The two, alongwith their cousins and friends who were with them when the incident occurred, have since returned to their native village Phadvel in Navsari district.

Hiten’s father Jayesh Patel told The Indian Express that the family was in a state of shock and the girls were traumatised.

“Please leave us alone. It is an unfortunate incident that happened at that moment. The whole family is in shock. We don’t want to drag this and don’t want any more media attention. The couples want to put the incident behind them as soon as possible and are eager to fly back to the US,” Patel finally said after avoiding the media for most of the day.

As an afterthought he added: “Hiten and his wife are in such shock, they have decided not to visit India again. They had a bad experience. We don’t want more trouble and that is why we have not lodged any complaint. We have booked the tickets of our children and will fly back to USA in three days.”

Asked if Hiten could meet the media, Patel said: “Hiten and his wife are very unwell and a doctor is attending to them.” Patel runs a hotel business in Texas City in USA and lives in Medford. Hiten joined his father’s business about eight years ago.

He said he came to know of the incident early on Tuesday morning, when Hiten called. He, with their other relatives and the girl’s father, brought the couple home.

Patel, with his two sons and daughter, came to in Navsari a month ago for Hiten’s wedding. The bride, who stays in Medford, is originally from Kamrej taluka in Surat. Patel’s other relatives too, came to India to attend the wedding. So did the girl’s relatives.

Patel said the girl’s parents are settled in Medford and they are in the hotel business too. “Hiten and the girl knew each other as we meet each other in religious functions regularly. The engagement was held in Medford and we decided to conduct the marriage ceremony at our native place in Navsari.”

The function started from December 28. The last ceremony was completed at Leuva Patidar Samaj Wadi in Gangadhara village, Surat, on Sunday afternoon. The newly-weds returned to Phadvel village, but planned to celebrate the honeymoon and the New Year’s eve in Mumbai. “The couple were accompanied by their cousin Kaushik and his wife and the four of them left for Mumbai and stayed in Hotel Royal garden at Juhu,” he said.

At Phadvel village, Newsline found the scene normal. Few were aware of the incident in Mumbai. They knew still less that the couples belonged to the same village.