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Guardian of Love in India

In India, “love” is still considered by many to be a dirty word with most marriages arranged by parents along religious or caste lines. But a group of “love commandos” are increasingly stepping in to protect Cupid and his targets.

Rajveer Singh is a handsome young man of 23. He has large, earnest eyes and hair that falls over his forehead. He is well-built, quiet, thoughtful.

When Rajveer was 12, a new family moved into the house across the narrow alley. The first time he saw Madhuri, who was then 14, he says he fell in love. “I thought to myself ‘this is the girl I want to marry’. She was mischievous, she had a beautiful smile, and I knew she would look after me.”

Madhuri, a petite, bright-eyed woman with a winning smile, says she felt the same. Over the years, as Rajveer and Madhuri went to school together and shared their best hopes and worst fears, they fell utterly in love.

You know what happens next. This is India, where parents vet a potential marriage partner like Nasa scientists checking a space shuttle before lift-off:

• caste
• complexion