And then the Bride left the Groom

Mrs Nasrin Banu picked up her phone and frantically rang her neighbour in excitement. “Oh Mrs Ajmal have you heard what happened to the daughter of the Jalal's? The marriage didn't last a day! That dreamlike wedding they had, in such a beautiful setting and oh the groom was sooo fair. Fair as pure white milk. I wonder what happened?”

“You are late to the news Nasrin! I thought you had heard everything by now!”

“No this is the first l heard of the situation.  I thought they were happily married living in Edgeware. The boy was from a wealthy family too. I never did understand how the Jalal's made such a good match for their daughter. It seemed too good to be true.”

“Oh you say that!” scoffed Mrs Ajmal, “ but you won’t believe what truly took place.”

“No indeed! Please do tell me!”

Mrs Ajmal was beaming on the other end of the phone. For once Mrs Nasrin the town gossip and woman who knew everything about everyone was not aware of one piece of scandal that she had knowledge of. Mrs Ajmal rolled a piece of paan and placed it in her mouth and began with great self-satisfaction.

“The groom’s father has been lamenting the match from the moment he met the Jalal’s. He has said this is what took place.”

Mrs Nasrin adjusted her saree anchal in anticipation of the news.

“The boy, the groom and his family were on the way to the wedding hall when their coach broke down,” began Mrs Ajmal. “ They had such a nightmare in trying to arrange alternative transport, but finally managed to hire a double-decker bus. They were delayed by five hours but eventually reached the wedding venue. They were tired and hungry and in shock from such an ordeal.”

“Yes l remember the grooms party arriving on a bus, l thought it was most odd.” Mrs Nasrin commented.

“When they reached their destination, they were surprised to find that the bride was fuming. She kept her cool while they ate and the ceremonies took place, but when it was time to leave an almighty argument began.  The bride was furious.  You arrived too late she said. You are too late.  She stepped out of the car and refused to go to the groom's house. She left him standing on the street with his mouth gaping. The groom's parents had to watch in horror as she walked away, her neatly pinned scarf trailing behind."

Mrs Nasrin said, "the poor boy and his parents. I always thought the Jalal family were too snooty and arrogant! To think the girl broke the marriage over such a small incident. This is not the first time a groom has arrived late! I always thought she was a lovely girl. You just never what people are truly like do you?"

"Kids these days have no respect for marital institutions," Mrs Ajmal remarked.

"Was that it? They didn’t try and mend the relationship?" Mrs Nasrin needed more information. After all Mrs Ajmal had claimed, she barely told her anything.

"Oh yes the groom’s father tried very hard to find a way to resolve the problems. He cried and begged the girl’s family to reconsider, but they say she is very haughty and her family did not listen to him."

"My goodness, it’s unheard of. I always thought the grooms families behaved arrogantly during weddings and rightly so, they are the family of the boy! Nowadays are the bride’s family equally so haughty?” 

"Yes, well it doesn't seem like the bride had a very good character, to start arguing and shouting and leaving the groom like that. She certainly is not a demure and chaste girl."

"I agree. I agree," said Mrs Nasrin thoughtfully. "How awful for the groom and his parents." She was not satisfied though and hoped she could ask someone else and find out a little more about what truly happened.