HYDERABAD: Noratan and Reenu's story has all the elements of a quintessential Bollywood potboiler. An OBC boy marrying a Rajput girl against the wishes of both families; running away from home to start a new life in an alien city and a policeman-father chasing the couple all the way from Jaipur to Hyderabad.
It all began on June 5 when Noratan Mal, from the Mali caste, married his long-term beloved Reenu Kanwal, an upper caste Rathore, in the Pink City. Within no time the families got wind of it which forced the couple to approach the Jaipur (rural) women's protection cell on the next day of their marriage. But safety was a far cry as the couple was greeted with blows from family members who descended on the thana in hordes. Reenu's father is a police officer.
Fearing more attacks, the newly-weds on June 9 fled to Hyderabad where Noratan has been working as an associate with a major legal outsourcing firm since last June. And just when the two thought they had found sanctuary in the city, trouble came knocking on their door again. Their families had marched into Noratan's company and began to enquire about his whereabouts.
Once again on June 12, the couple found themselves at a police station, this time at Madhapur, seeking help fearing threat to their lives.
"We have been receiving death threats soon after we got married. They said that they would rip us apart. My wife's parents got wind of the fact that we are in the city and followed us. Neither my wife, nor I believe in the caste system," said a visibly shaken Noratan who along with his wife has taken shelter at an acquaintance's place in the city. Not only have the two had to temporarily abandon their Kondapur home, but the boy has also been forced to take leave from work and even change his mobile phone number. "Not just that, I have even started using different routes to reach the same place. I fear that they will track us," Noratan said. Though they got married in Jaipur, it was registered in the sub-registrar's office in Kukatpally and the certificate will be issued on Monday.
"While one of my well wishers tipped us off about my cousin being in town, I feel there could be many more from both families. We are scared. They dissuaded us from contacting each other on Facebook or on the phone but we persisted," said Reenu.
When contacted, Madhapur inspector P Narayana said, "We will definitely give the couple protection as and when they require it. We are here to help people."