But Iqbal chose to disagree. "It does not create any tension because it adds to the secular fabric of the nation. We profess about carrying and practicing his/her own religion. And there are several couples doing the same. In a way, they get to learn more about each other's religion," said Iqbal.

Ranu echoed her husband's opinion and also said the problem wasn't with the couples. "The only problem is when outsiders start interfering in the couples' matters. It may not be the problem of the couple or their families, after all. Families can have issues over property, but they do exist as social institutions," said Ranu.

At this juncture, Umer and Priyanka also sent their message – loud and clear – to Madhav. "I will like to tell him that it’s my family matter. If my family is upset with me, it's up to me to persuade them. You don’t need to interfere in the matter," said Priyanka.

The Staunch Ones

Asiya Andrabi of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat came out staunchly against the idea of Muslim-non-Muslim knot. She vehemently spoke against Hindu-Muslim marriage. "As far as Islam is concerned, it’s not the bond between two people only. It's a bond between two families and communities. So, how do you expect a Hindu boy to marry a Muslim girl or vice-versa. In Islam, you don’t marry a Hindu or any other non-Muslim," said Andrabi.

Iqbal responded cautiously to Andrabi's argument. "I think it's a very personal issue. If it's my religion, it's about my relationship with my God," he said.

Madhav defended the RSS stand and said his organisation was not against "anybody’s religion". "We have organised many such marriages ourselves. No organised marriage will create any tension. But if you elope and parents complain of a hijack, then there will be tensions," he said.

At that, Iqbal immediately popped a question, “I don’t know what kind of marriages you are talking about – this ‘arrangement of marriages’ thing?”

"We have had Muslim boy, Hindu girl and Hindu boy Muslim girls gotten married," Madhav clarified and said the situation in Bhopal was different from Ranu-Iqbal's case. "There are so many such families even in our organisation. They were all marriages that were organized in a proper manner. Here (in Priyanka-Umer case), there was a reason for the resentment. It's elopement. In the same family there were cases where daughters-in-law had to convert," he said.