Hyderabad: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza yesterday got married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malek in a private ceremony in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.
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The nikah, or wedding, took place at Hotel Taj Krishna, bringing to an end two weeks of high-voltage drama that was watched keenly by people of India and Pakistan.
Mohammad Najmuddin Hussain, the head qazi, or priest, of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, delivered the Khutba-e-Nikah in the presence of family members from both the sides at an event from which the media was kept out.
After the end of the sermon, the qazi put the hands of Malek in the hands of his Sania's father Imran Aziz Mirza and asked the groom, whether he accepts the hand of Sania in exchange of a Mehr of Rs6.1 million (Dh504,160). The groom assented.
Consent
Earlier, Imran Mirza along with two witnesses — Sania's uncles — went to another hall where they took her signature as a mark of her consent. Malek also signed the documents in which he gave his father's name as Faqir Hussain Malek. Sources present at the ceremony said Malek also gifted an expensive luxury car to Sania on the occasion.
Sania's parents Imran Mirza and Naseema, younger sister Anam, aunt Hameeda, and uncle Shafi Usman were among the relatives from the bride's side, while Malek had the company of his mother Sultana Farouq, brother Adeel Malek, two sisters Shazia and Sada and brother-in-law Imran Zafar.
Earlier, Mirza family sprang yet another surprise on the media when their spokesperson Rucha Naik announced, "wedding ceremony will be held today shortly". But she said that the place and time cannot be revealed due to security reasons.
Back gate
Shortly afterwards, Sania, wearing a red silk saree, which her mother had worn at her marriage 25 years ago, left her home in Jubilee Hills. She was accompanied by her parents and sister. As their car left the place, it was chased by an eager and anxious media. Sania's entourage entered Taj Krishna hotel from the back gate, while the dozens of TV channel cameras, photographers and reporters had gathered at the closed front door. Police and private security guards were finding it difficult to control them.
At around 1:30pm Rucha Naik appeared again to announce: "The nikah has now completed. Please pray for the couple."
The nikah ceremony marked the beginning of long festivities between Malek and Mirza families as they will attend the traditional rites today and tomorrow. However, the main function of reception at Taj Krishna will be held on Thursday and was expected to be attended by more than 1,000 guests including Pakistan's Minister for Population Firdous Ashiq Awan.
