Patna: Love conquers all. That was what witnessed in Bihar in the weekend when a woman on way to committing suicide by jumping on the railway track fell in love with a stranger and married him soon thereafter.
The most unusual incident took place in Nawada district, 92km south of Patna, in the weekend.
Witnesses said Pinki Kumari, a resident of Shahpur village in the district, left her home on Thursday to commit suicide by flinging herself before a running train, vexed at the frequent tortures by her in-laws. She was married to a youth from neighbouring Gaya district.
As she moved along the railway track forlorn, looking for a running train to jump before it and end her life, a local youth, Akhilesh Manjhi, happened to notice her intention and flung her aside.
When inquired, she told the youth about how her in-laws’ had been torturing her all along and that she didn’t want to live any longer.
The youth persuaded her to drop the idea of committing suicide and took her to his home. Eventually, she fell in love with him and on Friday, both entered into wedlock at a local Hindu temple in the presence of large number of villagers.
“I have married him willingly and will stay with him from now on,” Pinki told her parents when they reached her after getting information about her fresh marriage.
The woman has been living happily in her new home. She hugely thanks Akhilesh for coming to her support at this critical time.
“We are happy that my son has saved her life. Nothing better could be than this one,” remarked woman’s father-in-law Karu Manjhi.
A similar story had been reported during the 2008 Kosi river disaster when two flood victims staying side by side in two relief camps fell in love and married, which came in for huge praise from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The families of Sanjay Kumar Sada of Madhepura and Darun Devi of Saharsa, both from Dalit (untachable) community, had fled their houses when floodwaters submerged their villages.
Later, both the families took shelter at a government-run relief camp in Madhepura. It was here that Sanjay fell in love with Darun and finally they entered into the wedlock without waiting for the auspicious moment to come.
“You decided to lead life together in the hours of crisis. Never forgot your promise in future. Always live together — be it moments of happiness or sorrow”, was how an emotional chief minister told the couple as officials watched all this with attention.
The chief minister also directed the District Magistrate to provide special economic assistance to the couple who took such a bold step.
Later, a bountiful local administration not only arranged a separate tent to lead their life together but also threw up a party to celebrate the unusual marriage in such an adverse situation.
