A love story!

The passenger train stopped at a wayside station. It was an unscheduled stop because of derailment of a goods train which had occurred a few miles ahead. It would take at least a day before the track was repaired and cleared. That meant that this train had to return to it's starting station;there was no other option. And that too will happen after a few hours before the railway authorities could sort out the mess!

 Passengers cursed their fate and then got out of the train to explore the small station and the adjoining small town in search of a tea shop or such thing. He was one of them, a young man going to meet his distantly related uncle and aunt with a specific purpose. After he lost his parents some years back, they were his nearest relatives. He joined a small group of stranded passengers who found a small dhaba close by where one could buy some snacks and tea. They settled down on a couple of rickety benches. For the dhaba owner, it was a God sent!

As they waited for tea, he overheard two young women talking in low tones. One of them looked very upset with a personal issue. 'How could she do it to me' she was telling her friend. ' I do not know this man, never met him in my whole life. And my mother wants me to be engaged to him just because he is sort of related to her!' She began sobbing softly as her friend tried to console her. He felt very sorry for her, more so because she was pretty and looked so vulnerable. The woman continued her conversation with her friend. 'I am glad for this train derailment. A good excuse to postpone if not cancel the engagement. After reaching our hostel, I will call my mother to stall the event by a few days. No need to rush. Then I will see what to do!'

The tea was ready, said the dhaba man. The group had their fill and returned to the station. After a wait  of a couple of hours, the train started it's return journey and soon reached their destination. Our young man had already called his uncle the reason why he could not reach their place. He promised that he would come after a few days. His uncle replied that it was fine, he can wait considering the circumstances. He would tell him when to come. The young man used his balance of few days leave to meet and pursue the young woman he had seen during the disrupted train travel. He felt that he was in love with her!

She too liked him. She thought he was such a nice man with a good personality. He had told her that he knew of her predicament and would help her to overcome same. He explained his plan to her. She thought about it and then agreed. She would do anything to get out of her situation. How caring and thoughtful of him! She wondered what kind of man her parents want her to be engaged. In a few days, our young man was ready to travel. He apprised her of the date and other details. It was well before the new date of her engagement. She could have easily hugged him. Was he surprised that she so readily agreed!

They travelled on the due date and reached the place where her parents lived. After reaching their home, she rang the bell. Her mother opened the door. According to the plan, with a beating heart, the girl announced to her mother, 'Mom, I have married this person. Please do not be too upset. I am very sorry that now I can not get engaged to any one. Please forgive me and meet my husband'! Her mother was quickly  joined by her uncle and they both were aghast and stunned. Then her mother exclaimed ' but my dear, he is the person to whom you were supposed to be engaged in the first place and you were so unhappy about it!'

No problem, said the happy young man, nothing is lost, let us start the process, 'We are ready to be engaged today and then to be remarried any time!'