and husbands to bring a little change and adventure into their lives. The disease seems to be catching, for in West Bengal recently, two households swapped brides - inadvertently, of course.In Midnapore, a marriage party had returned home exhausted and happy, after a successful wedding. The festivities would continue at home, and a crowd of relatives and assorted hangers-on settled down for the ceremonial lifting of the bride's veil. As the group chattered and giggled in anticipation, one of them twitched away the cloth from the shy young woman's face.The gasp that broke out was no tribute to the young lady's beauty, but a collective sigh of horror. The face was that of a stranger. As an excited hubbub spread through the house, the 'false' bride, no less horrified, burst into tears. Meanwhile, the men debated vehemently, and some even suggested divine intervention as the cause. Sanity held, though, as someone remembered that the entire party had changed to rickshaws at the Haria bus-stop close by. A platoon rushed to the stop in the pouring rain, and were greeted by another strange sight. The 'real' bride was waiting demurely with the bridegroom of the 'false' one. Explanations over, the couples were reunited.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 23, 2013 15:19 IST--- ENDS ---

Download App

Get 37% off on an annual Print +Digital subscription of India Today Magazine

Flashily dressed romeo in Delhi gets a taste of his own medicine on Holi

PUBLICATIONS

TELEVISION

EVENTS

RADIO

GAMING

USEFUL LINKS

PRINTING

WELFARE

DISTRIBUTION

SYNDICATIONS

WEBSITES

EDUCATION